Doctor Who stories to watch during isolation – Picked by the Cast and Crew

It’s safe to say that what the world needs right now is the Doctor. If you’re like us, and stuck in isolation with not much to do, you’re probably itching to watch some Doctor Who.

We sought advice from those closest to the show – the show-runners, writers, cast and crew – to bring you a list of their favourite and most comforting Doctor Who episodes to watch during this unprecedented time.

The Pirate Planet | Russell T Davies

‘Given the length of this isolation, I’d say all of them!’ jokes former show-runner Russell T Davies. ‘But… The Pirate Planet. Enormous fun. Curiously underestimated, it rarely makes the list of favourite episodes – when it outstrips most of TV!’

Heaven Sent | Joy Wilkinson

The Witchfinders writer, Joy Wilkinson, chooses Heaven Sent as her isolation episode. ‘I’m a big fan of Heaven Sent‘ she says. ‘It seems apt as a tale of bravery, tenacity and resilience against all odds, over a long time, alone. And I especially love how it’s embedded in the form that restrictions force creativity – in storytelling, as in life.’

Vincent and the Doctor | Matt Strevens

‘I think now is the perfect time to revisit Vincent and the Doctor.” says current executive producer, Matt Strevens. ‘I love the historicals and this one is one of the best’ he explains. ‘It’s funny and witty and action packed, as always, but the metaphor of fighting your own monsters and the way it deals with mental health is perfection. I also defy anyone to keep a dry eye as the Doctor and Amy take Vincent (one of the great guest performances from Tony Curran) to the Musee d’Orsay to see his legacy. Despite the subject matter it’s totally uplifting and life affirming. A comfort watch must!’

The Green Death | Terror of the Autons | Dalek

Katy Manning

70’s companion actress Katy Manning has not one, but three suggestions for us. ‘My first suggestion is Dalek by Robert Shearman’ she tells us. ‘This is one of my favourites of the new Who series from the brilliant Russell T Davies. This features daleks just the way I find them most disturbing – void of any human look or connection! With Christopher Eccleston & Billie Piper, such a perfect team!’ She then goes on to tell us her favourites from her run of the show. ‘From my era with Jon Pertwee I’d pick The Terror of the Autons with the introduction of the Master. I also love the character growth of Jo Grant and the wonderful relationship that blossomed between her Doctor (Jon Pertwee) that pays off so touchingly in The Green Death – both earth bound episodes which show awareness on the problem of plastics & pollution.’

The Lodger | Emily Cook

‘Wouldn’t it be brilliant fun to be stuck in quarantine with the Doctor and Craig?’ Says Doctor Who Magazine’s Emily Cook. ‘If only for the fact that the Doctor makes amazing omelettes, which are my all-time favourite food!’ perfect lockdown dinner anyone?

‘I think Matt Smith and James Corden have amazing chemistry in this episode. Also, seeing the Doctor attempting to live a normal life never fails to cheer me up. I love domestic Doctor Who!’ Anyone for an indoor game of football or hallway cat chat?

Androids of Tara | City of Death | The Ribos Operation

Paul Cornell

Fathers Day and Human Nature writer, Paul Cornell, couldn’t just pick one story! ‘I’d opt for anything with Tom Baker and Romana under Graham Williams, especially Androids of Tara, The Ribos Operation or City of Death. The most civilised and comfortable Who, all nonchalant clowning, expert detail and gorgeous world-building.’

The Girl in the Fireplace | Vinay Patel

‘It was the episode someone tried to introduce me to New series Doctor Who through – try saying that when you’re drunk!’ 13th Doctor writer Vinay Patel tells us. ‘I hadn’t paid attention – “he’s on a horse now?!” – but during my own journey through the series I was struck by how *full* it was. Creepy and funny and moving all at once – Doctor Who at its best.’

Robots of Death | Louise Jameson

When we asked Leela actress Louise Jameson what her chosen lockdown story would be she picked a Leela classic, Robots of Death. ‘Especially the scene where Tom (The fourth Doctor) tries to explain why the TARDIS is bigger on the inside. All these years on and I still chuckle. What a glorious piece of writing!’ Leela and the fourth Doctor in a space murder mystery? Perfect comfort viewing!

Beverly Sandford | The Eleventh Hour

Doctor Who author Beverly Sanford chooses The Eleventh Hour. ‘It’s a perfect episode, with the exact right amount of wonderfully silly japes and makes you fall in love with the eleventh Doctor instantly – even though you’re still pining for the tenth Doctor.’ Fish Custard always cheers us up.

Time Ladies Pick

Kezia | The Shakespeare Code

I’m a sucker for a period drama, so the Doctor and Martha bumping into William Shakespeare is right up my street. And paired with witchcraft?! What larks! I love how quick witted and fun this story is – it knows exactly what it’s doing and doesn’t take itself too seriously, not even for a second. The joy of watching this Shakespeare flirt outrageously with both Martha and the Doctor and the fair maiden in ultimate hag-mode (not unlike me WFH at the mo) never fail to make me chuckle. This is a story that fits you like a cosy jumper; warming and comforting down to a T.

Beth | Arachnids in the UK

Arachnids in the UK has all the elements of my favourite comfort Who. It’s set on Earth in the 21st century, we get a sneak peak into the companion’s family lives and there’s an invasion to investigate. At the heart of the story is an important message on environmentalism and capitalism – one of the things that Doctor Who does best. On top of that, there are terrifying giant spiders and and a mystery to figure out. It fills me with joy and nostalgia for a world where the TARDIS lands on an ordinary estate – where anything magnificent can happen!

There we have it – a perfect playlist of Doctor Who episodes picked by the wonderful people behind our favourite show. You can find all of the classic episodes mentioned on Britbox, and the new series ones on BBC iPlayer.

What is your favourite comfort episode of Doctor Who? Let us know @thetimeladies_ or email us at thetimeladies@yahoo.com

5 Questions we have after Spyfall

By Beth Axford

After a year’s wait, Doctor Who finally returned to our screens last week in the huge Series 12 opener, Spyfall. The two-part story exploded with twists and turns that took our breath away – leaving us with a whirlwind of questions and ponderings. The Kasaavin! The Master! Gallifrey! It’s more excitement than a Time Lady can handle. There are five main things we’ve managed to get our brains around and thoughts down, but a million more questions inside each one…

Who are the Kasaavin?

The Doctor managed to stop the Kasaavin and their evil plan to upgrade human beings by travelling back in time and planting a virus in their tech. But just who are the Kasaavin? We know from what we’ve seen so far that the creatures are ‘alien spies’ who have been collecting information on the human race, but is there more to them than we’ve seen in Spyfall? We aren’t sure what they truly look like or the real reason they appear the way they do. Plus, their plan to upgrade and make humans better all seems a bit… Cybermen. We know the Doctor’s deadly foes are returning later this series (as seen in the S12 trailer) – could they be in on the plan too? We’re intrigued and hope series 12 expands more on these deadly villains.

Barton also nips off to an unknown location, leaving us questioning what became of him. As seen on the scanner in Part 1, He isn’t 100% human – so what is the other 7%? Will he stay in league with the Kasaavin? Where has he disappeared to? So many questions!

What happened to Yaz?

Poor Yaz got zapped to the Kasaavin dimension during Spyfall Part One. The next time we see her, she is transported to Australia where the Doctor, Graham, and O are investigating – but what happened to her, and why was she taken? It’s unclear why she was moved between the dimensions and if anything significant happened to her there. She is visibly shaken and distraught from the experience, even telling Ryan she thought she was dead. It seems like something deeper might be going on here and that Yaz might not be the same person who went into Barton’s office.

