DOCTOR WHO 14x4 REACTION | 73 Yards | Season 1 Episode 4 | Series 14 Episode 4

[@ThePonderer]

Someone made a very interesting point about the allegory underpinning this episode- it’s all about Ruby’s feelings of abandonment. Why does The Woman make people run? Why does the Doctor disappear? It’s all about what Kate and Ruby discuss- perception. Ruby’s perception that her life is doomed to be nothing but abandonment. That she is doomed to be semperdistans from everyone, always. All of the genre work, and the mystery, it’s all shrouding this key character study of what makes Ruby tick, and what her greatest fear is.

[@Ragnar_Aevarsson]

If you notice, every time she makes it snow, she felt she was abandoned. From the church steps to the scary monster, to the doctor accidentally letting her get caught by the maestro although the snow could be from the maestro pulling the song from her, to almost dying and being refused treatment as a nonbeliever and now to when the doctor disappears, and again when her mother locks her out.

[@SupaKen74]

She didn't see the woman till after the circle was broken the first time. This second time she was distracted by the would and subconsciously heard the words to not step into the circle. It makes perfect sense.

[@Astlay]

This entered my Top 10. No joke. I love how it functions like an old ballad, a folk tale. It's such a beautifully crafted epusode.

[@RealLordFuture]

Here my theory. This is Timeline A. In this Timeline The malevolent spirit called Mad Jack was trapped in the fairy circle. We have seen this before with The Toymaker is trapped in a box and bound in salt. When The Doctor broke the fairy circle he released Mad Jack who first erased The Doctor from the timeline (Remove your most dangerous adversary first) took over Ap William and groomed him to lead the world to global annihilation. But the creator of the fairy ring had placed a fail safe. The herald that would be used to stop Ap William achieving his aim, using Ruby as that herald as we know she is some kind of meta human. Then when Ruby is old, she becomes the herald and the loop starts again. For all we know this has happened a million times This time she is able to influence young Ruby, to stop The Doctor from stepping on the fairy ring, Mad Jack, is never released, the herald is never created, the loop breaks and now we are in Timeline B. I could be a million mile off but this is why I love this episode. There is no wrong explanation, but I can see that a lot of people will hate it as the solution was not bottle fed to them and it's open to interpretation.

[@playlistb3795]

That's an awesome theory. I love it when we get all wibbly-wobbly. And the supernatural nature of this season has been fascinating. I can't wait for the payoff.

[@danielkiran8174]

Thats a very interesting explanation, but it doesn't explain why Doctor knew about crazy prime minister even before they broke the circle. I feel like the circle just created a dimension, where Ruby's worst fear is realized - everyone abandons her. And she is the one who wrote "RIP Mad Jack" simply because she's proud of kicking his ass. She also wrote "I miss you" to the Doctor.

[@sallyatticum]

@@danielkiran8174 I think the prime minister always was going to be there. Ruby used the spoiler to change history. Not sure how Mad Jack fits in it.

[@lapersianaperta]

I agree, but I think we start in timeline A, the doctor breaks the fairy circle creating timeline B, the herald breaks the loop and we are back on timeline A

[@sallyatticum]

Okay, after thinking some more and re-ewatching I think the fairy circle was created to trap Mad Jack. Not sure when in the time line or by whom. It would have to be after the Doctor saw him become PM. So, presumably by someone with foresight or a time traveler changed the time line. (In a bootstrap paradox it would have been Ruby) The Doctor inadvertently released him and he became Prime Minister, as the Doctor had expected. She used the spoiler to stop him. That is the only real inconsistency, as his running away was not a fear of hers.This suggests she was in control of him running away all along. So why did she remain alone? This is where I get stumped.

[@railfan711]

The first time they arrive at the circle Ruby says she's been to Whales twice but the second time she say's she's been two whales three times like she remembered the previous time.

[@Saitaina]

Yup, I had found that off and went back to double check, that's how we can tell it's all the same world and timeline, but with a lingering connection, Ruby can feel the circle she just went through, very distantly.

[@Logicalleaping]

Same concept with 'Turn Left' with a parallel world forming around the companion and they don't really remember after they escape. This could very well just be another one of the Tricksters doohickeys.

[@hollyvanwye9294]

I think that yes, the memory is buried deep in Ruby's subconscious but it's still there and influencing what she does.

[@barriehull7076]

Damn auto correct Wales.

[@steve8510]

Old Ruby dies and she disappears at that moment after delivering the message "don't step"... don't question it too much, it's timey wimey.

[@jthomann71]

This is the love child of Blink and Turn Left.

[@HellfireComms]

Kate's talk about things being "classified" adds to the rumours of UNIT getting its own spinoff.

[@TK_Brainslug]

I would watch that if they bring Donna back for it

[@truthseekercanada]

Not a rumor. It already has an imdb page.

