Doctor Who Recap: Sign of the Times

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Sequels can carry inherent risks since they don’t necessarily need to be dull or abysmal to fall short. A sequel might be decent, but it may still evoke memories of how fantastic its predecessor was. This week, Doctor Who unveiled a follow-up to the unsettling 2008 episode “Midnight,” which has earned its status as a fan favorite for good reason. “The Well” aimed to recapture that eerie atmosphere, and while it didn’t leave me with the same chills as “Midnight,” it retained enough similar elements to make for an engaging viewing experience. Beyond the plot point of the Doctor encountering a recurring enemy (as unique as an entity without a name and physical form can be), the episode delved into comparable thematic ideas.

To rephrase, in the story “Midnight,” an unnamed being took over a bus, causing fear among passengers through imitation, simultaneous speech, and making the Doctor repeat it. However, it was the passengers themselves who could be seen as the main adversaries of the narrative. Although the entity manipulated their feelings, it was the passengers who came close to pushing the Doctor off the bus. Faced with something they couldn’t understand, people often react with fear and mistrust, trying to eliminate or dominate what they perceive as a threat. Contrastingly, Doctor Who usually encourages its audience to support characters who respond to the unknown with a wish to communicate, learn, and assist.

Let’s step back for a moment and get a better understanding of the storyline. The TARDIS hasn’t managed to return Belinda home yet, causing her concern about her family and their safety. Even when she jokingly suggested a giant moth might be responsible, I chuckled, but then I recalled how a massive dog nearly destroyed the universe in the last season, so anything is possible. However, the Doctor reassures Belinda that he will meet her parents at some point.

In a leap of 500,000 years ahead, the TARDIS lands, setting up another fact-finding mission for the Doctor and Belinda. They arrive on a barren planet where they are met with hostility from a group brandishing weapons. With the aid of psychic paper, the Doctor successfully persuades their leader, Shaya Costallion, that he is a superior officer conducting a covert operation along with Belinda, disguised as a quality control check. The need for this ruse arises due to the planet’s environment, which necessitates a gradual descent of the ship and keeps them in close proximity for at least five hours.

Fifteen days prior, all communication with a mining colony on the planet ceased. Upon examination, it is discovered that half of the colonists have broken necks, while the other half were victims of laser attacks. Furthermore, every mirror on the planet has been shattered. This raises questions about the potential significance of reflective surfaces, suggesting perhaps the presence of a creature like Medusa, a basilisk, or someone with self-esteem issues similar to my younger self. The Doctor and Belinda will be the ones to delve deeper into this mystery.

The only one left alive is Aliss Fenly, a cook who longs to return to her young daughter at home. Remarkably, communication accessibility is integrated into the team’s gear for those who are hearing-impaired, such as Aliss. Later, it’s revealed that it’s compulsory for nurses to know sign language. Aliss confesses to having killed Sal, claiming it was in self-defense. Without speaking or using captions, Aliss and the Doctor begin signing to each other. Shaya warns them against private discussions. “Regardless of the year,” the Doctor says, “signing can still make some individuals uneasy.

In simpler terms, Aliss describes a chaotic scene where everyone started fighting each other, but she seems to be holding back some information. At the same time, there’s growing unease between Shaya and Cassio. This tension arises when Fifteen addressed Cassio disrespectfully using terms like “babes” and “hon,” which he found offensive. Cassio appears to distrust Aliss and considers hope as unnecessary or insignificant in the current situation.

Before the Doctor heads with Cassio and Shaya to the control zone, he switches off his subtitles and warns Belinda to be mindful of Aliss (since she reads lips, but doesn’t get upset). Simultaneously, Cassio ensures that his captions are activated when he orders the troops remaining behind to protect Aliss, instructing them to shoot to kill if they encounter any trouble.

Belinda is enjoying a conversation with Aliss and someone called Mo when suddenly an event occurs. She notices a flash of light behind Aliss, and a startling musical cue hints that we should be extremely afraid. However, Belinda quickly dismisses her fears as mere paranoia. But later on, she sees it again, and even others in the room begin to notice it too. Aliss claims this is how she ended up killing Sal, and assures everyone there’s nothing behind her. Yet, a trooper named Hanno starts to slowly circle around to investigate.

In the control room, located at the initial drilling site for our mining colony, The Doctor, Shaya, and Cassio have been providing crucial information that will soon impact the storyline:

1. Shaya possesses exceptional marksmanship skills and has spent her life as a combatant from Lombardo.
2. There’s a mystery surrounding Earth and humanity, with few understanding who they are.
3. Based on Doctor-reviewed security footage, the cause of all this turmoil appears to have originated from the well.
4. This planet was once entirely composed of diamonds and was previously known as Midnight.

It’s intriguing to consider how fans new to the series might react to this moment, as they may not have seen previous seasons. When the Doctor said “Midnight,” I felt a sense of dread, but if one wasn’t familiar with that planet or the past events associated with it, they might just feel puzzled by such a dramatic revelation. Unfortunately, the episode “The Well” doesn’t provide many details about this backstory. There’s a silent flashback of Ten’s terrified expression, and Fifteen later gives a brief summary of his own encounter with this returning entity. Given the popularity of “Midnight,” it appears that they are careful not to delve too deeply into the past events associated with it.