Building on this, the Master pays significant attention to her and tells her to stick with him. This could just be his way of messing with the Doctor by teasing her friends – or perhaps something more is going on with the pair since we are unaware of what happened to Yaz in the Kasaavin dimension. One thing seems clear though; Yasmin Khan has been through a lot – who knows where her character arc will go next?

Who is the Timeless Child?

The Timeless Child was first mentioned in The Ghost Monument (2018). Surrounding the Doctor and the gang, the deadly shrouds hissed at the Doctor; ‘We see deeper though. Further back – the Timeless Child.’ At the time, none of us were sure if it was a hint at a story arc or just a throw-away line, but it looks like Chibnall has been planning this one for a while. At the end of Spyfall, The Master tells the Doctor that he destroyed Gallifrey because the Time Lords lied to them; ‘built on the lie of the Timeless Child.’

Who is the Timeless Child? What is the lie surrounding them? Will we find out this series?

Will the fam ever truly know the Doctor?

During Spyfall, we see Yaz, Ryan, and Graham split up from the Doctor. Of course, a returning villain like the Master brings up LOADS of questions and the fam realise the absence of knowledge about their friend. At the end of the adventure, Graham asks, ‘Why don’t you ever share anything with us?’ Rightly pointing out that she knows everything about her TARDIS team but they don’t know much about her at all. She reveals where she’s from and the name of her race, telling her friends who the Master really is. But will their relationships be affected by how little they know about her? It seems like the lack of trust may be a continuing plot thread in this series, and we are very intrigued by this deeper look into the Doctor and her companions.

What will the Master do next?

The biggest surprise of Spyfall has to be the return of the Master… seriously, who was expecting that?! Played by the incredible Sacha Dhawan, the Master disguised himself as agent ‘O’ in order to fool the Doctor and help the Kasaavin with their plan. Hell-bent on killing the Doctor and her friends, he puts them on a crashing plane with a bomb in the front seat. Of course, the Doctor isn’t letting her fam die in a hurry and manages to save them from their impending death. The Master follows the Doctor through time, trying to track her down and end her once and for all; even having time for a deep chat on the Eiffel Tower. Good will always win out though, and when the Kasaavin hear the truth of the Master’s plan they disappear to their realm, taking him with them. What will the Master do next? Will he be stuck there? If the Gallifrey storyline continues, we’re bound to see him pop up again…

What did you think of Spyfall? Do you have any other questions or theories? Let us know via Twitter, Instagram or email us at thetimeladies@yahoo.com

An Exclusive Look at ‘The Edge of Time’ – Doctor Who’s first VR adventure

By Beth Axford

The Edge of Time is Doctor Who’s latest and most exciting foray into the world of gaming yet. Stepping into the world of Virtual Reality, BBC Studios have partnered with Playstack and Maze Theory to create a feature length interactive adventure.

Users will be taken on an exciting journey to help the Doctor as a reality virus threatens all of space and time. You must save the universe by navigating the game’s vast locations and beating brain-boggling puzzles to locate three ‘time crystals’. Through your VR headset, and the massive scale of the game, it’s a Doctor Who experience like never before.

Here are our top 5 things we love about the game:

Go an a mission with the Doctor

Through Doctor Who and its spin-off media, we can be taken on adventures whenever we want – but VR is a whole new ball game. As soon as the headset is on, your senses are pulled into a whole new world.

The Doctor’s voice will fill your ears as you take on the role as her friend and companion. Jodie Whittaker has provided her voice for the game and will instruct you through your mission as if you’re on a real-life adventure with the Doctor. It’s something truly special indeed – get ready to save the universe, because now it’s down to YOU.

Fun Fact – Jodie only had one day to record her dialogue for the Edge of Time, with only one shot to get everything needed for the game. She whizzed through it and finished before the day was even complete! What a pro.

Fly the TARDIS

It’s an absolute fan dream to have a go at flying the TARDIS. To be able to fling open the Police Box doors and step inside another world filled with magic and the ability to go wherever, whenever. The most exciting part about this game is that now, you can do just that.

Once inside the adventure you will get the chance to fly the Doctor’s beloved ship, which has been designed with precision – down to every last detail from the real-life set. There is even a chance to use the famous custard cream dispenser – one of our favourite Easter eggs from the game!

Meet the Daleks

The Daleks are Doctor Who’s most iconic villains. We’ve been terrified by them since their first appearance in 1963, and it wouldn’t be a true Who game without them. The Edge of Timewill bring you face to eye-stalk with the crazy killing machines – something the game’s developers are excited for players to experience.

You’ll get the chance to walk through a deadly Dalek ship while they stalk the corridors around you, as well as a stealth-mode battle. We’re told it’s the tensest, but the most exciting part of the game – and also the most difficult bit to create!

Fear the Weeping Angels

Is there anything more terrifying than coming face to face with a Weeping Angel? They are the perfect Doctor Who creature for a virtual reality game, bringing horror and jump scares galore. Their presence is enhanced on a massive scale inside an environment such as this, leaving even some of the developers of the game too scared to play it.

We’re super excited about this element of the story-line and the experience of coming up against such an iconic, genuinely scary Who creature. You’ll have to hold your nerve – and the Angel’s eye-line – to get through this stage of the game.

And remember… ‘That which holds an image of an angel becomes itself an angel…’

Explore alien worlds

As well as the TARDIS console room, you’ll also be able to explore alien forests, ships and worlds. As you complete puzzles and quizzes you’ll be travelling through stunning cinematic views, painstakingly created to highlight every detail.

Virtual Reality feels hugely futuristic and mind bending once you’re inside it and traversing these treacherous environments makes for a completely immersive Doctor Who experience.

You can purchase Doctor Who: The Edge of Time from November 12 2019 for PC VR (Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, HTC Vive Cosmos and Valve Index) and Playstation VR for £19.99/$22.99/€21.99. It will be available on Oculus Quest in December.

If you have access to VR, let us know what you think of The Edge of Time by tweeting us @thetimeladies_.

Forbidden Planet x Doctor Who go to Comic Con – COMPETITION

The Forbidden Planet X Doctor Who range is the gift that keeps on giving. This month, they’re taking their tees to London Comic-Con, with an exclusive Ace hoodie leading the way. Find out more below about how YOU can win one!

 

 

Christmas Jumper ‘We call this Christmas’

Reverse The Polarity – in 3D!

Tour Dates

Ace! Hoodie

Cybermen, Upgrade!

High Council of Time Lords

Find the collection here:

ACE HOODIE   REVERSE THE POLARITY   CYBERMEN UPGRADE   TOUR DATES

HIGH COUNCIL OF THE TIME LORDS   XMAS JUMPER 

 

To be in with the chance of winning an exclusive Ace! Hoodie (Numbered 1 out of 100!), Email your answer to the following question to  thetimeladies@yahoo.com – a winner will be picked on the 1st of November.

 

 

The Time Ladies Doctor Who Fandom Spotlight: Art

by Beth Axford

Here at The Time Ladies, we are committed to lifting female, trans and non-binary voices, and getting their work seen and heard. There are many amazing female artists, writers, creators and cosplayers that we adore – and we want to share them with you.

Last summer we ran an exciting competition with our friends at Big Finish for the opportunity to write for their Bernice Summerfield short-story collection, In Time. Brilliantly, some of the finalists have also been commissioned to write for Benny boxset The New Adventures of Bernice Summerfield Volume 5: Buried Memories as well! We’re so proud of all the talented Doctor Who fans we know.