[@alexjames4507]

@@truthseekercanadaPretty sure anyone can edit IMDB though

[@LeveySaintil]

Same! Hopefully she’ll be better at not spilling coffee

[@drjwww]

The elderly woman in the pub is the immortal Sian Phillips, onetime wife of Peter O'Toole, classmate of Glenda Jackson and Diana Rigg, actress, cabaret performer and TV icon of the 70s and 80s. Her great claim to fame is playing Livia in I, CLAUDIUS in a performance superb today as it was then. She was also Cassiopeia in the original CLASH OF THE TITANS, the Reverend Mother in David Lynch's DUNE, and the hauntingly faithless Ann Smiley in the original runs of TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY and SMILEY'S PEOPLE with Sir Alec Guinness. Though she had done radio WHO several times, this was (at long last) her first appearance on the show. And she only got one scene. Bloody hell.

[@AlfeyHolmes]

But what a scene it is! :)

[@chazo1367]

@@AlfeyHolmes god she was amazing. I was enthralled by her words as she spoke

[@hollyvanwye9294]

I remember Sian Phillips from I, Claudius and the '80's Dune movie. What a brilliant actress she always was and still is!

[@scaleofperspective6211]

This episode is very similar to "Turn left". From what I understand, similarly to that episode, here the "turning point" that splits two timelines is the circle being broken, an event that leads to a timeline that prevents itself from existing: like Donna going back in time to make sure she takes the right turn, Ruby is sent back in time to prevent the doctor from breaking the circle. The timeline that is explored in the episode contradicts itself and thus cannot exist, so history takes a different turn, where Donna saved the Doctor/where the Doctor didn't step on the string

[@scaleofperspective6211]

The exact mechanism of how it was done and why is still a mystery though, and I think that's great

[@Kn1ghton]

One of the things I loved about this episode is that we don’t get answers, and that really adds to the mystery of why and how etc. Millie was brilliant in this especially since it’s the first episode they filmed for the season, back in December 2022, as Ncuti was currently filming for Sex education at the time.

[@danielkiran8174]

I really liked Devil's Chord. I really liked Boom. But THIS episode made a very strong impression on me. This kind of horror really gets me.

[@fayesouthall6604]

An incredible episode. Doctor lite ! As soon as the circle broke Ruby went into another dimension. As soon as Ruby aged I kinda figured the figure was old Ruby as a ghost. God knows what she said to her mum or the soldiers. I’m guessing she might be faceless or something. The old woman in the pub is the fabulous 91 year old Sian Phillips, she’s a legendary Welsh actress!

[@caitfurnox]

I agree. A phenomenal episode. I do have a theory about what the woman may have been saying… *whispers* “We’ve been trying to reach you about your cars extended warranty” 😂😂 All jokes aside I 100%a agree

[@fayesouthall6604]

@@caitfurnox 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@AlexsTheWizard]

The woman does not show up till the fairy circle is broken in the original timeline but when Ruby goes back and becomes her she appears right as they are walking out of the tardis making Ruby see herself and stop the events of the episode. Since the fairy circle will no longer be broken she disappears.

[@HellfireComms]

Think this might be the most interesting episode of RTD's second era so far. Definitely a favourite of mine.

[@Cornberry]

You know that Nell episode in Haunting of Hill House? I got that kinda vibe from this episode, because of the whole reveal. Really cool episode, this should honestly be a classic that people revisit often.

[@keith.morgan]

I think the dont step is relevant. First the stepping on a butterfly changed time, devils chord hmmm lol, step on a mine last week, step in the circle changed timeline again...just a thought.

[@Omn1Media]

Doctor just needs to watch where he’s stepping!!!

[@sallyatticum]

@@Omn1Media Doctor needs to watch his step......

[@TheMess9898]

In the behind the scenes video, RTD says: “Something profane has happened with the disturbance of this fairy circle. There’s been a lack of respect. The Doctor is normally very respectful of alien lifeforms and cultures, but now he’s just walked through something very powerful, and something’s gone wrong. But this something is corrected when Ruby has to spend a life of penitence in which she does something good, which brings the whole thing full circle. It forgives them in the end.” Personally, I also think it’s important to acknowledge the underlying theme of Ruby’s worst fear: abandonment. To appease this spirit and save the world, she had to confront her fear of everyone she loves abandoning her, just as her own birth mother did. The "Old woman" didn't really say anything to anyone...it was part of the penitence and her fear. She had to keep people at distance, like her boyfriend as she got older. When she needed someone to be there for her, to help her...by talking to the "old woman", they then had to abandon her. It was her curse and her power, which she used to stop Mad Jack. The final piece to break this curse was at the end, she reaches out to embrace this part of herself, fully accepting who she is in spite of her fear and is able to stop the "curse" and reset.

