"Nikola Tesla's Night of Terror"

It's time for this year's visit to the past and an encounter with a famous historical figure and we have, not only the fascinating figure of Nikola Tesla, but his more famous nemesis, Thomas Edison. This is the debut story from Nina Metivier and her inexperience sometimes shows. On paper, it does feel like the paint-by-numbers version of the Doctor meets a famous historical figure and helps them fight monsters a bit too slavishly and the progression of the solution is sometimes a bit too woolly. However, the monsters in question, the Skithra, tie in well with the central theme of inspiration and inventiveness versus piracy and parasitism although the scenes of the monsters attacking lack verve on the page. One wonders what the considerably greater conceptual ingenuity of RTD and Moffat would have given to these monsters, come rewrites.

However, it is in the characters that the script really comes into its own, helped immeasurably by the performances of Robert Glenister as Edison and, especially, Goran Višnjić as Tesla. Višnjić has always shown incredible charisma, reaching an international audience in ER, a medical drama that was considerably more than the sum of its parts, but his joy at playing someone who is clearly a hero of his, is palpable. Although it was always hugely unlikely that this was going to be the best Doctor Who story he appeared in, Glenister refuses to be outshone. He very interestingly plays Edison with hints of a considerably less intelligent businessman who is currently making an absolute dog's dinner of being the President of the United States. However, Edison is an antagonist, rather than a villain and, despite his portrayal as a ruthless businessman, is shown as being loyal to his employees and his shock and sorrow of the murders on his factory floor are well-conveyed. Behind some heavy prosthetics we have the welcome return of Anjli Mohindra to the Whoniverse. Despite having matured greatly as an actress, the child-like glee she has as the Skithra Queen is fantastic. The Fam are very well written, - Ryan and Graham are their usual cheeky selves and we are treated to Tesla and Yas alternating the role of Doctor and companion in their breakaway scenes. The real Doctor is a champion of inspiration and invention and Whittaker aces every scene.

Nida Manzoor is very good with the actors and the action scenes, but strangely not so sharp with visual comedy – the revelation of Tesla’s bare laboratory could have easily been done better. This is odd, considering Manzoor’s pedigree. However, the whole production has a very cinematic feel, even though – wisely – Manzoor does not attempt to compete with Tesla's unforgettable entrance in Christopher Nolan's The Prestige. A problem with the Skithra Queen is her similarity in appearance to the Queen of the Racnoss thirteen years ago which is unfortunate.

"Nikola Tesla's Night of Terror" manages to overcome its flaws to become a very enjoyable piece of work. However it does show that the pseudo-historical is not as easy to write as it seems – a warning that future writers should take note of.

NEXT: "Fugitive of the Judoon"

"Orphan 55"

"It Takes You Away" was a real highlight of Jodie Whittaker’s first series and writer Ed Hime’s return was something I, along with many others, was looking forward to. Strangely, for the writer of an episode that felt like nothing else previously broadcast under the Doctor Who banner, "Orphan 55" is a type of story that we have seen a fair few times before – welcome to the base-under-siege! Although this type of story is nothing like as prevalent and predictable as it was in the middle part of the Troughton era, it is surprising how un-surprising much of the plot is. The roles and motivation of the characters range from the functional to the sketchy – key character Kane seems like the traditional security chief type character, but is she the owner/designer of Tranquility Spa? However, Hime makes sure that there is solid world-building and futuristic incomprehensibility – the ionic membrane, the Hopper virus, the fakations. More importantly, Hime ensures that stock scenes do not unfold in a stock manner – the way in which we are immediately thrown into the action is both thrilling and funny, but not as funny as the scene where Ryan is cured of the Hopper virus. If anything, the story has too many ideas (which can be dealt with) and too many characters (which is detrimental).

