Did Chris Chibnall get a book on how to write a horror story over Christmas?
Now I know this was probably recorded back sometime around August, but the joke works. I’m just not that funny. So what did I think of the episode?
It felt like a season ending adventure, a lot more than The Battle of Ranskoor Av Kolos was. It was a strong story, with some really exciting moments. Good timing, both comedic and dramatic, and worked very well over all.
It’s not a perfect adventure. There are flaws, and I’ll look at them in a moment, but there are serious strengths. We really saw the threat of a single Dalek. Last time we saw that’s with Dalek, back in 2005, since then it’s been whole armies. Now a single Dalek is a threat again. We saw just one annihilate an army here, even taking on a tank and winning. This is powerful stuff. We also got some nice body horror, with the Dalek taking control of a human body for transportation early on.
We also got a limited car chase, a nice little bit of romance for our guest characters and while predictable in places I can’t really complain about that this time around. Rather than lifting sections wholesale from other, better, stories Chibnall seems to have figured out what he’s supposed to be doing.
After the shear incompetence he showed during the season proper this is a refreshing change. I honestly found myself wondering if it really was just Chibnall who did this, and he wasn’t helped by a ghost writer. Someone with experience in writing Science Fiction and horror. I think he was.
One of the things that helped convinced me of this is the way the subplot about Ryan’s dad appears at odd thematic points. Only to bring the story to a crashing halt when they did. One scene we get a Dalek murdering a couple of police officers, the next a tender moment between Ryan and his previously absent father. The tonal whiplash almost gave me a neck injury.
Another part of the theory came about because this time around Chibnall actually knew something about Doctor Who history, with references to the Black Archive and even UNIT. Of course that brings us to UNIT. According to what we are told UNIT is currently disbanded due to budget issues. On the one hand this is a good thing, forcing the Doctor to solve this without their help. On the other What the absolute hell? UNIT has been a steadfast ally to the Doctor since the 60’s and now they’re just gone like that?
The last Doctor (Twelve) negotiated a colony of Zygons on earth, with UNIT policing them. What’s happened to that? It just doesn’t make much sense, the reason given is it’s budget has been cut because alien invasions aren’t that common anymore. I question that logic, just about every alien race passing by has tried it in the last dozen years, but alright. Maybe after the Dalek’s killing spree, and knocking out the entire communications infrastructure of the UK, they might get their act together.
Speaking of getting their act together. That is what this special sort of feels like. Chibnall and team got it right. Series 11 had growing pains. It tried really hard, but just didn’t quite work. With this special it did and it’s not quite the good news you think. The next season isn’t due until 2020, a long year away and whatever the good will this special earns might not be enough.
One or two great episodes in a season do not make up for a mediocre greater whole. I’m going to be posting a full season review in a couple of days, but this special was indeed one of the highlights. If Chibnall did pull someone in to shadow him for this one, understandable given the amount of episodes he did this season, then I hope he keeps them. If not and this was just a case of a good story done well, then brilliant. More please.
In fact more like this in general. Social commentary was never the problem, it was the bad stories that couldn’t justify it. More creative, entertaining episodes like this was would address that problem and bring both newer and classic fans back together again in the love of good story telling and staying true to Doctor Who.
10 out of 13
Would be better, if not for the tonal whiplash at points. A good start to the year though. See you in 2020 Doctor.
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