[@nosakisting271]

the best episode of the new Doc so far...very trippy....I got chills from the train scene..

[@ken__2526]

Important thing nobody else mentions: Mad Jack is the second villain to want to launch nukes, and like The Maestro, this whole thing is also reality-breaking. Also important to notice that once Ruby entered that alternate timeline, she lost the ability to make it snow, which must mean something. Maybe this timeline is separate from whatever universe the main story is set in. Also, this is not a time loop as people say: it's more of a parallel timeline that Ruby has to jump from and back.

[@NoxarBoi]

when are you saying she enters the alt timeline, because it snows at 3:35 and 12:29, the latter is certainly from her.

[@MrStephenLodge]

When you watch again you will see the spirit was not there first time around until after the circle was broken.

[@hollyvanwye9294]

Right. Second time around, with the circle left unbroken and still intact, "Old Ruby" just disappeared. Mission accomplished!

[@solitarymaninblack]

Sian Phillips was in Clash Of The Titans, Dune amongst other things.

[@RubyMadigan]

It reminded me of Bad Wolf a little bit. The bad wolf clues were created by Rose to ensure that she ended up with the ability to create the clues (and defeat the daleks and save Jack). The woman/Ruby/the being had to create itself in order to uncreate itself and prevent bad things from happening. Ruby had to be alone and singular in the 'dark' timeline in order that the old version of her is created to stop them breaking the fairy circle in the first place and seemingly releasing Mad Jack.... Or something like that or we can just go 'huh?' This was the first episode Millie filmed as well because Ncuti was busy filming Sex Education. I think Ruby kind of recognising Susan Twist makes sense because she was all the ambulances in the last episode so was by the most visible she'd been thus far

[@Eric_1991]

Interesting, I got more Turn Left/The Girl Who Waited vibes a bit

[@RubyMadigan]

@@Eric_1991 yes I see those too. Especially turn left

[@Aldebaron-fp3ef]

The first time Ruby said she had been there twice before. The second time Ruby said she had been there three times before.

[@MARStark97]

Idk why but that scene with Ruby and Kate where they’re cutting back and forth between their profiles, talking about the obvious being right in their faces made me think she’s her mom 😂

[@jolively]

Actually really liked it loved the creepy vibe & thought it was really well written & great acting by Millie. I need to watch it again though because lots was shot in my hometown & it takes me out of the episodes. We used to make protection circles as kids. Susan Twist played the Hitchiker. Russell confirmed nobody knows what older Ruby says not even the actress knows

[@darkphoenix6807]

After a rewatch, because I really did not understand the ending the first time, I noticed something. Cate tells Ruby that “ we see something inexplicable and invent the rules to make it work”. Cate also mentions “ I think this timeline might be suspended along your event .” Ruby is obviously magical. So what if the doctor stepped on that fairy circle, and was somehow “taken”. And then Ruby, being magical, starts this whole timeline of her saving the world and then coming back and stopping the doctor from stepping on the circle. Along the way she deals with her fear of abandonment. I think Ruby actually caused this story to happen in order to get the Doctor back. She might’ve even have been the one to make the doctor disappear, although she didn’t know that she did it, because she saw the circle and immediately thought it was magical. But I don’t think she was conscious of any of this. But somehow, it’s now part of her story, because the first time she got off the tardis, she said she had been whales twice, but the second time she got off she said she had been there three times. The toy maker had control over play, the Maestro had control over music, I wonder if Ruby has control over time. She seems to be able to bring the snow in from one time to her current time. Perhaps she created her own timeline for this, because she was so calm the entire episode, like none of it mattered. Like it was all about her. Almost like a maladaptive daydream. I wonder if she can control time? Hopefully, when they finally explain how Ruby is different, this episode will make more sense! If they never touch on this episode again, then this episode would be one of my least favorites because the ending really does not make sense on its own.

[@MrCookieCat]

My brain just melted. And I liked it.

[@tomkadams]

I think when the locals were joking with Ruby they did so using actual local traditions and folktales, so while they were joking it could be that a lot of what they said was accurate due to supernatural things coming true now. I'm not sure what the answer is for what changed in the end and I don't think we are supposed to know how it all worked exactly,.

[@ciaranirvine]

Winding up tourists with tall tales drawing on local folklore and legends is really common, especially in small town pubs, cos every local in the room knows what is going on and is drawing on the same history and folklore, which makes it more plausible. Loved that scene cos I've played a bit-part in similar wind-ups :)

[@SeeJay81]

That's my thought too. People often visit small communities because of the stories, legends, and folklore they've heard about (Loch Ness anyone?). The locals find it funny to play with the tourists and act like it's all real. Some folklore can become local superstition too, which people of today would often still observe. Doing normal things in a different way to invoke good luck, or cast out bad luck, but unique to that town/village or county.

