Survivors of the Flux - A Doctor Who Flux Review

The companions are trapped in the early 1900s, the Doctor has been taken by the Angels, and the Grand Serpent is making his move. The penultimate episode of this series is teeing up a LOT of stuff to get covered next time.
✔ SUPPORT ✔
Patreon: / councilofgeeks
KZbin Membership: / @councilofgeeks
Tip jar: PayPal.me/councilofgeeks
✔ OTHER CHANNELS ✔
Break Room of Geeks / @breakroomofgeeks
Vera Wylde: / verawylde
✔ SHOP ✔
Merch: www.teepublic.com/user/counci...
My Book on Gender Fluidity: a.co/d/atfibBA (Amazon Associate link, commissions earned)
My Fantasy Novel: amzn.to/2SCxB8j (Amason Associate link, commissions earned)
✔ SOCIAL MEDIA ✔
Twitter: / councilofgeeks
Facebook: / councilofgeeks
TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@vera.wylde?la...
Instagram: council.of....
Twitch: / councilofgeeks
✔ OTHER PROJECTS ✔
Podcast with my Partner: fireandwaterpodcast.com/show/t...
✔ WISHLISTS ✔
www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls...
www.etsy.com/people/dramafrea...
✔ CONTACT ✔
E-mail: [e-mail]
Mail:
Council of Geeks
PO Box 4429
St. Johnsbury, VT 05819

[@CouncilofGeeks]

My video on the issue of the BBC's support of Transphobia: kzbin.info/www/bejne/l3-XppZmfb-ljac Shaun's video, which includes some additional confirmed information: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mGXFpn2Dgs6qmck

[@TheCoolCharlieCool]

I think it was told or implied that the Quantum Extraction would return the town to its place once they found the person they were looking for, and I mean it was no line but in the previous episode was also shown that Mrs. Hayward and Peggy were the same person, so the child would be okay, also I think they told Peggy by telephaty that they would leave them alone, bc they like to leave some people to tell the story.

[@ausstinarce5387]

I honestly think that the only way this can end is with the fugitive doctor saving 13 and using the "infinite regenerations" to fix the world. It would cause her to die and regenerate into #1 and since she will be with 13 whilst she does it, she wont remember the events. Which will also fix the issue of the doctor being the most powerful being. Since she will only just be a time lord from that point on with limited regens.

[@BlackCover95]

Nice touch with the new opening. It is far more objective and comprehensive.

[@MyBelovedGhostAndMe]

See what I don't understand is how they 'support' transphobia. I understand they should address it but that doesn't definitely confirm they are a transphobia organisation

[@MyBelovedGhostAndMe]

@Tom Meehan I watched a bit and got tired so I turned it off

[@minsnail2276]

Love the scene where Kate walks into the office, sits down and basically says 'I see you snake man and you can't kill me. I have this psychic barrier that is also known as plot armour. Bye.'

[@arubinojr5670]

She's as much a master of subtle power-playing as The now fully-cognizant-of-her-Chosen-One-status Doctor.

[@StrangeBint]

I liked it too.

[@Sailor_Enchantix]

Ah, plot armor, the strongest protection a character can have. Stronger than love, stronger than friendship, stronger than vibranium or adamantium.

[@Flynn94]

You’re literally the first person to ask how that entire town in 1901 got back from being trapped outside time.

[@scpatl4now]

I know! I was wondering about that. It is another example of unnecessary fluff that has been part of flux. If it wasn't necessary to the plot, why have it?

[@CeitDeVitto]

I asked about that and the little girl, like they would really give a child from the future to some people to raise.. Seems a bit silly to me.

[@mrcritical6751]

@@CeitDeVitto it was kinda her destiny, Peggy had to stay

[@stevetayler9518]

Never mind that; how was there a lit candle inside a sealed tomb???!!

[@joelsytairo6338]

Because chibnal forgot

[@k-majik]

Chibnall really needs a stronger editor, someone to tell him that these episodes are far too overstuffed. It doesn't seem possible to wrap up all these threads in a satisfying way, does it?

[@SarcyBoi41]

True, but keep in mind that despite the next episode being called the season finale, we have another one less than a month later on New Year's Day. I suspect that will tie in quite closely rather than be its own standalone thing.

[@HandofOmega]

yeah, I think we're in for another Big Bang rushathon "resolution"...

[@NicoleM_radiantbaby]

Yeah, he's like RTD, he 'just needs someone to stop him'.

[@jsnow7919]

At this point Dan seems to be Yaz's companion, which is a really nice twist on the companion aspect of the show. However, it has been a shame that we haven't had a lot of the Doctor with Yaz or Dan, considering this is only a 6 episode series. As endearing as Vinder is, I really feel like his storyline could have been scrapped from this season. It feels like unnecessary fluff. Here's hoping that next week doesn't turn into another slideshow of the Doctors lost memories.

[@Elwaves2925]

I agree that Vinder and Bel's story is unnecessary, as much as I like both of them as actors. It seems like he has to throw a romantic element in there, so he created one. Or maybe it's a "love will save the day" thing he's going for when they finally get together? Or....I barely want to think this....maybe they're the Doctor's parents but she never finds out? Given the Timeless Child outcome last season, it's exactly the type of hail mary he'd pull. So much of this season is unnecessary, especially chucking all the fan favourites in the mix. Surely, the Sontarans, Cybermen and Daleks could have all been played by just one of them?

[@JoeBoKnows]

That would depend on many things. If their baby ends up being the timeless child, or they become something else....

[@luke-alex]

@@JoeBoKnows he introduced to the viewer the serpent also; I don't have a problem with Vinder; although I was a bit confused about what he was doing in this episode frankly

[@HandofOmega]

Chibs has reverted to one of his worse habits: The Doctor is getting info dumped, while her companions are segregated in their own storyline that pretends to be doing something BIG (see The Timeless Children). Dan is utterly wasted in the last couple, he's done virtually nothing, save had a couple of decent lines, he's basically a younger Graham. Yaz is ok, when given time to ponder being sep from the Doc again. I don't know if it's the actress' real accent and gestures or if she's doing a deliberate impression of Jodie, but they really seem to be signalling hard that she's her Mum! I initially thought that B and V were from the far future, and just realized that they're from 2021...so they're just humanoid aliens, right?

[@FallenGemini]

I am afraid that the Vinder and Bel arc is to introduce them as the Doctor's biological parents. Likewise, I am concern that the Grand Serpent is an early incarnation of the Master especially with that serpent form.

[@evanmccreesh268]

Didn’t love the episode, but I really enjoyed the dynamic between Yaz, Dan, and Jericho. Big Finish could easily make a box set for them, I’d buy it

[@CouncilofGeeks]

See that I might be interested in.

[@HandofOmega]

I'm really hoping that the Kate and Unit stuff doesn't just turn out to be a sales pitch for the new UNIT audios...I was pretty excited when I saw the youtube trailer, thought it was a new tv series!

[@itisALWAYSR.A.]

Hot take: Jericho could have been a better companion than Dan. Dan's basically just been caught in the crossfire, and hasn't been able to go home (since his home is the size of a tube of toothpaste) Mind you, this is my endless yearning for a non-contemporary and/or non-human companion. Not a companion in passing like Captain Jack was, a captured Missy, or a River Song-type anomaly. Like.... give me a person from 1215 or a speculative 2121AD. A Jamie McCrimmon, a Romana, heck, even a K9 in fact. Something that is othering - especially as the audience don't massively rely on the companion being their stand-in as much as the show likes to think. Yaz and co going on their entirely independent world tour (funded how?) is a good example that human companions don't necessarily *need* the Doctor to explain things to them. Maybe a direction, away we go. Wouldn't it be nice if we saw that shown in other ways?

[@kosh9639]

Sadly, Jericho & Tecteun are the most interesting characters & actors, in the Show... Why Introduced such a Critical character, in the Show's Lore-- to kill them off; after, 10mins of screen time.. wtf. 🤷🤦

[@selmaunsley6683]

Jericho has become the great companion we never knew we wanted

[@srswriter1165]

It's a shame that everything is so messy with these episodes. With a better writer, characters like Swarm and The Grand Serpent could have been really interesting and compelling villains (same with some of the heroes like Vinder, Claire, Karvanista, Jericho, and even Dan). The actors playing them all are actually really good and deserved better writing and more screentime. Either this series should have been 2-6 episodes longer or they should have saved some of the plot points for future seasons so they have the space to breathe.

