Doctor Who: Rogue Review - 7 Ups & 3 Downs

And the second Russell T Davies era was all going so well. Including the specials, we'd managed to go nine whole episodes without some aliens who were anthropomorphised animals rearing their fluffy/scaly/feathery heads (delete as appropriate).

Between 2005 and 2010 we had cat nuns, space rhinos, a wasp dressed as a vicar, and flies in jumpsuits. Not to mention tree people and snarky scientists who were also cacti. 

So of course we had to have a new addition to the canon of RTD's beloved anthropomorphic animal aliens. Step forward the Chuldur, evil bird people that have the ability to shapeshift. 

Conceptually they're brilliant, but physically they look a bit daft. Which is par for the course in Doctor Who, but shouldn't we be pushing things forward in 2024?

They're not a complete failure, as the bit where Emily Chuldur reveals that Ruby broke her beak does elicit a big laugh.

However, in an episode that already heavily riffs on the 2005 - 2010 run of Doctor Who, it feels like a tired trope too far.