73 Yards

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.

I thought these days were behind the snow for good, 73 Yards is the best I'd argue since the Matt Smith years, Russell T Davies once again showing us the sheer magic he can create.

Less of the magic and fantasy, more of the sci fi, this really put me in mind of Turn Left, one of my favourite episodes of all time, it had that bleak, what if vibe to it.

I finally felt that we got to know Ruby, she's been decent so far, but she hasn't had a chance to shine, here she shines brightly, Millie Gibson, you nailed it.

This is the first one in a long time that I cannot wait to watch again and again. Why are the Doctor light episodes always so good.

Finally, the legendary brilliance of Dame Sian Phillips is in Doctor Who, wishes can come true, she was terrific, loved that whole creepy bar sequence, being a very proud Welshman, there are a few pubs like that.

Fabulous.

10/10.

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.

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!

There's been a little history with Doctor Who Episodes which dont feature our titular Hero. From "Love and Monsters" to "Don't Blink" ( Which introduced us to one of the best Monsters ever). These are always some kind of hit or miss Episodes.

This one is clearly a big hit. It feels like watching a short story from Stephen King, not shying away from giving the watcher a feeling of confusion and utter hopelessness. Although I'm having a mixed feeling, knowing that the best Episode so far, doesnt use the doctor. To be honest, this didnt even need to be a Doctor Who Story at all, as it could've been used as a short Horror Story in any kind of format.

Nevertheless it shows theres much hope for the Doctor Who Writing-Team.

This could've easly got 10 Stars, if there would've been just a little more of an explanation at the end. Not that i dont like the mistery, but this newly introduced "villain" ( If you can even call it that) seems to interesting to leave it at this point. But you'll never now, you can just hope it will be featured again in another episode.