XPost: rec.arts.drwho, uk.media.tv.sf.drwho, rec.arts.sf.tv 
 XPost: rec.arts.tv, rec.arts.sf.fandom 
 From: arthur@alum.calberkeley.org 
  
 On 5/25/2024 11:56 AM, The Doctor wrote: 
 > Doctor Who's latest episode weaves a tangled and intriguing narrative that 
 > takes viewers from the rugged coast of Wales to the future political arenas 
 > of Cardiff. As always, the Doctor (played with aplomb) finds himself 
 > entangled in a complex web of time and mystery. This time, the web 
 > is literal and symbolic, as our Time Lord protagonist lands in Wales 
 > and Ruby steps into a nested conundrum that spans decades. 
 > 
 > The adventure begins with a surreal touch, as the Doctor 
 >   makes a cryptic reference to an ancient battle between land and sea. 
 >   From there, we're introduced to Ruby, who quickly finds herself alone 
 >   and disoriented without the Doctor, guided only by a mysterious 
 >   black-robed figure. This setup immediately plunges the viewer 
 >   into a sense of urgency and intrigue. 
 > 
 > The plot thickens when a woman in a teal parka appears, brandishing 
 > walking poles and confronting the black-robed figure. This confrontation 
 > is charged with emotion and tension, setting the stage for a series 
 >   of bewildering events. Ruby's journey takes her to a village inn, 
 >   where she pays an exorbitant five pounds for a Coke, signaling her 
 >   displacement in time and reality. 
 > 
 > In a scene that's both eerie and suspenseful, Josh, a local, encounters 
 > the black-robed woman, only to flee in terror. Ruby's actions somehow 
 > break a mysterious circle, leaving viewers to ponder the significance 
 > of this act. The night is punctuated by the ominous 
 > knocking of a fisherman at the door, heightening the sense of foreboding. 
 > 
 > Morning comes with no sign of the Doctor or the TARDIS, 
  
 The TARDIS was there.  It never left.  But I'm not sure why Ruby 
 couldn't get inside.  Has the Doctor still not given her a key or was it 
 magically locked? 
  
 leaving Ruby 
 > to fend for herself. Her return to London is shadowed by the persistent 
 >   black-robed figure, leading to a chase that's as psychological as it is 
 >   physical. The narrative takes a dramatic turn when Ruby's mum flees, 
 >   and Kate Lethbridge-Stewart of UNIT steps in to offer assistance. 
 >   Despite their efforts, UNIT is forced to retreat from the enigmatic 
 >   adversary, emphasising the formidable nature of this new foe. 
 > 
 > The episode cleverly spans several timelines, with Ruby engaging 
 > in an election campaign in 2046 for the Albion Party. The political 
 > subplot adds depth, presenting a future where a war hawk Prime 
 > Ministerial candidate stirs controversy. 
 > Ruby, on her own will, takes photographs of the black-robed woman 
 > at a victory celebration in Cardiff underscores the persistent 
 > and haunting presence of this figure. 
 > As the black-robed figure reveals something to the PM elect, the PM elect 
 > suddenly resigns. 
 > 
 > The climax of the episode is both poignant and revealing. 
  
 I liked the climax, but I don't know how revealing it actually was. 
  From my perspective it was left intentionally vague, but I am very 
 interesting in different takes on the ending. 
  
 I get that it was Ruby all along and there was a timeloop or branched 
 timeline aspect to it all.  But it simply Ruby from the future doesn't 
 explain all the super natural aspects of what was happening.  For me 
 that part was left very much unexplained.  The circle being or not being 
 broken really isn't an explanation for where the magic originated or why 
 Unit was affected by it in spite of their precautions.  But I still 
 thought it was a great episode. 
  
 > In 2086, Ruby returns to Wales, now an elderly woman in a care home. 
 > This poignant twist reveals the full circle of her journey, 
 > a stark reminder of the passage of time and the inescapable nature 
 > of her fate. Ruby dies and the blak-robed figure 
 > is Ruby is the point of death. 
 > 
 > The narrative then loops back to 2024, 
 > where the Doctor and Ruby work together to unbreak the circle, 
 > providing a satisfying and hopeful resolution to the episode's 
 > complex temporal tapestry. 
 > 
 > This episode of Doctor Who masterfully blends elements of mystery, 
 > suspense, and political intrigue, anchored by strong 
 > performances and a tightly woven plot. It's a testament 
 > to the show's enduring ability to explore the depths 
 >   of time and human experience, leaving viewers eagerly 
 >   anticipating the next adventure in the TARDIS. 
 > 
 >   5/10 
  
  
 5 out of 10 seems a bit low for an episode you seemed to like. 
  
 --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05 
  * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)