[@donaldpaluga]

That's not Vince Russo Chibnall's M O

[@rennythespaceguy7285]

@Henry Andrews Then they should of cut excess characters and plotlines

[@moribundtoot8183]

@Henry Andrews There's one hell of a lot to payoff though and Chibnalls history of payoffs is excruciatingly awful. He's put FAR too much into this 6 parter and I dont even think he knows how he'll finish the storylines. It all has a feeling off being made up on the fly with very little thought put into the outcome. Maybe the last episode will deliver but I have a horrible feeling that it will be hellishly rushed and inconsequential as there wont be enough time to deal with it all.

[@rennythespaceguy7285]

@Henry Andrews But we know already that certain threads are dropped without resolution, (Peggy, what was going on with the village, etc) and there are a lot of them that are quite under baked or feel like an excuse to keep the Companions busy, even if, for example, Dan is finally given a reason to be here in the finale it's still bad writing to have him feel so redundant beforehand

[@theeighthdoctorpaulmcgann1789]

no dan is definetly a villain hes good at that

[@JackmasterNored]

The Weeping Angels told The Doctor that her friends were returned back to 1901. So that explains that part.

[@Rob-ws2dy]

I loved Mandip Gill's wardrobe and overall look in this episode. It's an outfit I would have liked to have seen as a female doctor's regular outfit.

[@HandofOmega]

Agreed, it's a shame that the first female Doctor is almost sexless, instead of leaning into it like they did with Missy. Maybe 14 will be different...

[@mrdoctorgilmore]

In regards to the fob watch, it may be that it was used to rewrite the Doctor's DNA into a Gallifreyan and is no longer whatever species she was before.

[@Elwaves2925]

Interesting idea. What is effectively The Timeless Child is in the fob watch and the Doctor is, for all intents and purposes a Gallifreyan, with a potentially limited lifespan/number of regens. Hmm? I think I like that idea a lot as it would keep the TC story real but out of the way, so it doesn't really change what we know about the Doctor from Hartnell's era to the present day.

[@luke-alex]

@@Elwaves2925 But that has always been true, hasn't it? That 'our' doctor is a totally different person to the timeless child. Because the current doctor has no memory of it. [[The only important change I can think of, if OP is correct, is the limited number of regenerations. The theory might also explain how her different biology wasn't noticed when she lived on Gallifrey. But it's also possible, perhaps, that the timeless child was always able to regenerate into any lifeform, and so simply choose (subconsciously) to regenerate into a Time Lord/Gallifreyan.]]

[@eshbena]

Yes, I like that idea. Also, because she's not actually a Gallifreyan by birth, she might have superpowers or something that are hidden in the watch. That way Chibnall can handwave the whole ending of this mess with magic! XD

[@Elwaves2925]

@@luke-alex No, even though 'our' Doctors have no memory of the past before Hartnell, they are still the same person. Ten was still the Doctor, even though he was human in body and had no memory (aside from tiny flashes) of his other life. Aspects of the Doctor still came through. Ruth was also very much like the Doctors we know, even going by the same name as you correctly point out. As for Ruth being called 'Doctor' and having a blue box, I fear we won't get an answer to either. i hope we do but I feel it was done just for effect to get people talking. I can't rule out that the TC is a lifeform who could have voluntarily changed to Gallifreyan, as we know nothing about them apart from regeneration. However, given that we know the fob watch tech can completely change who a person is, it makes sense to me that they were changed into a Gallifreyan when their memory was wiped. Then they entered society as the person (young boy) who became the Doctor we know. One with the limited regens instead of infinite because they were just a Timelord at that point, not this other lifeform. It certainly doesn't answer all questions and it also depends on where Chibnall takes it from here next week and in the specials. It does give a sort of way out from the TC mess though, so that gives me a little hope. :-)

[@inionanbas615]

Something that bothered me was Kate Stewart’s portrayal, which is ironic given Chibnall invented her. You’re telling me that she clocks The Grand Serpent as an alien threat, to such a degree that she gets herself a personal forcefield to stop him assassinating her, but only gives him a verbal warning to stop doing whatever it is he’s doing? She doesn’t take any action to stop him, literally doesn’t do anything, it’s just “hey, you’re an alien threat that’s murdered dozens of members of UNIT throughout the years and you’re clearly planning something evil, but don’t do it, or i’ll call the doctor to stop you. Now i will make no attempt to remove you from your position of power or expose you to any degree and go home, sure hope nothing bad happens to me.” I mean, she even looks surprised by that bomb like she wasn’t expecting the person she’s just threatened to stop to retaliate? And next episode she’ll be leading the human resistance to an invasion she could have stopped but made no effort to? Say what you will about Moffat dumbing her down across his run but Chibs made her a total idiot!

[@mrdr0161]

Or maybe he's developing her. She did exactly what the Doctor would do, give him the choice to leave. Maybe she's decided to change her approach of dealing witb aliens since the ending of the Zygon story in series 9. She shot 3 zygons and maybe Osgood helped her change her view of the universe. She was shoot to kill in her last appearances. But maybe she's just changed her approach

[@anealingfeeling5356]

I don't know, I think Kate was very well portrayed in this episode. The last time we saw her, the Doctor taught her to resolve a seemingly impossible situation without violence. She was clearly terrified in that scene in the office, I wouldn't be surprised if she was just bluffing about the shield. The Serpent was dismantling UNIT and she had nothing to threaten him with.

[@HandofOmega]

@@anealingfeeling5356 We know she has the Doctor's phone number...it does seem a bit not to immediately use it, for all she knows, she's dealing with another Master. Interesting to wonder if the Serpent knows who she was threatening him with...Honestly, I hope this isn't just Chibs' response to people pointing out how dumb it was to mothball UNIT, and so he's simply explaining why it happened!

[@HandofOmega]

Talking of Kate, this is the very definition of "nitpick", but does it not bother anyone else that the character is not allowed to use the name of her father? That's a great name, steeped in the lore of the show, and a new holder of it should be proud to have it...but can't just because Moffat is in love with his own "clever surprises" and just HAD to spring who she really was on us. And now, just for the sake of one "gotcha!" moment, she can't use her illustrious name for the entire rest of the characters' appearance...Ugh.

[@inionanbas615]

@@mrdr0161 There is a middle ground between shoot to kill and leave them to do whatever they like...

[@cy4943]

You're not being "excessively negative" at all - I think you are very succinctly critiquing some unforgivable writing and plot choices. Flux has been such a tangle of half baked ideas, promise, fluff etc. Your vids always help me process what exactly has irked me (and sometimes what I liked) about each episode too.

[@Venemofthe888]

I think last episode they definitely were quite negative and a lot of people disagreed with it

[@boltpanther5862]

I just stared blankly at the screen for most this episode. I could hardly believe they were stockpiling MORE plot to resolve. For me watching Flux is like feeling a sneeze coming and never getting to actually sneeze. Just anticipation....into fizzle. I can see the good ideas. I even liked bits of this episode: the idea of the division being between universes, neat. I liked the portrayal of Tec-Te-Un as a very hubris filled, almost god-emulating woman. I'm even up for the tunnels plot...if it was all coherently set up and tied together!! But there is so much fluff I struggle to know what to pay most attention to. It's so almost there...and yet not. Not to mention the constant "REMEMBER THIS" gimic as a distraction. Honestly...I've started getting into Big Finish recently and it has spoiled me. I now remember what Doctor Who has the potential to be. I'm never looking back.

[@justsomeone8310]

Two big things (but far to many more) bugged me just eating at my mind 1. So in 1904 you were able to travel basically all over the world in less then a year 2. How are we supposed to believe that the doctor who ever be even slightly tempted to let the universe die just to get her memories back when we have seen them be willing to erase themselves from existence to save it.

[@itisALWAYSR.A.]

regarding #2, I *think* the question we're hoped to take away from that is "was there once a time when the Doctor might have been a person to consider that?" We know Doctor Ruth/Jo Martin is very much a soldier on the run, John Hurt's War Doctor was jaded to the point of annihilating his own race in mutual destruction. But neither of them WOULD have taken the offer, I agree. Maybe there's something to say about outgrowing the people who used to know you, and moving on from a sketchy past? Except.... except we'll literally never know. And re: #1 I would have actually liked it if the date ticked up slowly: 1901, 1903, 1904, 1906... it actually retains some of the weight of the Angel's powers. Years of their life gone. Even if they get home they'll never get that time back.

