"Doctor Who" Engages in an Odd Countdown Approach as Its Final Chapter Unfolds
In the latest episode of Doctor Who, "Wish World," we see striking similarities with last year's "The Legend of Ruby Sunday." These two episodes, being penultimate episodes of their respective seasons, feature the return of classic Doctor Who villains, pay off season-long mysteries, but fall short when it comes to delivering substance.
Now, let's dive into the strange parallel universe of "Wish World." A contemporary Earth, twisted into a sideways version, with a dictator named Conrad going as far as to manipulate people's lives from a bone palace in London, all thanks to the help of a magic baby picked up by the Rani in medieval Bavaria.
Speaking of which, the Rani, a villain from Doctor Who's past, returns with a sinister plan that's been brewing throughout the season—but it's not so much a mystery anymore, as fans were already aware of her return. The episode, unfortunately, seems to lose momentum, focusing more on the Rani yearning for the Doctor to recognize her, instead of exploring her plan in detail or investigating why she chose this unusual approach.
The creepy atmosphere is there, but the focus on a heteronormative lifestyle and Conrad's bigotry about women, queer people, and the disabled feels out of place and makes for an uncomfortable watch. While these themes are certainly important, their execution here feels heavy-handed and irrelevant to the main plot.
When it comes to laughable antagonists, Conrad takes the cake. His character's primary function is to nag about his doubts and remember who he truly is—the Doctor. This leaves the audience waiting, with no real tension or mystery to keep us engaged.
The episode culminates in the Rani and the Doctor's encounter, but due to our prior knowledge of the Rani's return, the tension is missing. After that, a sudden introduction of Omega, a godlike Time Lord, feels jarring and anticlimactic, almost as if it came out of nowhere—unless, of course, you happened to follow showrunner Russell T Davies on Instagram and caught his teaser about the mysterious third party.
As we approach the grand finale, we're left wondering if it will manage to salvage this rather lackluster episode and whether we really needed the Rani's return to herald Omega's release. Here's hoping next week provides some much-needed answers and makes the time we spent in "Wish World" feel worthwhile.
Stay tuned for updates on the latest from Marvel, Star Wars, Star Trek, DC Universe, and, of course, Doctor Who. In the meantime, keep those doubts and questions brewing—you never know who they might help unlock in the ever-expanding realm of Doctor Who.
Gizmodo and io9 might discuss the controversial portrayal of Conrad, a character in the latest Doctor Who episode "Wish World," and his impact on the show's depiction of diversity and representation in science fiction television. The Future of Doctor Who could be a topic as viewers debate the strong focuses on heteronormative lifestyles and questionable characters, steering some fans towards questioning the direction of the show. Meanwhile, Movies-and-TV and entertainment platforms could delve into the plot twists, such as the Rani's return and sudden appearance of Omega, highlighting the increasing use of spoilers online through social media and showrunners' interactions with fans.