[@JRPOGM]

I want to think Mad Jack, the man or the entity, is actually another of the cosmic entities that make up the Toymaker’s children. Cosmic play, cosmic music, and cosmic horror.

[@barriehull7076]

Moral of this story is look where your walking. The Dr needs another button for fairy circle, as in the butterfly compensator on the Tardis console. The reveal at the end reminds me of a classic Dr story.

[@christianschmid1440]

I mean it is implied that Ruby isn't entirely human. So if she is able to single handedly break a paradox, that would point to a pretty mighty parent. My first guess would be the incarnate time, but we had that already.... I mean we didn't ... I mean...

[@ElleKayGee]

I feel like this was her work around so she didn’t create a paradox. You can’t make one if you don’t actually see yourself or get close enough to touch. Also causing people who did get close to the woman to then distance themselves from Ruby also seems like a fail safe. But yes, to be able to do any of that she must be very powerful.

[@chrism7395]

In folklore, the person who steps into a fairy circle disappears, or is taken by fairyfolk; hence why the Doctor disappeared, presumably there's an unfilmed episode of The Doctor in the fairy realm...

[@JohnVDenley]

thank you for this, I just watched it and felt so alone and abandoned myself as I wanted to know what the heck was going on and I had nobody to talk to about it... I have no theories other than it did seem like it was a timeline that only happened once and ruby managed to break it. I did love the Doctor not being in this episode though, that was a cool twist. Plus it was nice to have it all happen at a much slower pace, less running, rushing and shouting! For me it had a bit of a weeping angels feel about it, plus a hint of my favourite ever episode "Don't Blink" (which of course is where "wibbly wobbly timey wimey" comes from). I actually once asked Steven Moffat once, if he had ever thought about writing the episode that crosses over with it, when they run into the doctor at the end and he has bows and arrows and talks about dealing with "four things and lizard"...

[@MrAshwinChauhan]

One of the best Doctor Who episodes I've seen in a long time. Real Twilight Zone / Black Mirror vibes !!

[@jasonmarbach]

I absolutely adored this episode, I thought it was brilliant. One of my favorite Who eps in years.

[@fleason771]

I absolutely loved 73 Yards. I've not been feeling Millie's performance & character until "Boom" & now "73 Yards" but here she was incredible 👏 There was honestly 4-5 episodes worth of story here though that really could have been developed & expanded on. I seriously would have ended the episode when Ruby said she was going to save the world & told the old woman to come with her. That kind of ending would have created tons of suspense & a week of debate (maybe in the old 13 episode format maybe) You don't get many answers in the episode but it made me "feel" more than any Doctor Who episode has in a long time & left me shell-shocked after. It's an episode which stays with you & you really felt for Ruby. It's incredible to think what Old Ruby could possibly have said to make everyone run. Another appearance by Susan Twist but this time Ruby noticed her but it would seem that's now lost because of the aborted timeline? Can "Mad Jack" Roger Ap Gwilliam really be done? It would be a waste of a villain if so. Sooo many questions. The implied "Trumpian" abuse of "Marti Bridges" gave me shades of "Lucy Saxon" & do I need to remind people that Harold Saxon's party was "The Albion Party" Hmmm.. (but that could just be another kick to our British Conservative party AKA The Tory's) Kate said something interesting about Ruby's timeline " I think this timeline might be suspended along your event" too, it's always nice to see her but that wasn't a throw-away line! I have my theatre tickets for the finale in Britain & I hope some of the events here will make more sense in that 2 part finale. A captivating episode!! 🥰

[@MST3K56]

Did anyone else notice the faint sound of a heart monitor when Ruby was in the hospital bed? The next sequence happens almost simultaneously...the "entity" turns around, Ruby reaches out to her, the heart monitor flat lines, Ruby blinks back along her timeline to 2024. Her hands are reaching out in the exact same way they were when reaching for the "entity". I think I heard/read that someone heard "don't step" during all of this. *Shrugs*

[@benjames9158]

I feel like the only way I can wrap my head around it is with parallel universe/timelines. seeing as there are an infinite number of possibilities then there must be a version of you who'll save you from being trapped in the event that the other you is trapped in already. wibbly wobbly. But even then there's load of question id still have

[@OnlineFanBoy]

I think I get it. The Doctor stepped on the fairy circle, and Ruby had to take the long way round to get her past self to warn him not to

[@SeeJay81]

