History Recap / DoctorWhoS36E7ThePyramidAtTheEndOfTheWorld

The one where the Doctor gets his eyesight back.

* TakeThat: Upon being asked to contact "the President", Bill protests "I wouldn't have even voted for him. [[UsefulNotes/DonaldTrump He's orange!]]"

-->'''The Doctor:''' It could have chosen anywhere on this planet. It chose to sit on the strategic intersection of the [[HumansAreWarriors three most powerful armies on Earth]]. So what it's doing, Colonel, is sending us a message.
-->'''Col. Brabbit:''' What message?
-->'''The Doctor:''' {{Bring it}}.

-->'''Erica:''' Is this going to work?
-->'''The Doctor:''' Trust me. I pop it in there. Machine goes ping. Lab goes boom. World is saved. You develop a pretty intense crush on me.

-->'''The Doctor:''' How did they get [the Tardis] out of my office? The windows aren't big enough.
-->'''Soldier:''' Oh, they are now.

-->'''The Doctor:''' Well, every trap you walk into is a chance to learn about your enemies. Impossible to set a trap without making a self-portrait of your own weaknesses.
-->'''Bill:''' Great. Unless it kills us.
-->'''The Doctor:''' Well, [[WeAllDieSomeday you could say that about anything]].

->''[[TheBadGuyWins "Enjoy your sight, Doctor. Now, see our world."]]''

* PetTheDog: The Monks release the crews of the bomber and submarine who tried to destroy them unharmed. Likely PragmaticVillainy is involved -- it shows their strength without aggravating the humans into rash action.

* AlwaysSaveTheGirl: It's not like the Doctor hasn't given up a chance to stop an EvilPlan to save a companion, even in the Classic series. Here it's a GenderInvertedTrope with Bill choosing to save the Doctor, though she has a further justification in that the Doctor may still be able to save them as long as he's alive.

** The Doctor refuses the UN asking him to come to Turmezistan. He exits the Tardis to find it's already loaded on an airplane flying there.

-->'''The Doctor:''' Well, you could say that about anything.

* WeNeedADistraction: One for the entire EvilPlan (see RedHerring).

-->'''The Doctor:''' It could have chosen anywhere on this planet. It chose to sit on the strategic intersection of the three most powerful armies on Earth. So what it's doing, Colonel, is sending us a message.

** The Doctor initially assumes this is why the pyramid was landed between three of the most powerful armies on Earth.

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* AlienInvasion: The pyramid's sudden appearance is the work of the Monks, aka the Prophets of Truth. They're ready to convince humanity to let them TakeOverTheWorld, and the Doctor already knows they are ''extremely'' intelligent and powerful, having been planning this for a looooong time.

* TakeOverTheWorld: The Monks' intention to rule humanity, but they first have to get permission to do so.

* SaharanShipwreck: When the armies attempt to attack the pyramid, the USAF bomber gets all its crew teleported off by the Monks and is set gently down on the ground next to it. It is then joined by the crew of a Russian submarine.

* ThePowerOfLove: Deconstructed: The Monks will only receive consent to take over the Earth and enslave humanity if it is given out of love, because it is far more powerful than fear or other emotions. It winds up being given by Bill out of her love for the Doctor, so TheBadGuyWins.
* PragmaticVillainy: The Monks could presumably simply conquer planet Earth and rule it through fear, but as noted by the Doctor, fear is inefficient. Instead, they present humanity with an inescapable doomsday scenario and offer their assistance in the form of a DealWithTheDevil, so that they can rule with humanity's consent.

* RealityWarper: The Monks have this power -- they can save the world from a plague or just restore the Doctor's eyesight. The catch is that those who ask their help must be willing to make a DealWithTheDevil, giving the Monks consent to conquer them out of pure love.
* RedHerring: The Monks are trying to give the impression that World War III is imminent. The real cause of the world's end will be a mistaken release of deadly bacteria. And in the end, what actually gives them their leverage isn't either -- it's the Doctor's blindness at a crucial moment.

* SaharanShipwreck: When the armies attempt to attack the pyramid, the USAF bomber gets all its crew teleported off by the Monks and is set gently down on the ground next to it. It is then joined by a Russian submarine.

** The Monks have a lot of similarities to the Trickster. Both are [[RealityWarper Reality Warpers]], but need consent in order to use those powers requiring them to trick others.

* TakeOverTheWorld: The Monks' intention, but they first have to get permission to do so.