The Doctor and Bill take on fake news in this week’s episode
(sort of).
This week’s episode concluded the recent run of stories
regarding the mysterious Monks that were first introduced back in Extremis. The Monks have managed to take
over everything after the conclusion of The Pyramid at the End of the World. In The
Lie of the Land the Monks haven’t just taken over the world, they’ve always
been there.
The Doctor and Bill were obviously going to be fighting back,
but I was confused why the episode said that the monks had been there for six
months before they fought back. Was there meant to be some significance to that
which I missed? I find it a little hard to believe that it would have taken the
Doctor so long to finally put his plan of resistance into action without there
being some big secret reason. Previously when an enemy has actually succeeded
in taking over the world there’s usually been some reason as to why it takes
time to fight back, such as when Martha Jones had to inspire a belief in the
Doctor in 2007’s The Last of The Timelords.
Aside from my issue with the timing of this story I think
this was a solid conclusion to the Monks trilogy. I will be glad to see the
return of stand-alone stories next week but this episode felt like a good way
to round out this mini-arc. We saw the full realisation of the Monks plan
before the Doctor, Bill and Nardole defeated them. There was clearly a bit of
sub-text regarding the real world trend of fake news in the way that the Monks
had controlled everyone to see the Monks as having always been there. I like Doctor Who stories that echo
contemporary issues, it’s something that Doctor
Who has a long tradition of doing such as in 1973’s The Green Death. (Side note, if you’ve not seen The Green Death you really should it is
one of the very best classic Doctor Who
stories).
The Monks have been an interesting opponent. It’s been quite
interesting to see what is ultimately just another ‘take over the world’
monster having such an usual strategy which we’ve seen misdirecting us and
unfolding over several weeks. I can’t help feeling like there’s still quite a
few unanswered questions about them so I wonder if possibly they’re not quite
finished and the TARDIS team might have a rematch with them in a future
episode.
Once more Bill Potts steals the show. I think I’ve said this
every single week but honestly I just can’t praise Pearl Mackie’s performance
enough. Bill really is becoming one of the all-time greatest companions, right
up there with Rose Tyler and Sarah Jane Smith. I liked the narration from Bill
throughout the episode when she was speaking to her mother and it made the
final resolution feel very satisfying. The ending with Bill’s mother actually
reminded me of when Clara Oswald defeated an evil alien sun 2013’s The Rings of Akhaten, which in my
opinion was one of Clara’s finest moments. One thing that is starting to worry
me with Bill is that this is two weeks running where she’s been willing to
sacrifice herself to save the world, I really hope this is not foreshadowing
for the season finale because I don’t want her to just be a one series companion.
On a separate but related note, please can they hurry up and release Bill’s
action figure already!
In conclusion, The Lie
of the Land was a satisfying conclusion to the Monks trilogy and Bill Potts
was once again the star of the episode. And next week isss the return of the
Ice Warriorssss which I have been eagerly awaiting!
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