Doctor Who: 73 Yards Review - 6 Ups & 4 Downs

Without a doubt, the highlight of 73 Yards is the first act, before the story leaves Wales.

Ruby finding herself alone in the middle of nowhere, and the rising tension as she becomes more and more unnerved by the supernatural figure following her, is one hell of a hook. We're introduced to yet another Susan Twist character as Ruby comes across a hiker (with Ruby actively recognising her face this time, which is interesting, but will she remember?). But the real standout was the scene in the pub.

Ruby finds herself in a typical rural setting on a stormy night, complete with a cast of zany locals. At first, they poke fun at her, as a city girl who is out of her comfort zone – it's all very Hot Fuzz.

We don't really question it when these 'strange rural types' start to bang on about witchcraft and folklore as if it were common knowledge, only for the episode to punish us for doing so by making us the butt of the joke (along with Ruby) when it turns out they're just on a wind-up. The whole sequence is delightfully spooky, and I wouldn't have been mad at a whole episode of this.

And if you're wondering why that pub made you feel uneasy from the word go, that's because the last time you saw it, cannibals were eating other humans alive in Torchwood's Countrycide. If this was an intentional re-use of a filming location, then bravo.