November 18th, 2018
43 comments
We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article.
Poll – What Did You Think of Kerblam!
Now that the seventh episode of series 11 has aired what did you think? Was it everything you had hoped for or not what you expected.
A mysterious message arrives in a package addressed to the Doctor, leading her, Graham, Yaz and Ryan to investigate the warehouse moon orbiting Kandoka, and the home of the galaxy’s largest retailer: Kerblam
Please note we no longer have the reply facility and comments will close automatically after a few days.
The Doctor Who Site
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Merchandise
Flickr
YouTube
Exterminator
November 19th, 2018 - 10:47amGood episode but how did the kerblam man delivery bot not only locate the Tardis in mid flight but also come aboard to make the delivery? Maybe the Daleks or Cybermen should acquire this technology to locate and board the Tardis?
Ironically if the doctor hadn’t switched jobs with Graham, she would’ve been the one mopping floors and the system would’ve sent her straight to Charlie! I’m surprised the doctor didn’t notice her error when she worked out that it was the system that sent the help me message.
7/10.
Nygel Harrot
November 19th, 2018 - 9:58amIt had the feeling of a school play half way through rehearsals.
Puddle
November 19th, 2018 - 8:37amBetter than previous episodes but still lightweight
Tyler Prescott
November 19th, 2018 - 8:07amEveryone was saying that the robots’ eyes would go red and, like the Heavenly Host and the Sandminer Robots, they would uprise and kill everyone. I’m glad that wasn’t the plot, as it would have been waaayy too obvious, and the real story was intriguing and engaging.
This series has also been the first in a while to genuinely make me laugh with the comedy (rather than Moffatt writing Nardole to just make toilet jokes, etc).
Twilight Trekker
November 19th, 2018 - 6:21amFirst, I love Jodie as the Doctor. In every episode she has been brilliant. That being said there are plot and character issues that are extremely problematic. And plot issues that you could drive a truck through. Ryan’s Grandmother was a nurse she knew of her grandson Ryan’s condition yet from the time he was 13 would take him out and make him try to ride a bicycle tearing apart his self esteem trying to please her. It is a slap in the face to people with disabilities to not address that issue. Just because you can’t see a person’s disability doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. That’s the message that should have been presented. Then there is Ryan’s rude attitude toward Graham, Ryan has seen the relationship between Graham and his Grandmother, they loved and respected each other. Graham’s behavior to Ryan has been nothing but kind and caring. You would think after living with them for 3 years Ryan would have realized that Graham loved his grandmother and they were happy together and they both loved him (except for the bicycle thing). Next we are introduced to Yaz, she is very smart, kind and ambitious. We see her as a police woman and realize that she is a gifted problem solver. We meet her family and all we learn is that they drive her crazy and her grandmother gives away things to her grandchildren without a backstory – so if she dies they will never know why those things have value. In Kerblam! Yaz does not use her investigative skills, Ryan must do something that is difficult because of his disability that he miraculously accomplishes, the People who are trying to protect the rights of people decide that Graham, because he is old, can only do maintenance work and that a young white male who is fighting for “human rights” decides that the best way to do this is to create a bomb in every box that is shipped to “humans” and kill anyone who pops the bubble wrap (probably an young child). Why would he tell Graham where the map to Kerblam! was knowing it would put his plan in jeopardy if Graham found the robots? Why would he express his love for a girl and put her in danger every day as she handled his bombs? Also it is not explained why the workers were being liquified?
Steve Sharp
November 19th, 2018 - 6:10amLove the new Doctor. Love the cast. Love everything except the writing. It is horrible. The Doctor Who universe has certain rules. These rules create the continuity that strings the regenerated Doctors together. The show runners and writers do not seem to understand these fundamental rules. They’re being broken at the peril of losing the fan base. The writers have taken a show and concept that is it’s own Sci-Fi genre and reduced it to a vanilla also-show. There is no overarching story line. The preachiness is insulting. The trifling with history is too clever by half. The references to bygone Doctors; “Never saying that again” , the fez, wasps and Agatha Christy. All seem to be delivered with a wink and elbow thrust and borders on patronizing. I would propose a Fan Fiction contest where Dr. Who fans submit scripts. The winner’s script would be used and the writer would be on set while it is being filmed. But I doubt that the current show runners and writers would know a good Dr. Who story if it kissed them square on the mouth.