Regarding Susan Twist appearances and when the Doctor and Ruby met her: Wild Blue Yonder: Twists first appearance. Before Ruby's time, and not seen by the Doctor Church on Ruby Road: The Doctor is behind her so can't see her face. Ruby could possibly have seen her face but was dealing with loss of power during a performance so was likely too stressed trying to fix things to look up Space Babies: Both the Doctor and Ruby looked away from the screen before Twists character came on screen The Devils Chord: The Doctor and Ruby had their back to the tea lady. When they turned around the tea lady did too so her back was to both of them. Boom: This is the first time for certain that both the Doctor and Ruby see Twist's face. Ruby only sees her face on the screen as the Ambulance, but the Doctor see's a full body projection of Twist while Ruby is unconscious. 73 Yards: This is the first time Ruby has interacted face to face with Twist. She's definitely seen the face before but doesn't make the connection. Since the timeline was changed, it's unlikely that Ruby will have any memory of meeting her in this episode. The Doctor doesn't meet twist in this episode. It is possible they do go off and meet her in passing as she's hiking, but I doubt they'll factor in an off-screen meeting. That means moving forward, the next time either of them meet twist, Ruby will probably have the same "have we met before" thought, but the Doctor (I never forget a face) must recognize her. He has to.

[@francisco_m7849]

😊 I still keep forgetting that Ruby is the same age as Rose was in the first series. So in my head, I keep thinking that she’s a lot more world savvy, but she’s not. She’s just a 20 year old kid who’s always lived a relatively quiet life. So all this that’s happening now, obviously she’s going to be shocked confused and not understanding what’s going on?

[@Saitaina]

The TARDIS perception filter effected the three of them when the fairy circle was broken. That's why old Ruby can make everyone freak out, why the Doctor is gone and why Ruby and Old Ruby are stuck with the distance between them they had when it broke. As Ruby circled back to the beginning, she realized the problem as she's there BEFORE the circle broke, so she managed to break the cycle by distracting Ruby long enough to have the Doctor NOT step on the circle, this, everything continues on. If you rewatch this scene the first time, Ruby says she's been to Wales TWICE. but at the end she says three times. A part of her is still connected to her older half

[@jarrodserwa7305]

This episode is very black mirror like

[@monsterking1973]

It really dose feel like black mirror

[@blakereed92]

15 has GOT to start watching where he steps

[@simchar4263]

Seeing people reference Donnie Darko as a comparison, also Bent Neck Lady from The Haunting of Hill House.

[@StuLost]

didn't even consider donnie darko but the more i think about the more i can see it. Except donnie was more science based and this seems more magical based.

[@JohnnyPappas]

Loved this one, and the reaction. The show keeps getting better.

[@rinjoo3]

I think this was just literally a curse caused by breaking the circle, as the magical things are thing now. "Punishment" for breaking it/reading the scrolls and she neede to live her live to the end to get chance to fix it. This episode was kind of "Turn left", but instead of weird Scifi explanation, this was based on weird magic/paranormal. I thought Boom might end up being the best episode this season, but now i immediadly had to change my mind, this is one of my favorite episodes ever. It is a very doctor who thing to not explain everything in too great details.

[@starlepus9437]

i instantly noticed that the woman is using sign language.

[@MARStark97]

Me too! I’m waiting for someone to translate it

[@nightbreed16]

It was a bubble universe that got fixed that it explained itself close to the end. Since it got changed the bubble universe and her old self never existed and vanished.

[@Mag1krap]

Great couple episodes. Minimal action, pure narrative driven, really enjoying new new who so far. Writing has been pretty good

[@markcsalvesenjr1148]

The only answer is 42.

[@bobfather7355]

Did anyone notice Kate's red nails and think back to the end of the Giggle?

[@bobfather7355]

Stolen from Whoculture.

[@BoneTheory]

All I could think about watching this episode was that someone has been watched a lot of Mike Flanagan and it shows in this episode.

[@PrincessKagayaki]

when the woman kept whispering to people i kept thinking of 'every living creature on earth dies alone' sdjjjlk (donnie darko reference)

[@charlie53echo]

This one gave me very similar vibes to "Blink" from season 3. No doctor, horror theme, very timey-wimie.

[@quinntucket]

i took it almost as like a metaphor for the doctors' companions leaving everything behind. IF the doctor wasn't around, Ruby, as his companion, would have been able to save the world without him. the companions are such an integral part of the doctor teaching his philosophy of peace and trying to avoid war, so i think the woman convincing all of ruby's contacts to abandon her was proving that even if you have no one, You yourself can do so much and you're not alone.

[@suncore598]

What an unsettling, timey-wimey episode. I haven't felt this uncomfortable when watching Doctor Who since Midnight.

