Thankfully Sunday got off to a smoother start, and I didn’t feel even slightly rushed as I had on Saturday. As is often the case, with extras like autographs out of the way, my final day of Gally was slated to be a day of panels, spent mostly in Program A.

We began with “Remembering Elisabeth Sladen,” where moderator Steven Schapansky interviewed guests Gary Russell, Sadie Miller (Lis Sladen’s daughter), and Tommy Knight. I figured beforehand that I was going to cry a lot in this one, but it never really drifted into the maudlin at all. At worst, there was a vague sense of sadness at the thought that she’d never really believed she deserved to have the success she’d had as Sarah Jane. It is simultaneously encouraging and heartbreaking to realize that even those we look up to suffer from the kind of imposter syndrome that plagues all of us.

Speaking of imposter syndrome, the next thing on my agenda was the panel about the Master, which I moderated. I swear when I first looked at “You Will Obey Me!” there were five panelists and I was not the mod, so I’m really glad I decided to look over the schedule and make some panel notes on Thursday morning! At any rate, there were three of us on the day, and I feel like I did a serviceable job. The audience seemed to enjoy it, and nothing ever went completely off the rails. Maybe I’ll put my name in the hat to moderate again another year.

An hour between that and the next panel gave us just enough time for a leisurely lunch and another wander around the Dealers Room (there were a few things I coveted, but I never shelled out for anything). Then it was on to “The Past Is a Foreign Country,” in which we discussed how Doctor Who has, as fellow panelist Sammi Kat put it, “missed the mark” (by today’s standards) in terms of representation over the years. The moderator took things a slightly different direction than I’d anticipated, and so I often felt underprepared, but the discussion was certainly lively, and mostly well controlled.

As is my usual practice, I ended my Gally Sunday camping out in Program A. Although I wasn’t specifically interested in the Matt Strevens interview (executive producer alongside Chris Chibnall), it’s always key to get butt in seat well before the most popular panels if possible, and he did have some interesting things to share.

The big highlight, though, was the following interview with Jo Martin, the Fugitive Doctor herself. I can’t even tell you how pleased I am to have this woman as part of the show. She is full of positive energy and just a twinkle of sass. I think my favorite story was about how after getting cast as the Doctor, she actually lost the job (due to a scheduling issue) before things eventually worked out in her favor. I can only imagine her heartache then, and I’m so very, very glad she came to our screens in the end.

After Jo’s panel was the penultimate event of the con, the video Year(s) in Review. It was lovely to see the snippet that Chris and Jodie had recorded for Gallifrey One 2020 again, and catch up a bit on what folks had been doing in the UK and online since. A few were familiar to me, but most were things I knew nothing about, so even if there were some spoilers for Flux, which ConBuddy hasn’t finished and Roommate hasn’t started, it was enjoyable viewing.

Then it was just the Closing Ceremonies. Having Jo on stage alone with Sylvester McCoy before any of the other guests had their farewell filled my heart. Yes! The Doctors! Then program director Shaun Lyon (who is a serious hero, by the way) called up the guests who are actors to say their farewells, and then the writer/production staff guests. It was interesting to see how few there really were compared to previous years, but it made for a somewhat shorter ceremony, and there was still a lot of joy in the room.

Plans are in full swing for next year’s con, Gallifrey One 33⅓: Long Live the Revolution, and tickets will go on sale in April. I had been really hesitant to come this year, as the pandemic continues to rage on (despite many people’s insistence on pretending otherwise), but the precautions that the Gallifrey One staff took and the attendees adhered to made me feel like I was in a very low-risk environment. The risk has indeed been worth the reward for me. Although I honestly don’t expect things to ever be completely as they were in the Before Times again, I hope we’ll still be able to gather again next year, and it will feel a little more like previous Gallys.

Farewell, Gally. Until next time!