Some of these fans are incredible artists, and were lovely enough to share some of their work with us. Let’s meet the women who draw, paint and sketch Doctor Who…

Imogen 

When we decided on Imogen’s art to feature in this post, we didn’t know we were picking a future fan art competition runner up! Her beautiful artwork Positive Energy was printed onto t-shirts for fans to purchase here, and announced at San-Diego Comic Con last month. Imogen counts Mandip Gill as one of the many fans that adore her work and has even given prints to her in person.

What inspired Imogen to create Doctor Who art? ‘Probably my dad. He is a bigger fan than I am and is the reason I started watching the show In 2005! He used to work in graphics so always encouraged my artistic abilities. I admittedly trailed off making Doctor Who art until Jodie became the Doctor. When I saw her costume design I fell in love with the colours and I’ve been drawing her a lot since. Her expressive face is a treat for us artists to draw!’

You can find her portfolio HERE

Commission Imogen by emailing her at incommissions@gmail.com

Get the shirt

Follow Imogen on Twitter

Fetin Sardaneh

Fetin is a huge 13th Doctor fan and frequent attendee at London’s biggest Doctor Who quiz, The Quiz of Rassilon. We love her adorably soft aesthetic that creates dreamy pieces featuring our favourite Who characters. ‘I originally started as cosplaying Doctor Who characters at Comic Con, and it was only a few years ago that I decided to properly get back into drawing.’ Fetin revealed to us.

‘I naturally tend to turn my creativity towards the things I love, and for me that has been Doctor Who, ever since it was brought back to our screens in 2005! It doesn’t look like I’ll stop loving it and stop creating Doctor Who art anytime soon.’

You can find Fetin on Twitter

Or purchase her artwork on Etsy

Lucy Ward

This wonderful artwork captures our hero animatedly giggling and sonic-ing her way through space. We adore the colours and mood the piece creates, giving us ALL the Thirteenth Doctor feels.

‘I started to make Doctor Who art because I wanted to capture the Thirteenth Doctor’s energy through my style’ Lucy tells us. She has also created pieces featuring Yasmin Khan, the Eleventh Doctor and more, adorably created with a cute anime-esque style that we love.  Her use of colour and characterful expressions are the highlight of her work, we could pour over them all day!

For commissions contact through email or socials :

 lucymwardart@gmail.com

Twitter: @rosecoloredlucy

Instagram: lucy_m_ward

Shop her art

 

Rosie Vernon

Rosie’s Doctor Who art regularly fills our Twitter timeline with pops of colour and fun that is much appreciated during the long hiatus when the show isn’t on air. This Thirteenth Doctor piece is full of fun and captures the Time Lord perfectly as she stares off into the distance with a knowing expression on her face.  ‘I’ve loved Doctor Who since I was 4, and I’ve basically been making fan art for it ever since! (I once came home from school with a drawing of Satan’s Pit, much to my parents’ dismay)’ Rosie told us.

‘Something I love about the show is that it’s ever-changing, which means there are always new Doctors and companions to fall in love with, and inspire my art!’ We couldn’t have put it better ourselves!

Follow Rosie

Commission some art

Shop her art

Sefie Roselund

The most serious piece we’ve picked for this spotlight was beautifully created by Sefie Roselund, a chemical engineer and Doctor Who fan living in Finland. ‘I really started watching Doctor Who 7-8 years ago and was immediately sucked in!’  In her spare time she paints digitally, creating life-like and atmospheric art celebrating our favourite show.

‘For me, fan art in general is about celebrating the original media. When I really like a show or a character, I feel very inspired to draw something related to the show. Basically, drawing Doctor Who art is me saying “I really love this show!”. Sefie explained to us.

Follow Sefie here

Take a look at her portfolio

We’ve added these wonderful artists and other content creators to the new Our Friends page – a space for you to find art, podcasts, video, cosplay and more from the most talented, hard-working Doctor Who fans – KEEP AN EYE OUT!

If you’d like to send us your creations, you can do so at thetimeladies@yahoo.com

 

The Macra Terror review – everything you need to know about the animation

The big news this month is the release of The Macra Terror – a second Doctor story currently missing from the BBC archives. All four parts were wiped to save space back in the 60s, meaning they aren’t available to watch anywhere! Luckily, the audio for the entire adventure was recorded by a fan and with the help of some rare clips and stills, it has been animated for us all to enjoy!

The second Doctor Polly and Ben.

Fast Macra facts

• The serial was first aired in 1967 – the seventh story of the fourth series of Doctor Who.
• The Macra Terror features the second Doctor played by Patrick Troughton and his three companions: Polly – Anneke Wills, Ben – Michael Craze and Jamie – Frazer Hines.
• It was the first story to feature the Doctor’s face in the title sequence.
• The Macra returned to Doctor Who in Gridlock (2007) – 40 years after their original appearance!
• The whole story has been released in animation on DVD, Blu-ray, Steelbook and downloadable in colour and black and white, available from March 25th 2019

The second Doctor and Polly, Ben and Jamie aboard the TARDIS – in stunning animation for The Macra Terror.

Anneke Wills (Polly, companion to the First and Second Doctors) spoke all things Macra and Who at the press launch:

Anneke excitedly revealed details about the original Macra props; ‘They were huge, clunky creatures made of papier-mache. Patrick took one look and said ‘We’re going to have to cover this with Polly’s blood curdling screams!’ She went on to gush about Patrick’s portrayal of the Doctor, saying that she thinks it’s his iconic voice that makes him so distinct, ‘It’s frightfully posh!’ She continued to say that ‘If it hadn’t been Patrick who took over the role of the Doctor, we wouldn’t be sitting here today – we should always be grateful to him.’

‘I felt curious’ was her response when she found out she was being animated. ‘In a way you remove yourself, because it’s not about you.’ She did have one qualm though – the animation team just didn’t manage to get her eye makeup right! ‘I want to take you back to the storyboard and show you how I did my make-up. It was the eye make-up of the time, a false eyelid.’ We totally agree, those wings have to be on point!

Anneke and Frazer both praised the hard work of the team and enjoyed the animation immensely – it was wonderful to hear her speaking so fondly of our favourite show.

Jamie McCrimmon – animated for The Macra Terror.

The Animation Journey

• The BBC Studios team, headed up by Charles Norton and Paul Hembury (Executive Producer, BBC Studios) decide which missing story will be animated – this depends on time, budget and the detail and scale of the episodes.
• Sound extraordinaire Mark Ayres enhances and cleans up the sound recordings available from the story’s first transmission. This includes slightly adapting the recordings as they can sometimes be muffled or bad quality.
• Artist Martin Geraghty draws each character down to every movement they make. Charles Norton said of the work; “(Martin) Draws every single facial expression, every mouth shape, every eye blink, every frown, every smile – from every single angle for each character.” Phew – that’s a LOT of work!
• They even have a library full of different hand gestures – the Second Doctor takes up alot of room!
• Sun and Moon Studios animate Martin’s drawings to bring them to life, using an animation tool called ‘Toon Boon’
• After months of hard work, everyone’s work comes together to create a fully animated, complete set of episodes for The Macra Terror – ready for fans old and new to enjoy

Our Verdict

The Time Ladies meet Polly and Jamie.

We were lucky enough to watch episode one of this epic adventure in advance of its release, so what did we think?

