30th May, 2025: “The Reality War”.
I have to confess, it’s Friday.
And … ?
I’m doing what I usually do.
Starting my review of an episode of Dr Who, early.
I am very much aware that — unlike earlier episodes — “The Reality War” is not going to released at 8am on the day of release.
No: it’s going to be released simultaneously with the 18:50 broadcast on BBC1.
So … ?
I’m going to be having dinner, early, tomorrow!
As an extra thought … ?
As I write this, we still don’t know if Disney will be continuing its involvement with the show.
They’ll still airing The War Between the Land and the Sea: but beyond that?
I don’t know.
We’ll have to see what happens!
~≈💊≈~
On a personal level?
I caught The Rubber-keyed Wonder, a documentary about the ZX Spectrum, a couple of weeks ago.
And, as a result?
Had some Atic Atac themed t-shirts printed.
And got hold of Switched-on Bach, the first Wendy Carlos LP.
That’s a fascinating LP to listen to: as it was one of the first albums using a synthesiser.
And it’s something I’ll have on, finishing this post.
~≈💊≈~
At any rate … ?
I’ll be watching “The Reality War”, tomorrow night.
And have this review finished on Monday, 2nd June.
I’ll see you then.
Doctor Who — Series 15/Season 2 - Episode 8 — “The Reality War”.31st May, 2025.A Foreward.
I’m writing this foreword before the show airs at 18:50.
Very aware of all sorts of rumours.
That Ncuti Gatwa’s leaving.
And will be regenerating into Billie Piper.
Or, possibly, Jo Martin.
Or, even more possibly, Jodie Whittaker.
Someone ‘female and familiar’, going by the gossip.
Other rumours?
Say he’ll regenerate: and that the screen will go black.
Or, at least, have on-screen text telling us when to expect The War Between the Land and the Sea to be aired, and a potential new series of Doctor Who to air.
As of 17:02 on 31st May, 2025?
I don’t know, either.
I fully expect to find out when you do: at about 20:00, tonight.
To quote John Carpenter’s The Thing?
“Why don’t we just … wait here for a little while? See what happens.”
~≈💊≈~
Part One: The Summary.
Episode 8 — “The Reality War” — opens with with a brief recap of “Wish World”: showing us the Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa) falling to his apparent doom.
Then shifts.
Anita has been the manager of the Hotel: and noticing the place is having trouble connecting to one specific date in the 21st Century.
As we see the Doctor going through the door?
We see the Rani and Mrs Flood (Archie Panjabi and Anita Dobson) cursing the Doctor’s rescue: then being shown Ruby and Belinda (Millie Gibson and Varada Sethu) waking up in their beds.
Their beds in a Wish World that’s subtly different from the one they were expecting.
And we find out — from Anita — that the hotel is having issues with stability, caused by the Wish World resetting …
In all that … ? She’s been searching for the Doctor.
She wants to help fight the Rani.
But first?
Before the pair can take the fight to the villainous Time Lady … ?
Before they do, they have to get both Belinda and Poppy (Sienna-Robyn Mavanga-Phipps) to safety.
Mother and child have to be taken to the one place on Earth where they’ll be looked after.
UNIT HQ.
You can tell there’s going to be problems on the way, can’t you … ?
~≈💊≈~
1st June, 2025
Part Two: Thoughts.
Now …
What did I make of that little lot?
Of an hour and six minute’s worth of season finale … ?
Of the series as a whole?
And of the show’s possible future?
We have quite a lot to unpack.
In one of her videos for the WhoCulture channel, Ellie Littlechild described “Wish World” as a ‘busy’ episode: with lots of plot points and exposition going on.
And … ?
I believe Ellie would be saying the same about “The Reality War”.
This is an episode with a lot of plot points, a lot that to explain and discuss, and a lot of characters turning up.
It’s nice to see the UNIT crew — Kate, Rose Noble Temple, Colonel Ibraham, Mel, Shirley — in the episode, for example.
And see UNIT doing what — back in the classic series — it was known for: a huge great bun fight!
But it struck me that there was quite a lot of characters: with, potentially, not enough to do.
That said?
The UNIT scenes in “The Reality War” seemed a lot better paced than their equivalents in “The Giggle: and the military action looks superb.
What else … ?
The cast, collectively, turned in a superb job.
Personal stand-outs?
Archie Panjabi, as a neo-fascist Rani? Utterly superb!
Steph de Whalley as a returning Anita? As superb as she was in “Joy to the World”.
I feel, now, as I did then, that the character of Anita would make for a suitable companion.
The fact Anita is three months pregnant?
Rules that out for now.
Millie Gibson as Ruby, was good: and held up her position well.
But … ?
Varada Sethu, as Belinda, and Ncuti Gatwa, as the Doctor?
Utterly superb, the pair of them.
The screaming shame of things?
Is that “The Reality War” is Ncuti’s last appearance in the role of the Doctor.
I would have killed to see a third season with Ncuti in the lead role.
~≈💊≈~
Part Three: Points.
What else is there … ?
Oh, yes … Omega.
I think my one big criticism of this episode is simply this: in both “Wish World”, and “The Reality War”, we get a lot of discussion about Omega.
Of how he’s the first Time Lord, the Original Sin, the Titan, the Mad God of Time.
I just don’t know if what we got — hideous undead thing — was quite what I was hoping for.
What we got … ?
Was an CGI-generated, undead, skeletal, dog-thing.
A zombie version of Sutekh, from season one.
