Actor Jodie Whittaker engages in an atypical countdown for the commencement of the conclusion in the series 'Doctor Who'.
In the recent episode of "Doctor Who," titled "Wish World," there's an eerie resemblance to last year's "The Legend of Ruby Sunday." Both epitomize the penultimate episodes of their respective seasons and feature the return of classic "Doctor Who" villains, such as Sutekh and the Rani, respectively. However, they both share a common flaw: they're empty narratives reliant on a last-minute cliffhanger reveal.
"Wish World" is arguably more problematic due to the audience already knowing that the Doctor will encounter the Rani. This creates a bizarre experience that even precedes the questionable mechanics of the show's build-up to that big reveal.
The "Wish World" setting mirrors contemporary Earth before its impending demise, but with a twist: it's a distorted version of reality. A enchanted baby, conveniently picked up by the Rani in medieval Bavaria (an odd choice for an evil scientist), allows the villain to bend reality to her will. The episode's villain, Conrad, serves as the benevolent dictator of the world, broadcasting from a bone palace in London.
Notably, the conformist existence of Conrad's world draws pointed attention to the role of women being limited to good daughters, wives, and mothers. The atmosphere around cisgender heterosexuality becomes oppressive and disturbing. Furthermore, disabled people are rendered invisible to the world due to Conrad's discriminatory mindset.
The episode loses focus around the midpoint, simply having the Doctor and Ruby Sunday look up at the bone palace from below, lacking the tension and momentum needed to drive the narrative forward. The Rani, too, is largely idling away her time, yearning for the Doctor to recognize the artificial nature of this world, ultimately robbing the climactic moments of much-needed tension.
In the final act, it's revealed that the Rani is powering the countdown to May 24th with the doubts of anyone who questions Conrad's reality, pushing the Vindicator the Doctor and Belinda have charged throughout the season even further. Consequently, Earth splinters and collapses into the Under-verse, seemingly erasing everyone except the Doctor, Conrad, and the Ranis from existence. However, Omega—a major character in "Doctor Who" lore—is teased as the unseen mastermind behind the Rani and Conrad's machinations.
While Omega's appearance has significant implications for the Time Lords and Gallifrey, it feels relatively out of place in the episode and comes off as an attempt to generate dramatic tension without successfully executing it. The overarching narrative fails to capitalize on its potential, leaving viewers with more questions than answers.
With the season finale approaching, fans can only hope for a retrospective justification for theevents in "Wish World" and a more cohesive integration of the Omega storyline. While the episode does provide a nice fan service, it lacks the narrative substance needed to truly captivate audiences.
Gizmodo might critique the episode "Wish World" for its weak narrative, echoing the doubts raised by Io9, especially considering the return of classic villains like the Rani. The cliffhanger, although traditional in "Doctor Who," seems to be the only source of tension in the episode, a point that could be further addressed in discussions about movies-and-tv and entertainment. The disappointing narrative could potentially be salvaged in the season finale, offering a chance for the show to address audience concerns and deliver a more cohesive storyline.