Lee Haven Jones directs with great energy and has a great cast to help him. The old couple keeping their love alive is an old cliché, but Julia Foster and Col Farrell are touching as Vilma and Benni. Laura Fraser brings her unique presence to the role of Kane and Gia Ré does very well with the rather sketchy character of Bella - there is a reason that terrorists with mummy issues aren't stock characters! James Buckley brings his cheeky charisma to the role of Nevi and Lewin Lloyd, fresh off of playing one of the most tragic minor characters in modern fiction, is great as his son, Sylas, again, rather basically written. The writing for the Fam, however, is top notch and with Graham’s glee at his free holiday, Ryan’s hilarious reaction to hallucinatory side effects and Yas’s unintended gooseberrying, the Doctor’s companions just keep on giving. As for the Doctor herself, she’s a whirling dervish of solutions and outrage at what her favourite species can do to themselves.

The monsters of the week are the very well-realised Dregs and it turns out that Orphan 55 is not the far-off alien rock we thought it was, with the dregs being mutated degenerate humans, straight out of some of the more depressing chapters of Last and First Men. Some would say that the warnings over the environment are laid on a bit thick but frankly, we are running out of reasons to put our fingers in our ears.

It is perhaps unfair to view "Orphan 55" as a disappointment- it is well made and achieves what it is set out to do and is clearly a lesser script by a very good writer. I’m sure that viewing it in the context of the season will work very well in its favour.

NEXT: "Nikola Tesla's Night of Terror"

Spyfall

Doctor Who returns for the third decade of its revival with this epic action-fest. The name of this two-parter has obvious echoes of the other great British icon that has survived due to the lead actor being changed every few years, but Bond is not the only drawer that Chris Chibnall gleefully plunders from. The various time zones, the Doctor setting up problems and solutions for herself and her Fam in the future, all have echoes of the timey-wimier Steven Moffat adventures and The Fam as fugitives is a situation reminiscent of "The Sound of Drums". There is still a degree of woolliness, but the dialogue is more polished than before and, although it comes close to emulating the pat conclusions of his work for Moffat and RTD, the resolution doesn’t feel like a cop-out.- to be honest, it is probably not too unfair to posit that Chibnall came up with the title and constructed a story from there. A more major caveat it's that Chibnall hasn't fully thought about the full implications of using historical characters - whilst drawing attention to all-but-forgotten women of the past is laudable, using Noor Inayat Khan does raise uncomfortable questions, when one considers how she died in real life.

The slight vagueness, however, becomes a strength when it comes to the story’s realisation. One of the strongest aspects of Whittaker’s debut story was the effectiveness in which it conveyed the alien. The monsters in question, the Kasaavins are visualised as alarming apparitions, like something out of an Usborne Paranormal book and their ‘realm’ is as unexplained at the end as it is inexplicable at the beginning. The use of two directors works in the story’s favour as each episode has a separate pace and feel. The guest cast are first rate with Stephen Fry making an all-too brief appearance as ‘C’ and Lenny Henry being menacing in a very restrained performance as Barton, a very believable character, whose revelatory speech is all-too close to reality. Sylvie Briggs and Aurora Marion are great as Ada Lovelace and Noor Inayat Khan, and we mustn’t forget the brief Lovelace/Babbage double-act! Even the duo who form “O”'s Aussie security detail are fun throwaway characters.

However, the main guest star is Sacha Dhawan for, sooner than I expected, the Master is back. After the revelation of his identity, we are treated to the surprising return of the TCE – but Dhawan is definitely taking the Master into unknown territory. Dhawan burns with a raw fury that exceeds his predecessors. In particular, the moment when he asks the Doctor to kneel and call him by name is truly spine-tingling – although it did seem as if the Doctor was going to launch into a rendition of Metallica's greatest song! Another example of Chibnall not fully thinking things through is the Doctor using the Master's appearance as an Asian man against him with the Nazis – Third Reich pan-Aryan pseudo-anthropology notwithstanding.

Refreshingly, however, Chibnall seems to have ironed out most of the kinks of his crowded TARDIS and the Fam(ily) dynamic works much more smoothly with Cole, Gill and Walsh being more than up to the challenge, their impromptu spycraft being both funny and fun. Our leading lady relishes each challenge – there is betrayal and joy around every corner and Jodie nails every turn. The close-up of her surveying the ruins of Gallifrey is wonderful.