The Macra Terror animation is an exciting addition to any Doctor Who fan’s DVD collection, bringing to life a missing part of one of our favourite eras of the show. The team at BBC Studios have done a fantastic job of creating smooth, detailed animation that works brilliantly for the adventure. You can really tell the difference in quality from the last animated story – Power of the Daleks – with the use of new software and a bigger budget as well as more time to produce.

As Doctor Who fans who weren’t alive in 1967, it feels like such a treat to have an insight into a story we once thought we’d never lay eyes on. Episode one is pacy, with a mystery apparent as soon as the team set foot outside the TARDIS and capture an escapee from a colony. Snappy scenes, quick-fire dialogue and plenty of action set the story up against some of our favourite Second Doctor stories. As for the Macra in animation? We’re pretty sure it’s the best they’ve ever looked! Now, when can we see even more Ben and Polly please…

You can purchase The Macra Terror on DVD, Blu-ray, Steelbook and via download.

Celebrating Sarah Jane Smith and Scratchman

By Beth Axford and Kezia Newson

Sarah Jane Smith has long been a legend of the Doctor Who world. First appearing in 1973’s The Time Warrior, her character returned multiple times and even gained her own spin off shows The Sarah Jane Adventures and K-9 and Company. She’s one of the most iconic women to have stepped foot on the TARDIS, and with lines like “Now just a minute. There’s nothing ‘only’ about being a girl”, she’s a feminist icon.

This month’s release of fourth Doctor novel Scratchman sees the return of our favourite TARDIS girl, and reminded us why we love her so much. The novel, written by Tom Baker himself, is a wonderful testament to a legendary era of the show. Based on an idea Tom Baker and Ian Marter devised for a Doctor Who story, or potential movie back in the 70’s, Scratchman is told from the perspective of the Doctor and features Sarah Jane and Harry alongside him. When interviewed for the book release, Tom Baker said of Elisabeth Sladen (who portrayed Sarah Jane on screen):

‘Yes it was fun and very poignant. It was marvellous to be with them again, and it was marvellous to be with them in real life.

‘I thought Elisabeth was wonderful. She didn’t stick around, which was a terrible pity. I missed her terribly – she was legendary, wasn’t she? I loved her and she loved me and there was a wonderful relationship, a confident relationship which comes out in Scratchman, I hope.’

There are some real kick ass moments for our Sarah in this book, but we won’t spoil them for you – we’ll leave you to read them yourself!

It got us thinking about Sarah Jane moments that are close to our hearts, so to celebrate the release of Scratchman, here are our highlights from her time in the world of Doctor Who.

Kez

Sharing feminist advice across the universe

As mentioned above, we couldn’t not include this character defining moment from Sarah Jane in The Monster of Peladon. After visiting Peladon previously with Jo, the Third Doctor is back, and this time there’s a young woman on the throne, Queen Thalira. At the brink of civil war, and with men left, right and centre advising her on what to do, Thalira despairs. Spending time with Sarah to get some advice, she hears about how women are treated on earth. Thalira can’t see how anything like feminism could ever be replicated on Peladon, “It would be different if I was a man. But I’m only a girl.” Not having any of it, Sarah replies “Now just a minute. There’s nothing only about being a girl, your Majesty. Never mind why they made you a Queen, the fact is you are the Queen, so just you jolly well let them know it.”

I think we could all do with that pep talk from Sarah once in a while.

“I can manage. I don’t need your help, thank you!”

One of our favourite interactions between Doctor and companion is in The Ark in Space between the Fourth Doctor and Sarah Jane. Struggling to squeeze through the ship’s conduits to feed a wire through and ultimately save the day, Sarah gets jammed (and it looks bloody terrifying too!). After being encouraging, the Doctor tries a different tactic and hurls insults at her: “That’s the trouble with girls like you. You think you’re tough, but when you’re really up against it, you’ve no guts at all.” Absolutely enraged, Sarah struggles to get at the Doctor to show him exactly what she’s made of. She bats away any help and, if it wasn’t family television, would have mouthed off to the high heavens at the Doctor. Her determination and tenacity are a complete wonder, and dispel any myth about female companions in classic Who being simply fluff. In fact, we like to think her feminism saved everyone on that ship.

Standing against anti-feminist language

The relationship between Sarah Jane and her fellow time traveller Harry Sullivan is quite a unique watch. Put quite simply, she finds him incredibly irritating, (which he is really.) Sticking to stereotype, he continuously puts Sarah down, laughs at her or simply infers that she can’t do exactly what she intends to do. He’s incredibly well meaning and thinks very highly of her, but is a perfect example of what society’s impression of masculinity can have on a perfectly nice man. In The Ark in Space, after referring to Sarah affectionately as ‘old girl’ or ‘old thing’ many times previously, he says “Steady. Steady on, old girl. Steady on.” as Sarah is coming round. The first thing Sarah can say is “Harry, call me ‘Old Girl’ again and I’ll spit in your eye.” It makes us laugh every time! Sarah showing where her priorities lie straight after being knocked unconscious. She won’t stand for any dated language, and refuses to be Harry’s inferior in any way. You tell em’ Sarah Jane.

Being vulnerable with her feelings

As much as we love Sarah Jane for her resilience, what makes her so amazing is how she isn’t afraid to show her emotions. In School Reunion, after being blown away that the Doctor is there in front of her, she doesn’t shy away from the difficult conversation. Speaking on behalf of millions of women getting answers from their ex, she heartbreakingly asks “Did I do something wrong, because you never came back for me. You just dumped me?” It’s so sad that Sarah would have questioned, just like other women after a break up, that they weren’t good enough, that they didn’t do enough. As much as she saw the universe, she opened up her heart and ultimately had it broken. Being brave enough to confront the Doctor, to tell him she had waited for him, and missed him sounds all too domestic and familiar –a place where Doctor Who excels. The dialogue is controlled solely by Sarah, with the Doctor bashfully trying to display his affections, and quite frankly, failing. In this moment Sarah Jane showed girls everywhere that women can be tough and vulnerable at the same time. What a hero.

Beth

Compassion and Humanity in Robot

Sarah Jane’s compassion and humanity are some of her greatest features and are demonstrated perfectly in 1974’s Robot. The fourth Doctor’s debut appearance featured a Robot called K1, created to carry out activities that are dangerous to humans and housed in a facility called ‘Think Tank’. When Sarah sneaks into Think Tank and asks the director if K1 is dangerous, they order it to kill her and watch on as it struggles in distress. It is explained that it is impossible for K1 to harm humanity, and as a result the robot suffers with the conflict of the instructions and it’s basic programming. Sarah Jane empathises with K1, even though its owners suggest it has no feelings. She apologies to K1 and says that the demonstration of its distress was cruel – a touching and powerful moment that solidifies why we love her so much.

Sarah Jane Returns

School Reunion solidified Sarah Jane into the hearts of a whole new generation of Doctor Who fans, and the instant we first see her on screen again after so many years is delightful. Even if you’ve never seen the show before, you know that its an important moment for the Doctor and the woman who has just walked into the room. Sarah continuing her journalism and research into strange goings on is a golden highlight for us. In a new regeneration since he last saw her, she has no idea who the Doctor is and introduces herself while he smiles delightedly. When he tells her that he is ‘John Smith’, the ruse continues, and she even recalls that she ‘knew a man who went by that name’. The exchange is full of nostalgia and is wonderous to watch, but most of all it’s amazing to see Sarah continuing to boss life all those years after leaving the TARDIS. The way she carries herself and her strong willed nature shine through in the same way it always did, leaving no doubt that the character is legendary.

