REVIEW: Doctor Who, Series 11 Episode Ten 'The Battle of Ranskoor Av Kolos'

 REVIEW: Doctor Who, Series 11 Episode Ten 'The Battle of Ranskoor Av Kolos'

Recently I completed my Doctor Who's rewatch of Series 11 with 'The Battle Of Ranskoor Av Kolos', so I thought I would take a look back at my thoughts on this surprisingly low-key Doctor Who finale.

'The Battle of Ranskoor Av Kolos' is a Doctor Who finale that I can see dividing a lot of fans. It's not the big, bombastic finale we have become accustomed to over the years, the sort of finale that goes at a rollicking pace and barely stops to breathe. Moffat and RTD both offered massive universe-shattering events to conclude their series, whereas Chibnall's feels slower and more precise.

Some, therefore, may take issue with this episode's pacing. Personally however I believe it is a good fit for the story Chibnall is trying to tell. The Battle of Ranskoor Av Kolos is less about trying to stop the villain's - the returning Tim Shaw (Samuel Oatley) - plan but more discovering what Tim Shaw's plan is. We work out and unravel what is going on as the Doctor (Jodie Whittaker) does on-screen, rather than being thrown straight into the stakes. The slow pacing is an inspired choice, helping to evoke the sense of mystery and enigma, and build-up to the ultimate reveal as to Tim Shaw's ultimate goal, and what the mysterious object known as the 'Retrieval' really is.

Speaking of Tim Shaw, whilst his return is hardly a surprise for many of us who had suspected he may come back, this episode feels a better showcase overall for his villainous traits than 'The Woman Who Fell To Earth'. Here, Tim Shaw is an extremely effective villain, and his plan - which involves using the power of five planets to destroy the Earth - seems deliciously evil. He makes for a truly despicable antagonist, evoking a strong sense of intimidation which proves that Chibnall made the right call to bring him back.

At times I was genuinely worried as to whether the Doctor would actually manage to save the day; in this episode the odds well and truly felt stacked against everybody's favourite Time Lord. After the way Marvel Studios' Avengers: Infinity War had concluded with the Avengers defeated by the mad titan Thanos, I wondered if Chibnall could be mimicking that blockbuster behemoth. Perhaps the New Years' Special would be set on an apocalyptic Earth (NB: It wasn't)? Of course my 'worries' were redundant and the Doctor did emerge triumphant, but that doesn't stop the dramatic stakes feeling...well...dramatic.

After the excellent development of Tim Shaw's antagonistic traits, it is a little disappointing to witness just how easily he is defeated at the end of the narrative. Upon coming face to face once again with the alien who killed his wife Grace, Graham (Bradley Walsh) is given the chance to shoot him dead. However, he hesitates, and Tim Shaw steps menacingly towards him, his hand glowing, ready to strike. How does Graham avoid this brush with death? Ryan (Tosin Cole) appears, and shoots Tim in the foot. Not only does this work, but it somehow also allows Graham and Ryan to overpower him, and trap him in a stasis chamber. I just cannot buy that two ordinary blokes from Sheffield would be able to deal with a big alien threat like Tim Shaw so easily. I expected a much greater challenge when faced with the might of Tim, but instead for Ryan and Graham it is essentially a walk in the park.

In an episode mainly focused on the mystery of Tim Shaw's latest scheme, one thing that really stood out amongst the prime narrative was the concept of the Epzos. The idea of a race where there's only ever two of them who exist at one time is an intriguing one, although it raises quite a few questions about how exactly the race manages to stay alive and reproduce, which perhaps should have been addressed in the episode. Does the mother die upon the son/daughter being born to maintain the population balance, a bit like the Quill in Class? Or are the Epzo genetically modified beings, created in a laboratory rather than through methods of reproduction? The latter would certainly explain their religious nature, and yearning for a 'creator', as it would mean a scientist possessing powers that equate to that of a God's, capable of creating sustainable lifeforms as well as taking it away. Their powers to create structures - or destroy planets - just by thinking is equally as interesting, especially how - as the Doctor points out - they are effectively demonstrating their own display of God-like powers here, and thereby making the Epzos seem not too far removed from their desired 'Creator'. 

As in the other nine episodes, Bradley Walsh shines once again in his portrayal of Graham O'Brien, his continued grief over departed wife Grace continuing to play on his mind. His character moments where he ponders whether or not he could kill Tim Shaw were truly engaging, and played excellently by the man mostly known for presenting The Chase. Jodie Whittaker continues to impress also, especially her ultimate stand-off with Tim Shaw, and her final speech to the two Epzos of what the universe has to offer, which surely has to go down as one of Jodie's best Doctor defining moments. Mandip Gill and Tosin Cole both felt as though they had less to do this week, and it does make you ponder whether Chris Chibnall should have opted for one companion instead of three for Jodie Whittaker's debut series.

Overall this was an interesting finale for the show's eleventh series since the revival. The slow pace may throw some fans of the show, but it is a good choice for the narrative that Chibnall is trying to tell, and it's nice to see Tim Shaw back after his debut in 'The Woman Who Fell To Earth'. The concept of the Epzos could perhaps have been expanded upon, and Tim Shaw's defeat is a little too easy, but this was a solid first attempt from Chris Chibnall at a series-ending finale.

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What are your thoughts on The Battle of Ranskoor Av Kolos? Let me know in the comments section.