Mad Jack

Story: 73 Yards

Written By: Russell T. Davies

Length: 45 Minutes
Year: 2024

Landing on a Welsh cliff side, the Doctor and Ruby almost immediately stumble onto some odd shrine, which the Doctor accidentally steps on. As Ruby reads some bit of paper left on the shrine, the Doctor vanishes…and a mysterious old woman appears to be gesturing to her. Ruby can’t get close to her, but no matter where she goes that woman follows. 

And anyone who tries goes up to the woman just runs away. The woman follows her everywhere, out of Wales, back home, for years. Everyone flees in her life and abandons her, even her mom, even Kate Stewart! Ruby spends decades followed by the woman, eventually using her to take down a politician the Doctor had hinted would someday nearly bring about nuclear annihilation. 

This is a Doctor-lite episode, a really good one for about 2/3rds of it. I think the way it builds and the creepiness of the old woman in the distance is excellent. Unfortunately it suffers in the end because the resolution to the mystery is unsatisfactory. I thought the takedown of the politician was good, but the explanation of the woman is felt both confusing and predictable, which is really weird. 

Still, even with the issues of the ending, this was among the best of this new season. Honestly it was the best thing since RTD returned, and would be perfect if but for the lackluster ending. 

Next Time: Finetime