Doctor Who: Wish World Review - 4 Ups & 6 Downs

I didn’t think I’d be doing this last week, but I’ll give a hesitant ‘up’ to the Rani, for now. 

Just so we’re abundantly clear here, I’m talking about Archie Panjabi’s Rani, not Anita Dobson’s, though I am preferring the latter now that she’s actually a real character and seems to have stopped looking into the camera.

The ‘main’ Rani is fun addition to the show, and she certainly has the presence required for a Time Lord character. I’m also pleased to see she acts a lot more like Kate O’Mara’s original Rani than whatever Anita Dobson has been doing for two series – I buy her authority, and she’s not cartoonishly evil for evil’s sake, because her predecessor never was either. the Rani has always been more of a neutral, evil scientist type villain, in contrast with the Master’s gleeful, emotionally driven chaos.

I like that they’re sticking with the roots of her being a scientist at heart, even if she’s immediately leaning on magic for the bones of her plan, and I’m rather hoping that her as-yet-unrevealed end goal is in the interest of science, or a warped sense of greater good, as that’s always been her shtick. Personally, I reckon she’s working on a way of repopulating Gallifrey – given her offhand mention of ‘bringing life’.

Final shout out to her costuming, and to the pull-to-activate Sonic Syringe. A strong modern restyle without abandoning her classic look. I like it.