Doctor Who: The Robot Revolution Review - 6 Ups & 5 Downs
10. UP - Written In The Stars
The central premise of this episode was so, so goofy, but in my opinion, it was perfect for a light-hearted opener, in which the plot always takes a back seat in favour of screen time for the new companion.
We’ve all seen those star diplomas – for a time, they were all the rage. Many of us may have even received one when our partner ran out of good ideas and, like Belinda, might have had to feign excitement for such an occasion. I love the ludicrous twist that this lazy, faux-sentimental present is what drags Belinda half way across the universe and into a world of chaos.
Whilst the strange time dilation between the two planets feels a little undercooked, it’s passable enough to believe that somehow this diploma might serve as a foundation myth for the society springing to life on this distant star. It’s the kind of silliness this show thrives on.
I will say though, that, if we’re going to do another ‘73 Yards’ where the mystery of how the robots got the star certificate in the first place is left unexplored, I retroactively declare this plot point a down…