It is true to say that, whilst I enjoyed the previous season a lot, I had resigned myself to the fact that the programme’s best days were behind it. However, the past has been learned from and Spyfall gives us hope that the Chibnall era might be capable of true greatness in its future.

NEXT: "Orphan 55"

"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"

"It Takes You Away"

There are some stories where there is a twist in the plot. Then there are stories where you reach the end, look back at the beginning and wonder how you got there. "It Takes You Away" sets itself up as a Nordic noir mystery and then goes to places no-one could truthfully have anticipated. The story is stuffed full of intriguing concepts, but the real success it has in its exploration of more emotional themes. The consciousness that is incompatible with the Universe, so it is rejected, to form its own cosmos is intriguing enough, but when that is combined with the themes of loneliness, the effect is potent Yas describes the Solitract as trapping people, but it is also looking for loss, which is the companion of loneliness. There is even a meditation on when love of one's marital partner and of one's child become dissonant with each other. In the Antizone, we have six-legged rats and flesh-eating moths and the disquietingly named Ribbons-of-the-Seven-Stomachs. Ed Hime’s debut script is full of great ideas and, most importantly, manages to weave them into an intriguing story. And, there's a frog.

Jamie Childs again shows he's a force to be reckoned with. The moths eating Ribbons is very close to the bone (sorry!) but, unlike "The Woman Who Fell to Earth", it does not cross the line, but will cause some healthy nightmares in younger viewers. Sharon D Clarke returns as Grace in a very assured performance, and Christian Rubeck is very effective as a father who needs to grow up a little bit more. The actor Kevin Eldon pours his unique skills into the role of Ribbons, under heavy make-up, which I hope means that we are due for another guest turn from this wonderful performer, very soon, The main guest role is Ellie Wallwork as Hanne, who is astonishing, belying the paucity of her acting CV.

The script makes good use of all the regulars, with Ryan and Yas getting good material, but it is the other two who get the lions share. Bradley Walsh is quietly astonishing as Graham, especially in his scenes with Grace. In looking at more batrachian scenes, it is the other performer who truly makes it work. Jodie Whittaker has the Doctor as brilliant and mad as ever, but it is compassion that is the driving force and it is this which makes the scene with the frog truly powerful, rather than ridiculous. The frog is something that will split viewers. Some were expecting the Solitract to manifest as Susan or River. However, that would dilute the highly emotional appearance of Grace. There are others who just find the idea of a talking frog ridiculous. I am not one of those people, as it forms part of the astonishingly varied recipe for this adventure.

"It Takes You Away" is a truly invigorating story and I look forward to more from the pen of Mr Hime!

NEXT: "The Battle of Ranskoor Av Kolos" 

"The Witchfinders"

The dour pre-Civil War Stuart period in English history, particularly the Jacobean era, is a ripe setting for drama. In hindsight, it seems that the threads that bound the opulent Elizabethan era were slowly starting to unravel. Whilst this was the age of Shakespeare and Bacon, there was a growing hysteria over the imagined rise of witchcraft and it is in this setting that the Doctor and her friends find themselves.

The setting is vividly brought to life and the viewer is very quickly brought up to speed concerning the facts about witchcraft; that it was often an excuse to settle scores, that unmarried women were often the target and that village healers, invaluable in rural communities of the area, were also suspect. If there is one thing that the story really does excellently, it is to expose the rampant misogyny that allowed this hysteria to proceed unchecked. Very cleverly, the trial-by-water is conducted by ducking stool, a device used to punish gossiping women. The Doctor's new gender means that her authority is not accepted anything like as quickly as it would have been before. It is a bit of a shame that the alien threat is not more closely tied with the gender themes of the episodes, but we have had 7 episodes without an alien race wanting to invade Earth, so perhaps this well-worn route is actually welcome. Joy Wilkinson produces a very good script, although it could have done with a couple more drafts, to iron out the plot.

