Doctor Who: The Vanquishers (Flux 6)
Dec. 6th, 2021 09:32 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
selenakAnd as I understand it, with this finale, Chris Chibnall bows out, since the New Year's Special will be written by our once and future Welsh Overlord.
ETA: Turns out I was misinformed: three more Chibnall-written specials, then the RTD takeover.
As DW finales to a serial story go, I thought it was a fitting one, with most of the emotional beats landing where they should but some unexamined what the hells? In this case, Chibnall, killing off ALL the Lupari (save Kavanista) for apparantly no other plot reason than giving Kavanista the opportunity for a vow of revenge and the death of the Sontarans the feeling of retribution, what the hell? And then Kavanista is basically his old grumpy self but fine in the last scene? This smacks of Chbinall's really bad decision to destroy Gallifrey yet again in last season's finale, where there was zero emotional effect not just by the law of diminishing returns. Look, CC, the above mentioned Welsh Overlord has his own narrative flaws, but at least when he writes a genocide into the story, he does it in a way that characters and audience are made to feel it.
Other than that, though, I liked what we got. Splitting the Doctor into three selves was a neat Whovian solution that allowed her to be in all three subplots at the same time and take the initiative, outwitting her opponents and saving the universe, which is what the Doctor does best. And I bet a lot of people will now look up Joseph Williamson and his tunnels beneath Liverpool; going all the way back to the initial idea for the show in the 1960s, teaching children about history in an entertaining way, I have to say the Chibnall era has really been good with that, starting with the Rosa Parks episode.
I had wanted both Kavanista and Eustacius Jericho to live, but was afraid one of them at least would be a goner, and had figured it probably would be Professor Jericho. But at least he got out in style (and with the most famous Peter Pan quote, no less) and dignity, near the end of the episode. Kevin McNally has been very good in the part throughout, and Jericho is just the type of character who (prior to his death) could show up in future Big Finish episodes, so here's hoping. Meanwhile, I already expressed my disgruntlement about Chibnall inflicting a last-of-species fate on Kavanista and then not even exploring it properly. The reveal that he's known the Doctor from one (or several?) of her previous mindwiped lives and been her Companion, but can't talk about it due to what the Division did to him, is partly similar. By which I mean, the scene itself is great, and really well played by Jodi Whittaker. But then it doesn't get referred to again in the big leavetaking of the finale, and really, between this reveal and the fate of the Lupari, the Doctor really ought to have had a heartfelt goodbye scene with Kavanista, and there'd better be a cut scene.
Otoh, the Doctor entrusting the TARDIS with her lost memories - not just the memories themselves but to keep them from her until it's absolutely necessary for her to have them - for some reason ddn't feel like a plot device labeled "I want to leave this one open for the next show runner to play with, or not, as they choose" but like something the Doctor would do at this point, and emphasized her relationship with the TARDIS. It also fitted the imagery used for those memories through the serial, the Baba Yaga myth like upside down ruined house, and the fact that endlessly reliving the past is just a terrible idea in the Whoverse. And the fate the Ravagers wanted to inflict on the Doctor in revenge to what the Doctor did to them. (Said fate being a good reminder Ten really wasn't the only Doctor capable of condemning their enemies to this kind of thing.)
I also was on board with the Doctor's apology to Yaz and her decsion to finally let Yaz in. (BTW: really liked the way Yaz took the apology, not saying anything like "it's all good" but saying that yes, the Doctor should have confided in her.) Yaz has been strong through all six episodes, and definitely in a heroine-of-her-own-story way, so it would feel natural for her to choose to split ways with the Doctor - not in anger, but simply because she's outgrown the Companion stage - in the special and I really really really hope our man Rusty has learned from the past and lets it be her own choice instead of making it the result of a terrible twist of fate. I do think think Dan will go with her, either back to Liverpool or maybe for some more travelling by themselves, because I bet the next Doctor's run will start with a clear slate and new Companion(s). Either way, he was endearing through all six parts, and I'm glad we'll see him one more time at least.
Bel and Vinder reunited at last was lovely, and them teaming up with Kavanista for more adventures was a good exit for all of them (with the above named caveat re: Kavanista), which left open a possible return for them either on the main show or in Big Finish. And it's good that Kate Stewart got to meet this regeneration of the Doctor. Given all the adventures Big Finish squeezed in between the Fifth Doctor's last but one on screen story and his last, that hope Kate expresses to meet Thirteen again was practically a writing invitation, is what I'm saying.
