DVD_Connoisseur

As the end credits rolled on this nailbiting episode, I was genuinely in shock. After a largely disappointing season, Davies played a blinder, delivering a top tier episode. Depending on the resolution, this may go down as a classic story.

Director Jamie Donoughue ratchets up the tension in The Legend of Ruby Sunday, before pulling the metaphorical rug from under the viewers' feet - in the best possible way.

Most of the cast deliver memorable performances and there are genuine moments of peril.

The effects and sets in this story are stunning, and Murray Gold's soundtrack is perfectly matched to the action on the screen.

A solid 10 out of 10. More, please!

Rogue was an episode that I'd high hopes for. I've always been a fan of Indira Varma, and she didn't disappoint in this episode, where she played the Duchess of Pemberton.

Ncuti Gatwa has settled into his role, and I love the moments where he's serious and brooding. Millie Gibson is a delight to watch, and real fun.

Unfortunately, despite the talent inboard (including the excellent Jonathan Groff as the titular Rogue), the script let the episode down. It's a genuine shame as this instalment had a lot of potential, and the direction was on point.

5 out of 10. More character development was needed here, to make The Doctor's emotional bond with Rogue believable.

Dot and Bubble comes close to being the equivalent of Russell T. Davies' Blink, as it shares certain traits of this popular episode from 2007. A character driven piece, carried by the very watchable Callie Cooke as Lindy Pepper-Bean, The Doctor and Ruby are on the outskirts, and remain largely interactive onlookers for most of the proceedings (like the Tenth Doctor and Martha in the aforementioned Moffat classic).

The use of social media technology, and the messaging, have echoes of Black Mirror - minus Charlie Brooker's exquisite writing.

Unfortunately, what could have been a first class episode deteriorates as it approaches its finale. Ham-fisted social commentary once again smashes any sense of escapism, and you're left with the impression that Doctor Who is all about delivering broad statements these days. The irony is that ever since I can remember, Doctor Who has delivered meaningful metaphors for the real world. It just did it skilfully, without spoiling the natural flow of the story. Early Pertwee episodes had an ecological edge, for example, but the moral of the stories were intertwined with the adventure and sense of peril that were ever-present.

I had such high hopes for this season, especially after the top-notch Tennant specials. In the end, this episode was close to being a high note of the season. The visuals and effects were ambitious and solid. The delivery was just a little too on-the-nose for my taste.

7 out of 10. I really want to love this season but there's a vital ingredient missing somewhere.