Of course, key to the Jacobean era is old Jake himself, James I of England (and VI of Scotland). James was a complicated figure, but, in the context of witchcraft, he was obsessed to the point of paranoia. We are treated, here, to a wonderfully ripe performance by Alan Cumming that manages to make the man likeable, despite his beliefs and actions. His flirtation with Ryan is priceless. Equally good is Siobhan Finneran as Becka Savage, the goodwife raised to the landed gentry who becomes a vessel for something alien. Tilly Steele's Willa Twiston is a wonderfully real figure, effectively played. One thing the script does well is make the Jacobean characters all sincere believers in witchcraft – whatever their other vices, hypocrisy is not among them. The Doctor has to fight for her authority even harder and Jodie Whittaker excels, nowhere better than her conversation with King James, whilst being tied up. Although the rough edges of the plot to take their toll on the role of the Doctor's 'fam', the 'very flat team structure' is as engaging as ever. Sallie Aprahamian helms a production that recreates early-Stuart England well and critically, she makes the manifestation of the aliens terrifying, especially the reanimated dead.

Although a few more drafts could have improved it critically, "The Witchfinders"is a very enjoyable adventure, dealing well with its various themes.

NEXT: "It Takes You Away"

"Kerblam!"

It's called "Kerblam!", which, depending on one's mood, is either delightfully chipper or just plain silly. The story is one of Doctor Who versus the evil corporation, something which has, of course been done several times before. It's a story that could fit in any era of modern Doctor Who, perhaps even (finer details aside) in an 80s episode. As, with many other writers this century, Pete McTighe is an avid Doctor Who fan, but seldom has a a writer’s joy in being given the chance to pen an episode of their favourite programme been more evident than in interviews with McTighe. This joy transfers to the story and it is this which elevates a run-of-the-mill Doctor Who plot into something more.

The obvious real-world equivalent of Kerblam! is Amazon and it would be all-too easy to attack a large corporation for being oppressive, but Pete McTighe does something more subtle. Kerblam! takes pains to ensure that it's employees are well looked after and their break area is a really nice park. The Kerblam! Management always have their underlings' best interests at heart. Even rebukes about employee productivity are delivered in a friendly manner. However, McTighe seems to make the observation that such environments are intrinsically oppressive, no matter the intentions of the higher echelons. The detrimental effects on employees and general employment are clearly evident, but the fact that the villain is a someone who is doing it for the benefit of those workers, is beautifully subversive. Added to this, the villain's plan being turning the power of the corporation against itself and the Doctor saves the day by turning that back against the villain is glorious. Even the blatant plot-delaying tactic (Twirly running out of power) is forgivable as the reason Twirly does that is that he wastes time and power up-selling.

The supporting cast is wonderful. Julie Hesmondhalgh is a phenomenal actress who puts her all into the role of Judy. Leo Flanagan makes Charlie a very sympathetic mass-murderer and Claudia Jessie makes Kira sweet, when she could have been cloying and her death is suitably heart-breaking. As the surprisingly short-lived Dan, Lee Mack is very likeable. The regulars all shine in the best ensemble work that they've been given and we have our leading lady. The Doctor is authoritative, inventive and sympathetic – yet her glee at receiving her Kerblam! Parcel is very infectious. The visualisation is very like a Sylvester McCoy story with a colossally higher budget – visual similarities with The Greatest Show in the Galaxy are obvious. Yet we have such stunning scenes like the conveyor-belt chase which show director Jennifer Perrott in complete command of the material.

With nearly every element being honed to perfection, "Kerblam!" is an unalloyed delight and I hope Mr McTighe returns to pen another adventure, soon.

NEXT: "The Witchfinders"

"Demons of the Punjab"

"Demons of the Punjab" takes us back in time to one of the critical periods of 20th Century history. The image that most people in the West have of Partition is the lines of Hindus and Muslims passing each other in Richard Attenborough’s Gandhi. What we are shown in Vinay Patel’s remarkable story is how this event affected the history of one family and one person in particular – Yas. The cast of characters is small, but the issues and emotions are certainly not. There is a memorable alien race in the shape of the Thijarians, but it turns out that they are mere observers and not the demons of the title. The demons are those of Dostoyevsky; thoughts native to the thinker that take on a malevolent life of their own and make the thinker do the unspeakable. The partition turned long time neighbours into enemies and turned families against each other and the story of Yas’s grandmother’s tragically short first marriage ads heart to this traumatic background.

