Dr Who — Series 11: Episode 7 — Kerblam!

18th November, 2018.

Yes: it’s one benefit of not having a job … 

For those of you who last last week’s review?

Yes: I’m now out of work.

Having been laid off.

Long story … 

To be frank?

The job was worthwhile … but there’s always the one or two people you have a rough time getting on with.

At ANY rate … ?

I’m job hunting … 

And have an interview on Wednesday.

Wish me luck for that … !

~≈§≈~

At any rate, there’s one upshot of that.

• It means I’ve been …

• Job-hunting.
• Cleaning.
• And raiding the movie collection.

Here, here, here and here, so you know.

There’s several other things I need to do: that I’d rather keep to myself, thank you!

I’ve ALSO managed be at home when another episode of Doctor Who’s eleventh series has been on.

It’s a pleasure to be in when my favourite show goes live.

Especially when it’s good.

~≈§≈~

Episode 7 — Kerblam! —  opens with the TARDIS in mid flight, the team — Ryan, Yas and Graham in particular (Toisin Cole, Mandip Gill and Bradley Walsh) — seriously question quite how in control of the TARDIS the Doctor (Jodie Whittaker) is.

It’s just as Graham is really complaining … ?

That Ryan notices there’s an intruder.

Or Delivery, we should say.

Of a fez.

A fez … and a demand for help on the back of the delivery note.

A delivery note … 

From Kerblam!, that galaxy’s biggest retailer, and owner of a warehouse on a moon — the whole moon — of a planet called Kandoka.

It seems this particular corporation … ?   Is having issues in the despatch department.

And not from unions, either … 

Some of the staff … ?   Are going missing in action.

~≈§≈~

Now … 

The whole cow thing in the introduction video … ?

I’ve actually had the TV on, before tonight’s episode started.

In point of fact?

Was sat down in front to the TV, whilst Countryfile — the BBC’s show about rural goings on — was still airing.

That ten minutes or so?

Gave me some very insightful lessons on artificially inseminating cows, and laying hedges.

Things I’m sure will come in very handy in my ongoing search for a new job.

Yes: I’m going for irony, there … !

But enough … 

You want to know what I thought of tonight’s episode, don’t you … ?

I have to admit, it’s another good episode.

Well written, clearly plotted, with nods to The Robots of Death, Matt Smith’s Eleventh Doctor, and — in a warehouse large enough to cover a moon — nods to Silence in the Library … 

It’s a great little thriller that sees the Team trying to work out if Kerblam’s AI systems have gone wrong, if the robot delivery men have gone wrong … 

Or if — as proves to be the case — someone human is manipulating the system to for their own ends.

In that sense?

Kerblam! is not the biting satire I thought is was going to be: although, obviously, Kerblam, the company, is modelled on Amazon.

That might date it in later years: but does give it a suitably contemporary feel.

The episode ALSO shows us Mandip Gill’s emotional range.   There’s a touching scene where Yas insists on taking back a medallion worn by the now gone Lee Mack character: one that had me not tearful … but certainly sorrowful.



Even given that?



Kerblam! is not as strong as Rosa or Demons of the Punjab … 

Not that that’s a bad thing, I think: it’s not as strong as series 11’s best episode, but certainly ahead of Arachnids in the UK and on a par with The Tsuranga Conundrum.

AND has a theme: that technology isn’t bad, just misusable.  

Granted, series 11 has stronger episodes.



Saying Kerblam! isn’t as strong is like comparing Ringo to John, Paul and George.

Ringo wasn’t the song writing genius the rest of the Beatles were: but was still a bloody good musician, competent actor and voice over artist.

Kerblam!, like Ringo Starr, is still a good performer.

About my only disappointment … ?

Is that the robots eyes didn’t go red, when they went bad* … !

It would’ve been nice … 

*        OK, I think viewers more familiar with the modern series would IMMEDIATELY have mentioned the Ood, if the producers had done that.   Personally?   I would STILL have pointed at Robots of Death.   After all, thats story, like Kerblam!, is about how technology can be subverted: and made dangerous.