I'm certainly not convinced it is really intended as an examination or criticism of the Doctor's motives - the fact that it is all a set-up rather undermines this Whether it's a Doylist or a Watsonian examination of the effects Doctor's meddling, the fact is that it's there, front and centre. We see it brought up very occasionally prior to this (say, Face of Evil), but here the question of whether his meddling actually is a good or a bad thing is what he has to defend. Sure it's a set-up, but the question is asked and he has to grapple with what it all means. People die because of him. A lot. (Six has none of Twelve's introspection, but you can draw straight lines from S23 and to 'Tell me Clara, am I a good man?')
I don't really see the Time Lords as the Valeyard's targets (they are more the Master's targets). ???? The Master shows up to *help* the Doctor (as all good archenemies, he doesn't like it when others try to kill his special opponent), whereas the Valeyard's plan is literally to blow up the High Court and everyone in it. (The Master tries to take advantage of the chaos, but that's just because he's opportunistic.) Sure the Valeyard wants to off the Doctor too, but his main target is revealed to be the Time Lords.
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Whether it's a Doylist or a Watsonian examination of the effects Doctor's meddling, the fact is that it's there, front and centre. We see it brought up very occasionally prior to this (say, Face of Evil), but here the question of whether his meddling actually is a good or a bad thing is what he has to defend. Sure it's a set-up, but the question is asked and he has to grapple with what it all means. People die because of him. A lot. (Six has none of Twelve's introspection, but you can draw straight lines from S23 and to 'Tell me Clara, am I a good man?')
I don't really see the Time Lords as the Valeyard's targets (they are more the Master's targets).
???? The Master shows up to *help* the Doctor (as all good archenemies, he doesn't like it when others try to kill his special opponent), whereas the Valeyard's plan is literally to blow up the High Court and everyone in it. (The Master tries to take advantage of the chaos, but that's just because he's opportunistic.) Sure the Valeyard wants to off the Doctor too, but his main target is revealed to be the Time Lords.