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December 9th, 2018 49 comments

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What Did You Think of The Battle of Ranskoor Av Kolos?

Now that the final episode of series 11 has aired what did you think? Was it everything you had hoped for or not what you expected.

On the planet of Ranskoor Av Kolos, lies the remains of a brutal battlefield. But as the Doctor, Graham, Yaz and Ryan answer nine separate distress calls, they discover the planet holds far more secrets.

Who is the mysterious commander with no memory? What lies beyond the mists? Who or what are the Ux?

The answers will lead the Doctor and her friends towards a deadly reckoning.











Constructive one off comments about the episode only


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49 comments

  • R1ch1e

    December 10th, 2018 - 6:52am

    The finale of a series needs to be a fitting one. Capturing the tone and essence of the episodes that have come before it. It should also provide answers for any loose ends that have occurred throughout the series. Ok so we still don’t know what happened to those bloomin spiders in sheffield and there are many things still up in the air.
    BUT, this series has been different to previous ones and so was the finale. Different to the anarchy of the Stolen Earth or The Doctor Falls, but different in a good way. I enjoyed it as it was, as I have the whole series but even so the finale did lack a little punch. The second half of the episode was terrific, the first half was a little walky and talky.
    I think it would have been much better suited if this episode had been TWWFTE part 2. Maybe opening the series with a 2 parter.
    I don’t care when the next series ends, just as long as it does. But as long as I respect Chris Chibnall, and I really do, I think he should stick to showrunning. I do think that his episodes have been stitches in a tapestry that we won’t see the full glory of until Jodies last episode ala Matt Smith. But the individual episodes and the new writers have been superb.
    Series 12 though, let’s have a story arc, develop the Timeless Child, have some two parters or at least one and Let’s have new versions of some classic threats. Oh and some cliffhangers. I mean seriously the trailer for ‘Revolution’ when Graham asked if it had a name and it cut off just before the Doc answered was the best cliffhanger in years.
    The Battle of Ranskoor av Kolos 8/10
    Series 11 8/10 I’ve really enjoyed it, if I didn’t i just wouldn’t watch it. Simple as that. Great but lots of room for improvments
    Happy Christmas Doctor xx

    Reply
  • Broken Cylon

    December 10th, 2018 - 5:22am

    Seems like we’re far from Army of Ghosts/Doomsday & The Pandorica Opens/The Big Bang & perhaps that’s the point, but those were both grand in scope for freshman Doctor season finales, this not so much…in fact, the whole season was lacking to me.

    I feel like I still don’t even know the current TARDIS, I mean, yeah, it popped up every now & then but in past seasons it was like a character in it’s own right, the Doctor & the TARDIS, you don’t have one w/out the other. And while she’s still there to shuffle them around I still really can’t even tell what the console looks like, the whole interior is so dark that it’s difficult to get that “bigger on the inside” feel, not that they spend much time in there (see what I did?). I don’t know, I hope they include her more in the future…

    Reply
  • RORY DOCTOR RIVER POND

    December 10th, 2018 - 12:42am

    probably a better episode in the series, but couldn’t fully enjoy it as I wasn’t invested in any of the characters and I really disliked the cringey/weak villain of Tzim Sha
    meh

    Reply
  • the ergon

    December 10th, 2018 - 12:26am

    They need to ditch a companion or so again. Better dialogue easier interaction and more room for character development. Another reboot and something totally different with regards to a companion in 2020. This crew why,ll fine, have run the gamut of emotions and the course just about.

    Reply
  • the ergon

    December 10th, 2018 - 12:06am

    I wonder if Kevin mcnally will be saying to his wife phyllis logan ‘Never mind Darling at least your adventure with the Doctor was better than mine’.

    Reply
  • Doctor Stu

    December 9th, 2018 - 11:32pm

    Very good but they should have gotten rid of the last episode and made this a two parter to flesh out some of the themes and perhaps added a bit more peril. All in all a good series. Episodes 1-6 very good, episode 7 was alright and episode 8 might improve on a rewatch. Episode 10 was nice and wrapped the series up although it ended very suddenly and episode 9 was a bit of a bump in the road.

    Series 10 – only 3 episodes I’d ever watch again
    Series 11 – 7 episodes I’d watch again so it’s gone up

    Reply
  • The Master

    December 9th, 2018 - 10:37pm

    It was good as a regular episode but was not really a series finale which is normally a big block buster! Edgy at times ! Second half was best !