Anonymous
November 19th, 2018 - 3:30amWhere can I get one of the Kerblam! Posters ?
The Living Shadow
November 18th, 2018 - 11:44pmReally enjoyable episode that, to me, really that felt like quintessential Doctor Who, whilst still feeling very fresh and intriguing! This episode along with last week’s episode are really giving me flashbacks to series 8; I feel like these two episodes have been to series 11 what ‘Flatline’ and “Mummy on the Orient Express’ were to series 8! Very strong, self-contained stories, in which the new Doctor has finally really landed and found their way (at least in my opinion).
Anyway, more about ‘Kerblam!’ Itself, I adored how each companion had something to do and they all contributed to the plot in equal measure, and like I said earlier, the new Doctor has really landed now for me too. Lot of intriguing character and dialogue moments, paired with some super fun action scenes! I liked the twist on the villain and the design of the ‘Kerblam Man’ was gloriously creepy (I need a figure of them – Please Character Options!!!)
Dalekparadigm2
November 18th, 2018 - 10:11pmOh that was a good one, really enjoyed it! Think it’s my favourite so far!
R1ch1e
November 18th, 2018 - 9:54pmOnce again I’m impressed! Such an entertaining episode. These new writers are nailing it. I thought the first four episodes were great, then we had The Tsuranga Conundrum and the two since then have been a step up. It had a RTD feel about it.
9/10
As ive said before, Chibnall should produce the series and get others to write it. That would be a good balance.
Next week’s Witchfinders is the one in been looking forward to. I hope it doesn’t disappoint.
I’m going to bed a very happy Whovian.
Ewan Watson
November 18th, 2018 - 9:50pmI’d say this alongside The Woman Who Fell to Earth and Arachnids in the UK are the best of the series so far. There’s been something about the other episodes I can’t quite pinpoint, they seem to be missing something and feel quite lackluster. Endings have been rushed and episodes as a whole feel unfinished, they could maybe have done with another couple of drafts. This felt like old school Doctor Who, it was paced incredibly well and I thought it was just brilliant telly 🙂
Pusher
November 18th, 2018 - 8:52pmUtterly brilliant, FANTASTIC!!!
A more subtle telling of today’s issues affecting working people without getting all PC. The parcel roller coaster reminded me of the polar express scenes in Santa’s factory. The amazon references are in our faces but i didn’t care and that’s saying something. Today it worked, the scene where the girlfriend of the spy, killed herself by accident was sad and it was a good twist. The big CEO was not the bad guy, that was the biggest twist this season.
Lorraine
November 18th, 2018 - 8:36pmThat was okay. Obviously one thinks of the supplier beginning with A and who doesn’t buy stuff from them and then complain the high street is dying. Had a tiny touch of I Robot about it. Was strangely glad they had the guts to kill the girl off because Who is not saccharine sweet and bad stuff happens. Lee Mack totally underused. Should have made him the villan! The Doctor uses the sonic way too much and that encourages lazy writing. Obvious that they are aiming for a young demographic hence why us old-timers find it lightweight. Could easily see this as a Sarah Jane episode except they allowed stories to develop over episodes. Lis was a brilliant assistant. Still for me is not Who as they have stripped so much away. I would like to think someone at at Beeb reads social media and takes ALL our comments on board for the next series. Jodie needs to up her game. David and Matt could do kooky but also dark intense Gallifrey. I am only seeing kooky which translates to gormless at the moment. It is so hard to write good Who. Watch the extras on the old series and the comments of the writers and they were not given the time they have now. They surely must have already recorded the new year 2019 episode. No way have they just decided no Christmas Day episode. 5/10.