[@csk7769]

Kate and the pub gave us all the "hows" we need, it had nothing to do with the supernatural. Russel T Davies even said so in the behind the scenes. If you must have a practical explanation, landing the TARDIS's perception filter on a fairy circle causing Ruby's perception of herself to come to life and haunt her is plenty. The episode was somehow still entirely sci-fi, just like past "meta-story" bits like The Bogeyman, and I find that impressive. More importantly, that means we can toss that to the side, bc the only thing that actually matters is what it teaches us about the characters, like with Ruby's fear of abandonment (semperdistans. The Woman keeps everyone away from Ruby because of her own perception of herself, including the Doctor) and what one might do when you never receive the closure you expected. We got plenty of closure with the ending of the episode, people who say otherwise are trolling, the point is that during her journey, Ruby did not. That's why Roger ap Gwilliam is such a simple character who had nothing to do with anything supernatural, and why defeating him didn't stop Ruby's situation. The important thing is that Ruby was convinced it would. That she had a purpose here. This is also why The Woman very explicitly is NOT Old Ruby, they aren't even the same actress. The snap back to the present is the first time Ruby actually reaches out to The Woman instead of chasing her or staying away (i also wonder if the time added up, 66.7 meters = 66.7 years? would be fun) When it comes to potential future threads related to this, i really don't think it makes sense to expect the finale to fully spell out the message and meaning of this episode, that's not necessary at all. But I do think this helps tease a greater context for later, since it seems like they're hinting at The Oldest One being a Pantheon member that's a living story, and has powers based on that, just like Toymaker and Maestro. Given that the memory of that Christmas straight up changed itself during Space Babies, and that the unique musical cue played in that moment was also played here when The Woman finished the circle and allowed Ruby to warn her younger self through her body instead, (because no, the first time around The Woman did not show up before stepping into the circle. It was the perception filter of breaking the circle that made her appear) I wouldn't be surprised if the living story is Doctor himself. It would fit with The Timeless Child and what Toymaker said as well, but that is definitely still a bit more out there. Whatever story they are in could reasonably have given Ruby her powers too. I'm reminded of how tv-static or interference is often referred to as snow, and Ruby makes it snow whenever she starts to think too much about her mysterious origins

[@dogblessamerica]

Understanding this episode is like seeing the future Ruby/ghost. You think you can see it, but as your feel yourself getting closer, the resolution to the mystery gets further away!

[@Nicooo]

i loved this episode. the last 3 episodes were amazing

[@zetzle]

21:16 oh, my beautiful ghost monument

[@rbs7290]

Thank you! This is the first reaction I've watched that thought outside the box and was content with the outcome of the episode not being tied with a pretty bow. Yes, the future has probably not been altered. Yes, it does suck that Ruby can't remember her journey. But these these don't detract from the episode. I think they make it more intriguing and thought provoking. As for the entity; again, aint mystery grand! Personally, I'd like to think it wasn't Ruby, but it brought Ruby back upon her death.

[@arubinojr5670]

Everybody going on about Twist, comma, Susan; meanwhile Ruby is getting the law laid down to her by Gaius Helen Mohiam.

[@Manx36]

The woman in the bar is like Mrs Bundy in Hitchcock’s the birds, the old lady in the dinner that knows ornithology and tells the people panicking that it’s absurd for different species of birds to cooperate, she gives off that same vibe of I know what’s going on you rubes. “Things seem to be turning that way lately”, the barrier between the void where the Pantheon exist and our reality is getting thinner lately too, things that make you say hmmm🤔. What we think is magic is just matter manipulation to a god. Ruby gives off the same field that the Tardis does, people see her but they don’t perceive or retain her. The Doctor keeps asking her what time she is from, he did it in Boom, why can’t he remember that, why can’t a lord of time remember that simple fact? Ruby is out of time or not contained by time, the Pantheon members aren’t controlled by time either, my question is, why can’t the Doctor see whatever is going on…or does he? The fairy ring was a time snare, once it was broken it set off the loop, it didn’t free mad jack, he existed already. Either Ruby or someone else set that up to be triggered by Ruby and it created a time loop that Ruby had to play out. You cannot encounter yourself in your own time line, that’s why they never met. The Doctor even tries to restrict encountering himself if he can help it. “What’s changed”, the loop was coming to an end, Ruby was back at the point it started, so she came back to herself until they merged. Mad Jack never comes to power in the altered time line because a change in the future altered the timeline in the past. Ruby and the woman appeared to be facing each other but in reality old Ruby was moving away from young Ruby on the time line and was moving towards young Ruby getting older, they met up as old women and that completed the time loop. Ruby is watching her old self moving away from her younger self and towards her as she’s aging but they cannot meet until the time loop ends. I hate stories involving time on most shows but Who handles it so brilliantly, this was amazingly written and thought out.

[@lapersianaperta]

this definitely messed me up, very good episode

[@Vermintz]

Welcome to stable timeloops

[@sallyatticum]

Fairy ... Circle....

[@alexjames4507]

23:24 Feel like that’s the universal reaction to this ending

[@janeenpuckett5946]

It was Timey Wimey. Those are always the best.!