    Reply
  • obsie

    December 9th, 2018 - 9:57pm

    This season seems to have done the unthinkable, to be a spin-off from “Class”

    Reply
  • Pats86

    December 9th, 2018 - 9:44pm

    Just to clarify, it should be Dalek ‘s not Dale’s.

    Reply
  • Pats86

    December 9th, 2018 - 9:32pm

    As an episode it was mediocre at best, as as a finale it was exceptionally underwhelming and the season as a whole it has been the worst in its entire history, absolute garbage.

    Graham is a worthy companion the other two simply no substance to them at all.

    The monsters /Alien threat were laughably poor.

    The Doctor? Worse Doctor of the lot, weak because of the lack of gravitas Jodie has in this role! Sadly she is out of her depth, but I don’t blame Jodie herself, it’s Chibnal’s showrunning and weak writing and all the soapy elements along with the PC agenda that has ruined this once great institution of a show.

    I am glad to hear it’s not back until 2020, I’m going to need that tome to mourn the Doctors demise, it would have been better to let Capaldi’s Doctor die as he had initially wanted to.

    Maybe the new years day episode can salvage something? PLEASE don’t be the Dale’s! Can you image how they could utterly ruin their legacy under this regime?

    Episode 3/10

    Season 2/10

    Reply
  • whovian

    December 9th, 2018 - 9:14pm

    The Battle of Ranskoor Av Kolos (or as a better title would have been The Revenge of T’Zim Sha (Tim Shaw) was, well I can’t answer that. Was hoping for far more much better than what we got.

    If the series has done so well, we shouldn’t have to wait a whole year for the twelfth series.
    Jodie and co are all welcome back, but a new show runner would be great.

    Although having said that, maybe while these new episodes for the next series are being written/filmed, it will give Chibnall a better idea on how to write for Doctor Who, as this series (if you can even call it that) has been severely lacking what makes the show the show.

    Reply
  • The Living Shadow

    December 9th, 2018 - 8:56pm

    Pretty good. I thought that the first half was quintessential Doctor Who and then I realised that it was a series finale and I felt kind of underwhelmed during the second half. I would’ve really liked to have felt like the Doctor and crew were really being challenged (at least more than any other average episode), but I only felt that with Graham.

    I loved how at the sight of Tim Shaw, Graham became the more ‘kill-joy’ type of character that he was when he first met him, as if the realisation that his Wife’s killer was still alive was almost enough to make him forget all the lessons he had learned from traveling with the Doctor – but his bond with Ryan helped him to be the better man. Lovely stuff!
    Yaz kind of felt like just an extension of the Doctor, and sadly not in a good way which is a shame, as I find her likeable, but I feel like the Doctor could’ve done anything that Yaz did. I do hope Yaz gets more next series.

    Overall, I think this finale needed more of a sense of doom, so that the ending would feel like a greater achievement. Perhaps a couple of shots of what was happening on Earth when it was in danger could have helped. In some ways I wish they had made last week’s episode a 2-parter and that could have been a great finale because I felt that the characters were more challenged last week!

    …that being said, the New Years special is very soon, so maybe if that packs a big punch I won’t be as underwhelmed. I believe that it will be counted as series 11, so technically ‘Resolution’ is the actual finale, so I’m not going to think about how the series ranks overall just yet!

    Reply
  • The Temporal Jelly Baby

    December 9th, 2018 - 8:49pm

    I quite liked it. Compared to a normal episode, it’s rather good. However, for a finale, it’s a little lacklustre and a little underwhelming. But I’m going to rate it as a normal episode of Doctor Who and without the finale bias. In which case, it gets an 8.3/10.

    Tim Shaw was a more compelling villain than in episode 1. I liked the sci-fi concepts. Bradley Walsh did a great job as Graham and finally fist-bumped Ryan (yay). And, overall, I enjoyed watching it.

    On the other hand, the sniper bots never really presented much of a threat (the ducking scene was cringe-worthy), Jodie’s Doctor didn’t have the big defining moment I was hoping for and Mark Addy’s character was just there for occasional bursts of exposition when he gained back relevant memories.

    The series as a whole? I’ve enjoyed it, but there hasn’t ever been a series of Doctor Who I haven’t enjoyed. It is definitely one of the weakest for me. This and series 8. I’m not yet sure which one gets it.

    If Capaldi is to series 8 as Whittaker is to series 11, then series 12 should mark a significant improvement. We can only hope.

