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Doctor Who S13 Episode 2 War of the Sontarans my musings
Published: 15th November 2021.
My thoughts on the second episode of season 13, War of the Sontarans.
Greetings everyone,
"Doctor Who" returns this week - in its second episode - with battles against the Santarans and horse rides included. After finishing the tape, I found myself perplexed, less certain about what it all meant. As much as the series carries a feel reminiscent of the Moffat or RTD era, there wasn't much to glean from it, leaving me with a sense of disconnection.
In "War of the Sontarans," our trio — the Doctor, Dan, and Yaz — find themselves in a predicament. Onboard the TARDIS, earth's survival hangs in the balance as the threat of the Flux looms. Despite their attempt to halt its advancement using time vortex energy, danger is imminent as all doors burst open.
The ensuing scenes find the trio scattered on earth, attempting unsuccessfully to make sense of their surroundings. Yaz and Dan are left tending to a deceased British soldier while Mary Seacole, a figure of historical significance, appears on the scene. This sets the ball rolling for a journey into the past where the Sontarans are waging a battle during the Crimean War.
Along the way, there are flaws - narrative and logic-wise - that remind one of the era of Steven Moffat. The presence of the Sontarans in the past and the present makes for an interesting plot, highlighting their desire to conquer Earth's history. However, the explanations for the Sontaran's powers and strategy feel vague, leaving more questions than answers.
Supplementing these narratives is the introduction of Vinder in the Temple of Atropos. We learn of beings, known as the Maori, who supposedly control time. Unfortunately, these revelations do more in the way of inducing confusion rather than offering substantial explanations. The episode leaves us on a cliffhanger, with Yaz and Vinder left in a precarious position, while the Doctor confronts Swarm and the Passenger.
In this episode, the featured personalities exhibit an interesting change in dynamics. Where Swarm exudes less menace, portraying a more eccentric persona, his sister Azure steps up to fill his shoes. Similarly, Dan surprisingly morphs into a witty, somewhat hero-like character, despite the lack of a profound connection he has with the Doctor.
At the end of the day, the episode impressively weaves a sense of awe in certain scenes, such as the grand portrayal of the battles. However, it suffers from issues well known to Doctor Who— narrative puzzlements, moral hiccups and incongruent gender dynamics. As I navigate through these aspects, I find myself saying — it's okay. The episode, not the worst of the lot, leaves in its wake a deep sense that there's still more to be desired. Join me next week as we continue to explore the world of Doctor Who.
"Doctor Who" returns this week - in its second episode - with battles against the Santarans and horse rides included. After finishing the tape, I found myself perplexed, less certain about what it all meant. As much as the series carries a feel reminiscent of the Moffat or RTD era, there wasn't much to glean from it, leaving me with a sense of disconnection.
In "War of the Sontarans," our trio — the Doctor, Dan, and Yaz — find themselves in a predicament. Onboard the TARDIS, earth's survival hangs in the balance as the threat of the Flux looms. Despite their attempt to halt its advancement using time vortex energy, danger is imminent as all doors burst open.
The ensuing scenes find the trio scattered on earth, attempting unsuccessfully to make sense of their surroundings. Yaz and Dan are left tending to a deceased British soldier while Mary Seacole, a figure of historical significance, appears on the scene. This sets the ball rolling for a journey into the past where the Sontarans are waging a battle during the Crimean War.
Along the way, there are flaws - narrative and logic-wise - that remind one of the era of Steven Moffat. The presence of the Sontarans in the past and the present makes for an interesting plot, highlighting their desire to conquer Earth's history. However, the explanations for the Sontaran's powers and strategy feel vague, leaving more questions than answers.
Supplementing these narratives is the introduction of Vinder in the Temple of Atropos. We learn of beings, known as the Maori, who supposedly control time. Unfortunately, these revelations do more in the way of inducing confusion rather than offering substantial explanations. The episode leaves us on a cliffhanger, with Yaz and Vinder left in a precarious position, while the Doctor confronts Swarm and the Passenger.
In this episode, the featured personalities exhibit an interesting change in dynamics. Where Swarm exudes less menace, portraying a more eccentric persona, his sister Azure steps up to fill his shoes. Similarly, Dan surprisingly morphs into a witty, somewhat hero-like character, despite the lack of a profound connection he has with the Doctor.
At the end of the day, the episode impressively weaves a sense of awe in certain scenes, such as the grand portrayal of the battles. However, it suffers from issues well known to Doctor Who— narrative puzzlements, moral hiccups and incongruent gender dynamics. As I navigate through these aspects, I find myself saying — it's okay. The episode, not the worst of the lot, leaves in its wake a deep sense that there's still more to be desired. Join me next week as we continue to explore the world of Doctor Who.
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