Medical Professional Engages in Odd Anticipation Strategy for the Commencement of His Final Chapter (Regarding Doctor Who)
Ready for a juicy, uncensored take on "Wish World"? Strap in, bucko, 'cause we're diving headfirst into the nitty-gritty of this penultimate episode of Doctor Who's latest season. Let me cut to the chase: it's a dead-set shambles, a convoluted mess akin to trying to decipher the unreadable scrawl of a tipsy wooden-toothed pirate.
First off, our old mate "Wish World" bears more than a passing resemblance to last year's "The Legend of Ruby Sunday." They're both, naturally, penultimate episodes of their respective seasons, and they both center on the return of a classic Doctor Who baddie, all while paying off a season-long mystery. Unfortunately, they also share a fatal flaw: they're both endurance tests that just sit and wait for a dramatic, last-minute cliffhanger reveal. "Wish World," however, takes this shortcoming to a whole new level.
The titular world of "Wish World," if you can call it that, is a contemporary version of Earth that's been twisted sideways - think M.C. Escher on a particularly bad acid trip. The Rani has conjured this thing up using a magical baby she nabbed in medieval Bavaria, the seventh son of a seventh son of a seventh son, which isn't exactly the Evil Science Villainess move we've come to expect from her. Predictably, the baby essentially becomes her magic genie, granting her the ability to bend reality to her whims.
Enter Conrad, the self-proclaimed benevolent ruler of "Wish World," preaching a cringeworthy, utterly heteronormative vision of life in a giant bone palace plonked smack bang in the middle of London. Conrad, our comic relief villain, hates disabled people and women who don't fit into his narrow Box of Normality. And, to add insult to injury, he also embodies a toxic level of male privilege, turning into a misogynistic, oppressive jerk whenever he hears the word "gay."
After a shake-up with Conrad (thanks to Jonathan Groff's Rogue, back for a quickie cameo), "Mr. Smith" and Belinda's roles are revealed: they're actually the Doctor and his spouse (we'll call her Belinda for the sake of continuity), living out the nuclear family dream with their baby daughter Poppy. The creeping, gross sense of unease that permeates this retro-modern existence is intentional, as its overly heteronormative vision is as offensive as Conrad himself.
As the episode trudges on, "Wish World" all but abandons any attempt at storytelling, content instead to let the Doctor realize that he's been duped by the Rani and that this bizarro world is a construct. But the lack of tension or engagement will leave you longing for a more engaging episode than this lackluster offering.
Ultimately, the Rani's machinations are revealed to be part of a larger plan to free Omega, a powerful, ancient Time Lord - which immediately raises the stakes for the Doctor. But this connection to Omega feels rushed and tacked-on, making "Wish World" feel like a underdeveloped mess instead of an episode that delivers on the series' promise.
By the end of it all, we're left waiting to see if the finale will retroactively save this week's forgettable mess (it won't) or if we really needed the Rani's return to herald Omega's return (spoiler alert: we didn't). Here's hoping the Doctor Who team can course-correct in time for the season's grand finale.
Now, eager beavers, be sure to check out the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, catch up on the DC Universe on film and TV, and keep your peepers peeled for upcoming developments in the Doctor Who saga. Because if this week's episode is any indication, we're gonna need all the help we can get.
- Gizmodo and io9 might find the future of television entertainment increasingly disappointing, after witnessing the convoluted and underdeveloped penultimate episode of Doctor Who's latest season, 'Wish World'.
- Movies-and-TV enthusiasts looking for progressive and inclusive content may want to steer clear of 'Wish World', given its portrayal of a cringeworthy, heteronormative vision of life and its villain's disdain for certain groups.
- Technology aficionados interested in the latest advancements in storytelling might find 'Wish World' a letdown, as the episode largely abandons any attempt at engaging narrative, offering instead a lackluster and forgettable viewing experience.
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