Graham
November 18th, 2018 - 8:32pmFelt like a cross between The Beast Below and Paradise Towers but thankfully more like a Dr Who episode than the rest of the this series. Was OK but not a classic
RORY DOCTOR RIVER POND
November 18th, 2018 - 8:29pmthought it was a really good episode, well shot and directed, good supporting characters, shock, action and all characters were well used, something that was lacking in previous episodes. Only thing still missing? A malevolent alien threat. and I still find Ryan a bit annoying at times, just saying things for the sake of saying things
the ergon
November 18th, 2018 - 8:26pmI knew graeme would end up with the mop and bucket. that made me laugh. i, m going to have to watch it again to catch up on what i missed.
JA
November 18th, 2018 - 8:07pmExcellent! I think this and last week’s episode has taught us that maybe it’s better that Chibnall overlooks other writers rather than him writing himself. The same with Moffat under RTD.
Tim M
November 18th, 2018 - 8:01pmHere’s my Top 7 stories of this mixed bag of a series so far…
1) Kerblam! 9/10
2) The Ghost Monument 9/10
3) Rosa 8/10
4) Arachnids in the U.K 7/10
5) Demons of the Punjab 7/10
6) The Woman Who Fell to Earth 5/10
7) The Tsuranga Conundrum 1/10
Still waiting for a stand out classic this series, but we have certainly had our worst with the Tsuranga Conundrum. My least favourite Doctor Who story of all time!
Judooning
November 18th, 2018 - 7:44pmReferences everywhere for the fans!
1. Eleventh Doctor ordered the Fez at some point and it only just arrived
3. “Never saying that again”, another reference to the Eleventh Doctor in his first episode when 13 said “Laters” I stead of “who da man”
4. “Talking of wasps, did I ever tell you about me and Aretha Christie?”. A unicorn and the wasp refrence from the 10th Dr.
the ergon
November 18th, 2018 - 7:41pmCan someone explain who sent the Help me message and the connection between that and charlies infiltration of kerblam. I just get dropping on and off and missed parts of the plot.
DannyTheNerd
November 18th, 2018 - 7:38pmIt was surprisingly good. One of the best from the series so far
The Living Shadow
November 18th, 2018 - 7:32pmI got home late today, so I’ve not seen it yet! If the ratings are down from last weeks episode it’s my fault guys, sorry! 🙁
Tim M
November 18th, 2018 - 7:32pmThat’s more like it. More like the Doctor Who story I like to see. Jodie Whitaker probably gave her best performance so far this series, plus all the companions had some decent amount of things to do for a change. Kerblam whilst not a classic story was still a very good one, and my favourite of this series so far. 9/10.
T.A
November 18th, 2018 - 7:31pmIt was an okay episode, I really liked the tardis team in this episode, I thought they were all written well, Jodie is okay but still feels like a cheap version of Matt and Tennant, and her overacting still doesn’t work for her, it worked more for other doctors like Tom and Tennant. The side characters were mostly good, but Charlie was easily one of the worst dr who villains I have ever seen, his plan was terrible and the actor was really bad, apart from that it was alright, not the best of the series but not worst, mainly forgettable.
6/10
Harold Saxon
November 18th, 2018 - 7:27pmLoving this , very good episode, lots of mystery and technno babble ! It was good fun ! Didn’t guess who the baddy was ! Nice one and I enjoy the 3 companions more and more with each new episode!
Anonymous
November 18th, 2018 - 7:27pmGreat fun, the kids loved it, and so did this big kid too
The Temporal Jelly Baby
November 18th, 2018 - 7:25pmI think I over-hyped this one in my head a little. I was hoping for a bit better. That being said, I did quite enjoy it. I didn’t see Charlie being the villain coming at all. And it’s interesting to see I wasn’t the only one who thought it might be the Autons. Haven’t decided on a score yet.
When The Doctor Was Me
November 18th, 2018 - 7:24pmReally enjoyed this one. Felt more like Doctor Who has done before, yet still very much belonging in this era. Feel like this could have been episode 2 or 3, to save Rosa for now, but other than that it was a fun bit of escapism. 8/10
doctorsmith12
November 18th, 2018 - 7:23pmIt was alright
Anonymous
November 18th, 2018 - 7:20pmVery good episode one of the best this sereis. A bit clunky in places but overall a very good episode. Didnt see the villain coming until revealed. I did have a moment when i thought it was the autons with the plastic but the result was still good. Top three under rosa and demons of punjab