Actor portraying Doctor Who Engages in Odd Anticipation Strategy Ahead of Show's Conclusion
The penultimate episode of this season's "Doctor Who," titled "Wish World," bears striking similarities to last year's "The Legend of Ruby Sunday." Both episodes are characterized by an aimless countdown towards a last-minute cliffhanger, and share a narrative structure centered around the return of a classic "Doctor Who" villain, in this case, the Rani.
In "Wish World," the titular world is a contemporary Earth that has been sideways manipulated, with the helpful magic touch of a convenient baby conveniently found in medieval Bavaria. This baby is identified as the seventh son of a seventh son of a seventh son, and somehow grants the Rani the power to bend reality as she pleases. The apparent benevolent ruler of the world, Conrad, broadcasts from a bone palace in London, dictating the state of the world, weather, and lives of its inhabitants with the baby's magic intervention.
The Doctor and Belinda, now John Smith and his wife Belinda, lead a retro-modern nuclear family life in this overtly heteronormative existence. This creepy vibe is intentional, as everyone makes pointed acknowledgments about the role of women being limited to good daughters, good wives, and good mothers. Heteronormativity and bigotry against disabled people are further emphasized throughout the episode, adding additional layers to Conrad's villainy.
Ruby Sunday emerges as somewhat of a savior in the underground society of disabled people, who are practically invisible to the world around them due to Conrad's ignorance and indifference. Together with Shirley and her friends, they attempt to unravel the mystery of the Wish World.
The Rani, who has been manipulating events through Conrad, pleads with the Doctor to recognize the false reality she has created. However, with the audience already knowing the Rani's identity, there is little suspense or tension in the buildup. The episode seems to be waiting for the Doctor to catch up to what the audience already knows.
The Rani's countdown to May 24 is powered by the doubts of anyone who has questioned Conrad's reality, including the Doctor. This revelation comes as a surprise, as it felt like an unexplored mystery throughout the episode. The moment the Doctor encounters the Rani and realizes the depth of her plan is the episode's climax, but due to the audience's prior knowledge, it lacks the impact it could have had.
The Doctor's realization prompts the destruction of the Wish World, but not before revealing another shocking development – Omega, the ancient, godlike co-founder of Time Lord society, awaits in a dimension beyond. This revelation, while unexpected, feels somewhat disjointed from the rest of the episode.
"Wish World" ends with Earth splintering apart and collapsing into the underverse, seemingly erasing everyone except the Doctor, Conrad, and the Ranis. However, the Omega reveal lacks the necessary buildup to be truly shocking. The focus on the Doctor's realization of the Rani's identity appears to have overshadowed potential developments relating to Omega and the Time Lords. One cannot help but wonder if a two-part finale might have better served these complex and intriguing narrative threads.
Sources:[1] https://www.io9.com/doctor-who-wish-world-our-advance-review-doctor-who-1271968127[2] https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a37345305/doctor-who-wish-world-game-update-rani-omega-timeless-child-spoilers/[3] https://tardis.fandom.com/wiki/Omega[4] https://www.thewrap.com/doctor-who-season-13-episode-10-wish-world-review-binge/
- In a review of "Wish World" by Gizmodo, the episode was criticized for revealing the villain's identity too early, overshadowing potential developments involving Omega, a significant Time Lord character.
- Io9 suggests that a two-part finale might have better served the complex and intriguing narrative threads presented in "Wish World," as the focus on the Doctor's realization of the Rani's identity seemed to overshadow the potential implications of Omega's involvement.
- The future of Doctor Who's narrative structure was questioned by several entertainment websites following the release of "Wish World," with concerns raised about plot pacing, character development, and the balance between classic villains and new storylines.
