Some may be critical of the lighthearted opening episode of the Doctor Who reboot, which is now streaming on Disney+ around the world and on BBC iPlayer here in the UK – but Weeks 3 and 4 are designed to remind everyone that the beauty of Doctor Who is that it can be anythingEven better, it’s a reminder that sometimes, when Doctor Who takes a daring approach to an unexpected idea, that’s when the show is at its best.
“73 Yards” may well be the new paradigm for this concept. Last week’s episode played with a concept that’s still very much Doctor Who – when powerful heroes are trapped in one place, the tension builds. This week’s episode takes a similar turn – stripping away many of the show’s core ideas and themes, but with purpose – unnecessary frills are removed in order to put what’s left under a microscope.
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The main focus is on her companion Ruby Sunday, with Millie Gibson giving a superb performance that proves she can compete with Doctor Who’s finest companions – this is a fascinating companion film.
“73 Yards” touches heavily on many of the themes that screenwriter Russell T. Davies more aggressively emphasized when he remade the show in 2005, parallels to current politics and all — but it also makes a strong case that the role of companion is much more than the word suggests. In fact, it may be one of the hardest roles on television. One week you’re holding a space baby, and then you have… this.
Tiktok’s show will likely focus on the core of the episode – a mysterious old woman who follows Ruby wherever she goes. She doesn’t chase, and she doesn’t move: she just ThereShe just watched. Sometimes the scariest thing is the thing that’s not even chasing you. It just yes
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Of course, there’s a lot more to it than that – but this is one of those shows you don’t want to be spoiled for. I strongly advise you to stay off social media until you’ve finished watching – as some of the show’s core concepts can easily be spoiled in a single sentence. As 73 Yards unfolds, the horror gives way to intrigue, great guest stars and character-driven emotion, and Russell T Davies does a really, really good job of that.
The bravery of this episode lies not only in what it does; No It leaves out as much as it includes. Overall, it’s brilliant – refreshing, frightening, moving. It’s got it all. As the fifth episode in this new era, it’s a great example of what Doctor Who is all about. New viewers can look at 73 Yards as another attempt to start the Doctor Who adventure.
Doctor Who is now streaming globally on Disney+ and on BBC iPlayer in the UK. The 73rd Yard will be released in the UK at midnight on Saturday, and will be released on Disney+ at the same time in your region.
