Story: Demons of the Punjab
Written By: Vinay Patel
Length: 50 Minutes
Year: 2018
Yaz wants to have a glimpse into her grandmother's past, get a peak into her secrets. The Doctor knows it's probably a bad idea (has she learned NOTHING), but gives it a go anyhow. Using the TARDIS telepathic circuits and the broken watch that Yaz's grandma gave her, they travel back to 1947, to find they have arrived a day before her grandmother's wedding...to a man that is not her grandfather. To complicate things it is Partition Day, the day in which new borders were formed in India and essentially created the Modern Pakistan. And since the man Yaz's Muslim grandma is to marry is a Hindu...the Partition is really awkward timing. Throw in some mysterious aliens and a brother that is very pro-Partition and anti-Muslim...and you've got a recipe for some things to go badly for all involved.
For my money, it is another quite good episode, and much like "Rosa," it uses our own difficult human history to tell a story that sadly still resonates in today's world. The problems of the past linger into today, and they may have evolved or can be applied to other similar situations, but the problems still exist. There are still nationalist type attitudes all over the world (sadly making a bit of a comeback), and this episode explores those issues really well.
Also like "Rosa," it has a downbeat ending in which our TARDIS gang are helpless to change history, and much let it unfold, however tragic that history may be. I think this was actually a more effective ending, because while it was a bummer that they had to essentially play the role of onlookers and active players (by taking up seats on the bus) that allowed Rosa Parks to be arrested...this time they are forced to stand by as an innocent man is killed, because otherwise history would change so much that Yaz may never exist.
I also really loved the alien race in this one, because they turn out to not be evil at all. They aren't even playing any role in the plot. They aren't killing anyone, and they aren't trying to change history. Instead they are onlookers, who travel in history and pay honor to those who have died alone, with no one to be there for them. They seem evil and scary, but they are actually doing a kind thing. It's a solid twist. Overall, it leads to a great episode.
NEXT TIME: Delivery for the Doctor
Written By: Vinay Patel
Length: 50 Minutes
Year: 2018
Yaz wants to have a glimpse into her grandmother's past, get a peak into her secrets. The Doctor knows it's probably a bad idea (has she learned NOTHING), but gives it a go anyhow. Using the TARDIS telepathic circuits and the broken watch that Yaz's grandma gave her, they travel back to 1947, to find they have arrived a day before her grandmother's wedding...to a man that is not her grandfather. To complicate things it is Partition Day, the day in which new borders were formed in India and essentially created the Modern Pakistan. And since the man Yaz's Muslim grandma is to marry is a Hindu...the Partition is really awkward timing. Throw in some mysterious aliens and a brother that is very pro-Partition and anti-Muslim...and you've got a recipe for some things to go badly for all involved.
Also like "Rosa," it has a downbeat ending in which our TARDIS gang are helpless to change history, and much let it unfold, however tragic that history may be. I think this was actually a more effective ending, because while it was a bummer that they had to essentially play the role of onlookers and active players (by taking up seats on the bus) that allowed Rosa Parks to be arrested...this time they are forced to stand by as an innocent man is killed, because otherwise history would change so much that Yaz may never exist.
I also really loved the alien race in this one, because they turn out to not be evil at all. They aren't even playing any role in the plot. They aren't killing anyone, and they aren't trying to change history. Instead they are onlookers, who travel in history and pay honor to those who have died alone, with no one to be there for them. They seem evil and scary, but they are actually doing a kind thing. It's a solid twist. Overall, it leads to a great episode.
NEXT TIME: Delivery for the Doctor
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