Lastly: like I said, for the most part, I enjoyed The Flux. But I'm also more than ready to move on into the next era of DW.
ETA: Turns out I was misinformed: three more Chibnall-written specials, then the RTD takeover.
As DW finales to a serial story go, I thought it was a fitting one, with most of the emotional beats landing where they should but some unexamined what the hells? In this case, Chibnall, killing off ALL the Lupari (save Kavanista) for apparantly no other plot reason than giving Kavanista the opportunity for a vow of revenge and the death of the Sontarans the feeling of retribution, what the hell? And then Kavanista is basically his old grumpy self but fine in the last scene? This smacks of Chbinall's really bad decision to destroy Gallifrey yet again in last season's finale, where there was zero emotional effect not just by the law of diminishing returns. Look, CC, the above mentioned Welsh Overlord has his own narrative flaws, but at least when he writes a genocide into the story, he does it in a way that characters and audience are made to feel it.
Other than that, though, I liked what we got. Splitting the Doctor into three selves was a neat Whovian solution that allowed her to be in all three subplots at the same time and take the initiative, outwitting her opponents and saving the universe, which is what the Doctor does best. And I bet a lot of people will now look up Joseph Williamson and his tunnels beneath Liverpool; going all the way back to the initial idea for the show in the 1960s, teaching children about history in an entertaining way, I have to say the Chibnall era has really been good with that, starting with the Rosa Parks episode.
I had wanted both Kavanista and Eustacius Jericho to live, but was afraid one of them at least would be a goner, and had figured it probably would be Professor Jericho. But at least he got out in style (and with the most famous Peter Pan quote, no less) and dignity, near the end of the episode. Kevin McNally has been very good in the part throughout, and Jericho is just the type of character who (prior to his death) could show up in future Big Finish episodes, so here's hoping. Meanwhile, I already expressed my disgruntlement about Chibnall inflicting a last-of-species fate on Kavanista and then not even exploring it properly. The reveal that he's known the Doctor from one (or several?) of her previous mindwiped lives and been her Companion, but can't talk about it due to what the Division did to him, is partly similar. By which I mean, the scene itself is great, and really well played by Jodi Whittaker. But then it doesn't get referred to again in the big leavetaking of the finale, and really, between this reveal and the fate of the Lupari, the Doctor really ought to have had a heartfelt goodbye scene with Kavanista, and there'd better be a cut scene.
Otoh, the Doctor entrusting the TARDIS with her lost memories - not just the memories themselves but to keep them from her until it's absolutely necessary for her to have them - for some reason ddn't feel like a plot device labeled "I want to leave this one open for the next show runner to play with, or not, as they choose" but like something the Doctor would do at this point, and emphasized her relationship with the TARDIS. It also fitted the imagery used for those memories through the serial, the Baba Yaga myth like upside down ruined house, and the fact that endlessly reliving the past is just a terrible idea in the Whoverse. And the fate the Ravagers wanted to inflict on the Doctor in revenge to what the Doctor did to them. (Said fate being a good reminder Ten really wasn't the only Doctor capable of condemning their enemies to this kind of thing.)
I also was on board with the Doctor's apology to Yaz and her decsion to finally let Yaz in. (BTW: really liked the way Yaz took the apology, not saying anything like "it's all good" but saying that yes, the Doctor should have confided in her.) Yaz has been strong through all six episodes, and definitely in a heroine-of-her-own-story way, so it would feel natural for her to choose to split ways with the Doctor - not in anger, but simply because she's outgrown the Companion stage - in the special and I really really really hope our man Rusty has learned from the past and lets it be her own choice instead of making it the result of a terrible twist of fate. I do think think Dan will go with her, either back to Liverpool or maybe for some more travelling by themselves, because I bet the next Doctor's run will start with a clear slate and new Companion(s). Either way, he was endearing through all six parts, and I'm glad we'll see him one more time at least.
Bel and Vinder reunited at last was lovely, and them teaming up with Kavanista for more adventures was a good exit for all of them (with the above named caveat re: Kavanista), which left open a possible return for them either on the main show or in Big Finish. And it's good that Kate Stewart got to meet this regeneration of the Doctor. Given all the adventures Big Finish squeezed in between the Fifth Doctor's last but one on screen story and his last, that hope Kate expresses to meet Thirteen again was practically a writing invitation, is what I'm saying.
Lastly: like I said, for the most part, I enjoyed The Flux. But I'm also more than ready to move on into the next era of DW.