[@thelukeofficial9626]

Here’s my theory for the episode and what I think is happening!!! I think when they went up to the old ruby the old ruby’s face turned young and that scared everyone away I think this worked especially with rubys mum with tuff love I think older ruby told her mum she needs to run away and never see her again to keep her safe this would explain why her mum pushes ruby away by saying something so opposite to who her mum is by saying she’s not her real mum this is enough for ruby to feel abandoned and stay away from her mum allowing the timeline to remain the reason mad jack and all the others ran away is because they also saw old ruby’s face turn younge I think old ruby can also send information through peoples minds because she interacted with them when she was younger so older ruby told unit that she needed everyone to leave her younger self so she can stop mad jack who will cause world war 3 and fix the timeline. in the end ruby dies and her spirit goes back in her younger self, preventing the doctor to step changing the timeline back to normal!!!

[@jasonpaulbaker1]

What if doctor who did a creepy pasta story 😱 brilliant episode 🤩 the multiple interpretations make it even more brilliant 🤩

[@xXAlPlaysXx]

Watching this episode made me feel uncomfortable, but I really did enjoy it, such an interesting episode

[@AllOfMyDreamHandlesAreTaken]

15:23 wait so that means Ruby is kinda stronger than them

[@QuaziInc]

This episode was amazing, Jack seemed to exist prior to the circle breaking because the doctor mentioned him as the most dangerous prime minister in history. So if this circle confined a mad jack entity, that means we now exist in a non broken circle timeline, so Jack is still coming without Ruby to stop him. So we could see him again. What happened to the doctor and why did Ruby have to deal with the consequences are such intriguing questions. From the behind the scenes RTD said ruby served penance by dedicating her life to making amends for the doctors mistake. it seems reading the parchment was the sin she committed. I love the absolute mystery of this episode. why 73 yards?! was Kate right that the Tardis perception filter was at play?

[@solitarymaninblack]

Reminiscent of Turn Left, Utopia, Last Of The Time lords.

[@MST3K56]

P.S. Russell T. must be grinning ear to ear at the sound of heads exploding...

[@AmaanKhan-d8m]

I dont know about the woman's hand gestures and why exactly 73 yards, but i do have other theories. Where did the doctor go: he was the one who broke the fairy circle, so maybe his disappearance was a type of punishment. And why didnt Ruby disappear? She was the one who took the scroll about Mad Jack and read it, so taking down the PM had become her mission alone, although she didnt know it yet. Why did the woman make everyone hate Ruby: I feel like it was a defence mechanism, coz nothing should hamper Ruby's mission of dethroning the PM. If Unit, for example, successfully intervened and captured the woman, Ruby would have never been able to deal with the PM. So, its like: you try to approach her or talk to her, then you are repelled by her and driven away from Ruby, so that Ruby's mission can be completed without impediments or distractions. Nobody tried to approach the woman after Ruby dealt with the PM, so we don't know if this theory holds. There is no paradox. The episode occured in an alternate timeline. And in that timeline, Ruby stopped the PM from leading the "the world to the brink of nuclear war", to quote the Doctor. So there is no actual nuclear war. When the timeline is reset in the final scene, Ruby does not live a life where she will stop the PM, so it isnt a paradox. Her original timeline is restored. In the final scene, the doctor again tells Ruby about the dangerous PM. Going by the exact words of the Doctor, the PM will indeed come to power in 2046, but clearly doesn't do any catastrophic damage. He simply acquires the weapons for symbolism. This entire episode was in an alternate timeline and trying to be all meta coz in this alternate timeline, Doctor Who does not have a title sequence.

[@auntvesuvi3872]

Thanks, Omni! ⏳

[@grump9001]

Aw yeah I was like number 369 great video, great episode!

[@Scroteydada]

That's gonna be the most annoying thing when we're old - having grown up with technology changing so fast. Kids are gonna be asking us if we understand hiw to work things we've always had

[@HellfireComms]

Yeah, our generation and the one after will be the weirdest elders for a while lol

[@andycofin6983]

Episode 1 was cute, but not familiar to the last six Doctors, (Tennant x 2), but this Doctor is a restored man, fully him again, after all the regenerations since 1. But still episodes 2 and three made me and a lot of the fan over the last 60 years question the survival of the show, and wondered if Disney was at fault for their possible influence over RTD (which they promised they wouldn’t do). This episode is so very much better, and hopefully restores the expectations of us older fans who feel that Disney is trying to make this a teen show with a Disney-esque mentality. As if I wanted to watch a time-traveling Zack and Cody.

[@iwillcry]

I also wonder why Ruby could break the cycle, I hope it ties to her storyline somehow.

[@agentofmalarkey7241]

🎶I love when doctor who be weird🎶

[@GladtoberanDOM]

It follows meets Midnight

[@seanmurphy4077]

I love the parallel to Stephen King’s Dead Zone, where the protagonist has to stop a political leader from unleashing nuclear war.

