Spoilers might need your signature on the dotted line.
The success of a Doctor Who season is measured by its most thoughtful and its silliest episodes. This one might seem like it belongs to the latter, but there’s a tiny, subtle or not-so-subtle subversive element about it. The episode does seem to be partial to the dangers of corporate monopolies and brand loyalty but… We’d better not give too many spoilers on the first paragraph since it usually ends showing in the social media posts 😉
The parody feels like is heading the way of a critique until the twist. Yes, there’s one. It’s Doctor Who. You don’t get a clean premise with a parody of a giant corporation without a twist.
Highs, lows and You Have Mail:
- It’s the first episode after last week’s super-serious episode and I’m glad the series does know to poke some fun at itself once in a while. Kerblam! is obviously a parody of Amazon, and I’d love if the show keeps it as a running gag if the ubiquitous post man robot keeps delivering stuff in the background.
- Definitely a high this week, we get comedian Lee Mack for a brief role as one of the Kerblam! employees. I kinda hoped for more of an appearance, but I guess I should be glad it happened.
- We get some nice red herrings with the human management team. Then we’re also introduced to Kira and Charlie, the awkward nerdy young people that have the hots for each other but have never confessed their attraction. It’s too nice. Don’t get too attached.
- I found the twist lacking depth. The corporation ends up been… good? The fault is with the individual? Nah, this doesn’t sound right. Was the whole thing then the act of one individual, acting alone… No, this is not the way that is supposed to work, is it?
- Listen, I’m all for the “we were the monsters all along and the being we called monster was the true victim” scenario. But with corporations and greed, we can’t simply turn the tables like that. There’s got to be a heart at the end of it, which is why I don’t really like this ending. Corporations can’t be victims – they’re built on greed. Greed does not foster compassion.
- That being said, it was overall entertaining even if the ending message didn’t end up having an actual message that was relatable. It’s fine if you disagree. I can see how one man’s misguided ideals can drive him to commit insane acts and how that is very relatable to our times, but I don’t see a corporation being the innocent hostage of one man’s folly.
- So, it was filler again, silly and entertaining and we continue along this pattern the show is up for something less silly next week. Still… Can we get some middle-of-the-road here? I feel we either get the heaviest blunt preaching episode or the silly filler. Let’s aim for something with some weight that doesn’t sink us to the bottom of the lake.
That will do for now.
Never Think Impossible 