As this episode starts Ruby and The Doctor arrive on a Welsh clifftop. As they walk from the Tardis The Doctor mentions the most dangerous Welshman; Prime Minister Roger ap Gwilliam... then realises he is somebody in the future so quickly changes the subject. The Doctor steps into a fairy circle and vanishes leaving Ruby alone. She spots a strange woman in the distance, who moves way whenever she tries to approach; always remaining seventy three yards away. Anybody the woman talks to runs away and shuns Ruby. Years pass but the woman remains, a constant presence that makes her life difficult. Will she ever see The Doctor again?
I thought this was a solid episode. Having The Doctor absent for most of the story actually improved matters... deep down viewers know he will be back so he and Ruby can have another adventure in the next episode but the longer he is away the more one wonders how it will be resolved. Early scenes are nicely creepy with folkloric elements and a pub that is only a tiny bit more friendly than the one in 'An American Werewolf in London'! No one is likely to be surprised that the dangerous PM turns out to be a warmongering nationalist, I can't see RTD featuring an equally dangerous 'loony lefty' in one of his stories. I quite liked the fact that it isn't disclosed what the old woman says that makes people shun Ruby; if we'd been told I suspect it would have been a bit of a let-down, as it is we can imagine anything. The resolution isn't the strongest but at least it resets things for the next adventure. The acting is solid with Millie Gibson really carrying the episode as Ruby. Overall a pretty good episode, any quibbles are relatively minor.
I thought this was a solid episode. Having The Doctor absent for most of the story actually improved matters... deep down viewers know he will be back so he and Ruby can have another adventure in the next episode but the longer he is away the more one wonders how it will be resolved. Early scenes are nicely creepy with folkloric elements and a pub that is only a tiny bit more friendly than the one in 'An American Werewolf in London'! No one is likely to be surprised that the dangerous PM turns out to be a warmongering nationalist, I can't see RTD featuring an equally dangerous 'loony lefty' in one of his stories. I quite liked the fact that it isn't disclosed what the old woman says that makes people shun Ruby; if we'd been told I suspect it would have been a bit of a let-down, as it is we can imagine anything. The resolution isn't the strongest but at least it resets things for the next adventure. The acting is solid with Millie Gibson really carrying the episode as Ruby. Overall a pretty good episode, any quibbles are relatively minor.
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