This penultimate episode doesn’t quite hold up on its own. Between the family reunion tease and the inevitable reveal of the Big Bad, it’s mostly hype for the finale.
Warning: Spoilers Sweetie!
As the Doctor and UNIT investigate Ruby’s past, horrifying secrets from Christmas Eve are revealed, and the mysterious Triad Technology unleashes the greatest evil of all.
Who is Mrs Flood?
Hidden in plain sight, Mrs Flood, the neighbour of the Cherry family, checks in but she is acting rather suspicious. Poor Cherry just wants her cuppa.
Flood’s passive aggressive nature is ironically more terrifying, at least to me, than the major villain for this season.
So, who is Mrs Flood? Are we to believe that she’s just one of the harbingers of the Gods? I think something more sinister is afoot with her. And I want to know more! It’s so compelling.
And what about Cherry? Is she ok being left alone with the unhinged neighbour?
When Ruby had to run home with UNIT to fetch the VHS tape (for the time window to glimpse Christmas Eve 2004) I thought we would see a confrontation between Flood and the Sundays but that didn’t happen.
Hopefully the finale will clarify what’s going on with Flood.
Daughter of the Best of Men
Kate Lethbridge-Stewart, Head of Unit, has her moments. We learn a little more about what it’s like to grow up hearing stories of the Brigadier and the Doctor. This scene could have been extended to let the show breathe even more. When the pace is whiplash fast I appreciate these little diversions. I guess we have Big Finish to explore that characterisation even further.
Just like her father, Kate is a fine leader. It’s awesome that the show honours the past and the present by evolving UNIT.
One nitpick though. She goes in for a hug with the Doctor and then Mel comes along and steals the scene. Rude! It undermines the emotional connection Kate was establishing with the Time Lord – oh well.
I thoroughly enjoy seeing Kate lead UNIT. She cares for her people and is often more cautious and strategic than her five-rounds-rapid daddy. If something ever happens to her we will riot.
Let’s go back to Mel quickly. We didn’t see much of her IT skills in play but I thought her spying on Susan Triad, embedding herself in that media team, was pretty cool. Keen to see more alumni companions do more than stand around and riff about the old days.
Another Scientific Advisor
Where are Petronella Osgood and Shirley Bigham?
Nevertheless I don’t mind Morris serving as a UNIT scientific advisor. He knows how to handle a Time Window, forbidden tech from the 1970s which is conveniently all set up and ready to roll.
I hope we don’t see a revolving-door trend of UNIT intellectuals and officers come and go. I’m keen to return to the days of having regulars like Sergeant Benton on standby. The need for a UNIT spinoff intensifies.
Why is Susan Twist Doing a Bad-Wolf-Style Cameo?
Finally, the revelation has come. Why is Susan popping up all over space and time?
There is the tease that she could be the Doctor’s granddaughter. A play on words suggests TARDIS technology. As Morris said chances are it’s 95 per cent a trap.
We’ve had a few granddaughter references this season and it appears to be a false lead for the audience because the primary pun in this instance points to Sutekh which is safe to assume is The One Who Waits.
Oh My God
Harbingers herald the return of Gods and we observed this with Maestro, the God of Music. For Sutekh, it’s these iterations of Susan Twist. I’m not sure if there’s much more to learn from what has otherwise been Bad Wolf style breadcrumbs to lead to the Osiran’s arrival.
As a side note I enjoyed hearing the Mara namedrop.
I recently rewatched the Tom Baker serial Pyramids of Mars (1975) and enjoyed it immensely. It’s not an adventure I recall watching properly before. For a classic villain to return, choosing Sutekh is a great choice.
Hey Look it’s Rose
Rose! She runs errands for UNIT and joins the Sunday family banter. And that’s about all we glean. Lacklustre appearance so I hope she has her moment to shine next week.
Ruby Remains a Mystery
Reckon Ruby’s a Disney Princess brought to life? Check out her Elsa skills – she generates snow!
It’s likely that Ruby will be part of the solution to defeat Sutekh. Bring on next week!
There’s Always a Twist in the End
We have some answers!
Who is Mrs Flood?
Who is Ruby Sunday?
What happened at the church at that point in time?Probably more to it but Sutekh happened.What is the Doctor if they are not of Gallifrey origin?
What God/entity/character terrifies the Toymaker aka The One Who Waits?It’s Sutekh.Why is Susan Twist doing a Bad-Wolf-style cameo in each episode?Sutekh harbinger!When will Rogue join the TARDIS?