Doctor Who — Series 14/Season 4 - Episode 4 — “73 Yards” — A Review

25th May, 2024: the announcement.

Right then … 

It’s officially Saturday.

Which means that, tonight … ?

I’m going to be watching Dr Who’s next episode — “73 Yards” — then … ?

Telling you what I thought.

I’ll catch you later!

~≈👨🏿‍⚕️≈~

25th May, 2024: “73 Yards”.

Part One: the Summary.

Episode 4 — “73 Yards” — opens, quietly: to show us the TARDIS landing on an unknown cliff on the coast of Wales.

Whilst admiring the scenery, the Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa) tells Ruby (Millie Gibson) about some of the future of Earth: including a dangerous Prime Minister to come, called Roger ap Gwilliam (Aneurin Barnard).

The pair are happily exploring the area … until they find what the Doctor calls a ‘circle’: a group of lucky charms and toys and bird skulls bound up with string, a circle that the Doctor feels both respectful to … and upset about.

He has just — quite literally — put his foot on the circle: and broken it.

Whilst the Doctor’s being as respectful as possibly to the now-broken circle?

Ruby?

Makes the mistake of reading some of the scrolls strung onto the circle.

“I miss you”, says one.

“RIP, Mad Jack”, says a second.

It’s only at this point, that the camera pans around: to show us what Ruby has just found out.

The Doctor … ?

Has gone missing: literally missing, between one heart-beat and another.

That?

Leaves Ruby with problems.

How can she get back into the TARDIS?

Where can she get help?

And who is the half seen old woman, who’s standing seventy-three yards away … ?

~≈👨🏿‍⚕️≈~

Part Two: Thoughts.

Now … 

What did I make of “73 Yards”?

And where on Earth did the opening titles go?

First things, first?   That last question: where did the opening titles go?

I have no idea.

I can only tell you that “73 Yards” is the first episode I can consciously remember seeing that has no opening credits.

Or, rather, an opening title sequence: it does have the usual credits over the Doctor and Ruby’s opening scene.

Why open that way?

I don’t know.

But?

I suspect it’s so Russell T. Davies — this episode’s writer — can throw us straight into what has to be one of the most atmospheric episodes I can remember seeing … with no interruption.

And, when I say atmospheric?

Absolutely, atmospheric.

Although ‘atmospheric’ is just one way of describing “73 Yards”.

The other that springs to mind?

Is “creepy”.

Let’s not forget, we have an episode that sees Ruby inadvertently abandoned by the Doctor, in a environment full of hostile strangers, and stalked by an unknown woman: who causes everyone Ruby relies on to flee … and flee with expressions that vary from fearful to angry.

With a rock solid supporting cast, a pub straight out of An American Werewolf in London, an air of paranoid menace running from one end of the episode to the other, and a superb performance from Millie Gibson?

Yes: “73 Yards” is one hell of an episode.

No: it doesn’t need an opening title sequence.

~≈👨🏿‍⚕️≈~

Part Three: Observations.

The ’Net is an amazing thing.

You know that, already.

So?

There’s possibly dozens of videos on YouTube, already: telling you about the various easter eggs — if any — hidden in this episode.

Which means one less thing for me to tell you about.

However?

I did see the by-now-expected appearance of Susan Twist: as the hiker Ruby meets, early on in the episode.

I also noticed the character of Roger ap Gwilliam: the nationalistic politician played by Aneurin Barnard.

I do know there was speculation that this was a revamped version of John Simm’s take on the Master: the one originally introduced as an equally corrupt Prime Minister called Harold Saxon.

I doubted it, then: and doubt it, now.

And if I’m wrong, I’m wrong.

Right now, though?

I don’t think ap Gwilliam’s the Master.

But I do think Mr Davies is re-using an idea.

The ap Gwilliam character calls back both to Mr Saxon, but also to Viviene Rook: the populist politician played by Emma Thomas in the Davies penned Years and Years.

ap Gwilliam is a character that’s more like the latter than the former: as both are populists who come to sticky ends.

Rook is charged with murder: ap Gwilliam, runs for his life.

Yes: we can argue it’s Davies, repeating himself.

But, just as Steven Moffat repeated elements in last week’s “Boom” and produced a masterpiece of TV writing, “73 Yards” represents one hell of an improvement on Davies’ earlier work.

Frankly?

“73 Yards” is gorgeous.

~≈👨🏿‍⚕️≈~

Part Four: Shutdown.

With all that said … ?

With all that said, “73 Yards” is a beautiful episode.

One I can’t help but tell you to watch.

Much like last week’s “Boom”, we get a gorgeous piece of TV that shows us a writer at his best, and an on-form performer.

I’m coming back for next week’s episode!

I’ll be watching the next episode of Doctor Who’s new season — “Dot and Bubble” — on Saturday, 1st June: and posting my written and video reviews of it by Sunday, 2nd June.

Between now and then?

I’ll be watching the last ever episode of Star Trek Discovery — “Life, Itself” — on Thursday, 30th May: and posting my written and video reviews of it on Friday, 31st May.

I will, hopefully, see you then!

“73 Yards”

★★★★⁺