Dr Who — Series 11: Episode 4 — Arachnids in the UK

28th October, 2018.

Can I make a confession … ?

I am — right now — rather tired.

Which is possibly why I look tired in the introductory.

Obviously … !

At ANY rate … ?

I’ve gotten myself home.

Got something to eat … got something to eat … made sure the timer on the boiler was reset.

The clocks went back, today.

At ANY rate … ?

It’s a Sunday night.

For me?

That means one thing.

Another episode of Doctor Who’s eleventh series.

~≈§≈~

Episode 4 — Arachnids in The UK — opens with the Doctor (Jodie Whittaker) finally getting Yas, Ryan and Graham (Mandip Gil, Tosin Cole and Bradley Walsh) back home to Sheffield.

AND deciding — on a whim — that tea with Yas’s family sounds IDEAL … !

Not knowing that Yas’s mum, Najia (Shobna Gulati) has just been fired from her new job … 

Or that the parcel left with a neighbour has a few … 

Cobwebs.

~≈§≈~

Now … 

Not as strong as Rosa?

After a second viewing — in the background whilst writing this — I’m not sure I’d say that, again.

It strikes me that we have something of a situation, here.

For a second week on the bounce, we’ve had a strong, emotionally intelligent episode: well written, reminiscent of classic Dr Who, with superb set pieces — the shot of the TARDIS travelling through the vortex only out done by hundreds of giant spiders scuttling along to a grime beat — and with some great performances.

Nods, there, to Shobna Gulati, Ravin J Ganatra and Bhavnisha Parmar as Yas’s family.   Nods, too, to Tosin Cole and Mandip Gill as Ryan and Yas*.

A measure of respect too, to Jodie Whittaker: who’s doing very well as the Doctor.

The star of the team … ?

Is Bradley Walsh as Graham: a man still haunted by the death of his wife, and seeing travelling with the Doctor as a way of dealing with Grace’s death.

Personally?



Given the scene in Rosa where he realises he has to stay on the bus?   Given the scenes in Arachnids … , where Graham talks to the ghost of Grace … ?

Given that, I’m thinking this eleventh series of Dr Who is taking it’s lead from the early years of Dr Who.

They were about Rose, not The Doctor.

These?

Are about Graham …

*        It’s got to be said, it’s nice to see Yas getting a larger slice of the acting pie.