Tosin Cole and Bradley Walsh are as impressive as ever, but, finally, Mandip Gill is given the spotlight and she shines in a performance that is funny and heartwarming. This is a key period in history, but its tragedies are all-too universal, so, brilliantly, all the Indian characters are given Northern English accents by the TARDIS – the Yorkshire sadhu in particular is memorable. Shane Zaza and Amita Suman are fantastic as the doomed couple. Hamza Jeetooa is excellent at portraying the conflict between Manish’s love for his brother and his growing Hindu nationalism. It is always good to see Shaheen Khan and, in the present day, we have the invaluable Leena Dhingra as the older Umbreen. The Doctor is the Doctor throughout, being wholly authoritative in her face-off with the Thijarians but her joy at being able to experience female bonding is wonderful.

The direction by Jamie Childs is first rate, with the laid-back compositions for rural India contrasting well with the jarring stabs of the Thijarians manifesting themselves. The aliens are magnificently realised and the sheer beauty of the shot of Prem’s face joining the host that the Thijarians witnessed is wondrous. The moments of Punjabi and Yorkshire domesticity do not clash with this, and the final tragic outcome of Prem and Manish’s relationship is flawlessly executed. Perhaps it is significant that two otherworldly entities witness Prem’s death, as they echo Munkar and Nakir, the angels who judge the dead in Islamic eschatology, and who witness for a Hindu who gave his life for his Muslim love. I must also mention the evocative score by Segun Akinola, whose greatest triumph is the Indian-influenced arrangement of the theme tune, which never moves into parody.

The framing story in the present day, and Yas’s request from the Doctor recall "Father’s Day", but, in the most purely historical story since Black Orchid, we are effectively given the human consequences of historical upheaval, as with The Massacre. In the end, however, the success of this very powerful story, is purely due to its own merits.

NEXT: "Kerblam!"

"The Tsuranga Conundrum"

"The Tsuranga Conundrum" is an example of the mid-season Doctor Who story that won't top any polls or feature in many nostalgic memories. However, for the first time ever, Chris Chibnall has constructed a satisfying plot – the fact that the two crises cancel each other out is actually effective. There is some good world-building going on, with a good sense being had of the 67th century. We also have a pregnant man which starts off (as is usual) as a joke, but develops into something deeper. There is a refreshing lack of predictability about its progression, which, together with the frenetic pace make this a story that is leaves the viewer exhilarated by the ride, but not finding multiple flaws to pick at, later.

Of course, "The Tsuranga Conundrum" is a base-under-siege story, but the key factor that separates it from the herd are the characters. The leader is, at some points opposed to the Doctor, but for the best reasons. Brett Goldstein, primarily a comic actor, is very effective as Astos and Lois Chimimba puts in good work as Mabli. Suzanne Packer radiates authority as Eve Cicero and future national treasure Ben Bailey Smith is a natural as her brother – although Smith has ample experience of having an illustrious older sister! Jack Shalloo's Yoss, is surprisingly touching. Graham and Ryan's relationship is very well served by the script, with Yoss's pregnancy acting as a catalyst for their understanding of themselves. Sadly, Yas is underused, with the character mostly feeding questions to the Doctor and listing 21st century equivalents to the 67th Century gizmos she encounters. Jodie Whittaker is already making playing the Doctor as natural to her as breathing. There is a critical scene that shows what a difference the Doctor being female can be. Astos rebukes the Doctor for being selfish, for wanting to reroute the Tsuranga, and the Doctor agrees, which is a scene which works a lot better when the testosterone is removed.

Jennifer Perrott is a good match for the material, giving the story the sense of urgency it requires. There is only one major location, but the imaginative design makes the story always interesting to watch. The monster of the week is the adorable Pting and, if there's one shot which truly makes the story, it's the look of joy on its face when it is finally sated.