Sarah Jane meets Jo Grant

Sarah Jane Smith and Jo Grant are two of Doctor Who’s most iconic women, so it’s no surprise that their meeting is one of our favourite moments from the both of them. After being called to the Doctor’s ‘funeral’ they both excitedly share stories and hugs while explaining their doubt that their time lord friend is really gone. The scene fills our hearts with adoration for the pair as they bond over their mutual friend, and it’s truly wonderful to see the characters on screen after all those years. Together, they work out the truth and help the eleventh Doctor save the day. The sheer dedication and force of nature the two possess in this story is why we love them both so much, and shows Sarah Jane at her very best.

Goodbye Sarah Jane

Sarah Jane’s final appearance in Doctor Who came in David Tennant’s swansong story, The End of Time. The episode saw the tenth Doctor embark on a farewell tour, saying goodbye to all his friends before his regeneration. As Sarah’s son, Luke Smith, crosses the road in front of an oncoming vehicle, the Doctor stops the inevitable collision and saves Luke’s life. This moment is much more poignant now after the death of Elisabeth Sladen – who plays Sarah Jane – in 2011. The moment Sarah runs out into the street and has one last goodbye with the Doctor is in fact her final appearance in Doctor Who itself. Elisabeth carried on saving the world in The Sarah Jane Adventures until her death, but this scene feels final and heart-breaking considering the sad context outside of the show. *Sob*

If you want more Sarah-Jane, or even more fourth Doctor or Harry, you can purchase Scratchman by Tom Baker now.

 

Worlds Collide: The Doctor Who Escape Room

By Beth Axford

If you’ve always wanted to experience an adventure with the Doctor first hand, 2019 is the year for you! Escape Hunt and BBC studios have teamed up to bring us Worlds Collide: A live Doctor Who escape game, where you can become the Doctor’s new fam and save the world.

We recently tried out the exciting game before its opening in Bristol – so what did we think?

It’s best to experience the game for yourself to get the most out of it, so we’ve left out any surprises and spoilers for the adventure.

Storyline

The storyline is simple and original – The Doctor needs your help! After a quick briefing from the Time Lord herself, you are transported into the future to the offices of ChronosCorp HQ. Here, eccentric billionaire Alastair Montague’s efforts to develop commercial time travel have caused a tear in the fabric of space and time, which the Cybermen will use to attack Earth.

You then have 60 minutes to work out how to close the tear before the Cybermen break through, using only what remains of Montague, his prototype time engine and the extensive collection of time-related artefacts acquired over the course of his experiments. The fate of the universe rests in your hands – if you take too long the human race will be ‘upgraded’!

There is a nice mixture of time and space folded into the story, particularly as it is set in the future. 6 artefacts must be collected by completing puzzles and riddles, each one with a historical meaning. These elements mean that the adventure feels like proper Doctor Who, all timey-wimey and fun. The pay off if you complete the story is brilliant and will leave you wanting to travel the universe with the Doctor forever!

Fan Experience

This Doctor Who live game has been created in a similar vein to the Doctor Who Experience, but with a much more interactive nature. Inside you’re left almost entirely on your own to complete the mission, with a little hint here and there from the ‘Game Master’ via audio cues. Other than that, there are vague instructions in the form of videos, written documents and other props that create a true sense of reality. You don’t necessarily need to be a fan of the show to play either – there are subtle references here and there but the story and Cybermen are explained well. From a fan perspective though, the moments when you find a prop/reference are a real payoff.

Difficulty

The escape room can be a real test on your communication and team working skills, so make sure you REALLY LOVE the people you’re playing with. The game is a mixture of easy and not so easy tasks, but most of the difficulty comes from finding out what you need to do with a prop or section in the first place. Once you realise what it is for, it’s generally quite easy to complete a puzzle, but some take more time than others. There is nothing better than completing a task and getting one step closer to saving the world…we may or may not have done a few air jumps and screams of excitement. You’ll realise that your many years of watching the show may finally pay off when your brain connects the dots throughout the adventure!

Set/Effects

There is no danger of wobbly sets around here! The room is designed so realistically that you forget you’re underground in a game. Some of the set is sealed down and cannot move, but lots of it is moveable and interactive, meaning you can never entirely be sure if an object is of significance or not. As time goes on you will notice that some props will be more familiar than others. Because you’re in a set you never know what anything means, so it’s best to play about with the fantastic surroundings and see what happens or is relevant to any instructions you’ve been provided with.

There aren’t many special effects because the props and set do much of the talking, but the way objects interact has been brilliantly thought out and will surprise and excite the child inside of you when you get parts to work together. It really is like living an episode of Doctor Who, and you’ll never want it to end.

Mementos

There are a couple of lovely mementos that you can take away from your adventure with the Doctor; You’ll get a certificate for saving the Earth with your game time written on, and there are photo opportunities with specially made signs featuring captions such as ‘The Doctor’s number one team’ and ‘Space and time were on our side’. If you post your photos on Instagram using the special hashtag, the lovely Games Master will print out a polaroid version of it for you to keep so that you never forget your special day.

From January 16^th, fans can battle through space and time at Escape Hunt Bristol as well as book tickets for the immersive adventure which will be arriving at other Escape Hunt locations on the following dates:

Leeds – 25/01/2019
Oxford – 08/02/2019
Manchester – 22/02/2019
Reading – 08/03/2019
Birmingham – 22/03/2019

 

Tickets for Doctor Who: The Live Escape Game, Worlds Collide are on sale now and are bookable via Escapehunt.com/DoctorWho

 

 

Reliving Series 11 of Doctor Who

Doctor Who series 11 may be over, but the fun doesn’t have to end! To celebrate the release of the soundtrack and box-set of series 11, we’ve compiled the perfect guide on how to relive and enjoy Jodie Whittaker’s first run of adventures.

It doesn’t have to end with an occasional re-watch – you can listen to music from episodes, enjoy fan blogs, vlogs and podcasts to really immerse yourself. Read on to become a fully-fledged team TARDIS/Fam member!

Episode 1 – The Woman Who Fell to Earth

Jodie Whittaker wowed audiences in her debut story ‘The Woman Who Fell To Earth’

Watch the episode – Take yourself back to the 13^th Doctor’s debut via the Series 11 Boxset or BBC iPlayer

Soundtrack pick –The Woman Who Fell to Earth (Track 7) – Close your eyes and relive the 13^th Doctor’s magical beginnings with ‘The Doctor’. This song covers every aspect of our favourite Time Lord – from its rapid pace changes to its ambient backdrop, it is a wonderful reminder of what the character is all about. Hollie Buhagiar’s stunning vocals will drop you right back in to The Woman Who Fell to Earth instantly. Listen Here

Twitter reacts to Jodie Whittaker’s debut

Directing Episode One

Fan creations –

We adore this cosplay by Georgia Grace Ranwell! This is some real costume and photo editing TALENT.

Cosplay and image by Georgia Grace Ranwell

Episode 2 – The Ghost Monument

Team TARDIS on their first outer space adventure.

Watch the episode – Crash back into our first space adventure with the Series 11 Boxset or BBC iPlayer

Soundtrack pick – My Beautiful Ghost Monument (Track 11) – One of the most iconic scenes from series 11, the Doctor being reunited with her TARDIS in ‘The Ghost Monument’ has been etched on our memories ever since. You can enter the TARDIS and feel its wonder through this single track, the song will leave you awestruck and ready to pull that lever into adventures in time and space! Listen Here

Remnants Case File

Fan creations

We love this drawing of 13 finally getting back to her TARDIS by Sophie Isles!

