"Please, don't turn your back on me."
Season 15, Episode 3
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Aired: 26 April 2025
Well... what an episode. Wow. You know, I was even spoiled by the leaks as to what the episode was going to be about, and I'm still stunned. That's a sign of a good time.
Plot and Structure ā 22/25
This is probably the first time I have said this about an RTD2 episode, but my god was that pretty much paced PERFECTLY. The slow first act brilliantly brought up the tension of the episode. Walking across the desolate planet, to then finding all the dead, it really gave me the chills.
Where this episode shone most brightly, however, was in its second act. It's scene? A woman sitting on a chair. And it's terrifying.
Just like in Midnight, the main conflict was from the people. Distrust building in one another, not trusting what they were seeing. Not trusting what they are saying (or in Aliss's case, 'what ARE they saying?!'). In fact, it was the parts where the Entity (or whatever it is we're calling it now) had no presence at all that were the best, in my opinion.
The reveal? Subtly hinted at, then WHAM!!!
And then the squabbling REALLY begins. Insubordination and fighting, and then it blossoms into a whirlwind of death. Every second, the scene spins, and another one flies off. It goes INSANE. You start wondering, is it ever going to end? Has Cassio doomed them all? And then Shaya ends it all in one of the coldest moments of murder in the series. And yet, I love her SO much. Crazy, right?
Then, the Doctor's confrontation with The Thing (yes, I am going to change the name every time I refer to it. No real name exists, remember?). The fear he feels, it's raw, it's like a direct continuation from Tennant. Yes, in some recent episodes I have felt the tears may have been a teensy bit overkill, but every single tear from every single character in this episode is earned.
After this, I think this is where the episode loses its few marks. And mostly that is due to the absence of Aliss. She brings both the uncertainty and humanity that makes the episode. And sure, Shaya is amazing (I love Shaya), but it feels like part of the heart of the episode is gone with Aliss. And we barely get a wave goodbye! Farewell, Aliss, another 'should've been' companion.
Shaya's sacrifice however is very good. And I will admit, I may have shed a singular tear (just like 15 has in all of his episodes!).
Belinda and the Doctor collapsed at the end of the episode very much reminded me of both the end of Midnight ("it's gone" was repeated!), and, more recently, the end of Wild Blue Yonder, another one of my personal faves. And YES, I do have a preferred type of episode, deal with it.
The Mrs Flood cameo? We shall wait and see until I give a proper opinion. Definitely her most intriguing appearance so far though.
And then, at last, the ending. I'm genuinely surprised they went there. It was dark. Hope they have the sense to blow themselves up...
Emotional Impact ā 19/20
When it comes to emotion, there are two main characters at play: Shaya, and Aliss. Now, me saying this doesn't mean the other characters aren't important. Every character was acted perfectly, and added to the episode. But if I wrote about every character in this episode then I would be here for a very, very long time, and I wouldn't get this review out before Lucky Day. And we don't want to miss Lucky Day, do we?
So, firstly, Shaya.
Should have been a companion. She reminded me a lot of Rita from 'The God Complex', a competent professional who sacrifices herself for the greater good. I loved Rita. And I love Shaya. She was stern, but full of heart, and strangely, I felt like I knew her whole life by the end of the episode. The flashback as a visual was perhaps a little unnecessary, but it didn't diminish from her. Nor did her brutal murdering of Cassio: a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do.
In a normal episode, she would be the highlight of the episode. But this is not a normal episode.
Because there is Aliss Fenly.
Ashamedly, I haven't seen Rose Ayling-Ellis in many things, expect for a couple of episodes of Strictly and one episode of Ludwig, but now I am wishing to see her in everything.
God, the RANGE. The EMOTION. How I both love and not trust someone at the same time? But she makes me do it. Quite possibly the best guest star in any Doctor Who episode. And yes, I may be saying this due to recency bias, but I certainly mean it right now.
Mark removed for her abrupt exit. I wanted more!!
Character Development ā 12/15
If you're looking for episode-only characters? See above. This is about The Doctor and Belinda.
Both of them, separately? Incredible. The Doctor faces his fears, and Belinda learns about both the wonders and the horrors of the universe. And the short ending part together? A beautiful heart-to-heart, better than in Lux.
But marks off for a lack of conflict over the Doctor allowing Shaya to basically murder Belinda. I know it was necessary, but could they not have discussed it for at least a minute?
Villains ā 8/10
As a preface, I want to say that The Creature from the Pit (yes, another name) may possibly be my favourite monster from Doctor Who.
So. Am I happy to see it's return? Well, yes, and no.
Yes, because it brings back the same level of tension and paranoia, and introduces the true villain of both Midnight and The Well, that being humanity, of course.
No, because perhaps it explains slightly too much? Midnight works best because it was kept so unknown. And I'm so glad this episode gives away so very little about it, but what it does give? Perhaps it toes the line for me a bit.
Also, throwing them so far across the room? It would have been more effective if we just heard a scream, a crunch, and they flopped to the floor. I'm sure all the children watching the show could have still stomached that, right?
Regardless, I don't think it takes away from Midnight as an episode. But maybe it takes away from this one a bit. I'll drop a couple marks. Don't go thinking it isn't still bloody good though.
Visuals & Music ā 8/10
The most stunning part for both of these, was, weirdly, right near the start of the episode, when they were heading to the mining colony.
Never before has a quarry looked quite so stunning. And the little tinkly music was giving Wild Blue Yonder in all the best ways.
The new music that Murray Gold put in? Incredible.
And I loved most of the Midnight themes they put in. Note, MOST. The scene where the Doctor goes up to Aliss to talk to Oopy Goopy (can you tell I've run out of unique names by this point?) has random Midnight music shoved in and then it just cuts? And it's so weird? It genuinely took me out of the action for a minute.
For visuals, I loved the overhead shots, and the link to the clock metaphor. I loved it so much I even made a quick edit of it. It was the first picture you saw on the review, did you notice it?
Themes ā 9/10
No hardline political themes this episode (although I loved the inclusion of sign language being mandated for nurses in the future), and that's okay, as the main theme is communication and trust, and what happens when you don't have that.
Because, when you think about it, EVERYONE could have survived that episode. Literally everyone. And that cuts so deep.
If they trusted Aliss, and hadn't cut her out of conversations and been aggressive to her, then she may have trusted them. And then it would have been all over.
It's the same as Midnight, really. Almost poetic, I suppose.
Rewatchability ā 9/10
I've watched this episode seven times, today. And yes, I know I am an outlier and shouldn't be counted, but I think that fact still speaks for itself, doesn't it?
In fact, it gets better on a rewatch. The first time, you spend the whole time comparing it to Midnight (at, least, if you are as insufferable of a nerd as I am). After that? You really appreciate it's unique take on emotion and horror.
My advice? If you haven't rewatched it yet, give it a try. And if you haven't watched it at all, what the hell are you doing reading this?
Total Score: 87/100
Do I think it was better than 'Midnight'? No, not quite.
But (and this was my biggest fear) does it take AWAY from 'Midnight'? No.
Finally, was it an amazing episode? YES.