Actor Jodie Whittaker Engages in Odd CountdownInitiating Sequence for 'Doctor Who' Finale
In the intriguingly bizarre world of "Wish World," the specter of the infamous Rani makes a comeback, sharing striking similarities with the narrative of last season's "The Legend of Ruby Sunday." Both episodes exhibit a drawn-out countdown to a climactic revelation, serving as the penultimate episodes for their respective seasons of the cult favorite sci-fi series, Doctor Who.
The titular realm of "Wish World" presents a contemporary Earth in an eerie parallel universe, poised on the brink of its fated destruction. This twisted version of Earth is controlled by the ingenious magic baby the Rani meticulously collected in medieval Bavaria — a seventh son of a seventh son, a choice that seems rather out of character for this Evil Science Villainess. Jonah Hauer-King's reprehensible character, Utter Bastard Conrad from "Lucky Day," governs this world from a macabre bone-shaped throne in London, doling out life and death decisions for his subjects with a tinge of a creepy, pleasant atmosphere.
In "Wish World," the Doctor and Belinda assume the identities of Mr. John Smith and his housewife, Belinda, living the picture-perfect nuclear family life as they adjust to their roles as parents of baby daughter Poppy. While Belinda basks in her newfound joy as a stay-at-home mom, Mr. Smith pursues his career at the now insurance-focused organization known as UNIT. The sickeningly sweet heteronormative environment that permeates this world is, ironically, the very crux of its twisted nature, with characters constantly acknowledging the narrow roles women are expected to fill in this reality: as good daughters, good wives, and eventually, good mothers.
One notably insidious aspect of this society is its intolerance towards anything outside the norm, as highlighted by Conrad's dismissal and mistreatment of individuals who don't conform to his idealized version of reality. The fresh wave of bigotry Conrad spews includes prejudice against women, queer individuals, and people with disabilities. An entire underground society of disabled individuals has been rendered invisible within this world due to Conrad's ignorance, providing a diverse cast of characters eager to join forces with Ruby Sunday to unravel the conspiracy brewing beneath the surface.
However, the intriguing concept established in the early stages of "Wish World" is abandoned midway through the episode, as the story focuses on the Doctor's realization that his supposed life as a middle-class family man is nothing more than a ruse. This revelation is marred by the audience's existing knowledge of the situation, making for an unsettling and disjointed viewing experience. The tension and drama that should build from this moment are sadly diluted by the fact that the Doctor's ignorance is not meant to be a mystery to the audience.
"Wish World" ultimately falls short by dedicating the majority of the episode to counting down to the big reveal that the Doctor and the Rani will encounter one another, rather than exploring the complexities and implications of the mysterious world they inhabit. In the end, "Wish World" seems to serve as nothing more than a prologue for the season finale, "The Reality War," which promises to delve deeper into the Rani's plans and the enigmatic presence of Omega.
"Wish World" manages to set up a tantalizing mystery regarding the Rani's intentions, as she appears to be using a mystical baby to manipulate this alternate reality in order to reach Omega, an ancient and impossibly powerful Time Lord. The Rani's ultimate goal is to access Omega through the collapse of Wish World[2][3], hinting at a plethora of potential plotlines that could unfold in the season finale. Indeed, the return of the Rani may well herald the return of Omega, with far-reaching implications for Time Lords and the very nature of Gallifrey itself[3][4]. Intriguingly, this leaves the door wide open for engaging plot developments in the series' final episode, providing hope that "The Reality War" will live up to the hype.
Io9 might be intrigued by the technological possibilities in "Wish World's" portrayal of a future alternate Earth, where a bone-shaped throne in London controls a society that strictly adheres to heteronormative values. Gizmodo could find the controversy surrounding Conrad's bigotry towards women, queer individuals, and people with disabilities an interesting topic for discussion in the realm of entertainment and societal norms. As the season progresses from "Wish World" to "The Reality War", Entertainment Weekly might report on the fascinating developed plotlines related to the Rani's intentions for using a mystical baby to manipulate the alternate reality and her ultimate goal of accessing Omega, an ancient and impossibly powerful Time Lord, which could have far-reaching implications for Time Lords and Gallifrey itself.