Sophie Isles recreates the amazing moment the Doctor is reunited with her TARDIS.

Episode 3 – Rosa

The Doctor and ‘fam’ take a trip back in time…

Watch the episode – Visit America’s deep south with the TARDIS fam via the Series 11 boxset or by BBC iPlayer

Soundtrack pick – Parks, Rosa Parks (Side 2 Track 3) – This episode brings emotional music like no other, so we love the track Parks Rosa Parks. With hints of her theme strewn throughout, there is an underlying sense of danger and tension as portrayed in the story’s battle with racism. The wonderful strength and sense of unity in Rosa’s theme intertwined with the darker moments create an image of hope – one we can all stand by. Listen Here

Access All Areas

Fan creations – We love this review from YouTuber SesskaSays. Well, we pretty much love every review from her but this one in particular, as she goes on the same emotional journey we did during her watch.

 

Episode 4 – Arachnids in the UK

Who ya gonna call? TEAM TARDIS.

Watch the episode – Find the Doctor and her friends chasing giant spiders via the Series 11 Boxset or BBC iPlayer

Soundtrack pick – My Fam (Track 14) – Relive the beautiful moment that Team TARDIS decided to adventure together in this emotional track from Arachnids in the UK. My Fam brings together ambient tones and instrumentals to symbolise the hope and love the characters have for each other. Warning: you may not leave the track with a dry eye. Listen Here

11 of the Scariest Everyday Horrors in Doctor Who

Fan creations – Listen to Kez talk to one of our favourite podcasts Galactic Yoyo as they have a debate over their opinions of Arachnids in the UK

Episode 5 – The Tsuranga Conundrum

When you realise you messed up.

Watch the episode – Join this classic sci-fi story by purchasing the Series 11 Boxset, or find it on BBC iPlayer

Soundtrack pick – Resus One (Track 16) – The futuristic drama of Resus One creates the perfect spacey atmosphere, meaning you can relive The Tsuranga Conundrum musically whenever you like. We love the drums and heavier tones used to emphasise the danger the team are in, with a hint of magic and hope as the song goes on. Segun really knows how to pack his music with emotion. Listen Here

Cute but Deadly Creatures in Doctor Who

Fan creations – Listen to when Beth chatted about her opinions on The Tsuranga Conundrum on the Eruditorum Presscast Podcast

Episode 6 – Demons of the Punjab

Doctor Who explores the partition of India in ‘Demons of the Punjab’

Watch the episode –Take a trip into the history of the partition by purchasing the Series 11 Boxset, or find it on BBC iPlayer

Soundtrack Pick – Yaz and Nani End Credits (Side 2 Track 12) – One of the absolute highlights of the series 11 soundtrack has to be this hauntingly beautiful version of the Doctor Who theme tune, played at the end of Demons of the Punjab. The vocals are stunning and proves that the iconic theme tune works perfectly when sung as opposed to the usual instrumental. It is slow and raw, picking up on the important and saddening topic of the story it concludes. Listen Here

Thijarians Case File

Fan creations –

Read Demonology and The Doctor here

Episode 7 – Kerblam!

Kerblam it!

Watch the episode – Deliver yourself an exciting adventure by purchasing the Series 11 Boxset, or find it on BBC iPlayer

Soundtrack pick – Kerblam (Track 17) – This eight minute song from the series 11 soundtrack will take you through the Kerblam mystery via a musical journey. From beginning to end, the piece builds tension with hints of mystery, while dropping subtle character themes and emotions throughout. The vocals and strings used create the perfect sense of humanity for the piece – just like the heart of the story. Listen Here

10 of the Worst Businesses in Doctor Who

Fan creations – We ❤ Sam Richard Bentley’s brilliant poster for the story.

Poster by Sam Richard Bentley

Episode 8 – The Witchfinders

The Witchfinders

 Watch the episode – Magic yourself into the story by purchasing the Series 11 Boxset, or find it on BBC iPlayer

Soundtrack pick – King James (Side 2 Track 13) – A historical episode gives the composer a chance to create something different and show off exactly what they can do, and this track is a great example of that. The violins give it a medieval royal feel – perfectly fit for a king. This little taste of the 1600s is exactly all you need to relive The Witchfinders! Listen Here

10 Times Doctor Who Entered the Wizarding World

Fan creations –

Cosplay goals! Amy Spencer, 13th Doctor cosplayer has nailed this outfit!

Cosplay by Amy Spencer

 

Episode 9 – It Takes You Away

Team TARDIS take a trip to Norway.

Watch the episode – Take a trip into an unknown universe by purchasing the Series 11 Boxset, or find it on BBC iPlayer

Soundtrack pick – Reverse the Polarity (Side 2 Track 16) – This roller-coaster of a story must be matched with a roller-coaster of a score – and this song doesn’t disappoint. You can almost feel the Doctor’s brain ticking away as the beat taps in the background of the piece. Get a slice of the action and character development all wrapped up in one song whilst falling back into the crazy world of It Takes You Away! The pitter patter sounds and raw strings of the piece create a universe of wonder – a real highlight to the soundtrack. Listen Here

The Antizone Case File

Fan creations – Listen to Beth talk to the Trap One Doctor Who podcast about her reaction to It Takes You Away

Episode 10 – The Battle of Ranskoor Av Kolos

It’s the final battle…

Watch the episode – Battle the Stenza with the Doctor and friends by purchasing the Series 11 Boxset, or find it on BBC iPlayer

Soundtrack pick – Ranskoor Av Kolos (Track 19) – Send yourself back through the emotional end to the series with this stunning piece filled with ambient atmosphere and built up harmonies. The epic finale brought tension, emotion and drama which is exactly what this track from the story emanates. Listen Here

The Ux Case File

Fan creations – Another exciting cosplay by the amazing Phoebe Britnell!

Cosplay by Phoebe Britnell.

There we have it – your complete guide to reliving series 11 of Doctor Who. Let us know your favourite moments, soundtrack picks and fan creations by tweeting us @thetimeladies_ or emailing us at thetimeladies@yahoo.com!

Demonology and The Doctor: Demons of the Punjab review by Diksha Bhugra

There is no doubt that the Punjab of 1947 was populated with far more than its fair share of demons, and did not need any alien assassins to help with the bloodshed. And yet, I was afraid that might be where the plotline of Demons of the Punjab was headed. But the writers of Doctor Who have yet again managed to pleasantly surprise me and I could not be more relieved. Not only has Vinay Patel managed to depict the atrocities of Partition through a heartbreakingly poignant script, but also introduced us to one of the most compassionate species of the Who universe, the Thijarians.

Team TARDIS lands in 1947 Punjab to witness the wedding of Yasmin’s grandmother, Umbreen. Only Umbreen isn’t getting married to Yaz’s Muslim grandfather, but a Hindu man – Prem, that she has never told her granddaughter about before. Yaz is filled with confusion and injured feelings for having been kept in the dark about such a crucial fact. But in walking away from his murder at the end of the episode, Yaz shows the inner strength and maturity of her character. Perhaps Prem’s sacrifice and her newfound understanding of love might act as inspiration for her somewhere down the line as she travels with the Doctor. But more importantly, she finally understands her heritage and the importance of the distinctiveness of her identity in modern-day Sheffield. This all harps back to the ‘demons’ that had ‘cursed’ the days and the land her grandmother had escaped from.