[@Smouv]

To answer 2. We're not. The episode never makes it ambiguous whether the doctor is tempted by taking the offer, it's clear the price is not worth it the sec she hears it. As for why. The only way I see this making sense story wise is if she does end up saving the universe and has to deal with-/come to terms with the fact that she'll never know her true history.

[@chrispalmer7893]

My guess - the Doctor gets her memories back, but she decides that in all those years she couldn't remember she was always who she is now. Aswok (easier to spell of the two names) has more or less said as much. That will resolve the Doctor's "identity crisis". The Doctor will un-crush the Universe and defeat Swarm and Azure (maybe banishing them to one of those other universes). Overall, I still expect Chibnall to leave everything so that RTD can pick and choose which bits - if any - of his time carries through to Season 14 and beyond. That's more or less what Moffatt and RTD did before him. As for this week, the three year time jump didn't bother me. We know what happened to the little kid. She stayed in the village so she'd be there to warn them when the angels came back. They told us that last week. As for the angels putting everything back as it was, if it was just the angels maybe I'd see that, but these angels were working for the Division, and the Division works in secret. The Division would absolutely put everything back when they got what they needed. Enjoyed the seer - made me think of stories I've heard of how surprisingly funny the Delai Lama is in person. I'm sure someone has already noted that "tunnel guy" was a real person and the real world truth is that no one really knows what the tunnels were supposed to be for...

[@HandofOmega]

I've seen people refer to the old woman by this name...that she was never addressed as in any episode. How does that work? Was that other name in the credits? So the credits can just straight up LIE to us now? Ugh. At this point, the most interesting thing I can think of is if our universe really IS destroyed...but the Doctor saves Earth by moving it to the new one, and some of her old enemies escape to it as well. Could open up a whole new realm of storytelling, if they handle it right!

[@andrewbowman4611]

@@HandofOmega There's a long history of credits lying to us in Doctor Who: Leon Ny Taiy, Roy Tromelly and Neil Toynay will attest to that. Not to mention James Stoker, although he was only credited in the Radio Times.

[@HandofOmega]

@@andrewbowman4611 I'm an old time classic Who fan, but I'll admit those bits of trivia are new to me! At least it looks like those names are maybe anagrams? Did "Aswok" actually mean anything? The last time I saw misleading credits was in the Twin Peaks return, and even there it just used alternate titles ("The Experiment") until actual names were given, which is a method I prefer.

[@andrewbowman4611]

@@HandofOmega Leon Ny Taiy and Neil Toynay are anagrams of Tony Ainley, for Time-Flight and Castrovalva respectively. Roy Tromelly is an anagram of Terry Molloy, in Remembrance of the Daleks. James Stoker (Master's Joke) was used to hide the appearance of the Master in The King's Demons. Awsok doesn't seem like an anagram, but it could be an acronym, I suppose. Not sure what it would be, though.

[@HandofOmega]

@@andrewbowman4611 So, those were used to hide the actors involvement...that's a bit diff from what we're seeing here. Well, either way, that's the least of this season's problems!

[@draksus]

I think the Grand Serpent might be there to explain why UNIT was suspended before the events of Resolution while also setting up the Big Finish spinoff.

[@harrycapeling6536]

Coming from Liverpool myself it's been great to see the Williamson Tunnels featured in Dr Who, and who doesn't like John Bishop even though he supports the Reds? I agree there's too many plotlines, Chibnall has just thrown them in the air and not many will land. Overall I've enjoyed it but the last episode is going to be a mess.

[@sbi168]

I knew nothing of the Williamson tunnels before these shows. I have dug into that (if u forgive the pun) I've really enjoyed this episode/series. Love it.

[@dubbingsync]

It would have been interesting as an episode fully… but dotting him in occasionally throughout the series (well up to that point, I still haven’t watched the finale yet) seemed awkward.

[@madeinsiy4363]

I guess in the village eventually the whole edge of the space thing got resolved (magically) and as we all learned little girl's future was gonna be the old lady in the town, they just let her there to get old and yes it is still stupid

[@jackablamo]

I’m going to guess they are going to say that the timeless child reveal and the fugitive doctor are from another universe. That way they can keep dr who canon clean in this universe and use the multiverse as a way to explain all the inconsistencies

[@MrRjhyt]

@Tom Meehan Yeah, they half joked about this with Eleven, Amy and Rory as they tried to work out when Melody was conceived...

[@sammcbride4305]

I took the watch to mean that since The Doctor isn’t *really* a Time Lord they used the Chameleon Arch on them to turn them into a Time Lord, and so all the pre-Hartnell versions of The Doctor are also their pre-Time Lord versions

[@klop4228]

It's a solution that could work, more or less. Although it seems weird (in-universe) to use a persons genetics to advance your own species, and then turn that person into your own species - that is, the species their genes were just used to advance. Dunno if I expressed that in an understandable way lol.

[@WhovianOrWhatever]

I thought the watch just had the info from the Angel in it? Like, Tecteun said she took the info from the Angel and put it in there. Still more, didn't the Angel say they were the one who took the memories to begin with?

[@klop4228]

@@WhovianOrWhatever That's how they explained it, but it's not how the fob watch worked in Series 3. Tbh I don't think this is a case where it's worth getting worked up about it working exactly the same way, though.

[@FuchsiaShocked]

I went into it thinking 'well, with only two episodes left, I'm sure the many subplots will start to be weaved together today...' They... were not. I think I've stopped caring about this season entirely now.

[@jacobmagno2681]

I think the reason the angles put them back is relating to a line from the previous episode : the point of quantum extraction is to leave witnesses because they are cruel. So I'm assuming that everyone who survived are the "witnesses" left behind. Not sure about the girl though

[@mrdr0161]

Safe to assume Dan and Yaz took her to an orphanage. They had to stick to the timeliness and they knew she had to go back to the village when she grew up. So taking her with them would a) slow them down and b) put her life at risk and potentially damage the timeline and time is broken enough

[@HandofOmega]

"Angels are cruel"...Does no one else remember the Doctor's initial description of them as "the kindest killers in the universe"? That their entire thing was that they didn't want to kill ANYone, hence sending them far back in time? Guess the show has...

[@HandofOmega]

@@mrdr0161 The show continues this weird idea that people must stay in the immediate vicinity of the area they were sent back from...still no reason people can't physically travel away from a place, esp one that may hold bad memories!

[@Akazury]

@@HandofOmega That was in comparison with other killers/races though. Them killing you by sending you back to live out your days is pretty much the kindest way to die. That doesn't negate the fact that they can be cruel.

[@HandofOmega]

@@AkazuryI can't recall, but now it's said that they feed on the time energy of time displaced people or something? Was that in Blink? Also, we've heard the angels speak through others before, but this is the first time they've just outright spoken as themselves, while they were transporting the Doctor...I guess the quantum locking doesn't apply in transit, but they just like hiding their faces and standing very still...?

[@greghawkins59]

I don't understand why the doctor sent yaz and dan round the world to find out a date, only to end up finding mole man by coincidence.

