'Doctor Who' Engages in an Odd Anticipatory Strategy for the Commencement of Its Final Chapter
In the "Doctor Who" episode "Wish World," the return of the notorious Time Lord villain, the Rani, presents a fascinating narrative twist. The Rani is back with an intricate scheme involving Desidirium, the God of Wishes, a mystical infant granting wishes and reshaping reality.
The Rani's objective in "Wish World" revolves around manipulating time and space to bring forth Omega, a legendary Time Lord figure with god-like powers. By altering history to make Omega the founder of the Time Lords, the Rani aims to drastically redefine Time Lord history, with profound implications for the Doctor Who universe.
The significance of the Rani's plan lies in her intent to rewrite history, a central theme in the episode. Omega is a key figure in Time Lord mythology, associated with creation or early Time Lord history. The Rani's efforts to make Omega a creator of the Time Lords represent a deep and sweeping revision of Time Lord history.
The connection between Omega and the Rani highlights their crucial roles in Time Lord lore. The potential alteration of Time Lord history could have far-reaching consequences and may intersect with ongoing narrative threads, such as the Timeless Child storyline, which explores the Doctor's past and identity. Though "Wish World" does not explicitly connect the Rani's plan to the Timeless Child narrative, the broader narrative of revision and reimagining of Time Lord history suggests implications for the Timeless Child story in the future.
In "Wish World," the Rani's plan unfolds alongside a contemporary Earth in a sideways variant, controlled by the apparent benevolent dictator, Conrad. The Doctor and Belinda, disguised as a retro-modern nuclear family, find themselves ensnared in Conrad's world, which displays overtly heteronormative, misogynistic, and ableist tendencies.
The episode builds towards the Doctor's encounter with the returned Rani, with little meat on its bones aside from the creepy vibes and continued exposure to Conrad, who exhibits vile bigotries regarding women, queer people, and disabled individuals. The Rani's longing for the Doctor to recognize her drives the episode, but the lack of tension or mystery surrounding the upcoming reveal leaves audiences knowing the shoe will drop for the show's protagonist.
To add another twist, "Wish World" ups the stakes with an eleventh-hour surprise revelation about the Rani's plan. The Rani has been powering her ticking clock to May 24 using the doubt of those who've questioned Conrad's reality – including the Doctor – further juicing up the Vindicator the Doctor and Belinda have been charged with throughout the season. This revelation results in the collapse of Earth and the unexpected revelation of Omega's presence in an underverse dimension.
With "Wish World" having set the stage for such a pivotal moment in Time Lord history, fans will look towards the grand finale to see whether the Rani's return serves as the herald of Omega and whether the profound implications for the Time Lords and Gallifrey will be fully unveiled. The twists and turns of this prophetic episode leave viewers eager for more and questioning the future of the Doctor Who universe.
- Gizmodo might discuss the impact of the latest Doctor Who episode, "Wish World," on the future of the Time Lord universe, given the Rani's scheme to rewrite Time Lord history by bringing forth Omega.
- io9 could analyze how the Rani's manipulation of time and space to alter history, as seen in "Wish World," connects to ongoing narrative threads, such as the Timeless Child storyline, which delves into the Doctor's past and identity.
- The plot twist in "Wish World," where the Rani uses the doubt of characters like the Doctor to power her ticking clock towards May 24, showcases the potential of television technology to create suspenseful moments and unexpected plot developments.
