Actor who portrays Doctor Who Engages in Odd Countdown Anticipation for Series Conclusion
In the penultimate episode of Doctor Who's latest season, "Wish World," several striking similarities emerge with last year's installment, "The Legend of Ruby Sunday." Both episodes are built upon a return of a classic villain and the culmination of a season-long mystery. Unfortunately, both episodes shun substance, resorting to anticipation leading to a cliffhanger resolution.
"Wish World" faces more challenges than its predecessor, as its audience is already privy to the Rani's return, whereas the audience of "The Legend of Ruby Sunday" was unaware of Sutekh's upcoming appearance. "Wish World" revolves around the Doctor's encounter with the Rani, a revelation the Doctor himself is unaware of. This unusual setup creates a disjointed viewing experience, compounded by the episode's mechanization of the buildup to the significant reveal.
The titular world of "Wish World" is a contemporary version of Earth on the brink of destruction, crafted from a sideways universe. Aided by a convenient magic baby found in medieval Bavaria, the Rani controls this mirrored world through Conrad, a benevolent dictator broadcasting from a bone palace in London. He regulates the state of the world, weather, and the lives of its inhabitants, who include the Doctor, now mistakenly identified as Mr. John Smith, and his wife Belinda, living a nuclear family dream with their baby daughter Poppy. The conventional lifestyle reflects a deliberate commentary on societal expectations and norms.
Conrad's shallow, antiquated views are not limited to gender norms; he also harbors prejudices against the disabled, creating an unrecognized underground society for those deemed invisible by him. Ruby Sunday, an enigma unscathed by these biases, uncovers this hidden community and allies herself with Shirley and her friends to investigate the circumstances.
"Wish World" loses its narrative footing around the halfway mark, focusing on Conrad's compulsory heterosexuality dilemma and a random, provoking cameo from Jonathan Groff's Rogue. The third act primarily centers on the Doctor's gradual realization of the unreal nature of Wish World and the Rani's manipulation. However, the familiarity of the Rani's return negates any tension or intrigue, as the audience anticipates the inevitable recognition by the Doctor.
The Rani's scheme ultimately reveals her desire to use the Doctor's unique doubts to access Omega, an ancient, godlike figure and founding member of Time Lord society. This twist comes across as sudden and confusing, lacking the impact that might have been possible with a more purposeful narrative buildup.
As "Wish World" builds towards the confrontation between the Doctor and the Rani, the climactic moment lacks the tension it could have had due to the known outcome. The absence of a compelling mystery leaves the audience in a state of expectation, waiting for the narrative revelations to unfold in the season finale.
In essence, "Wish World" relies on a familiar plot twist and a ticking clock to maintain viewer interest, ultimately requiring the last-minute introduction of Omega to create intrigue. Whether the Rani's return signals a significant turning point for the Time Lords and Gallifrey remains to be seen in the upcoming season finale.
Io9 and Gizmodo discuss the latest episode of Doctor Who, "Wish World," commenting on its disappointing use of a cliffhanger resolution and a lack of substance in its storyline. This episode also showcases the return of the villain, the Rani, a character that seems to have lost some of its initial impact due to audience familiarity.
Despite the episode's interwoven themes of technology, entertainment, and movies-and-tv, the plot seems to struggle with its pacing, particularly in the third act, where the focus shifts away from the Rani's manipulations and towards side-stories, such as Conrad's compulsory heterosexuality dilemma and a cameo from Jonathan Groff's Rogue.
In the midst of these narrative complications, tech-focused websites like TechCrunch and Engadget might find interest in the episode's portrayal of a mirrored, contemporary Earth, crafted from a sideways universe, showcasing societal norms and the Rani's hidden bias against the disabled, leading to an underground society. However, even with these thought-provoking elements, "Wish World" ultimately fails to live up to audience expectations, leaving viewers waiting for the season finale to unveil its final twist: the Rani's desire to use the Doctor's unique doubts to access Omega, an ancient, powerful Time Lord.