[@jensdeclercq2233]

The writing this season is so bad it would make for an excellent Pitch Meeting. I imagine it might go like this: BBC Guy: So, you have a Doctor Who episode for me? Chibnall: Yes sir, I do! Now you may remember that at the end of the last episode the Doctor was turned into a Weeping Angel. BBC Guy: I do. She'll probably have a hard time getting out of that situation. Chibnall: Actually it's gonna be super easy, barely an inconvenience. BBC Guy: Oh really? Chibnall: Yeah, they just turn her back almost immediately. That whole Angel transformation was just a means of transporting her. BBC Guy: Weren't there easier ways to do that? Chibnall: Maybe, but this makes for a better cliffhanger. BBC Guy: I guess so. So where do they take her? Chibnall: Mexico, 1904. BBC Guy: They take her to Mexico? Chibnall: No, that's where Yaz and Dan and that professor guy are. BBC Guy: Weren't they trapped in that village? How did they escape from there? Chibnall: That happened offscreen, sir, so there's literally no way for me to know that. BBC Guy: But you're the one writing this story, right? Shouldn't you know what happens offscreen? Chibnall: *checks notes* Anyway, the Doctor has been taken to the headquarters of the Division, where she meets the mysterious old woman from two episodes ago. BBC Guy: Oh, what's her deal? Chibnall: Well, it turns out she's actually Tecteun, the woman who found and tortured the Doctor as a child. BBC Guy: Oh no! So she's behind the Division? Chibnall: I guess... Anyway, she explains that the Division has been influencing events throughout all of history in the entire universe. BBC Guy: Interesting. What are they trying to achieve by doing that? Chibnall: Unclear. BBC Guy: What? Chibnall: Well it wouldn't be very good nebulous organisation if everyone knew about their plans and goals, now would it? BBC Guy: Surely the leader would know why they're doing all of this. Chibnall: And so in the fifties the Grand Serpent weasels his way into helping found UNIT. BBC Guy: Wait, the Grand Serpent is in this too? What does he have to do with the Division? Chibnall: Absolutely nothing. This is a sideplot. That's what good writers do, I've been told. BBC Guy: They do. So how is this guy in an organisation that fights off aliens without anyone realising he is one? Chibnall: Well, every time someone gets suspicious, he makes them choke on his big snake. BBC Guy: Ooh, choking on a man's big snake is TIGHT! But that's not suitable for a family show. Only innuendo's are allowed. Chibnall: Oh, I don't mean as a metaphor, sir. I mean he uses an actual snake to choke them. BBC Guy: Right, right, that's definitely how I interpreted that. Chibnall. So then Tecteun explains the Division created the Flux to destroy the universe. BBC Guy: Wait, how is this connected to UNIT? Chibnall: It isn’t. We’re just going back to another plotline. BBC Guy: Oh, okay then. But isn't it kinda stupid to destroy a universe you're living in? Sounds like a bad plan to me. Chibnall: Ah, but they're not actually in the universe. The division headquarters has already moved beyond the boundary of our universe and is headed for the next one. BBC Guy: We're doing a multiverse like Marvel? Amazing! Chibnall: Yeah, yeah, yeah! So the Doctor's companions visit a holy man, who tells them they can get back to their own time by fetching their dog. BBC Guy: Oh yeah, they were also doing stuff, weren't they? So what's this dog thing about? Chibnall: Well, they write a giant message to Karvanista, so he can come pick them up. BBC Guy: Clever thinking. Chibnall: Except Karvanista has no time travel technology, so he just gets annoyed in the future. BBC Guy: So what was the point of that scene? Chibnall: I don't know. Comic relief I guess. BBC Guy: That works. So how do they get back to their own time? Chibnall: Well sir, it turns the mysterious excavation we've been referencing every episode has uncovered some tunnels that lead to different plot-convenient time periods. BBC Guy: That's it? This thing we've been teasing this whole time is nothing more than a plot convenience? Chibnall: Okay, I'm gonna need you to get ALL the way off my back about plot conveniences, sir. BBC Guy: Oh, I'm sorry. Let me get off of that thing. Chibnall: So Swarm and Azure show up in Division and kill Tecteun… BBC Guy: How long is this episode gonna last? It feels like there's way too much happening already. Chibnall: But I haven't talked about Vinder and Bel's roles in this episode yet. BBC Guy: Oh my god! Chibnall: And Kate Stewart also gets a small role... and the Sontarans are back for another battle. BBC Guy: I don't know, man. How are you gonna keep all this from becoming convoluted mess? Chibnall: I’ll explain later.

[@arubinojr5670]

One completely simple alternate question: What is... ANY of this?

[@rodrigodepaula4198]

I actually agree a lot with you. Any of those storys could be the main story of a season. So why not just choose one and go with it instead of put everything at the same time? We will never know.

[@danielbroome5690]

Cause Chibnall has always been a mediocre Dr Who writer at best?

[@arielsteinsaltz1956]

@Tom Meehan In that case some stuff has to be cut. Choices have to be made.

[@rodrigodepaula4198]

@Tom Meehan since it was reduced they should cut some storylines.

[@wolf1066]

My personal guess is that he had intended sticking around longer than just 3 seasons but now that he's leaving he's shoe-horning all his stupid plot ideas into this, his last, season - because his ideas are all "so wonderful and important" that they "must be aired". The guy's a complete hack with an ego that far outstrips his capabilities.

[@wolf1066]

@Tom Meehan Hah hah. "Have some respect" says the person who then infers I'm less than human *_and_* accuses me of having "a go at" RTD for making Dr Who gay. So, *according to you* I'm a semi-human homophobe. Wrong on both points, you drongo. Whoops, I just called *you* a name.

[@Purplenightshades]

I wish Swarm were the major villain because have a kink for purple skeletal faced bejewelled dudes, and they’re so rare

[@damnrapunzel8130]

I don't think the finale will pull them all together. I think some of them are going to run into the specials. This really doesn't feel like it's coming to a close, it's all just felt like setup rather than progression

[@christianwise637]

That's been my biggest problem with this series, the fact that it took us until part 5 out of a 6 part story before we started getting any kind of answer for the mysteries is a pretty big issue already, but add on the fact that so many of these storylines still haven't received any kind of progression over the last few weeks, and we're still adding on more plot threads and mysteries, and it's no surprise that so many have been getting frustrated with Flux

[@tamasszabo6145]

Based upon your observations "Flux" is a great and accurate title for these episodes.

[@chrissetti1390]

This season needed at least double the number of episodes to let any of these subplots breathe. I think your question about what the main plot is sums it up nicely

[@Dreamerlilly]

It was originally set as 11 episodes, but as mentioned covid restrictions shortened it.

[@chrissetti1390]

@@Dreamerlilly I know, which is a shame, but if they didn't have 10 episodes then they shouldn't have tried to tell a story needing 10 episodes

[@Elwaves2925]

I'm not expecting much from the finale. I was intrigued after the Timeless Child and Ruth were introduced last season but (putting aside my personal feelings) it ended with an episode of exposition. Show don't tell doesn't seem to be part of Chibnall's thinking and I think next week will be similar. I also predicted before last week that the Division was behind the Flux and I wouldn't expect any more explanation than that. As much as I find myself enjoying some of Flux, at least more than previous seasons of his, he's clearly throwing fan favourites in there to cover up for the lack of a cohesive, single story plot. We've had so many and in only five episodes. Odds are that the Judoon and the Master will show up next episode. I'm really starting to think that Broadchurch was a one-off from him.

[@Venemofthe888]

Broadchurch had 3 series and only the first one is worth the time like the other 2 were add ons which didn't work

[@Elwaves2925]

@@Venemofthe888 Yeah, I pretty much agree although I kind of enjoyed seasons 2 and 3 to a degree , just nowhere near as much as season 1. Even then it was mainly because of the acting, not the plots of 2 and 3.

[@breaded_toast]

@@Venemofthe888 I thought series 2 was good but you’re definitely right about series 3

[@eshbena]

I was actually wondering where the heck the Master was in all of this! He shows up, screams about the TC, and then vanishes... um... universe is being destroyed and he's what...? Washing his hair?

[@Elwaves2925]

@@eshbena He got thrown back in time to Russia and is helping Catherine The Great change the country. I hope you get that reference. ;-) Seriously though, given how involved he was in revealing the TC mystery, he has to turn up, even if it's in a special.

[@TheUniqueImpact]

I think both this episode and last episode, I started off in the first 5-10 minutes feeling really hopeful about, but by the end I just felt disappointed. It's hard to explain why. I think it's perhaps the angels setup, and the setup with the companions trapped in the past, both seemed really promising, but then when elements of Chibnall's plot kicked in, it just ruined the episodes for me. I always thought a serialised doctor who season could be really good, but this season is giving me second thoughts about that.

[@joeedge9153]

What if….The Chameleon Arch is there because that watch holds the Timeless Child. Then once that was held, they injected the Doctor the same way the original Gallifreyans were, which gives us OUR timeline of Doctors. It would explain why the Doctor was granted and needed regenerations when Smith turned to Capaldi.

[@davidturner2974]

best thing about this episode is it got us one closer to this all being over.

