Doctor
Who 11.08 'The Witchfinders' review
The
eighth episode of Series 11. Team TARDIS lands in early 17th
Century Lancashire, where they find a village where Witch Trials are
taking place. But there is a lot more going on than there first
appear. A landowner who has 'duncked' 36 people, and King James VI/I.
And for the first time, the Doctor is really up against sexism. The
Doctor insisting on non-interference is consistent, but she quickly
finds that something is wrong. Something is causing the witch hunt to
be out of proportion for the time.
The Doctor trying to save Willa's (and Becka's) grandmother after the
'dunking' was very good, and consistent with her character. She is
more compassionate than her previous selves. (Some of her previous
selves would have done it also, but others would have left it up to
their companions to do so.) The use of the psychic paper, to pass off
Team TARDIS as witchfinders, was also a good choice. But King James
would come in and ruin that idea. (Are you forgetting your immediate
predecessor, as Monarch of England, James?)
However, His Majesty's characterisation is well set up in these
introductory scenes. It certainly matches what I knew about the real
King James. This is where the sexism comes in. The Doctor is put off
by having to put Graham in charge as Chief Witchfinder. The various
investigations that ensue from this encounter are handled rather
well. Especially where Yas tries to encourage Willa to overcome her
anxiety (by telling her about an experience with a bully). These
disparate plots all lead to the revelation of the Morax...
That Bekka was the one who released them from their prison was a
surprise, but the set up through the episode was well done. It didn't
come out of thin air. The Doctor confronting Bekka about it was
quite effective, and her escape from her 'dunking' was very
Doctor-ish (including the lesson from Houdini during that very wet
weekend). The explanation of the Morax and the role of the tree, was
rather effective, as was the method of combating them. It was a very
effective way to conclude the story.
The Doctor quoting Clarke's Third Law was a very good ending to the
episode. 8.25/10.
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