Doctor Who: Season 14: episode 5: 73 Yards by Russell T Davies
Lots to watch again after this episode, whether both extras are shown across the world or what you pick up on the Net, I’ll leave for you to decide, especially with the varying times these episodes are being shown, as to how much will be deemed spoiler.
Looks like the Doctor is regularly putting his feet on things. The TARDIS must be working over time repairing Butterfly Effect problems. Interesting no standard opening credits. Then again, shortly after landing on a Welsh hilltop, no Doctor neither and Ruby ends up looking for him. She’s also being stalked by a woman (actress Hilary Hobson) at a distance, even to the local village pub. She asks two different people to talk to the woman but both run away in fear. This episode really should have been shown on a darker night.
Being in her present time, no sign of the Doctor and the TARDIS locked off to her, Ruby goes home to London. Even Ruby’s Mum flees, despite reassurance she won’t.
A year later, Ruby meets up with Kate Lethbridge-Stewart (actress Jemma Redgrave), who looks after previous companions. 73 yards is the distance the strange woman keeps from her. The attempt by UNIT to apprehend her doesn’t work and Ruby is left alone once more and the tears drift by. Until 2046, that is when she infiltrates Roger ap Gwilliam (actor Aneurin Barnard) political campaign prior to his party becoming the next ruling party and threatening to use the UK’s nuclear arsenal. He can also see the woman. A lovely solution but spoiler.
Another 40 years and an old Ruby visits the TARDIS, still there after all these years, Right up to her and then I figured out who she was. Think back to the Sleeper following the Tom Baker Doctor and you might get some idea of the future.
This really is Ruby Winter’s and actress Millie Gibson carries it off splendidly. This is definitely not a regular ‘Doctor Who’ story but does show it is still adaptable to any plot.
Extras: Unleashed. Must move on to this and Gibson’s interview and filmed out of sequence first because Ncuti Gatwa wasn’t available at the time. A lot of interviews in fact and behind the scenes recording. Methinks the borrowed pub is going to get a continual fan visits. Hope they have plenty of cokes.
Becoming The Doctor is primarily an interview with Ncuti Gatwa about how he the part and his first days on set.
Now, I must have a few words with the lady at 73 yards. No metric here.
Geoff Willmetts
25 May 2024