[@davidturner2974]

@Tom Meehan I knew there were at least a couple coming. Ugh. I've been ok with this era until now but seriously now I'm just so ready for a change. This series has been dreadful.

[@Concreteowl]

It reminds me of how children construct stories while playing with toys. You are over here and you come in and do this thing while you kung fu that guy and the godzilla blows up megatron with He-man's sword.

[@ThanhTriet600]

The angels extracted the village in 1901 to isolate their rogue agent. We know that it didn't stay that way forever by the fact that the little girl was able to grow up to be old in the same village where there were clearly many more people besides her who had found their way in. Maybe the angels used their spaceship (the crashed "meteorite" that was glowing at the end) to do it, and then when they left, there was no power left to continue the quantum extraction.

[@HandofOmega]

Also, it's blink and miss it (pun intended) but it's interesting to note that Division evidently broke their deal with the rogue angel and took it prisoner anyway, to extract its memory. Wonder if it will return? and what of Clair?? But yeah, those are all possibilities, but the show should really do its own work, and stop making US write for it...

[@faealbahrani8821]

plz Vira we need u not to pay to much attention to the negative comments, when ppl come at you and say "oh calm down your just looking to for the negatives" and " you came into this season wanting to hate it" plz just ignore them, cuz we the ones who actually listen when ur talking heard you say multiple times that you want to like this season and that ur hopeful for some episodes and the rest is just you expressing your own opinion which we love to hear, i mean thats why we are subscribed to you. so plz dont change the way you express your own opinions and say whatever u truly think about each episode. much love. byebye

[@gozerthegozarian9500]

Don't fret about the Azure/Azul name mix-up, at this point, I'm amazed you can keep up with anything, given that Chibnall is basically carpet-bombing the audience with characters, plots, retcons to an extent that my head is kinda swimming by now..

[@mrdr0161]

No retcons have happened

[@FallenGemini]

@@mrdr0161 they certainly retconned the Weeping Angels and how they can kill their victims if they touch them again. Don't forget that the WP work for the Time Lords.

[@FallenGemini]

In Angels in Manhattan, they didnt kill their victims if they touch them a second time like Rory

[@mrdr0161]

@@FallenGeminiyou need to understand that these weeping angels weren't normal weeping angels. They work for the division. They don't want to harvest people for their time energy. However the angels in angels take manhattem were trying harvest it. Maybe they choose whether to send them back in time or kill them

[@JohnBainbridge0]

There is no Azure, only Azul.

[@heda7842]

When they said it had been 3 years all I could think of, wow another opportunity to highlight how Yaz remains completely stagnant as a character- hasn't changed at all in 3 years or really since season 11. How many times have they done the 'Yaz is separated from The Doctor and she's sad and must get back to her' thing in this era? Far too many, it's boring now.

[@567secret]

The only way I can see, and hope, everything will be addressed, is if they have to pick one of the major threads (probably the division stuff) for the specials, and focus on tackling Swarm / Azure, and various other things happening in "universe A" for now. But that does feel like the pacing is going to be all messed up as a result.

[@andrewdawson3525]

i don't like that they have managed it but the fact that from the first episode of chiball and whititaker to now the viewing figures have gone from nearly 11 million down to less than 4.5 million is actually kind of impressive.

[@andrewdawson3525]

@Tom Meehan because the bbc don't want to admit they screwed up, also this way they can say they gave the first female doctor the same amount of time as most of the male doctors

[@thetalisman7722]

I agree completely, I don't even feel angry anymore, that episode ended and I just felt completely dejected. So many people clearly love this series, it just shows how far "what I want from Doctor Who" has drifted from the mainstream of the fandom

[@garymiles484]

Ahh, the fandom. That's very important to you isn't it? I am English and grew up on Doctor Who from Jon Pewtee onwards. Still love the series, we both grew together I guess. The point is that there are so many so called "die hard fans" out there, (not me), who are quite clearly Predudiced, bigoted and racist, who really do not have the same feelings for the series as I do.

[@thetalisman7722]

@@garymiles484 I just meant that if people take to this style of Doctor Who, if the fandom takes to this style then this might become what Doctor Who is, I feel very much out of step with that...

[@garymiles484]

@@thetalisman7722 no offense, but, I like the series the way it is going. I like Jodi, never thought she was the problem, I would have loved to see her working with RTD. I honestly think that if the "fandom" cannot accept that things have to evolve, then they can take a run & jump. I can't wait for RTD to take the helm and continue the evolution of DW. The fandom will have to accept that the direction that RTD and Bad Wolf will take the series, will tell us who the real fans are

[@thetalisman7722]

@@garymiles484 I'm agreeing with you. I'm saying that the fandom is enjoying this story (or a majority of them are), I'm just sad because I'm not and I want to love Doctor Who at all times

[@garymiles484]

@@thetalisman7722 I see DW like a relationship. There is going to be ups and downs, give and take. Yes, there have been poor episodes, (not just in Chibnall's reign), but there have been some good ones too. I just go with the flow and move on with the series. Could things have been done better? Well, yes. We can always say "the grass is greener on the other side of the fence". I have lived in the USA for the last 16 years and will be returning back to England soon. I realized my mistake.

[@ColzoArt]

I came away from this one so cross. The idea that the last almost 60 years of what Who is feels like being retconned with the timeless child story. The Grand Serpent’s character reminds me of the character he played in Line Of Duty!

[@HandofOmega]

I have a LOT of problems with this storyline, but the most positive thing I can say is: I WAS NEVER BORED. Not once (well, maybe during Vinder bits), which already puts this WELL above the last two seasons! Chibs really restored the driving energy to the show (perhaps a bit TOO much), and there is a palpable sense of suspense and intrigue...pity it's all so scattershot. They're already denying this, but until I see hard evidence to the contrary, my belief is that these were storylines meant to unfold at a better pace over the next couple of seasons, but his getting fired made him throw it all together, as this is now the ONLY chance he will ever have again to affect his lifelong favorite show (and his eps got reduced to boot)! NO clue how this is all gonna be able to wrapped up in one ep, maybe it will extend over the three specials?

[@nickchavarria8052]

Ill give Chibnall that much. I always massively prefer a messy story over a boring one. And this definitely isn’t boring

[@Smouv]

This makes too much perfect sense and I kinda dislike it. Your duty as head writer person should stand above your fanboy desires. With better focus this really could've been very good. Am totally vibing with the Grand Serpent storyline so far, way more than with any other the other stuff going on, but it'll ultimately be disappointing simply by the nature of this mess of a season. FWIW I'm liking this season so far, maybe strongest of the last three seasons as well?? It's just a mess though, and that kinda sucks because there's too much potential thrown into the blender at once.

[@JakeyJones]

I like your take

[@marcdigiambattista751]

Had the pandemic not occurred, this would have probably been a 20 episode story over two series. On the other hand, though things would have been less messy we would have also had to endure a few more episodes like "Orphan 55" or "Arachnids in the UK". The only thing which has really bothered me so far is how quickly Tecteun was killed off, I really hate how all of the modern show runners bring in other Time Lords only to kill them off, exile them (where is Rassilon in all of this?) or declare them already dead (Corsair anyone?).

[@HandofOmega]

@@marcdigiambattista751 That is annoying, but a little understandable when the Doc was meant to be The Last. Now, tho...frankly, I'm still mad that Chibs destroyed Gallifrey AGAIN, and never even thought that we might like to see some stories there...no effort was even made, just get rid of it, which really feels disrepectful to the previous crew who went to great lengths to bring it back! We don't really know what may have happened without the pandemic, but it didn't really cause Who's low ratings the lackluster last 2 seasons did that. So, I'm guessing we'd still be seeing much the same thing as now. Chibs really only has himself to blame, for pissing about instead of hitting the ground running.

[@gavandeathe1373]

Trying to compress what seems to be three series worth of story arks in to six shows series was always going to be a cluster flux

[@nelguinevere4036]

I burst out laughing during the very first scene when I realised that the Angels were nothing but McGuffins to get the Doctor to this criminal child murderer and kept on laughing throughout. 3 years passed, our companions just jumping around like complete idiots, occasionally getting rid of a body, Jaz being the most annoying and empty companion of all times, Oods, main villain child murder killed off, the new villain serpent or whatever, the old ones, a bunch of characters whose existence is an utter mystery... this script should be getting a reward for incompetency. Because even of a miracle happens and somehow they tie everything together, it will have no meaning because there'll be no time to actually put emotional impact into the payoffs, it will be more of a summary of a plot than a plot. I don't know how you can write like this, and how this was approved. By BBC of all companies, who, despite being asses, do know how to make TV. Fascinating.

