"Doctor Who" Engages in an Unusual Countdown to Its Swan Song Commencement
The return of the Rani in "Wish World" resembles the plot of last year's "The Legend of Ruby Sunday," both serving as penultimate episodes of their respective seasons and featuring a classic Doctor Who villain. Unfortunately, they both fail to deliver, becoming aimless waiting games with little substance. "Wish World" takes the cake for being more frustrating as its audience already knows the big reveal the protagonist doesn't - the return of the Rani.
The setting of "Wish World" takes shape as a contemporary Earth in a parallel dimension ordered by the villainous Conrad, our apparent benevolent dictator. He broadcasts from a massive bone palace in London, deciding the lives of everyone, including the Doctor and his wife Belinda, who live a mundane nuclear family life. Conrad's paradise is heteronormative and bigoted, with brutal disregard for disabled persons and women, only accepting cisgender, heterosexual ideals.
The Doctor and Belinda's life becomes stale and predictable under Conrad's control, but the underground society of disabled persons, led by Ruby Sunday, works covertly to uncover the truth. Ruby, unaffected by Conrad's reality, allies with Shirley and her friends to dismantle the illusion.
The episode lacks a driving narrative, as the Doctor's realization of the Rani's presence feels underwhelming since the audience is already aware of the scenario. "Wish World" resorts to a hastily concocted mystery involving Omega, the ancient co-founder of Time Lord society, to generate shock. However, this sudden addition feels out of place, and the title's climax fails to deliver the tense, gripping finale viewers crave.
In short, "Wish World" squanders its intriguing premise, focusing instead on a slow-burning build-up to a reveal already known to viewers. The episode regrettably misses the mark, leaving fans waiting for a grand finale to justify its questionable plot decisions.
If you're a "Doctor Who" fan, stay tuned for the season finale to see if it will salvage a lackluster start. And don't forget to keep up with the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, DC universe developments, and updates on the future of Doctor Who.
- Gizmodo and io9 readers might find interest in criticizing the slow-paced narrative and underwhelming plot twists of "Wish World," the latest episode of Doctor Who.
- Despite the promising premise of a villainous dictator ruling a heteronormative world on Earth, the episode fails to deliver engaging entertainment, similar to the flawed penultimate episodes of movies-and-tv series like The Legend of Ruby Sunday.
- As technology advances, future predictions for Doctor Who's storyline can be made by keeping an eye on upcoming Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, as well as DC universe developments, all of which will shape the face of science fiction entertainment.