Perhaps the most striking part of this predominantly historical episode, apart from the stunning set location, is the dynamic and shifting definition of the ‘demon’. Umbreen’s mother, in the characteristically superstitious words of a rustic Punjabi woman, is the first to call the alien a demon. But while the Thijarians, in the beginning, seem like the perfect cooking pot of all the villainous ingredients of a typical Doctor Who episode, it is somewhere else that the true evil lies. Even the Thijarians are only there to witness the consequences of that evil.

Is the demon really Manish who kills his own elder brother, Prem, for marrying a Muslim? Or is the demon inside every one of the mindless mob who is hell-bent on bloodshed? The villains of Partition weren’t always complete strangers. They were very often neighbours, friends and in Prem’s case, family. All the outside world within the episode seems like the enemy, and yet there is no escaping the fact that despite their actions, every single one of the mob is just a human being. In typical Doctor Who style, Demons of the Punjab makes you wonder who the true villain is, and whether they might deserve at least a part of our compassion.

By painting a picture of the oncoming violence and rioting impartially yet solemnly, the show remains respectful of the suffering of countless victims and fills my heart, quite like the Thijarians, with empathy for all those who died without being properly remembered. The Partition of India remained for a long time, an event consciously denied by many. Even for those who went through the confusion and terror of immigration, like my own grandparents did, it was something too traumatic to be shared. Forceful eviction and neighborhood violence are perhaps some of the less darker stories of the times. Partition was more of a civil war, both for and against identity, which cannot easily be depicted on screen. Demons of the Punjab, in that sense, has an even deeper meaning behind its title than most will see. In many ways, this honourable portrayal of such a huge tragedy seems like the final closing of a book that had been open for too long, both in its representation in Doctor Who and in the act of Graham reassuring Prem that he is a “good man”. It seems like the end of a long history of colonial resentment and the beginning of a relationship of newfound trust and respect.

In the midst of this implied violence, Umbreen and Prem’s wedding is one of the most emotional scenes of series 11 so far. It is also a real cultural treat. The Hindu and Muslim rituals blend beautifully into Doctor Who with the Doctor even officiating at the wedding, a golden marigold propped over one ear. Truth be told, they really couldn’t have found anyone better for the job. Traditionally, Hindu weddings are performed by a priest (pundit) or what the Hindus might call a ‘learned man’ and who, really, could be more learned than the Doctor?

The only hiccup for the episode, for me, occurs, when Prem and Umbreen share not just one, but two passionate kisses in the episode right in front of Umbreen’s mother. While this may appear normal on the 21st century television screen, it’s a decidely startling scene for someone like me who grew up in a relatively conservative family in India, aware that gestures of physical affection like this were seldom made in front of family members in the India of 1947. Perhaps the scene may be justified, seeing as how extraordinary the situation was, or maybe there was the need for dramatic impact. But the lack of any reaction whatsoever from the bride’s mother on this open intimacy remains an eyebrow-raising mystery to me.

But overall, the performances of Amita Suman (young Umbreen), Shaheen Khan (Umbreen’s mother), Shane Zaza (Prem) and Hamza Jeetooa (Manish) are exceptionally commendable not just for portraying the complexity of the emotions of their time, but also for managing to retain the distinctive South Asian body language and subtle speech gestures of native Punjabi and Urdu while delivering dialogues in English. The TARDIS translation is apparent throughout, making it a thoroughly enjoyable watch.

Also worth praising is the special score for this episode without which the true essence of the story’s setting would be lost. The Punjabi remix of the Who theme by Segun Akinola is as much a delight to the ears as a dagger to the heart. The deep, resonant notes of Indian classical music and soulful percussions of the tabla, the traditional Indian drums, tie the episode even more profoundly to a nostalgia for the homeland that is at the heart of the tragedy of Partition. It brings back forgotten as well as passed down memories of a time and place we all wish we could go back and save, if only we had a time machine.

This guest piece was written by Diksha Bhugra.

You can find her on Instagram @dikshabhugra and her blog: awriterscauldron.wordpress.com

Doctor Who Series 11: Our Half-way Verdict

Now that The Tsuranga Conundrum has hit our screens, we’re officially half way through series 11 of Doctor Who. We’ve been from Sheffield 2018 to the 67^th century – with spiders, spaceships and iconic historical moments in-between. Grab a cuppa and a custard cream as we delve into the beginning of the 13^th Doctor’s debut series.

The 13^th Doctor – Beth

The Doctor finds the outfit of her dreams in The Woman Who Fell To Earth.

The 13^th Doctor is everything I’d hoped and dreamed that she would be. There was one thing I wanted from Jodie’s performance, and that was for her to feel like the same character I’ve loved for all this time. I wanted 13 to be Doctor-y, and Jodie absolutely hits the nail on the head. A few scenes at the beginning of the series felt slightly out of place to me, as Jodie didn’t seem to play the complicated language convincingly, but as the episodes go on she grasps it more and more. Her comedy and demeanour as the Doctor really feel spot on, and I miss her when the stories end each week. I can’t wait to find out where she’s going this series and to see Jodie play some more big, emotional moments! I’d love to see more character development and emphasis on what traits her Doctor will be remembered for – as well as more wonderful costume variants!

Companions – Kez

The Thirteenth Doctor and her friends

So, we have 3 companions in the TARDIS, aka a TEAM! Doesn’t this feel like a long time coming? Now there are more opinions, viewpoints and life experiences that add to every story. Having the age contrast between Graham and the others adds so much more depth and breaks the 2005+ rule of what a permanent companion is: aka an attractive young woman. Having lived a very different life to the others including surviving cancer, it’s given him such a unique view on what he wants the rest of his life to look like, especially without his wife Grace. This is mirrored in Ryan too. The thing I love about Tosin Cole’s performance is the very real bravado from a 19 year old, mixed with a beautiful vulnerability. Ryan’s arguably had alot of the focus so far this series, and I’m enjoying how he’s growing as a person, as he opens up more to Graham, Yaz and most importantly, life as he sees it. He’s already speaking to a disillusioned young male audience who I hope will continue to watch his journey. Yaz is our most under-developed companion, and I’ve been massively frustrated with the lack of who she is – it’s still hanging in the air 6 episodes in! However, with Demons of the Punjab brings more Yaz, and her relationship with her family and heritage. Before series 11 started I was most excited to see the dynamic between a female Doctor and companion, and this one is still developing. I feel like the Doctor has the best on-screen bond with Yaz so far – but is that just me watching two women together? I’m not sure. I’m absolutely loving seeing the three of them react to each other and the Doctor, but I’m not fully sure we know everything about them yet… so bring on the second part of the series.

Episode Quality – Beth

Team TARDIS in The Tsuranga Conundrum

Five episodes in, and the quality of series 11 is high. If we’re talking scripts though, the stories have been consistent in the way that they’re simple, fun Doctor Who plots. The characterisation has been outstanding, as has the acting from our main cast – propelling the episodes from average to brilliant. The general tone and look of the show this year means that this series has quickly become one of my favourites, and I’m thoroughly enjoying every minute of it. I don’t feel there is anything to dislike, but of course that all depends on what you like to get out of an episode of Doctor Who. There are off bits of course, such as awkward acting or non-resolutions to some plot points, but it’s hard to judge until the whole series has aired. Personally, I think these 5 episodes have been some of the highest quality Doctor Who ever, and I can’t wait to see where it is going!