[@Hiett1]

Did! Know how. I would have to say the BBC has shown nothing but questionable judgment of late in all aspects of its existence, makes me glad that America has Commercial Television and not state run license tv.

[@HandofOmega]

And it STILL holds together better than Rise of Skywalker, LOL!

[@jackaylward-williams9064]

After Tecteun was introduced in the previous series, I was convinced that if she showed up in the flesh, she'd have the judoon with her so that they could make a joke about a judoon platoon led by Tecteun.

[@KaleShadowWalker]

At this point, I'm just kinda ready for the final episode and the specials if for no other reason than to see what kind of mess Chibnall leaves for RTD to clean up when he takes over.

[@commandZee]

Just enduring it all for hopefully a cute "holiday" special and that big regeneration.

[@alunrundle162]

I actual quite like when you wear your heart on your sleeve, so to speak. You're a talented debater, capable of rationally making concise and relevant arguments without bias or hate but that doesn't mean you don't do annoyed, frustrated or bored and nor should you. Was a bit surprised you didn't mention Kate though(!) You are right about a lot going on. Chibnall's juggling a dozen eggs whilst balancing tea plates on his nose at the moment. Something's gonna break.

[@5thar]

Completely agree with all you said😊👍.

[@keerokamiya9126]

I mean To be fair about Hellbent , it DID take the doctor ages and ages and ages to get out of that confession dial and find Galifrey lol

[@literaltruth]

Honestly, I was one of the most critical of the review last week - but this week made me have to concede Vera's suspicions about how all this was going to turn out were ultimately more prescient than attempts to give this thing the benefit of the doubt. I hadn't kept track of how many episodes there were in total - and the fact they are still introducing MORE BS into the story in this episode and next week is the finale...I can't maintain positivity any longer. Up until I read that next week was the finale, I could convince myself that there were going to be answers to everything. But like you laid out in this review....there just isn't time for that to happen now. So, while I loved the idea of a proper, old-school style, serialised Doctor Who story....Chibnail, once again, has cocked it up. Your critiques and assessment of this episode seem entirely justified and I suspect if I look back at the previous reviews (after what I suspect is going to be a mess of a finale) I'm going to see your crticisms are going to seem retrospectively WAY more justified than my attempt to convince myself that this wasn't always going to be a massive mess. So apologies - I now feel like you were right and I was misguided. Also, your whole thing about the Doctor's instructions and what Yaz and Dan doing and "I don't know why I don't like that as a plot point" had me answering to the screen "Because it was REALLY REALLY SUPER DUMB AF"

[@Freshie207]

Yeah, I think a lot of folks really wanted Jodie and Chibnall too go out on a high note, and so a lot of slack was given but it really doesn't look like Flux will resolve satisfactorily. Real damn shame, an era with so much potential

[@AdeMagnaye]

I'm honestly worried that Bel and Vinder's storyline ends with them being the parents of the Timeless Child

[@lauritzen93]

It all feels like the rough first draft of a story. Making plot points, making characters move where and when they need to be in accordance to those plot poins, telling us exposition all the time, having superficial dialogue ...

[@kaworunagisa4009]

To me, this whole thing feels like Chibnall having a tantrum, like a toddler who wants all toys at once and tries to drag more of them than he can carry. As for memories, my prediction is that the Doctor would choose not to have the memories back (would choose something else instead), and then this plotline would also be tossed aside.

[@JoeBoKnows]

I assume the angels put the town back, per the divisions orders, and we know what happened to the little kid. She grew old in that village

[@chrisandersen5635]

My feeling is that this idea started in the last season was expected to be concluded in another ten episode arc. Then they were kneecapped by the network saying nope, six, oh and good luck. Maybe I am being charitable, or Chibs didn't know how to compress and delete effectively. I don't know. I want to like it, and I even do like some it. Kate for example who you did not mention. So maybe to the specials?

[@mindyp51d]

The "good in it" and, inmho, BEST part of the episode: Kate Lethbridge-Stewart! And a "mention" of Osgood! Once again, had to stream it to understand what the hell was going on. And it makes a bit more sense...if I don't think about it too much. One hour or less is waaaaay too little time to tie everything up (as you point out), so, given that I haven't heard or read anything about the finale of FLUx being an "extended" episode, I'm thinking that the specials will be used to address all the questions. P.S.: And don't apologize for "getting worked up." You care. It's what makes you such a great KZbinr!

[@MrRjhyt]

I've heard a theory that with RTD's return, there will be more offshoots from the main show. Something about Sony, and a Welsh company, and that might be used to widen the show, or develop the under-written characters we have.

[@JohnBainbridge0]

Don't let the critics of your critiques get to you. You're right. This season is a hot mess.

[@thevacuumofcomments2946]

Fellow human with ADHD: Yeah I don't know how Yaz, Dan and Jericho got out of the village or what happened to Peggy either.

[@paulfosten2094]

As someone without ADHD, no I didn't get it either 🤦‍♂️ It all seems incredibly vague and undefined.

[@mrcritical6751]

Peggy stayed in the village, that was confirmed by her future self

[@thevacuumofcomments2946]

@@mrcritical6751 ...on her own? For all those years?

[@Venemofthe888]

I mean she saw herself in the future she knew what she had to do

[@eddieroche8176]

Best thing out of this series has been the Evil Dan meme.

[@reujobar]

I'm betting that Bel and Vinder are the Doctor's parents. The Doctor is having an identity crisis but this episode already confirmed that she cares more about her friends and the universe than regaining her missing memories. The main plot in my idea is that the Doctor will be faced with some revelations - forced by Swarm and Azure. Swarm will try to convince 13 that she is just as much a villain as they are and Tecteun is... but they will persuade her to start over in a new universe to be who she wants to be. The Doctor will deny them and state that she will stay loyal to the universe and the people that she loves, because love is the only mission. Hence, Bel and Vinder being the Doctor's origin would make her feel more at ease and comfortable and able to coupe with her past knowing she was born from two people who were always doing the right thing, saving others in the universe, in the midst of its ruins. Then the series can end with the Doc and her friends saving the universe from the Flux and everyone else. Flux should have been more episodes and should have focused on one plot at a time with primarily Swarm and Azure connecting each plot. So far I'm in love with the ideas that every loose string holds, they're clever and you can see their potential. It's just a shame the show was cut to a minimum of 6 episodes. I have a feeling the main loose end to be tied up in the finale will be resolving the Flux event, or at least I hope it is because that is the title of this whole series. Also, I feel like the flux is going to have the same weight and meaning as the snap from the MCU. So I can imagine that the specials to come will have people referencing the Flux.

[@nellebolton7910]

I like the Bel and Vinder thing...

[@ingec1736]

Wow, the Vinder and Bel thing might be right? I'd really love that actually.

[@TheShadowofDragons]

The Grand Serpent had some sort of mention as a throw away from Tecteun. With everything destroyed and only Earth left, everyone left is trying to find some new real estate. Land to live on. And the Grand Serpent seems to be trying to take over the Earth to either have it be his own little world, or sell it to the highest bidder as the Sontaran stuff seems to imply.

[@HandofOmega]

Wasn't the Doctor the one who said that, when her message asked Yaz to protect EArth from aliens looking for new homes? He said something about once having minions to do his bidding, a long time ago...But his story starting in the past muddles things. Was "long ago" our future and his past? Is he time traveling back, or is this his origin? Presumably he's related to the snake tatted people after the comps...

[@scix8794]

Man i feel so bad. I felt nothing. This was bad

[@thatplayerone5002]

The only way I can see all the threads being tied is.. if some of them are the same thread. I.e. The grand serpent being swarm or something but I honestly see - Sontar a side plot, backfires on TGS, he dies, yaz, Dan, and Jericho group up with Doggos to stop the sontars, the doctor fixes whatever is going on with swarm and azure, maybe their from a separate universe, idk, and then Vinder and Bel get forgotten

[@aharmlesskitten4573]

In regards to the how Yaz and Dan got back to the real world of 1901 I think that was addressed in the Angels episode before when they were getting the history of the town it was said that everyone in the town disappeared once before back in 1901. Which implies that the town was there but the people weren't between the first time it got pulled out of time, and the second when the Doctor crew get there. So the town got put back but none of the people did, cause the Angels don't care about buildings or whatever lol.

