Doctor Who — Flux Series 13: Chapter 2 — War of the Sontarans — A Review

7th November, 2021.

Right at the moment ... ?

It’s a Sunday night: and I’m looking after my nephew, Jude.

I’m typing this on a linux laptop: and Jude is on a Playstation four. making things go bang, whilst talking to a school friend.

Who is ALSO making things go bang.

Jude will possibly say ‘Hello,’ later.

At any rate, it’s a Sunday night: and tonight's episode of Dr Who — War of the Sontarans — is due to start.

I let you know more, tomorrow.

~≈🚀≈~

8th November, 2021.

Chapter 2 — War of the Sontarans — opens with a recap of last week’s episode: then shifts to show us the Doctor, Yaz and Dan, (Jodie Whittaker, Mandip Gill And John Bishop) landing in a battlefield: complete no memory of how they got away from the rapidly approaching Flux.

As the Doctor examines a redcoat’s body?

She’s told off by the local nurse: Mary Seacole (Sara Powell), concerned they're going to loot the bodies of the Crimean War fallen.

It’s only when Yaz hears approaching soldiers that Mrs Seacole reveals who the British Army are fighting.

Sontarans.

~≈🚀≈~

Post titles?

Post titles, we met Vinder (Jacob Anderson).

He has been thrown light years from where he was: with a mysterious drone demanding he help … and persistently asking “Can you repair?   Respond!”

Especially like Yaz: as she and Mr Williamson have been thrown to the mysterious Temple of Atropos, where the strange robot guardians make the same demands for repairs on the Temple’s inhabitants, the Mouri.

Dan, however?   Is equally shifted: back to join his parents in their native Liverpool, which is also now occupied by Sontarans.

The Doctor herself?   Is still in the Crimean: where, after conning a Sontaran Prisoner of war?   She manages to Skaak (Johnathan Watson), the general in charge of the Crimean front.

And finds out the Sontaran forces sneaked onto Earth in the seconds before the Lupari shield went into operation in The Halloween Apocalypse.

And … ?   And want to make sure they stay in charge of the planet Earth!

Frankly?

The only thing that could pull the Doctor and Dan out the Sontaran frying pan, is Karvanista.

But even with his help … ?

Things are going to be tough … 

~≈🚀≈~

Now … what did I think of War of the Sontarans?

I have to admit to a certain amount of disappointment: in myself.

I gave The Halloween Apocalypse a four star rating last week — the highest I usually hand out — in the believe it was both a strong opening episode — it still is, I think — and a very good episode.

I think that, were I to review The Halloween Apocalypse, today?

I’d possibly shave that down to three.

Because, as I’ve started this post?

I’d literally finished War of The Sontarans convinced it was the better of the two episodes.

Could I explain that?

In any kind of rational way?

I honestly don’t know.

I DO know that — well done — the Sontarans were always some of my favourite Dr Who villains: and that War of The Sontarans presents them very well.

I’m not too fond of their redesigned heads: but the armour is great, Jonathon Watson does a very good job as Skaak and Riskaw, Dan Starkey is fantastic — no one can spin the word ‘obliteration,’ like Dan Starkey — and the series has added to Sontaran lore by telling us Sontarans very specifically need seven and a half minutes, every twenty-seven hours, to recharge their armour.

And seeing lots of Sontarans, their weaponry and ships?

Is quite the thing.

Talking of the cast?   

I’m possibly overlooking Jodie Whittaker, but she’s given a good performance in last night’s episode.   I think we can say she’s found her character and slips into 13th Doctor at the snap of a finger.

The same with Mandip Gill as Yaz: Yas wasn’t this assertive at the start of series one.

Walking down the stairs and introducing herself as ‘Serving Officer Yasmin Khan of the Hallamshire Police, Earth Division,’ was something to watch.

John Bishop as Dan?   Superb!   I think we can leave that there.

Given all this … ?

I’m going to be watching Chapter Three, Once, Upon Time, on 14th November and letting you know what I thought as soon as I can.

War of the Sontarans.

★★★★