[@jensrettberg7968]

This episode is great in building up suspense and tension but without giving any satisfying answer it just leaves the suspended thread hanging, there is no release and therefore no feeling of satisfaction. We're just left with confusion.

[@teenflash19]

Where's the doctor then too (David Tennant) it would've been a X-Men 97 world enhance cameo.

[@christianschoff2490]

EMOTIONAL. DAMAGE!

[@DmonHiro]

It wasn't a loop. It only happened once, which is why the 2nd time she warned herself.

[@phlippy]

How do we know it's not a loop though, what if it happens over and over and we only see when the loop is broken at the end

[@nugget3687]

HARBINGER! Something about that word being used felt wrong to me, so i went back and rewatched a few episodes, this is not the first time we've heared that word before this season, maestro had their own harbinger, could ruby be tied the three one who waits? Is she their harbinger without realizing?

[@samfisher6606]

I really liked 73 Yards. I thought this really showed what Millie Gibson can do as an actor. I thought the stuff with the Welsh Prime Minister was cool. But something about the way this ended is extremely unsatisfying. I get the point of it being existential horror. I don't get the point of it being a closed time-loop. Because then it doesn't matter. It doesn't change the characters. No one learns anything. Also, I wish they had done more with 40-year-old Ruby make-up-wise than just giving her librarian glasses, a different hairstyle, and maybe bigger fake boobs. Where were her wrinkles? They didn’t think to give her frown lines or crow's feet as they did with Amy in “The Girl Who Waited”. It was just very glaringly a 20-year-old playing a 40-year-old. And it took me out of the episode.

[@teenflashgaming-yc6ul]

I had a dance nexus timelines ahh ending

[@sallyatticum]

The Spiteful One walks through the gaps and rules with fear. The circle was broken and created a gap. He actually *was* made real and he is preying on Ruby's fears. Her foster mother said even your own mother didn't want you. She was afraid her foster mother would leave her, and the Doctor would leave her. As a result, she was alone her entire life.

[@sallyatticum]

The one thing I don't really understand is Marti...

[@sallyatticum]

The fairy circle was created to trap Mad Jack. Not sure when in the time line or by whom. It would have to be after the Doctor saw him become PM. So, presumably by someone with foresight or a time traveler. (In a bootstrap paradox it would have been Ruby) The Doctor inadvertently released him and he became Prime Minister, as the Doctor had expected. She used the spoiler to stop him. That is the only real inconsistency, as his running away was not a fear of hers. That suggests she had control over what her spirit self imparted...

[@bookswithike3256]

@@sallyatticum What's not to understand about Marti? It's pretty obvious that Gwilliam was ahem, abusing her.

[@sallyatticum]

@@bookswithike3256 Is it obvious?

[@sallyatticum]

"We see something inexplicable and invent the rules to make it work."

[@bobfather7355]

My opinion and probably wrong, Susan Twist Mrs Flood and maybe miss 73 yards are intertwined somehow. There are too many similarities

[@solitarymaninblack]

Lovely filming location for this village, the church where Ruby is found and her street.

[@kjo1849]

I’m shocked I’m the one defending this episode I was ready to hate it after reviews but I just don’t agree that there’s no answers

[@MarcosSantos-dj6lk]

really look like It Follows RTD get inspired by for sure

[@Trikeboy2]

Episode 3 and 4 have been excellent Doctor Who storytelling?

[@videoeditorbloke]

It’s a really interesting episode, but if you try to look deeply at it, it makes no sense at all. What was being said to make people turn against Ruby - to even make her mum take out an injunction? Why 73 yards? Why couldn’t she be photographed? Where did the Doctor go (apparently in reality still filming Sex Education!!), and if none of it really happens by the end, does the dodgy nuclear guy still get to be Prime Minister? How did Ruby know to contact UNIT? And why was Ruby using yards as a measurement, when I reckon most people under 50 in the UK uses metric measurements - certainly for shorter distances. I liked the vibe, but I just wish more questions had been answered in the episode.

[@HellfireComms]

There's a supernatural element at work, some of it not making sense is probably intentional. The rest will probably be answered in upcominge pisodes.

[@videoeditorbloke]

@@HellfireCommsI'd love it if we were to get some answers in the future, but my feeling is we probably won't (this is after watching the behind-the-scenes of this one where RTD says we'll never find out what was said)

[@HellfireComms]

@@videoeditorbloke Still need to watch Unleashed tbh. Guess we'll have to wait and see.

[@nikdenver8512]

Who told you none of that happened? This is clearly a timeline thing. And this is clearly a seasonal thing for Ruby, so why should all answers be here? They will surely revisit it. And about the Kate thing, she could very likely find something about Unit, its not that stretch.

[@jonunya1163]

I think UNIT contacted Ruby, because they're actively hiring former companions of the Doctor

[@solitarymaninblack]

Ncuti was still filming Sex Education.