Broadcasting Fake News

After giving her consent to The Monks, so as to save The Doctor and to return his sight (see "The Pyramid at the End of the World"), Bill Potts, along with the rest of humanity, are now under the leadership of The Monks.

The Monks however, give the impression that they have been on Earth for millions of years having guided human development. Bill and some others though are aware of the truth that The Monks have only been present on Earth for the last six months. Those that promote this are imprisoned for ‘memory crimes’. To remind the population of The Monks apparent good intent The Doctor appears on television praising the Monks' guidance over humanity.

Bill keeps herself grounded in reality by imagining that she is talking with her long-dead mother, based on pictures The Doctor gave her. Nardole, also aware of the truth, locates Bill and helps her to find the prison hulk where The Doctor is thought to be captive. After a team of commandoes swarm inside, The Doctor tells Bill he is cooperating willingly with The Monks, believing that humanity is doomed without their guidance.

A Confused Bill

A distraught Bill grabs a gun off of one of the soldiers and shoots The Doctor, who appears to begin regenerating, but quickly stops. The entire scenario is revealed to have been a test by The Doctor, Nardole and the team, to make sure Bill was not under the influence of The Monks.

Back at St Luke’s University, where The Doctor and Bill work, The Doctor, Nardole and Bill enter the Vault to talk to Missy, who says she has encountered The Monks before. She confirms that The Monks maintain control by broadcasting a signal containing a false history to their subjugated victims through numerous statues that they have built across Earth. This is enabled by a psychic link established through the person who originally gave ‘consent’. Missy also reveals that she defeated The Monks, during her own encounter with them, by killing that individual. This revelation therefore implies that Bill must die as she is the one who gave consent on Earth.

Bill's Mum

Believing there must be another solution, The Doctor, Bill, Nardole, and the commandoes infiltrate The Monks' pyramid in London so that The Doctor can hijack their broadcast with his own mind to break the psychic transmission.

In the central chamber, The Doctor attempts to link his mind to the controlling Monk. But after a struggle The Doctor is overpowered. With The Doctor severely weakened this leaves only Bill to put a stop to The Monks.

To the horror of The Doctor and Nardole it seems that Bill, heading the words given by Missy, intends to sacrifice herself by linking her own mind to The Monk's despite The Doctor's protests. The Monks' broadcast is replaced with images of Bill's mother, which The Doctor recognises as a strong and loving memory in Bill's mind. Encouraging her to continue Bill is able to break The Monks transmission.

Nardole

Now aware of The Monks' lies humanity revolts against them. The Doctor, Bill, and Nardole watch as The Monks abandon Earth – departing in their pyramid.

Sometime later, The Doctor and Bill find that most of humanity have no recollection of The Monks. In the Vault, Missy expresses remorse for those she has killed.