Doctor Who Series 11: 10 Huge Questions After 'The Battle Of Ranskoor Av Kolos'
All the major talking points following the Doctor Who Series 11 finale.
It’s flown by, but that’s all folks, Series 11 is now part of Doctor Who’s fixed point in time and Jodie Whittaker is fully established as the Doctor. It’s been a series that promised a new vision for the program going forward, and with so many changes taking place on and off the screen it was a huge gamble. Did it pay off?
The ratings offer a mixed picture and as ever are open to interpretation. Depending on your point of view, this was either a huge success winning back lost viewers and welcoming the next generation of fans, or it was a series that has gradually lost thousands of viewers after the initial boost of the novelty factor and the changed transmission day.
In reality it was all fairly safe territory for a show that has been periodically reinventing itself since the 1960s. Yes, it has been more accessible, but not necessarily more appealing to children as a result. Jodie Whittaker is a hit with many, but the episodes themselves have had few stand out moments. All eyes then were on the finale – could it restore the faith of the disenchanted and be the icing on the cake for those who have loved the series?
10. Was The Episode A Fitting Finale?
The Doctor Who finale has become one of the highlights of the series since it returned in 2005. Often split into two-parters, it has become something of an event episode to rival the Christmas Special. Epic in scope and themes, the finale has always rewarded viewers who have stuck with the series, boasting an almost cinematic feel and budgets stretched to their maximum.
The problem became how to make the next one more epic than the last. Steven Moffat deliberately took a fresh approach, moving away from the all-universe threat to a focus on the Doctor himself. But it was still the most intense episode(s) of the series by a long shot. The stakes were never higher.
The Battle of Ranskoor Av Kolos certainly ups the ante from the rest of series 11 with Tim Shaw’s planetary genocide and Earth as his latest target. But the focus is on a small scale and we never get to see it from the perspective of those on Earth. No surprises about the return of Tim Shaw, but in previous years we would probably have had a whole fleet of the Stenza.
Whilst the production is to a high standard this year, it’s clear that the team have played it safe. A lack of creativity highlights the shortcomings of the budget. This is Doctor Who back in the quarry.