The Pyramid at the End of the World

But still fairly good. Felt like a bit of a repeat of season 6 in some parts at least. I particularly kept thinking to myself "Tick tock goes the clock"

A Pyramid appears from nowhere and Earth's military forces are powerless to stop a countdown to the end of the world

This reminded me in some ways of the 1971 story The Claws of Axos where an alien race offer a solution to Mankind's problem but you know there's going to be a catch. Axos isn't considered an especially good story from the period but the reason I liked it was because Michael Ferguson directed the script with directorial flourish and imagination. Here with this 2017 episode director Daniel Nettheim just brings a journeyman style to the proceedings. To be fair to all the directors who have worked on the show DOCTOR WHO isn't really something to bring in auteur aspects but even so I do wish directors would try and bring an element of risk and their own hallmark to the stories

Narrative wise Pyramids is no great shakes and if you're an old school fan like me you'll be irritated how NuWho works . The UN call on "President Doctor" who turns up spouts innumerable lines giving away plot mechanics and exposition and more often than not the problem is easily resolved , too easily in fact . There's also the gut instinct that the Monks feature in a three episode story that will almost certainly have been better told as one 45 minute episode . Time will tell but there's a feeling here that the season is deteriorating slightly after a fairly good low key start

Dr Who as a whole has had some bad episodes but we know seasons 11 and on has consistently been poorly written and acted but I never realized until now it all began in season 10.

This episode has things happen only to get from the beginning to the end and it is all convenient. This was obviously written by people who really don't know what the world is like, the history of humanity; although they think they do because they talk to people who also dont know. The dialog and acting is tiring and cheap, Capaldi doesn't seem to care and I can't tell if he knows he is done or he doesn't like what he is given.

This is possibly the worst Capaldi episode and it is the showrunners fault and it continues over the next seasons.

I have to say, Erica needs to be the next companion. Rachel Denning was funny, smart, capable, and just a wonderful screen presence, in my opinion. She was the highlight of the episode and (after watching the whole series) one of the highlights of the whole season.

Nardole was also great and Matt Lucas was hilarious.

Lots of plot holes conveniences though. Monks were weak villains. Peter Harness has written better. Kill the Moon was fantastic.

Labs don't have silly unstoppable air vents without filters, senior politicians and military don't make blind deals and high tech glasses don't work in 1970s 2D polygons with no detail whatsoever.

Every nonsense thing here was required to further the plot, which was ok in principle but oh so lazily written.

This episode could have been awesome but was completely fluffed by writers who clearly can't be bothered to make believable fantasy.

It's a shame that the rather brave move of blinding the Doctor came back to a stupid plot point that just reaked of convenience and contrivance. Once you see it, pun intended, you'll likely be shouting at the TV, wondering just how little the writers respect.their audience.