Dr Who — Series 11: Episode 10 — The Battle of Ranskoor Av Kolos

9th December, 2018.

9th December, 2018.

Yes, it’s true.

Jude — my soon to be eight year-old nephew —  had his eighth birthday party, today.

Not much of a do … 

Apart from the exotic-ish animals and informative talks supplied by Exotic Explorers.

I got to hold an owl called Echo, and a snake called Katness.

And Jude had a hedgehog … 

Just in case that grabs anyone’s attention.

~≈§≈~

At any rate … ?

I don’t know about you, but I was home in time for tea.

A baked and a chicken Kiev.

Which possibly isn’t the health … thi … 

Which definitely isn’t the healthiest: but at least it’s relatively cheap.

So … 

A meal … a drink … washing up, done … 

Given all that was done … ?

It meant I was in time for this week’s episode of Doctor Who.   Episode 10 of series eleven, if you must know.

It’s a serious shame it’s the last episode or the current series.

I think Jodie Whittaker’s cracked it.

~≈§≈~

Episode 10 — The Battle of Ranskoor Av Kolos — opens: by showing us Andinio and Delph (Phyllis Logan and Percelle Ascott): a pair of Ux doing their equivalent of a prayer.

A prayer that turns out to be a shrine built to their creator.

A creator that surprises them … by turning up as their shrine is almost finished.

~≈§≈~

We jump cut forward some three thousand years later: where the Doctor (Jodie Whittaker) and the team — Graham, Ryan  and Yas, played by Bradley Walsh, Ryan Sinclair and Mandip Gill — receiving nine distress calls from the planet Ranskoor Av Kolos.

They find a planet that’s wrecked, after extensive battles.

A ship that’s almost as wrecked as the planet it’s on … 

And almost as wrecked as Paltraki (Mark Addy): the man with amnesia … and the large caliber gun pointed straight at the Doctor.

That’s just one problem.

The other … ?

Tsim Sha, the Stenza we met in The Woman Who Fell to Earth is back … 

And seems to have caused a lot of damage … 

~≈§≈~

Now … 

What did I think … ?



I loved this episode!

This is the culmination of a series that’s introduced us to a new Doctor, new look TARDIS, new companions … 

In THIS story?   That seems to have come to a head.   The production crew have managed round out Ryan and Graham’s relationship, AND seen Whittaker’s take on the Doctor finally hit the nailhead.

And done this in a way that reminded me of the Banksian feel of the Moffat and Davies era of the new show at their heights: and referencing both classic and new Dr Who, as well.

After all, the idea of sentencing a villain to life imprisonment in suspended animation seems have been lifted from Destiny of the Daleks, the planets moved out of their orbits a nod to The Stolen Earth/Journeys End: and the simple fact those planets have been shrunken?

A direct nod to The Pirate Planet.

About my only complaint?



The writers have managed too ignore Yas … again.

I have to confess, I’ve been watching El Ministerio del Tiempo, just recently.

The Spanish language time travel thriller has — if anything — an even bigger ensemble cast.

But, if anything, Aura Garrido, the cast’s youngest member, has more to do in the series.



I’m also very aware that there’s talk — talk, mind — that David Jackson — the actor who played Gan in the first two series of Blake’s Seven — left the show: in large part because the character was given little to do.

I’d hate to see Mandip Gill leave Dr Who on the same grounds.

Even given this is a fantastic conclusion to series 11.

~≈§≈~

Before I go … ?



There’s something else I should mention.

Yes: the show’s back on New Year’s Day: in an episode called Resolution

Something I know I’m looking forward to.

On the downside?

The Radio Times tells us that series 12 will air in early 2020.

In the midst of a fantastic introductory 11th series from Whittaker and co?

Delaying the 12th … 

Seems possibly counter-productive.

Post-New Year’s Day?

We’re going to have a frustrating wait!