"The Tsuranga Conundrum" may not be the most memorable story, but it does show that, perhaps Chibnall does have it in him to run the programme we love so much.

NEXT: "Demons of the Punjab"

"Arachnids in the UK"

Undoubtedly the most purely enjoyable story that Chris Chibnall wrote for previous Doctor Who administrations was "Dinosaurs on a Spaceship". Here, we are given a similarly pulpy title, the irresistibly named "Arachnids in the UK" which offers precisely what is indicated on the packaging. Again, there are strong influences from the past, but not the obvious one – rather than being invaders from Metebelis 3, the spiders have been mutated by toxic waste accumulated by an unscrupulous company, which obviously brings to mind The Green Death. The multi-legged menace leads to a simple, yet effective plot with Dr Jade McIntyre’s (played by the brilliantly named Tanya Fear) dialogue consisting almost entirely of exposition. It does looks like we are due for another Chibnall cheat ending, but the very obvious Chekhov’s gun is used well and the fact that, in real life, spiders would not be able to survive beyond a certain size is actually crucial to the plot. Again, there is some clunkiness in the nuts and bolts dialogue – there is no need for a character to say that a room looks like a bank vault when it is immediately obvious to the viewer, for example.

Chibnall’s characterisation is very important in making the story work. Although it pales in comparison to Russell T Davies’s depictions of family life, there is some good dialogue with Yas’s family who are nicely drawn and very well acted – in particular, it is always good to see Shobna Gulati. Again, Bradley Walsh’s depiction of loss is very touching and Tosin Cole makes Ryan hugely watchable – whomsoever had the idea for the shadow puppets deserves a drink! However, we have a boss of the company, rather than a BOSS and we have the surprising casting of Chris Noth, an American actor who is very much still bankable and reminding us how much of a big deal Doctor Who is. I am not a fan of Sex and the City, but I am of The Good Wife, in which he was excellent. Noth pitches the character perfectly, with corporate American bluster moving into gun-nut fury with exactly the right level of scenery chewing. There are parallels with the most vicious, idiotic and incompetent occupant of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, but, then again, Robertson is an intelligent and competent (if amoral and ruthless) businessman who can string a sentence together! In addition, he has genuine concern over his niece’s wife (played by the even more brilliantly named Jaleh Alp). Noth's performance actually works with the deficiencies in Chibnall's dialogue, so good an actor is he – although he is helped by the fact that he seems less cartoonish than the real life former host of the American Apprentice. The budget would probably preclude it, but I would very much welcome a return appearance. The Doctor is confused by basic domesticity, but effortlessly stamps her authority on even Robertson and Jodie Whittaker continues to be a delight.

Sallie Aprahamian makes this into a very exciting and scary romp and the spider effects are excellent, with the lighting perfect. Aprahamian realises that a giant spider the size of a cat is far scarier than one the size of a bath and I’m sure many people were scared to look under their beds. The scene where Team TARDIS decide to stay has some very dreary dialogue, but Aprahamian's direction and the great performances, more than compensate for this.

"Arachnids in the UK" is a very enjoyable romp that harks back to the light touch of earlier eras. Any non-arachnophobes should have a blast!

NEXT: "The Tsuranga Conundrum"

"Rosa"

I must admit that part of me was dreading "Rosa". This century, Doctor Who has dealt with various historical figures, but they were all extraordinary figures. Rosa Parks, on the other hand was an ordinary person who did something extraordinary. Anyone else on that bus could have refused to give up that seat, but the fact that it was her made her a paradigm shifting heroine. This means that, whilst it is alright for Charles Dickens to encounter the Gelth and for William Shakespeare to battle the Carrionites, it would be inappropriate for Rosa Parks to join the Doctor in battling an alien menace. This means that the story is closer in spirit to the Hartnell era pure historicals than any other story made in colour. There is, however, a science fiction menace, in the shape of Krasko, but a major part of the story is keeping him out of Rosa’s way. This does give this story a similar feel to a Quantum Leap episode, which is no bad thing as few American programmes have aged as well as the exploits of TV’s second favourite time-travelling doctor.

