It’s been more than a year since audiences last saw the Doctor gracing their screens, and despite the slightly sour note season 12 ended on, it was comforting to hear the hum of the TARDIS blasting through speakers as many tuned in to see what adventures the Doctor and her companions went on next. It seems as if no recent season of “Doctor Who” is without its “big news” and this season is no exception. The Halloween premiere followed the news that this season, and a special two-part story in 2022, will be current showrunner Chris Chibnall and Doctor Jodie Whittaker’s last season working on the show. The season’s structure is also one to take note of, as it abandons the modern twelve to thirteen loosely connected episodic structure and trades it in with an interconnected six-part series, much akin to how the show used to be structured when it first aired in the 1960’s.
“Halloween Apocalypse,” was an interesting, if not a bit chaotic way to start Jodie Whittaker’s final go as the Doctor. The episode starts off with a cold open, an inconsistent storytelling technique I was pleasantly surprised to see used and gets right to the heart of the action dangling the Doctor and her companion Yasmin Khan, played by Mandip Gill, over a sea of boiling acid as they attempt to negotiate with a dog-man species of alien to let them go. Just another Tuesday for the Doctor and her friends. From there the episode jumps around in time and space as seemingly unconnected people begin experiencing the end of the universe, known only as the Flux.
This is where the strengths and shortcomings of the episode begin to make themselves known. While it is clear Chris Chibnall used this hopping about to lay down the groundwork for what is to come as the season progresses, what is given is more of a sporadic out of place episode that is often hard to follow. Despite the unfortunate pacing, the episode has its merits. Yasmin’s and the Doctor’s visibly strained relationship is setting the grounds for some much-needed confrontation between the two, and Dan Lewis, played by John Bishop, as the new companion is a surprisingly fun character whose portrayal was better than expected. The costume designs for this season’s new aliens were once again impeccable, combining expert use of prosthetics and the occasional CGI tactic to make them distinct and incredibly unforgettable.
“Halloween Apocalypse” was a tumultuous beginning to what can only be predicted as a tumultuous end. While there is still a lot left to go for this season, and certainly much that can go wrong, it is hard to say I am not excited. “Doctor Who” is finally back, and I know that whatever happens, it will be fantastic.
