73 Yards

I came into this season expecting it to be playing a safer, broader set of stories to appeal to a greater international audience. And while the first few episodes were "safer" episodes of Doctor Who, I never thought we'd get something quite as 'moody' as 73 Yards.

RTD adds another episode to his list of cracking "experimental" episodes following on from the likes of Midnight and Wild Blue Yonder.

A fascinating story that follows in the footsteps of Years and Years, Turn Left and even Sound of Drums to create an episode quite unlike any other.

This won't be for everyone, but it butters my toast!

Following Moffat's great Episode 3 "Boom", Russell T Davies once again takes the helm in Episode 4 "73 Yards". This is a Doctor-lite episode due to Ncuti's Sex Education filming at the time so the lead goes to The Doctor's companion: Ruby Sunday, played by Millie Gibson and finally, she's able to showcase her incredible ability as an actor.

This episode is one of the more unique storylines in the Doctor Who universe, akin to stories like 'Midnight', 'Listen', 'Turn Left' and 'Wild Blue Yonder'. The episode incorporates elements of creepy horror, political thriller, paradoxical time-travel and witchy fantasy all in one without failure. Much like some of RTD's best work like 'The End of Time', you can go from smiling and chuckling to being stone cold still and glued to your screen.

Criticisms? Perhaps a longer run time to flesh out the ending and make it clearer for the audience, as that seems to be the main and only issue most people can really string out about this episode. But much like RTD's previously experimental episodes, it leaves you with questions - as intended.

This whole season I was questioning RTDs writing choices, why he insists on himself so much (like moffat used to do). But I think this was the moment it clicked for me.

Doctor who you can do anything. There are technically no rules, just make the best story you can. And RTD, he didn't want to stick to his old formula from his first era. That would be easy, but it wouldn't be what he's known for. He looks at the past 60 years of doctor who and he says lets switch it up. But unlike Chibnall, I feel like I finally understand that he knows what he's doing. This is one of the best horror stories on television in years.

Russel T Davies, well done good sir! Doctor Who is finally back.

We just need more stories like this. A Doctor Who season doesn't have to have 20 episodes per season, a few are enough. As long as they have cool concepts behind them. This is a great example of a good Doctor Who story, not babies on a ship with a budget monster.

Honestly, i would wait 3 years for a season if it were filled with cool concepts. Episodes like Blink, Midnight, Listen and Heaven Sent are the one's making Doctor Who the greatest show. So take all the time in the world, just get us unforgettable stories, we've all been missing the Doctor for way too long.

After Boom, I (like many other people) thought the season had peaked, that nothing RTD would do could top BOOM.

Boy was I wrong 💀

This episode was amazing, personally enjoyed it way more than BOOM, its pacing is much better and I think its the first episode of the entire Season that actually had a good and fulfilling conclusion.

Its also one of the few episodes of Who which actually leaves you thinking about it afterwards. Making you question and theorize on many things that happened in the episode that weren't outright expressed and explicitly shown.

Millie Gibson is an absolute gem of an actress and really brings to life the character of Ruby Sunday, making her more interesting than she has been thus far this season. Showing her desperation, defencelessness and her confused state at the many weird things which happen around her.

Overall I loved this episode, while I do have hope that Legend of Ruby Sunday and Empire of Death will be even better than this, I wouldnt be surprised if this episode is the peak of Season 1.

Solid 9/10, Loved it!