Actor portraying Doctor Who engages in peculiar countdown for the launch of its final chapter
In the latest episode of Doctor Who, "Wish World," we find a hefty dose of déjà vu as it shares striking similarities with last year's "The Legend of Ruby Sunday." Both episodes share a penultimate spot in their respective seasons and the return of an iconic Doctor Who villain. Sadly, they also share the repetitive, limp narrative of clocking down to a last-minute cliffhanger.
"Wish World" stumbles even further than "The Legend of Ruby Sunday," as its audience is privy to events its protagonist is not. The Doctor is oblivious to the return of the infamous Rani, unlike an informed audience. This creates an odd viewing experience, and the tiresome countdown to the inevitable reveal adds to the awkwardness.
Welcome to the titular world of "Wish World," a contemporary Earth on the brink of its demise yet twisted into an alternate version overflowing withpixie-dust-powered conformity. The seemingly kind dictator, Mr. John Smith, airs daily sermons from his towering bone palace in London, dictating everyone's lives with the help of magic baby-spawned powers.
Those under the thumb of Mr. Smith range from the Doctor and his stay-at-home wife Belinda (formerly rushing off to fight alien threats at UNIT, now a unified insurance team) to the underground society of unwanted people - the disabled and the questioning. With their invisibility to Mr. Smith, they live on the fringes of the world. Our hero, Ruby Sunday, teams up with other marginalized characters to scratch beneath the surface of this dystopia.
Speaking of dystopian villains, Mr. Smith is as vile as they come: an oppressive, heteronormative, ableist bastard with an unyielding belief in the patriarchal order of things. It's no wonder the show hosts such an unsettling atmosphere, making us squirm beneath Mr. Smith's twisted grasp.
However, "Wish World" halts its narrative progress just shy of any substantial development. Mr. Smith faces an existential crisis, cursed by a fleeting moment of uncertainty about his reality. Meanwhile, Ruby and her friends gaze up at the bone palace from below,({\AA}nd the forsaken Rani yearn for the Doctor's recognition of the false world she commands.) Unfortunately, the episode stops dead in its tracks, presuming the audience is invested enough to play the waiting game.
If only Omega could have made an appearance earlier in the episode to liven things up. Yes, Omega, the ancient and god-like co-founder of Time Lord society, is teased at the very end, yet his appearance feels out of place and abrupt. Perhaps if the audience wasn't already forewarned of Omega's presence, his introduction would have packed more of a punch.
Unfortunately, "Wish World" disappoints with a predictable narrative and a missed opportunity for meaningful exploration. And that's a shame, considering its potential for a dark, twisted, and intriguing storyline. Only time will tell if the final episode can salvage this lackluster setup.
What can we expect in the future of Doctor Who? AnticipateMore news aboutMarvel, Star Wars, Star Trek, the DC Universe, and of course, more adventures with the Doctor.
Gizmodo and io9 might discuss the missed opportunities in the latest Doctor Who episode, "Wish World", critiquing its predictable narrative and lack of meaningful exploration. Future technology news and entertainment coverage could include insightful analyses of movies-and-tv shows, such as the ongoing Doctor Who series, and how they incorporategetElementsof technology and storytelling. In response to the introduction of god-like character Omega at the end of "Wish World", discussion on Gizmodo or io9 might focus on how his sudden appearance could have been executed more effectively, impacting the story's engagement and enjoyment.
