Story: Kerblam!
Written By: Pete McTighe
Length: 50 Minutes
Year: 2018
The Doctor receives a delivery from the Kerblam Man, a robot delivery service. Inside the package is a fez she doesn't remember ordering (I think we all know which incarnation might have ordered it), but also a packing slip with the message "Help Me!" inscribed. How can the TARDIS team turn down such a request...they head to Kerblam! headquarters and get jobs as part of the 10% human workforce (the 90% being automated robots), and try to unravel just who was asking for help, and why.
Of course they stumble into a bigger mystery, people are going missing...and they have to figure out who is doing it, and why. It seems like the system is causing all the problems, bu there is more to this than meets the eye (I guess that is a given). It's a fun story full of classic Who tropes. It isn't wholly original, but I love this kind of story, and it has some good execution. It was comfortable. It just felt like good ol' Doctor Who.
I'd be remiss if I forgot to mention that the message is a bit muddled though. It seemed like this episode was trying to make a comment on Amazon, and how the online store treats it's workers badly and should be questioned despite the convenience it offers customers. Unfortunately the episode has a pretty odd ending which basically says that it's okay. And that is problematic. And I say this as an Amazon customer...it is pretty convenient to use that site and I like a lot of the features it offers, but I do know that employees of the company are not making good money despite the site's major successes. And I don't know if the ending here truly works with the set up.
If you're a fan that ever enjoyed a good "Robot gone rogue" story, then you are bound to find something to love here. This story felt very much like it fit in the same kind of world as "Robots of Death," a classic Fourth Doctor tale...it has cheesy robots that kill at the whim of a madman...what is not to enjoy? It may not break the mold, but it's sort of like a warm blanket. Cozy and familiar...and a bit of fun. I'm not sure the show's message works...but as an adventure with creepy robots I liked it.
NEXT TIME: The Witch Trials
Written By: Pete McTighe
Length: 50 Minutes
Year: 2018
The Doctor receives a delivery from the Kerblam Man, a robot delivery service. Inside the package is a fez she doesn't remember ordering (I think we all know which incarnation might have ordered it), but also a packing slip with the message "Help Me!" inscribed. How can the TARDIS team turn down such a request...they head to Kerblam! headquarters and get jobs as part of the 10% human workforce (the 90% being automated robots), and try to unravel just who was asking for help, and why.
I'd be remiss if I forgot to mention that the message is a bit muddled though. It seemed like this episode was trying to make a comment on Amazon, and how the online store treats it's workers badly and should be questioned despite the convenience it offers customers. Unfortunately the episode has a pretty odd ending which basically says that it's okay. And that is problematic. And I say this as an Amazon customer...it is pretty convenient to use that site and I like a lot of the features it offers, but I do know that employees of the company are not making good money despite the site's major successes. And I don't know if the ending here truly works with the set up.
If you're a fan that ever enjoyed a good "Robot gone rogue" story, then you are bound to find something to love here. This story felt very much like it fit in the same kind of world as "Robots of Death," a classic Fourth Doctor tale...it has cheesy robots that kill at the whim of a madman...what is not to enjoy? It may not break the mold, but it's sort of like a warm blanket. Cozy and familiar...and a bit of fun. I'm not sure the show's message works...but as an adventure with creepy robots I liked it.
NEXT TIME: The Witch Trials
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