"Resolution"

When the broadcast date for Jodie Whittaker’s first special was announced, it seemed that Chris Chibnall had committed the ultimate sin – ruining Christmas! Nevertheless, with the glow of a slightly different holiday illuminating it, "Resolution" pulls itself out of being the target for ill-will, by bringing this most mould-breaking of Doctors face-t0-face with her most iconic foe for the first time.

Again, Chris Chibnall borrows heavily from a previous story, in this case the Daleks’ reintroduction to the twenty-first century, in Rob Shearman’s eponymous classic. However, although some of the beats are there – the reconstruction of the creature, the high-speed absorption of the internet – there are sufficient differences to give the story a flavour of its own. There is some nice domestic dialogue involving Ryan and his family and the fumbling hesitancy of Mitch and Lin’s budding romance is well written. Again, the glue binding the script together is nothing like as strong as for RTD and Moffatt, but this is something, it seems, which we have to get used to. The jokes about Brexit and the loss of personal contact are not particularly polished, but are funny nonetheless – although it is to be hoped that we can look back and laugh at the former, in the future!

However, the realisation of the story is what really pulls it from OK to very good. Wayne Yip puts in some spectacular work. The scene with the Dalek mutant possessing Lin is genuinely creepy and it is a master-stroke differentiating the telepathic voice of the Dalek from its more familiar staccato. Lin’s murderous rampage is given a Terminator like urgency and the battle scene with the junk yard Dalek and the soldiers is spectacular. Yip makes these disparate moods blend excellently and he handles the quieter, more personal scenes very well, and he is helped no end by the performers. The very likeable and versatile Charlotte Ritchie is great as Lin and Nikesh Patel dials down his usual dashing look so much, that he is almost unrecognisable as the rather geeky Mitch. Special mention has to be given to Daniel Adegboyega’s wonderful performance as Ryan’s dad, a nuanced and sensitive portrayal that feels genuinely real. The regulars are on fine form and Jodie Whittaker fills the Doctor with the fire that we have come to expect from the Time Lord facing her greatest enemy. Her conversation with the possessed and unpossessed Lin is written generically, but given a spin that only she could.

"Resolution" is a welcome and very enjoyable break from what may be the longest hiatus since the programme’s return. I look forward to welcoming the Doctor and her fam back.

"The Battle of Ranskoor Av Kolos"

And so we come to the end and it is the placement of this story that is a major factor in evaluating "The Battle of Ranskoor Av Kolos". The storyline seems a bit light, plot wise, for a finale and, again, Chibnall shamelessly lifts from Doctor Who’s past, most especially The Pirate Planet (which covers its concepts with more thought and humour). The Ux are a bit underwritten and don’t come across with the gravitas that they should as a mythical race with god-like powers. The plot progression is very sketchy - the Doctor has often gone for a haphazard, improvised solution, but this shouldn’t appear like a convenience for the script writer – here, we have a long period where the Doctor has a backpack with two grenades stuck to it has her plan. As far as these aspects go, we would probably have been more forgiving, had this story been earlier in the season, but we are dealing with a writer who has often disappointed in the resolution of his plotlines. Happily, Chibnall seems, thankfully to have followed the path of the Torchwood Series 2 arc, rather than the appalling Season 1 arc. The threads are personal, with the murder of Grace by Tim Shaw being the galvanising event for the companions. Tim Shaw will never go down as an all-time great adversary, but the personal stakes give the story what power it has and it is wise that Chibnall emphasised this aspect.

Although, again, the dialogue lacks the zip of RTD or Moffat, it is the performances of Bradley Walsh and Tosin Cole that sell this aspect brilliantly and it is this which papers over the cracks in the dialogue. Samuel Oatley again attacks the role of Tim Shaw with relish. Yas is, again, underutilised, but Mandip Gill remains as likable as ever. We have a nice role for the excellent Mark Addy, and Phyllis Logan and Percelle Ascott do good work in the rather underwritten roles of the Ux. Our leading lady is commanding and lovable at the same time and Jodie Whittaker continues to dominate the story, as is her right. Jamie Childs helms a spectacular looking production with some awesome visuals, most notably, the sight of the floating ship. The design is first rate and the editing sublime.

"The Battle of Ranskoor Av Kolos" is, without doubt, the least impressive Doctor Who season finale. The script comes off as a rushed first draft, even more so than others this year. However, it is by no means a bad story and perhaps, that is helped by the fact that we didn’t have to wait long for the next one…

NEXT: "Resolution"