The script could do with a couple more drafts, but, on its own, it is a step above the previous weeks’. I am too old to have been part of Malorie Blackman’s target audience, but it is clear that she is a very talented writer. The (in hindsight) horror of segregated America is excellently brought across and very few punches are pulled. A certain epithet which would have been spat out like machine gun rounds is not uttered (although a similarly derogatory one is used, in a wholly artistically justified way) and we are spared the truly revolting details of how Emmet Till was murdered – yet the violence and stupidity of the situation is vividly portrayed, from the moment Ryan is slapped in the face for talking to a white woman in an act of kindness. The struggle to put history back on course would be farcical, were it not for the very serious stakes. The moment when the regulars realise that they have become part of history is very moving. There is very strong material for the characters, such as Yas and Ryan talking about the realities of race in modern Britain and how much Rosa Parks’s story was instrumental in Graham’s relationship with Ryan’s gran. On a lighter note, Ryan meeting Martin Luther King is very well played and funny. Boldly, and yet bleakly, there is no arcane motive for Krasko to change history – he is just a racist from the future. There are some problems – the Doctor is a bit laissez-faire about Ryan going out on his own after dark in a state where a black man’s life would be in danger after dark.

The good material for the regulars is bolstered by the cast. Tosin Cole and Bradley Walsh put in very impressive performances. The Doctor has to be a bit more low-key and Jodie Whittaker retains a sense of fun whilst realising the seriousness of the situation. As Mrs Parks herself, we have an astonishing performance by Vinette Robinson in a controlled portrayal that dominates the screen. Mark Tonderai is equally skilful directing a very different kind of story from last week. One thing he brings out very well from the script is the sheer convoluted idiocy in implementing segregation – paying at one door, leaving and entering by another, moving the signs designating where certain races should sit, the fact that laws governing black and white make no allowance for the fact that the majority of people on the planet are neither.

The name of the story may hark back to the very first 21st century Doctor Who story, but this is unlike any other story broadcast in the past 13 years. Despite its flaws "Rosa" is a very powerful piece of television that demands our attention.

NEXT:  "Arachnids in the UK"

"The Ghost Monument"

"The Ghost Monument" can be seen as fulfilling the same function for Chris Chibnall as "The End of the World" did for Russell T Davies – a simple plot set in an extraordinary location, to plunge the companions headlong into the alien. As with "The End of the World", the plot is secondary to this aim, but, again, the fact that Chibnall is not the writer that his predecessors are is evident. There are stretches of clunky dialogue that would never have passed muster in previous years and the story is haphazardly structured. The central plot of the race is not a very engaging storyline, and, indeed, is not really presented well as a race.

With this in mind, the script is reinforced to a colossal degree by the utterly stunning production. The South African locations are spectacular and Mark Tonderai, gives the episode a very realistic feel by using deliberately messy composiitions – the scene where the spaceship crashes is a fantastic use of this technique. Tonderai also helps bring the Revenants to life, a brilliantly simple monster, evocative of one of M R James’s most famous tales that, unlike the tooth collection last time, is terrifying without being inappropriate. We are finally reunited with the TARDIS and the new set is spectacular. We also finally see the new opening credits and they are a very nice change of pace from before, with a fine arrangement by Segun Akinola.

The half-baked writing for the supporting characters is compensated for by some very nice performances. Shaun Dooley and Susan Lynch round out their characters very well and it is always good to see Art Malik. The best part of Chibnall’s writing is in fleshing out the regulars. We can see the relationships developing nicely and the performances are spot on. Indeed what Chibnall understands very well is the character of the Doctor. The Doctor sizes up each sticky situation and works out a brilliant solution and encourages her companions to use their skills and knowledge to help. Jodie Whittaker completely sells us on the Doctor and her joy at being reunited with the TARDIS is truly wonderful to behold.

Most importantly, despite its flaws, I had a blast watching the story – which is, of course the most important thing!

NEXT: "Rosa"