Dr Who — New Year’s Day Special 2021: Revolution of The Daleks.

1st January, 2021.

As a warning: this post contain’s mild spoilers.

Be aware of that, if you’ve not yet seen Revolution of The Daleks.

Right … 

It’s officially the case: it’s New Year’s Day.

I’ve had dinner at my family’s: in case you didn’t know.

Bœuf bourguignon, so you know.

And … ?

And, you say … ?

I’ll confess to being rushed … and possibly not believing my eyes!

And possibly getting myself in trouble … !

At any rate … ?   I’ve managed to see this years Dr Who NewYears’ Day special, Revolution of The Daleks.

And have come away impressed.

~≈⌘≈~

The New Years Day Special — Revolution of the Daleks — opens a long time ago, and far far away.

Cheltenham, 2019, in point of fact: reminding us that the Doctor (Jodie Whittaker), Ryan (Tosin Cole), Graham (Bradley Walsh) and Yaz (Mandip Gil) had defeated the Reconnaissance Dalek in Resolution.

Then shows us how, six hours and seven minutes later, a van turns up for the Dalek’s gutted shell: with the driver being ordered to take it to the mysterious Depository Twenty-Three.

The driver … ?   Stops off on the way for some tea, at a roadside cafe … 

He … ?   Comes to a sticky end: and the truck, stolen.

Post titles?

We’re introduced to the UK’s ambitious Technology Secretary, Jo Patterson (Harriet Walter) meeting Leo Rugazzi (Nathan Stewart-Jarrett) and Jack Robertson (Chris Noth).

Noth and Rugazzi have a prototype they want to show to the minister.

And a deal for when Ms Patterson wins both the leadership and general elections.

One that’s going to make the UK very secure …

~≈⌘≈~

Seventy nine billion light years away, and ten months later?

The Doctor is trapped in a Judoon prison: whiling her time away, and getting to know her fellow inmates.

Whilst back on Earth … ?

Ryan and Graham have found out Jack Robertson’s got access to things.

And, with the Doctor, herself, missing?

The best they can do is talk to to Yaz: a Yaz stuck in a spare TARDIS the Doctor’s given her … 

Obsessionally try to work out where team’s leader has gone.

The only thing that grabs Yaz’s attention … ?

Is the news Robertson has access to Daleks.

If Earth needs a hero?

It needs it now … 

~≈⌘≈~

Now … 

What did I make of Revolution of the Daleks?   Of Captain Jack’s return?   Of Jack Robertson’s re-appearance?

Of the new Dalek designs?

The team breaking up?   And of the regulars’ performances?

On possible plot holes?

Let’s briefly nod at Captain Jack … and the possible hole, there … 

Frankly?

Frankly, we see Jack breaking the Doctor out of prison, tells us roughly why … but he’s not too specific about why: unless I’ve missed something!

I’d’ve felt a little happier if we could’ve have had that filled in.

In spite of that?   It’s fantastic to see John Barrowman back as the ever flamboyant Captain Jack Harkness.   What’s more, I feel he’s been used well … and used differently.

In the Ecclestone/Tennent days?

The Doctor, over the years has never liked using a gun: Ninth and Tenth Doctors in particular.

So Jack, much like River Song, is there for the few times the Doctor won’t use a gun … but needs someone around who does.

In Revolution of The Daleks?

In Revolution of The Daleks, Jack’s got a different role.

He’s become School Reunion-era Sarah Jane Smith: he’s there, partly, to move the plot along … but also to warn the regulars — Yaz in particular — that life in the TARDIS can be difficult.

Yes: there’s a hole.

But Jack’s around.

Let’s try addressing over points, as well.

On minor point?

The spare TARDIS the Doctor gave Yaz?   The one which re-uses the Jo Martin Control Room from Fugitive of the Judoon?

It’s a central plot point of the episode: so I’ll say little about it … beyond asking where did the Doctor get it from.

~≈⌘≈~

Let’s talk about the other Jack in the box, shall we?   Jack Robertson, played by Chris Noth?

A Jack Robertson who’s got away scot free by the end of this episode.

I think one point springs to mind, here,

For starters?

In the classic Dr Who story, The Invasion, features a character called Tobias Vaughn: who almost sells out humanity to the Cyberman, before deciding to help the Doctor repel the Cyber-occupation.

Granted, the Master behaves in a similar way in some of the Third Doctor stories: but it was Vaughn that caught my attention.

I think it’s possible to compare the two: as they’re both working with invading aliens, to boost their own power.

But … ?

By the end of The Invasion, Vaughn has repeated of his actions.

By the end of Revolution of The Daleks?

Robertson hasn’t.

What I’m wondering, right now?

Is this: are we due another appearance from Robertson?

It’s strikes that his arc — much like Daniel Barton, Lenny Henry’s character from Spyfall pt one and two — isn’t finished, yet.

~≈⌘≈~

2nd January, 2021.

We can possibly say more about them.

But I want to briefly touch on the new design: based loosely loosely on the ones used in last year’s New Year’s episode, Resolution.

If I’ve understood things correctly?

The classic design of Dalek was cramped.

So it helped if the Dalek operators were short.

From what I’ve seen, the new series Daleks?   Were designed to eye level to the 5’4” Billie Piper: to look menacing

Given the new Daleks that had animatronic domes, and that average height has gone up, over the years?

Means the new Daleks are more cramped for the operators.

Which is why I think we’ve had the taller, New Paradigm Daleks in Victory of The Daleks.

Oh, and the 5’11” Karen Gillan was hired as Matt Smith’s companion.

They’d still look menacing.

At ANY rate?

Revolution of The Daleks see a new design of animatronic Daleks, modelled on an equally animatronic Reconnaissance Dalek.

Ones the same height as the standard Daleks: but because they’re remote control robot puppets?

Not ones cramping the operators.

In terms of both looks, and practicality?

The things were superb.

It’s just — to my way of thinking? — unfortunate that the episode was written to seen them destroyed.

I’d loved to have seen more of them!

~≈⌘≈~

As one final point?

We saw it coming, didn’t we?

We knew both Bradley Walsh and Tosin Cole would be leaving in this episode.

And … ?

I have to say, both are going to be missed: especially when you consider that both — Cole in particular — got some great dialogue: and put in some superb performances!

Considering Tosin was reduced to being eye candy in series 12?

It’s a shame that that’s been remedied in his last episode!

On the other hand?

We know that Mandip Gil will be staying on, as Yaz.

Frankly?

I couldn’t be happier!

Over the past couple of series, Gil’s had not much to do: especially in the latter half of Whittaker’s first to series.

I’m hoping the writers will be able to focus more on Yaz: as Chibnall seems to have done with this episode.

~≈⌘≈~

Which brings me to the last thing.

“Paul,” I hear you say, “what do you think?   What do you reckon?   How was Revolution of The Daleks?”

To be frank?

There’s possibly better episodes.

There’s possibly worse.

There’s a few holes, lurking around.

But on the whole?

I thoroughly enjoyed Revolution of The Daleks.

We know Series Thirteen is to be a shortened one, at eight episodes.

But if those episodes are as good as Revolution of The Daleks has been?

It’s going to be very good indeed.