[@Michelle-do1ui]

But was it? Because soon as the ep aired I was like wait how are they able to travel round the world when they were just stuck in that village? Where did the girl go also did they just leave her in 1901 alone 😂 it’s all so messy we’re at the last ep already & still nothing makes sense I don’t see how everything can be addressed with just 1 episode remaining…

[@HandofOmega]

In at least one historical/fantasy novel I read, "Flux" was what they called diarrhea...which I can't help but be reminded of, and makes this title esp funny, so I'm sharing that with all of you!

[@TheStarparent]

I thought exactly the same after the first episode... that's what I've always known the flux as... the body getting rid of nasty stuff.. any discharge was given that name in medieval times ...

[@nicka3697]

I think the Doctor will face a choice between uncovering her memories and defeating swarm and azure releasing the prisoners in passenger and undoing the flux. She will of course choose the latter kicking further personal revelations down the line to the specials. The grand serpent will be revealed as the next incarnation of the master in a very unsatisfactory way which fails to explain how he is still alive at all. His attempt to destroy the earth will fail and he will escape for RTD to use later. With luck we will get some information on the aims of the Division. The doctor will have to hunt down our doggy friend to learn more...

[@TengriLethos42]

I have a weird idea: Maybe some of the other characters are also former incarnations of the doctor and when she takes the fob watch she might remember all of this. Which means basically that this could be some kind of multi Doctor episode and we are just not aware of it yet. 😁 At least that would make the other characters important somehow... As I said... a very weird idea. 😅

[@HandofOmega]

A friend of mine jokes that, by the end, *literally everyone* will be revealed to have been the Doctor all along...including the viewers! I honestly can't decide if that would be an epic mindfuck or just stupid, haha...

[@klop4228]

@@HandofOmega Honestly, at this point I want it to get as big and dumb as possible. Cos at this point I've pretty much lost all emotional investment lol

[@itisALWAYSR.A.]

OK this would be hilarious and my favourite explanation. It's like the one-electron universe theory. All matter is the same electron. All life is just different iterations of the Doctor. Tecteun: "Why don't you have skin next time, dear?" Teenage Doctor, in their 9000th regeneration in a row as a heckin Tree: "IT'S NOT A PHASE, MOM"

[@Yan_Alkovic]

19:13 Precisely my problem with this series - there are some genuinely nice ideas, but not only are they executed very poorly, they're not given the room to breathe! I can totally envision any single _episode_ becoming a solid Classic Who-formatted story (given good writing and a bigger budget, admittedly they've had to work around lots of limitations, so bless their heart for that, but still), and they could all be great on their own! If only it were not for Chibnall...

[@tina9866]

Totally agree, that's really what bothers me the most that you get no time to breath. I remember back in the first season with Rose and Christopher eccleston and the last episode of them together. Rose is being send back in the Tardis and then we have the scene where she Micky and her mum are eating out. And I loved that scene because it was silent, everything around them was fine but actually nothing was fine at all and you could relate to Rose a lot because a conversation like that can happen in real life. The episode takes its time with dealing with Rose's emotions until she is able to go back to safe the doctor. Something like that is unimaginable in this season and it's really missing. You don't get time to sit with emotions and honestly half of the time I have no idea what's going on at all.

[@julesenby9286]

Azul is blue in my first languege ( portuguese ) hah it is cute name for the cat but like it not very imaginative for an blue alien chatather 😅

[@brinthorne]

I have to admit, I think I'm on the same page as you this week. I will be not only pleasantly surprised but utterly shocked if all of these bits and pieces are assembled into a cohesive, satisfying conclusion episode next week.

[@clomiancalcifer]

Reading the comments. A: the angels replaced the village with Yaz et al. This is said I think by the Angels in their final encounter with the Doctor before stoning her. B: the fob watch is the Doctor's memories (as stated in the dialogue) I agree that this is a mess with no logical motivation for any of the actors. But not understanding stuff said in text...undermines the argument. Like I don't get the reason half of these things are happening outside of 'coincidence'....which ok...yeah it's a cosmological catastrophe, but we saw the image from Tecteun's ship there's entire galaxies that look more or less in tact why would everyone go to Earth....outside of the 'Because Earth's protected by the Doctor' which is meh. Worse part of this is the sense that the Ravages and Flux will get fixed in the same blow as the Doctor uses Tecteun's ship to stop the Flux, trap the ravages in the middle of....I guess the void.....(mind you there's an army of Cybermen and an army of Daleks in the void too along with a Division headquarters if you're keeping track at home). And that's before as you pointed out we get to ancillary problems 1-4 (Snake dude, Sontarans, Daleks and Cybermen)....

[@christianwise637]

I have a feeling the finale is either barely going to answer these lingering questions and leave most of the hard work for the specials, or is going to spend so much time tying up everything that the whole thing is going to feel like a bullet point list of storylines with no narrative or character-based material. I hope to God I'm wrong, but considering that neither of the more likely options is going to be good, right now I'm very apprehensive for next week

[@alquimistaZ2]

The Doctor's dialogue with Tekteun felt like a cheap Star Wars knock off, she reveals she is the Doctor's mother, then proceeds to say how being good is bad and then tries to bring her child to the dark side.

[@whoknows7879]

I had a tough time with this episode. I think bringing in UNIT, Kate and the Grand Serpent was a mistake, there's enough moving parts and characters as it is, now it's starting to be a bit much. I also felt the Grand Serpent rising to power within UNIT was a bit too easy and rushed, although I like the performance and how he kills people. Vinder, Bel, Diane, Williamson and Karvanista are also pretty useless characters at this point, they either just travel around trying to find someone or are waiting for someone to find them. At least Williamson found the trio this time around but I still don't see him being anything but a way to move the companions from one place to the next or some other surface level plot mechanism and that's it. Yaz, Dan and Jericho going on their adventures made very little sense to me and was mostly filler, I also didn't understand how they got away from the village from last episode and what happened to Peggy. The only understandable and semi functioning portion of this episode was all the division stuff with the Doctor and Tecteun and also Swarm and Azure, which I'm happy about as that is the most interesting part of all this for me, but I just hate how Tecteun was nothing but pure exposition all the way through to her death, just vomiting backstory out in dialogue. And that connects to my hatred for the timeless children twist, as what pisses me about it and this era the most is how we are supposed to be watching the 13th Doctor, this is supposed to be her story, where Jodie makes decisions and faces situations that reveal her character, and yet the focus is on what has happened off-screen in an era we will never see as a story in the present with the Fugitive Doctor as the hero. This era is more interested in hyping up mysteries that only end up revealing exposition dumps of lore than in actual character or relationship development or drama, conflict etc in the present. Chibnall loves to create mysteries, but he doesn't understand that the real story can only start after the mystery is solved, because all mysteries ever are is the hiding of information and information can only be the introduction of a story. Here Chibnall solves the mystery of what the division is and immediately kills off Tecteun, and now we can never have an actual story with her character. It's so frustrating. It's like Moffat, throwing all these ideas at us but doing nothing with them or doing extremely little of what could have been. Just like we deserved the return of Gallifrey to be properly explored in a story or even a series we deserved the same with Tecteun. She had conflict with the Doctor in this episode, they were butting heads and she offered the Doctor a real juicy dilemma, but no, let's not explore that and their relationship in future episodes, let's just kill her off and waste all that set up. Fucking hell.

[@HandofOmega]

This, a thousand times. I wish I had a thousand likes to give!

[@mrMadHatterreviews]

Wasn't sure what to make of this. I vaguely enjoyed it but it was very much an exercise in advancing disparate plot threads. The best parts were the Doctor with Tecteun although I am disappointed the character was dispatched so quickly. I was hoping the blowout confrontation between the Doctor and Tecteun would be closer to the ending of her era. Instead, Chibnall seems to be deliberately riffing on the idea of denying narrative closure. That the Doctor will never get to fully hold Tecteun accountable, they may never get answers about their past, and that's something they'll just have to accept and live with. The UNIT history stuff didn't do much for me but I liked seeing Kate again. Still hoping for Osgood next episode. Oh, and I liked Yaz, Dan and Jericho's misadventures. Those were fun.

