16th May, 2025: “The Interstellar Song Contest”.
It’s officially Friday … and the day before this week’s episode of Dr Who airs.
And also means I’ve had a visit from my nephew, Jude.
If you’d like to watch his latest video?
You’d be more than welcome to.
~≈💊≈~
At any rate … it’s still Friday!
Which means … ?
I’m looking forward to “The Interstellar Song Contest”, the next episode of Dr Who.
Granted I’m going to be watching through the BBC’s iPlayer service?
I’m aware that it’s scheduled broadcast time puts it after the football, and before Eurovision.
Thankfully, the episode wasn’t cancelled because the football went into extra time.
I used to hate that, as a child.
Doctor Who — Series 15/Season 2 - Episode 6 — “The Interstellar Song Contest”.17th May, 2025.Part One: The Summary.
Episode 6 — “The Interstellar Song Contest” — opens with a long shot of the Harmony Arena … then shows us the crowds of people gathered around the central stage.
Then shows us an announcer introducing Rylan Clark as the host of the 803rd Interstellar Song Contest: to applause from the 100, 000 strong audience, and frenzied panic from the production gallery.
Meanwhile … ?
The Doctor and Belinda (Ncuti Gatwa and Varada Sethu) arrive: to take one last set of readings with the Vindicator.
Little realising that they’re:
- Being watched by Mrs Flood
- At one of the media events of the year.
Once the pair have worked out they’re at the galaxy’s biggest song contest … ?
The pair have only one option: to stay, and watch the show.
Meanwhile?
And unknown to our heroes?
Mike and Gary (Kadiff Kirwan and Charlie Condou) are outside the auditorium.
They have an issue: their tickets aren’t being recognised, as someone has hijacked their seats.
It’s only when Gary tries to complain to one of the automated guards, that things start to go wrong.
As it’s about then that terrorists attack …
~≈💊≈~
Part Two: About Templates.
Now, what did I make of this episode?
And of the shock returns?
First things first: I suspect …
No, I don’t suspect, I know that the episode is the penultimate one of the series.
Yes, I know: it’s episode six out of eight.
But, as the next two episodes make up a two parter … ?
I’d call “The Interstellar Song Contest” a penultimate episode: before series two’s big finale.
I’d also say something else.
That the plot of “The Interstellar Song Contest” is going to get much discussed.
And set precedents.
Let’s be honest: I believe having an episode set in a Eurovision-style song contest was designed for the show’s gay fans.
But, so long as it’s entertaining for the rest of us, that’s fine.
Is it?
Is it entertaining?
Yes it is.
It’s an edge-of-the-seat political thriller about terrorists fighting for a righteous cause: however righteous we think that cause is.
I also think it sets a precedent …
No, it doesn’t, precedent is the wrong word.
It sets up a template.
Much as The Tenth Planet, or The Moonbase set the template for the base-under-siege type of story, I think “The Interstellar Song Contest” sets another.
Unless it is a novel variation of the base-under-siege, “The Interstellar Song Contest” sets a new template: of a terror attack.
It’s a template that can possibly be adapted: you can replace a song contest with a cup final, for example, or a royal wedding.
Whatever: it’s an adaptable idea, and one I expect to see repeated.
~≈💊≈~
Part Three: About Returns.
Yes: there were returns, and reveals.
For a start … ?
In a couple of key scenes, we see the Doctor being encouraged.
Not by Belinda, not by Rose Tyler or Ruby Sunday … but by his granddaughter, Susan Foreman, played by the original series actor, Carole Ann Ford.
The Doctor’s original companion.
I was shocked.
Very pleasantly shocked.
It’s been some forty years since character, and actress, have appeared in the show in any meaningful way: since the 20th Anniversary special, “The Five Doctors”.
So … this was a very pleasant shock … and a very welcome one, at that.
I can only hope we see more of Carole Ann Ford: but am grateful to have seen her this once.
~≈💊≈~
There’s another return: combined with a reveal.
Yes: we finally find out Mrs Flood (Anita Dobson) is a revamped version of 1980s Time Lady villain, the Rani.
And that she has bigenerated into a new version played by Archie Panjabi.
OK: I thought Mrs Flood might be a version of River Song!
Flood? River?
How wrong can a body be?
Because, of course, everyone who said a flood is caused by rain, and that rain is an anagram of Rani … had a point.
Either way … ?
We get to find out how well Ms Panjabi does as one of the show’s less used characters, next week.
I’m looking forward to that.
~≈💊≈~
Part Four: Any Politics?
There’s possibly a lot of speculation we can do about this episode.
And I’m willing to bet people have been doing that since “The Interstellar Song Contest” aired on the iPlayer service, at 8am this morning.
But?
A couple of things sprung to mind.
Yes: “The Interstellar Song Contest” is a political episode.
The villains of the piece — the Hellians, Kid and Wynn, played by Freddie Fox and Iona Anderson, respectively — are terrorists: attacking the Song Contest as it’s run by the corporation that invaded their home.
A corporation that only seems interested in harvesting the poppy honey made from flowers native to the place.
The reason I say ‘political’?
Is simply the old question.
“Are they terrorists? Or are they freedom fighters?”
That’s possibly not something to explain in a family show.
But, as the brief scenes between Kid, Wynn and Cora (Miriam-Teak Lee) reminds us, there a big gulf between violent direct action, and having to assimilate.
There’s something else, as well.
There’s a (fictional) advert at the start of the episode: for that same honey.
The shots in the episode? Of burning fields of poppies?
Put me in mind of two things.
One … ?
Of World War One.
In the UK, poppies have been used as a way of remembering those lost in the many wars the UK has taken part in.
Fields of poppies are often used to symbolise the fallen.
That was the first thing.
The second thing that occurred to me?
Simply this.
That one species of poppy, papaver somniferum, is more usually known as the sleeping poppy … and as the opium poppy: as it’s the source of opium.
So … we have a story that’s telling us a corporation has invaded a world to get ‘poppy honey’ … in a way that could be compared to the East India Company getting opium to sell to China.
Am I right to make those comparisons?
Am I … ?
I don’t know.
But I’m betting I’m not the first — or last — to make that comparison.
~≈💊≈~
Part Five: Conclusion.
With all of that said, done and dusted … ?
What did I make of this episode?
Did I enjoy “The Interstellar Song Contest”?
Absolutely, I did.
It’s a humdinger of an episode that’s caught my attention, got me wondering various things, and left me a lot to chew on.
It’s seen the return of an old villain: and a much loved granddaughter.
Yes: I’m going to be back for next week’s episode.
I’ll be watching “Wish World” on Saturday, 24th May: and posting my written and video reviews of it by Sunday, 25th May.
I hope you’d care to join me.
See you next week.
“The Interstellar Song Contest”★★★★
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