Music – Kez

Hearing the music from the climax of The Woman Who Fell to Earth was a highlight

Segun Akinola’s music pulses and breathes throughout each story, like it’s a living part of the plot. This is so different from Murray Gold’s scores which were beautiful and reverent, but triggered emotion foremost, rather than reflecting the atmosphere of a story. Ambient and subtle in parts, the music from the first half of series 11 has raised the collective heart beat of the UK without us even realising that this is largely down to the score. As well as this, the use of contemporary music in both the promotion of the series and within, like Rise Up by Andra Day used at the end of Rosa blends easily, and makes it feel like Doctor Who has cooly been doing it for decades. What I’m looking forward to though, is that sweeping grandeur during a ‘I am the Doctor’ moment. We’ve had that feeling in the music a couple of times in series 11 but it hasn’t quite left me feeling awe-struck and teary eyed, which is really what I want in those moments (sorry). I can hear the music of each Doctor from 2005+ in my head, and I can’t quite figure out what the Thirteenth Doctor sounds like yet. This is completely a personal opinion since I enjoy openly weeping at Rose’s theme in Doomsday, but I hope we get that feeling again.

Special Effects – Beth

The new TARDIS interior stuns with its atmospheric lighting and smoky doorway…

The special effects this series have taken a massive step up from anything that’s come before, taking it into cinematic territory. There’s something so exciting about having such high standard effects on our little old show that is famous for its wobbly sets. A highlight is the wonderful new title sequence that stuns with its purple hues and liquidy textures. Arachnids in the UK gave the vortex a proper appearance as the TARDIS adventures through space and time and we see its true extent – every fan’s dream! the explosions and CGI work brilliantly together to create convincing moments and realistic scenes. I love how the creatures of the series stand up well, from the deadly Remnants in The Ghost Monument, to the giant spiders in Arachnids in the UK.

Storylines – Kez

Yaz with her family in Arachnids in the UK

The stories across series 11 so far have shown a staggering range of pace, location and character. I appreciate that immensely, and no two stories have felt the same, but in the same vein it doesn’t feel that neatly wrapped package of a series I quite want (yet). Of course Doctor Who is about throwing different stories at us, but Rosa felt like a different show to The Tsuranga Conundrum. This, again is a personal opinion and has had no effect on ratings so I’ll take that as me being a perfectionist! There have been some truly beautiful, ‘first in Doctor Who’ moments: watching the Doctor take an emotional step back in Rosa, and being vulnerable with her friends at the end of The Ghost Monument… but balanced with some familiarity: watching Yaz’s relationship with her family and as always, an awful lot of running. Something that’s new as an overall feel is how educational the show is. We’re having history and science lessons each week, with every story showing a strong moral compass and lessons learned. I’m not adverse to this – it’s quite in-your-face but maybe that’s a good thing? It’s only teaching children about being kind and encouraging learning which we can’t really complain about! Character wise, what I’m really hoping for in the second half of series 11 is for our guest cast to be more fleshed out. We need to have time to get to know who they are, so we can empathise with their story. My feel so far is that in each story there have been a few too many people, and that crowding makes each character less significant as a result. More time with these characters please! Chris Chibnall’s show running has so far brought Doctor Who to the forefront of British television, and the stories have brought literally millions of new watchers in. So welcome, new fans!

Monsters and Villains – Beth

The Pting captured the hearts of Doctor Who fans everywhere in The Tsuranga Conundrum.

We’ve had a whole host of exciting creatures and villains this series so far, and I think they’re all iconic. First up we had the deadly ‘Tim Shaw’ and his face full of teeth – terrifying! His appearance in The Woman Who Fell to Earth was perfect for a series opener and a brilliant first villain for the 13^th Doctor to face. My favourite villain however has undoubtedly got to be the Pting from The Tsuranga Conundrum. The adorable creature is original, memorable and fun – something this series needed after the darker villains in Rosa and Arachnids in the UK. Both of those stories featured characters who were morally corrupt and putting others at risk with their close minded, selfish behaviours. They are written brilliantly, and I love that Doctor Who is dealing with bigger, deeper issues, but there’s nothing like a good old alien invasion. Looking forward, I have high hopes that there will be more original aliens and creatures to balance out the moral and educational storytelling that we’re seeing so often this series. Oh, and a Pting plush in time for Christmas please.

Highlights – Kez

The Doctor asks her friends if they’re ready to become team TARDIS in Arachnids in the UK

As mentioned already, there have been some truly special moments in this series. I think I can speak for everyone when I say that watching Rosa – the whole experience, was pretty amazing. To see Doctor Who tackle these big historical moments so relevant to people’s experiences today, felt really important. Equally, the way that Grace’s death has been handled has been a tough watch but so real. Graham and Ryan’s grief has been tangible throughout the series, and it just makes them more believable. Seeing their reactions when they officially join team TARDIS was so touching, and a real milestone for all their characters, including the Doctor. This time she knows what may happen, this time she makes sure they know, and they do. It was a pillar moment for the Doctor – really challenging the feelings of companions, knowing they may say no. The smaller moments which help define this era are absolute highlights for me: Yaz’s family chat about pakora, Know Me From by Stormzy being played to scare spiders away, Graham moaning about not having time to eat, tea at Yaz’s, the Pting… I could go on. Lastly, a highlight has to be just how amazing this series looks and sounds. Doctor Who has never been so current, and doesn’t feel out of place with shows we’re all watching which have double the budget.

Keep sharing your thoughts about series 11 with us over on Twitter – @thetimeladies_

10 Things you didn’t know about the TARDIS (From the Type 40 Instruction Manual)

Think you know everything there is to know about the Doctor’s space-time machine? The TARDIS Type 40 Instruction Manual details exactly how the ship works and its entire history – including the low-down on the 13th Doctor’s TARDIS. To celebrate, we got hold of ten exciting facts from the book to tantalise your taste-buds, including previews of some of the pages!

1 – The name ‘TARDIS’ was given to the space/time machine by the Doctor’s granddaughter Susan. The word is an acronym, standing for ‘Time and Relative Dimension in Space.’ As the capsule The Doctor and Susan stole happens to be the mostly widely used TARDIS in the universe, the term has been taken and spread among the stars as the official name for the ship.

2 – When properly maintained, the TARDIS is indestructible.

3 – The TARDIS uses Artron energy generated by the eye of harmony in order to travel through space and time.

4 – The 13th Doctor’s TARDIS is the first to feature the reverse of three sides of it’s exterior on the inside of the ship, making it look like almost the whole box is attached to the interior.

5 – The TARDIS has a bathroom that features a hologram of a leopard, with toilet facilities located just past the macaroon dispenser.

6 – The TARDIS also features a karaoke bar, a swimming pool, an art gallery and a Green house, among other infinite rooms

7 – Although it never appeared on screen, Missy travelled in a type 45 TARDIS with a dark purple desktop theme.

8 – The ‘wheezing, groaning’ noise that can be heard when the TARDIS materialises is down to the ship being ripped out of or forced into normal space.

9 – Despite the Chameleon Circuit being broken and the TARDIS being stuck as a police box, periodic software patches have updated specific design details of its appearance. This occasionally means that features such as the windows and light can change, as well as the shade of blue on the outer shell of the police box design.

10 – The telepathic circuits inside the TARDIS can be used to gather extra data about a destination and calculate an optimum point to land, as well as being used to send psychic messages within the space-time vortex.

The TARDIS Type 40 Instruction Manual is available now