Doctor Who: The Vanquishers Review - 4 Ups & 9 Downs

This scene was horrible, just horrible.

There is a fine line that must be walked with the Sontarans. Yes, they’re comic relief, and this is what makes them such fun villains, but this should not come at the expense of their credibility, especially in a series finale. This is a balance that Chibnall nailed in War Of The Sontarans. Unfortunately, he didn’t manage it here.

The entire planet is under threat, there are three planet-ending armies in orbit, and The Flux is fast approaching, and yet time is devoted to this silly scene in a corner shop. It feels completely out of whack with the scope and stakes of the episodes, and the central joke, unlike the comedy in the rest of the series, really doesn’t land. It was bordering on cringeworthy.