How does one even offer coverage of an episode like that?
The fifth and second-to-last intallment of Flux has a lot to do with survival and offers key background for the Flux, yet doesn’t have much of anything to do with direct survivors of the Flux event. That feels like a pretty good summation of what this episode – many interesting pieces that are kind of fitting together but not delivering on anything that was promised. I’m impressed by how many floating characters have come back to have an actual impact on the plot – who foresaw the Grand Serpent returning as a villain? Yet, while I enjoyed the fan service of early UNIT, I’m not sure why the Serpent is around. From what I recall, he had nothing to do with the Flux, he was simply a morally corrupt character that Vinder interacted and rebelled against. This isn’t to say Craig Parkinson isn’t wonderful in the role, I’d love to see much more of him, but I’m confused as to what he’s doing around. It’s possible I’m simply forgetting a key scene in the third episode that explains all this, but that’s an indicator that there are too many pieces and also this era isn’t exactly known for underexplaining its plots.
On the Doctor side of things, she’s mostly on her own doing Big Plot stuff. Being turned into an Angel was just for fun, you see, so that she could easily be transported to Division. There she has a showdown with her anti-mother, Tecteun, where they get to go off about Tecteun being a horrible person and the Doctor being strong in her morality. Division is the division between universes, and since the Doctor has mucked up the one we know and love so much, Tecteun has decided to move on into another one and start over. I have to give credit for an exciting twist on multiverses being introduced to Doctor Who. They’re all the rage nowadays, since comic book adaptations are so big, but they’ve never been presented quite like this and it’s an exciting new chapter in Who lore. We’ve had multiverses of alternate histories, but never an entirely new universe full of galaxies and unknown planets. While a lot of the details of the Doctor and Tecteun interactions don’t sit well with me, the building blocks of their relationship and antagonism feel like classic Doctor angst. It’s a complex dynamic and the construction of a formidable villain who is both incredibly powerful but deeply flawed….which is why it’s a shame she’s immediately killed* off and replaced by the glitter demons. Boring. Yawn. Bad choices.
* As far as any villain can truly be killed in Doctor Who. I suspect she might show up again for a later Doctor.
The trio of companions, as Professor Jericho is absolutely a companion now in my book since he is my favorite, are left stranding in the early 20th century looking for clues as to how and why the world will come to an end. That’s basically it. They cover an incredible amount of ground in a frighteningly short time for 1904 travel conditions, fight over who has to be a stowaway, kill a porter assassin and dump him overboard (it happens), and pine for the Doctor. Well, that last one is mostly Yaz, who is extremely gay, oh my god. The yogi was…funny? I think? But the humor fit in oddly with the rest of the episode. They’re all clearly having a ball though, so that’s nice. Can’t wait for the cosplay because all the costumes were gorgeous and adorable. They send a cute message to Karvanista, who doesn’t have time travel so we’ll see how that works itself out. Oh, and then they run into the Liverpool guy who’s been time-and-space hopping and that’s actually because his mine is a nexus point through which every door is a portal and through that portal a bunch of Sontarans jump through because they’re still bent on world domination although they were thoroughly routed in 1800s.
Karvanista is busy anyway because of a fourth plotline, where one of the Lupa broke shield formation leaving the earth vulnerable. Karv has to recall the last rogue Lupa ship and you know why it was rogue? Because it was the one Bel stole. Just as Bel is about to land on the planet that Vinder lands on, she gets recalled to earth. Vinder then gets sucked into a Passenger and meets Diane, Dan’s lady interest. Which I guess is a thirty second fifth plotline. It’s amazing how all the characters are connecting to each other on this intricate web, but it feels as though the web is wildly spinning out of control. So Karv and Bel bicker but then both team up against the larger threat, which is the Sontarans attacking earth. So I guess they’re attacking earth through time. Which means having the Lupari protect earth from the Flux in only 2021 makes NO sense because it’s both a time and space disease and sometimes I just wish this series would go small instead of large. What happened to the well-prepared meal ethos?
When it comes to the “good” Chibnall episodes – and I will admit this is a good one as it was engaging to watch – it can’t be said that the writing is lazy. The bad episodes have lazy writing but the good episodes have incomplete writing. The writers are there, they want to suceed, they’re invested in these ideas, but they still can’t get everything to click into a cohesive and character-driven narrative. We’re stuck with loose ends and bad plot decisions masked as twists and so many characters it almost seems like a distraction from how nothing is sticking together. I’m always an adovcate of trying hard and failing versus not trying at all, which is why I don’t condemn the Chibnall era, but…I can’t say I enjoy it either. It’s both too much and not enough. I doubt the finale of Flux will be fulfilling (and on the other hand ‘who cares? it was a fun ride’) but it also will be a relief.
Notes:
- yes, I’m absolutely zero fun, hate parties, and eat puppies – why do you ask?
- the Alisdair cameo has raised UNIT dating questions as well as others
- but then again, it might not have been Alisdair but Alasdair, solving multiple problems at once. this is the Who I live for
- also KATE STEWART was in this ep, then went dark, but is probably coming back next week. that didn’t even make it into the review!!
- I also watched the Get Back Beatles doc last weekend, which always feels like a parallel fandom to DW for me. here are my brief twitter thoughts on it
- HAPPY BIRTHDAY MICHAEL CRAZE! you’re my favorite bi sailor and no one can take that away from me (also rip sweet baby george)