When Hanno falls behind Aliss, she’s suddenly launched into the air, losing her life before the Doctor makes a quick return, accompanied by Shaya and Cassio. Exhausted beyond measure, Aliss ultimately changes course and admits that there is indeed something lurking behind her which cannot be seen or stopped. “Now, I implore you,” she pleads, “could you aid me?” It’s Belinda who first comprehends that standing directly behind whatever is following Aliss will lead to your demise. “If it were a clock, you would perish at midnight,” the Doctor ponders. Aliss clarifies that the entity is transferred through death and that she is the last host remaining after everyone else perished in attempts to eliminate it (which accounts for the casualties resulting from laser fire).

Cassio thinks Shaya listening to the Doctor makes her unfit to command. He warns he’ll kill the Doctor if he continues speaking and then asks another soldier to verify Belinda’s theory. Unfortunately, that soldier dies. Despite this, Cassio keeps going, causing a series of fatalities. Later, Shaya orders Aliss to aim at Cassio. “I had no choice; he was becoming unmanageable,” Shaya explains. The Doctor responds, “This is the kind of people we become.

Shaya aims to depart without Aliss, who they consider contaminated, but Belinda and the Doctor are determined to save her. As the Doctor leans in for a chat with his old friend, an unheard-by-Aliss entity prompts tears from him, knowing his name. Although we’re unsure of what else it might be saying, the name could be quite lengthy. Eventually, the Doctor speaks to what lies beyond Aliss, which is essentially planning his move to bring the entity’s reflection directly behind itself. After targeted shots from Shaya at the pipes, a cascade (or should I call it a mercurydrop, since it’s not water?) begins to flow.

1) It seems the entity can’t make Aliss move since she remains stationary as the mirror develops gradually. Eventually, it frees her with an explosion. However, the Doctor doesn’t manage to spot the entity without a host before everyone hastily returns to the airlock. Since there are seven individuals and the airlock can accommodate just six, Aliss reaches safety in the first wave of departures, expressing her thanks. The Doctor is stuck waiting with Belinda, Shaya, and Mo for their turn to leave as part of the second group.

However, a powerful explosion causes everyone to fall, and the mysterious entity seems to have pursued them. It clings to Belinda, leaving her in tears. One can’t help but wonder what the whispers are telling her. (Curiosity gets the best of me.) The Doctor proposes an extraordinary solution: he asks the entity to journey across the universe on his back instead. This suggestion is risky because it could endanger many more people, yet the commitment he made to Belinda at the start of the episode lingers heavily in his mind.

Instead, it is Shaya who performs the selfless act, considering it her responsibility. After confirming they share similar physical characteristics as humans, Shaya targets a critical area in Belinda’s heart that could lead to death or the barest chance of survival. As Mo attempts to resuscitate Belinda, Shaya returns to the command center. She remembers fleeing from monsters as a youngster and later traversing the galaxy to spread hope. When the Doctor arrives, it is just in time to witness her deciding to plunge backwards into the abyss.

In their safe return to the TARDIS with the Doctor, Belinda and he contemplate the strange events regarding Earth. This week, it’s Mrs. Flood’s turn to make an appearance, this time taking on the role of Squadron Leader Chinchappa. Mo proposes that Shaya receive posthumous recognition for courage in the face of insurmountable odds and Cassio for his efforts. The Doctor suggests destroying Midnight. Mrs. Flood/Chinchappa seems delighted to learn that the Doctor possesses a vindicator. In the final scene, it appears another trooper has spotted something behind Mo, as we fade to black while hearing whispers…

Cut for Time (Lord)

This week, we incorporated Britney Spears’ “Toxic” during the costume change – naturally, Disney has the resources for such a popular track. It might symbolize the growing connection between the Doctor and Belinda, though not in a romantic way. After all, he carries an element of danger that one should be cautious around.

This week, we played Britney Spears’ “Toxic” during a costume change – Disney certainly has the budget for it. This song choice could hint at the developing dynamic between the Doctor and Belinda, as she seems to be becoming less guarded around someone who poses a significant risk.

At one moment, Aliss declared, “I’m completely clean,” then twirled to demonstrate. Given her full rotation would have brought everyone around her at some stage, but fortunately no one perished. Was she standing so near that the entity couldn’t be in between? And how far does this power reach? Suppose someone was on a different planet, yet technically behind the entity, what then? I’m merely trying to assess the danger if it miraculously survived (I hope not).

Could it be possible that this being is connected in some way with deities? In the acknowledgments, it’s merely referred to as It Has No Name. Aliss mentioned it seemed to laugh when it emerged from the well (which might be The Giggle), and the Doctor pointed out that the entity “enjoyed itself” and “played games” during their previous encounter. However, I’m uncertain if this being serves as a harbinger like the gods we’ve encountered before. This entity also did not seem as forthcoming about its origins as the gods we know.

In the upcoming sneak peek, Ruby is shown with a boyfriend. I’m thrilled for her, yet I’m eagerly anticipating the appearance of Cherry Sunday, the person in her life whom I hope to witness more often. She truly deserves another round of tea.

If you’ve completed this episode too and can’t wait to revisit “Midnight,” you can find it streaming on Max in the U.S., specifically season four, episode 10. Have a great time watching!

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2025-04-26 17:55