Former Doctor Who showrunner, Steven Moffat, has penned another short while in lockdown, and this one is a sequel to a fan-favorite episode starring David Tennant's Tenth Doctor. Moffat oversaw Doctor Who for seasons 5 through 10 from 2010 to 2017, but he had been writing for the program since its revival in 2005. Many of Moffat's episodes have gone on to be considered some of the best in the series, with particular standouts being "Blink", the episode responsible for introducing the Weeping Angels, and "The Girl in the Fireplace", where The Doctor meets Madame de Pompadour.
As the outbreak of COVID-19 continues impacting the world, Doctor Who fans have been finding solace in synchronized watch parties of their favorite episodes organized by Doctor Who Magazine's Emily Cook. These parties have included the 50th anniversary special, "The Day of the Doctor" and the Neil Gaiman-scripted episode, "The Doctor's Wife". Joining fans have been several of those involved with making Doctor Who, like former writers and past Doctors. In addition to watching along and sharing neat trivia, some have even come together to produce new Who content. These have included a short story from former showrunner, Russel T. Davies, about how he envisions the Time War ending, while another was a beautiful sendoff to Elisabeth Sladen's Sarah Jane Smith. Now, Moffat has written a short sequel to "The Girl in the Fireplace".
In the original episode from Doctor Who season 2, The Doctor and companions Rose and Mickey land on a space ship containing windows into the life of Madame de Pompadour, mistress to King Louis XV. Throughout the episode, The Doctor and Madame de Pompadour develop a flirty relationship that evens leads to a kiss, but their visits cannot continue. When The Doctor does try to later reunite with Madame de Pompadour, he sadly arrives after her death. In the new short written by Moffat, simply titled "Pompadour", actress Sophia Myles reprises her "The Girl in the Fireplace" role as Madame de Pompadour and speaks of her hopes of seeing The Doctor once more. Check out the new Doctor Who sequel short, below.
In this short sequel for "The Girl in the Fireplace", Madame de Pompadour reminiscences about her previous adventures with The Doctor and pines for when she might see him again. Of course, viewers already know their reunion doesn't come to pass, but what's interesting about this short is how it implies Madame de Pompadour is still alive. Not the human Madame de Pompadour, that is, but that her consciousness has seemingly been uploaded into the ship and that is what's speaking in the scene.
In the original episode's final moments, it's revealed the space ship is named S.S. Madame de Pompadour and that's it's been stalking her in the past. As it's presented in this new short, it seems the S.S. Madame de Pompadour was successful in assimilating enough of the real Pompadour that it's actually capable of thinking like her. That or the ship is reliving more of her memories, but either way, the scene works as a heartbreaking follow-up to one of Doctor Who's best episodes, reminding viewers of Madame de Pompadour's time with The Doctor that was cut too short, too soon.