It’s well designed, it’s monstrous, it’s scary: hopefully something that — in the finest traditions of the show — will give kids nightmares for years, and annoy Mary Whitehouse.
But — and I’ll be honest, here — I was hoping for something different.
Growing up when I did, and having seen Omega’s earlier appearances?
I was hoping for something that looked like the version played by Stephen Thorne in The Three Doctors: a person in a CGI-enhanced, physical costume, complete with an updated version of the utterly gorgeous mask.
A Dr Who equivalent to Tolkien’s Sauron, from The Lord of the Rings: or Morgoth from The Silmarillion.
The Lovecraftian thing that is the modern Omega?
Was scary: but not quite right.
I have a minor Omega-themed criticism, too.
Quite simply this: the Omega plot was resolved inside of thirty-six minutes.
Roughly half way through the episode.
I think I’d’ve been happier that fighting this Big Bad taken a little longer.
~≈💊≈~
Part Four: More Points.
There is possibly a lot more I could be raising, here.
But there’s possibly only three points I could cover.
The first?
Is the great big, screamingly huge one.
The credits.
This episode sees a welcome return for Jodie Whittaker, reprising her role as the Thirteenth Doctor.
That was a good thing, I felt.
I felt the COVID lockdowns in place gave Whittaker — and us — very little chance to explore Thirteenth manic style.
It saw Ms Whittaker getting one last on-screen credit for he work as the Doctor.
The second?
We see Ncuti regenerating: “The Reality War” is his last episode.
And, apparently, replaced by Billie Piper.
The reason I mention credits?
Is the credits simply say “And Introducing Billie Piper”, without saying who she’s playing.
There’s also someone missing from the episode: and, as a result, the credits.
There was no sign in “The Reality War”, of Carole Ann Ford, as Susan Foreman: despite both character and actress being in the two earlier episodes.
We don’t see her story tied off.
Why?
I don’t know for sure: but would love to see more.
~≈💊≈~
Part Five: Future Funding.
Let’s go sideways, shall we?
Metaphorically, anyway.
You, like I, will have realised “The Reality War” is the last of the current series of Doctor Who.
And you, like I, will have realised that — at the time of publication — no announcement has been about further Disney+ funding for Dr Who.
Personally?
I hope that funding does continue.
From what I’m told? The funding had mostly been spent on making sure the broadcast audio and video matches Disney’s streaming requirements.
Something I feel is reflected in the broadcast version I saw, last night.
The version of “The Reality War” I watched on the terrestrial broadcast on BBC1, seemed of higher quality than the earlier episodes, the ones I watched on the iPlayer: all eight episodes were at 1080 quality, I should stress.
I’m assuming the difference is — in part — because the broadcast versions are from higher quality masters.
Quality aside?
I’m also assuming dealing with just Disney makes international negotiations simpler: the BBC would only have to deal with one company, rather than X different streamers in Y different territories.
If that’s true?
I can only hope the Disney deal continues.
But if not?
I can only hope the BBC can continue funding the show on its own: and negotiate international deals nearer the time.
~≈💊≈~
Part Six: Future Stories.
Assuming funding can be found?
What’s the shape of the show’s future?
When — assuming the thing isn’t permanently cancelled — is a new series to be broadcast?
I don’t know.
There’s talk that the show will got on hiatus: as happened at the end of the original run.
There’s also talk that the show will have a short pause: before restarting broadcast at some point in 2027.
I don’t know for sure: but hope the latter option, restarting in 2027, with funding from whoever, will be the route chosen.
From the little I’ve know, Russell T. Davies has several scripts written: and other stories prepared, if not put to paper.
I can only hope that these hit the screen: and that we get our story questions answered.
We can only wait for an announcement: an announcement that’s presumably to come after the broadcast of The War Between the Land and the Sea.
We’re going to have to see what happens.
~≈💊≈~
Part Seven: And Finally.
So … what did I make of “The Reality War”: and of season two?
Yes: the episode has its issues.
It’s as busy as its predecessor, but just as well made.
And, while I think it could’ve shown more of Omega?
And had other stories to close.
“The Reality War” is both watchable, entertaining and a suitable finale.
As for this second series?
Again it’s a good series, overall: a return to form, and an improvement on series one.
My only disappointment?
Is simply that it’s Ncuti Gatwa’s last: he’s given us an interesting version of a much loved character.
Much as I’d’ve preferred he stay for another series?
I can only wish him well in his future.
At any rate?
Both the series, and its finale were watchable and entertaining.
I can only hope there’s more to come.
~≈💊≈~
Part Eight: Last Words.
That … ?
Is where I shall leave things.
But that does not mean I’ll stop watching TV: nor stop reviewing things.
I’ll be telling what I thought of Stranger Things, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds and For All Mankind, as and when the new series drop.
Until then … ?
Feel free to follow me here on Nik Nak’s Old Peculiar, and on my Youtube channel, @MrCuddy2977.
I’ll catch you then.
Take care, be good …
And … ?
Be Seeing You … !
“The Reality War”★★★☆
Series Ratings Per Episode:Episode 1 — “The Robot Revolution” — ★★★☆Episode 2 — “Lux” — ★★☆☆Episode 3 — “The Well” — ★★★★Episode 4 — “Lucky Day” — ★★★★Episode 5 — “The Story & the Engine” — ★★★☆Episode 6 — “The Interstellar Song Contest” — ★★★★Episode 7 — “Wish World” — ★★★☆Episode 8 — “The Reality War” — ★★★☆Average — ★★★☆
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