[@mrzakyboy3453]

The episode was a generalization of Chris Chibnall's DW, which is to throw a bunch of ideas out there without a plan on how to pay them off properly Not too hyped for the finale ngl

[@Elwaves2925]

Not just ideas but sticking many, many fan favourites into all this, just to cover up the lack of cohesive writing. For what was supposed to be one big, six episode story, it feels a lot like small moments dumped in together. As I just heard Nathaniel say, which is the one plot. I mean, in 5 episodes we've had Weeping Angels, Sontarans, Daleks, Cybermen, UNIT + Kate Stewart. I'm fully expecting the Judoon and the Master to pop up next week. It feels strange to say I've enjoyed some of Flux, certainly compared to previous seasons/specials but as an overall, it's not really saying much.

[@Elwaves2925]

@Tom Meehan By their own words, both Nathaniel and Vera are acceptable. :-)

[@joelsytairo6338]

This is the point in the series where we start to realize just how little is going to get resolved.

[@s0phi3e]

I've been enjoying s13 quite a bit thus far but this epsiode really was not exceptional in any way. What bothers me about the current writing is how conflicts that are build up to be very major and very impactful get resolved within seconds. Most of the cliffhangers were resolved with some suddenly there contrivance. Like the Doctor turning into a weeping angel. That could've been a major plot point but it didn't factor into this episode at all. Same goes for Tecteun. Her showing up should be an incredibly important thing but then she just talks for 5 minutes and gets killed off. I get that stuff like this can work as some sort of expectation subversion, but Chibnall just does it so much that it loses that effect entirely. It feels like Chibnall's plots are 95% build up and only 5% resolution. That being sad I'm still excited for next week. I'm just glad to watch some Doctor Who, but I understand that a lot of people can't look past these issues.

[@dogblessamerica]

It's such a shame; there are so many great ideas and moments, some great world-building, great effects, great characters - but too much of it all, so it ends up a confusion. I'm enjoying watching it, but I couldn't imagine a non-fan tuning in and finding it engaging.

[@Dracandre]

Well the doctor wasn't originally a timelord, just the timeless child. So maybe the fobwatch would change her back into the timeless child with infinite regenerations etc.

[@craigcharlesworth1538]

My big concern is that at this point, narratively, Chibnall is spinning so many plates that the only way to wrap it up in the time left is with the same 'someone sits the Doctor down and explains it all to her' technique he used last season. Something is going to get left unexplained, my money is on the Division and the Fugitive Doctor who I think will be kicked down the road to the specials.

[@jonathankirk111]

I liked seeing UNIT being built from the ground up. I don't understand why this guy helped to build UNIT just to try to destroy it. I also liked the Brigadier cameo or I guess audeo.

[@phoxrenvatio]

Of all of your reviews, I don’t know if I’ve ever been SO on the exact same page as you about an episode. I had fun with it, and I’m glad I’m starting to understand what this season (and Chibnall’s entire run) is about, it only makes me more nervous that he can’t nail the ending without just an hour of exposition next week or dropping more plot points.

[@magus104]

With how Chibnal seems to like to steal ideas from other writers... I would imagine he just viewed the town being displaced as the same way the judoon displaced the hospital and returned it when they had no use for it any more. Kind of like how we have the note left for the old guy telling him to leave in the last episode..... gotta have some weird warning note left behind in an angel episode because thats what we did on the intro to blink..... and like how with spyfall we made all the companions britains most wanted..... like that time Saxon did it with 10, jack, martha

[@thedragonsunicorn]

the show has 60 years of history, it's inevitable that ideas are going to be reused. you're acting as if chibnall has taken the idea of 'bad wolf' and copied it out verbatim. displacement? notes? most wanted list? they're miniscule parts of the plots. its hardly stealing 🙄

[@HandofOmega]

How are we liking the official introduction to the Multiverse? It's telling that so much is going on, that one of the biggest revelations goes unremarked on! Will this change anything for Who going forward?

[@BlackCover95]

6:40 Maybe I missed something, but I thought the Sontarans were a call back to the previous episode, i.e. explaining how they got in in the first place.

[@MorbidGod391]

Do we know the run time for the next episode? I’m hoping two hours.

[@ftumschk]

Thanks! You pretty much summed up my frustration with this episode. So many threads, baddies and unexplained events, constantly pulling me out of the story and making my interest drift. Here's hoping that Flux's concluding Chapter gives us a comprehensive - and comprehensible - resolution.

[@klop4228]

Honestly, to me this felt like the first episode - a mess of random plot points and setups, without all that much resolution or actual plot (ok, the Division plotline got moved a bit) - but much more confusing. And more worrying, because it's not an opening episode, but the penultimate episode.

[@AmosRambles]

I do think there was too much story planned that probably would have worked over a 10 episode season, but feels rushed in what became the truncated 6 episode run due to Covid. Maybe it will pull it together next week. I did expect the Sontarens to come back - they made a comment about taking over earth at the end of War of the Sontarens

[@Wrightbrain]

I solved it. The Doctor is EVERYONE in the universe. We've all just been mind wiped. The universe is The Doctor trying to understand themselves.

[@sarahchristine4298]

This was far more enjoyable for me than last week. However there are so many different storylines there still that have not been resolved. Then second to last episode they add a new one with the Grand Serpent involved in UNIT? I don’t see how they can wrap these all up next weekend without a big mess.

[@jogumby]

I'm more confused now as to where this is going. I had a pretty good notion before the Great Serpent thing popped in. It seems Swarm and Azure are enemies of Division so they might actually save the universe? No clue. I do think in the end the Doctor destroys the watch with her memories in it herself.

[@khfanboy666]

About how Yaz and the others survived the village of the angels. Peggy mentions in episode 4 that the angels allowed them to live. So they could tell the tale of what happened. Because they're cruel and presumably knew that no one would believe their story. "Living to tell the tale" implies having people to tell the tale to. So i took it as a given that the angels would put them back on earth.

[@timrob12]

About the village, when we cut to UNIT in the 60's, the TARDIS is there and it's mentioned that it was found, on its own, in a little village in Devon, so the angels did probably put the town back. Okay, it's isn't explained any further, but in case you wanted to know, there is a line about it. Secondly, I think the whole Flux thing is going to be resolved in the finale and the specials will focus on resolving the Timeless Child arc. But that's just my guess.

[@HandofOmega]

And the Brig, who surely has been called into the office of his superior a few times, saw the TARDIS...and just never mentioned this later? The thing is, is this history as it already occurred or is Grand Serpent messing with it somehow? So far, we can't tell...

[@timrob12]

@@HandofOmega I'm considering the idea that Jodie might go back there, as it is her TARDIS, and materialize with it on the same day it was first brought in the office, which could explain why it was never found.

[@RhymesWithSpark]

I still think there's a ton of stuff not answered (and probably won't be, unfortunately). Even small questions from the first episode haven't been answered, like why couldn't Karvanista mesmerize Dan ("Why's that not working? What's the matter with you?"). Or, who were the "They" Jon and Anna/Azure were talking about when the probe (?) showed up. (Anna: "They promised this would never happen. Jón: "Except in the gravest of emergencies."). Did Division hid her in a human body, taking her memories, while Swam was imprisoned? Did 'Anna' work for them? I am rewatching the season and trying to pull the plot threads together but it looks like an Ood's beard.

[@rebelbelle1388]

I'm just sitting here waiting for Doctor Who to be good again.

[@cyton18]

I didn’t think about it the first time I watched this episode, but your right. They kinda just glossed over it by saying “*location* 1904” and I was like, “wait! What?” But I thought I’d just missed something. I didn’t even think to ask what happen to Peggy cause the “plot” just was like “no time, need to keep moving”. I do remember a line about angels leaving witnesses but I may be mixing that up with the passenger... a brief line from a character saying “I wonder why the angels let us go?” And another responding “to torture us, knowing there’s no way to return to our time” would have been fitting for the angels characterization, but I don’t know. I’m just spitballing ideas

[@rebelprincess1164]

What do you do to your hair? It always looks amazing