Doctor
Who 11.07 'Kerblam!' review
The
seventh episode of Series 11. The Doctor receives a delivery of a fez
from a retailing conglomerate. Investigating, Yas discovers a call
for help on the packing slip. This is a great set up for the plot of
the episode. However, the overall intro sequence is rather good.
Graham's lack of understanding when the 'Doc' shouts “The Kerblam!
Man!” is understandable. “You're just making sounds now!” is
quite understandable. (By the way, the Kerblam! jingle is quite
catchy...) This a good segue into the TARDIS's landing outside the
Kerblam! warehouse.
The introduction to the situation at Kerblam! is rather good. The
story takes time to introduce each new character. Julie, Kira, Dan,
Slade, and Charlie (more on him later). Then there is the real life
parallels. (Amazon can't be the only one...) Poor conditions for
workers, given unrealistic productivity goals, and automation taking
jobs. (More on this later.) Team TARDIS infiltrate the company to
find out what's wrong. Yas connects with Dan. The Doctor and Ryan
connect with Kira, an orphan who only had one gift in her life.
Of course, Graham connects with Charlie, the Janitor. (No one notices
the janitorial staff...) The background of each character is explored
(some more than others), and the background of the company is
explored, but what is important is what was going on. Laws requiring
10% organic workforce. (Should it be higher). The Doctor discovers,
that indeed there is a conspiracy going on, which she doesn't like,
and sneaks into Slade's office. Her confrontation with Slade is
rather well done.
“The System isn't the problem, it is people who control the system
who are the problem,” is a great line. This links in with the
actual villain. Charlie. The Doctor realises what is going on, but
not soon enough to save Kira from the explosive bubblewrap. Charlie's
plan isn't well thought through. Such a terrorist attack isn't likely
to make the Kandokan authorities to change their labor laws to allow
more organic workers. However, the end point where Julie and Slade
promised to hire more organic workers was good.
(Although I would have liked to see Yas give Dan's daughter the
necklace.) 8/10.
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