    It is a shame, because people are blaming a weaker series on “PC agenda pushing” and so on which I think is very unreasonable. The series hasn’t been weaker than usual because of some agenda or because the Doctor happens to be a woman now. It’s because the writing isn’t very good. Simple as that.

    Reply
  • Anonymous

    December 9th, 2018 - 8:47pm

    Disappointed. Jodie Whittaker is doing a fantastic job but Chibnell just makes it impossible to like. Every episode he’s written has been dull at its very best. Really enjoyed all the episodes written by others. Chibnell needs to go now.

    Reply
  • Anon

    December 9th, 2018 - 8:28pm

    Guess this all goes to show opinions differ – no right no wrong just differing opinions

    Reply
  • Lorraine

    December 9th, 2018 - 8:27pm

    It was okay. Most of the series has been pretty poor but I didn’t hate this. Jodie seemed less childish and kooky but alas I am not seeing a powerful intelligent Doctor quite yet. I cannot accept phrases such as “I love me sonic” and ” I had 5 nans” as this isn’t Coronation Street. She uses me sonic like a wand in Hogwarts. I hope they take on all reviews as certainly there is a massive divide between the old timers and the Woke. Actually most Whovians have always hated racism as is the nature of the show.This great institution of a programme cannot reboot down to a CBBC basic and survive. There are people of all ages that grew up with it and expect far more. I will not be buying this series which is a first for me. I have liked Bradley and felt the companions worked well in this last episode. Certainly for me it was no series finale. This episode was an okay mid season episode so Chibbers and Jodie a work in progress and must do better in 2019 PLEASE. If Chibbers cannot cut the mustard then the BBC must act quickly and bring back the Doctor with the relevant Canon restored or put it to sleep. God hope not the latter as at 61 might not be around when they bring it back which they would. Best wishes and Happy Christmas to you all.

    Reply
  • Tim M

    December 9th, 2018 - 8:22pm

    Here’s my Top Ten Jodie Whitaker stories (in reverse order)
    10) The Tsuranga Conundrum. 1/10 Awful!
    9) The Woman Who Fell to Earth. 3/10 Weak!
    8) The Battle of Ranskor Av Kolos. 4/10 Weak finale!
    7) It Takes You Away. 5/10 Average.
    6) Rosa. 6/10 Overrated.
    5) Demons of the Punjab. 6/10 Watchable
    4) The Witchfinders. 7/10 Reasonably Good.
    3) Arachnids in the U.K. 7/10 Good.
    2) The Ghost Monument. 8/10 Very Good.
    1) Kerblam. 9/10 Excellent…Although this would likely be a more average story in a better series like any from series 1 – 10.

    Reply
  • Anonymous

    December 9th, 2018 - 8:10pm

    As an old man who has been watching since hartnell I can definitely say this is not like old who

    Reply
  • Anonymous

    December 9th, 2018 - 8:08pm

    Thought that was a great finish to a great series. New year’s episode looks brilliant, I have to admit I was the first to moan about a female doctor and chibnall but it total has blown me away. Love it

    Reply
  • Anon

    December 9th, 2018 - 8:01pm

    As an old man who has been watching since the Pertwee era I can honestly say I have enjoyed this series and I think Jodie is doing a great job. I enjoyed the finale and really looking forward to New Years Day. Just a shame we have to wait til 2020 for the next series. For me the series is more old style Doctor. Interestingly my wife who has never been a fan also enjoyed this series.

    Reply
  • T.A

    December 9th, 2018 - 7:57pm

    It was an okay episode, but as an finale wasn’t great. Tim shaw was okay but didn’t feel threatening at all. However the stand outs where definitely graham and Ryan, there made this episode for me, also the guest stars were good for the most part.

    6.5/10

    Now that we have had a ful season I can honestly say, this did not feel like Doctor who, it had it’s good moments like Ryan and graham they were both great this season, and the relationship between them was definitely the best part of the entire season. Yaz was good but felt unneeded at times, and the never really show any of her police side, which could of been a good factor for her. When it comes to Jodie I feel for the first time they have miscast a Doctor, she no has defining traits, for me she just feels like a cheap copy of the other doctor combined like Matt and Tennant, but done terribly and chibnall it easy the one of the worst writer dr who has had, even though we give Moffat slack for what he did, at least he gave great stories once in a while, I have almost nothing positive to say when it comes to chibnall, another thing that hurt this season was the agenda being pushed, yes you can have politics in dr who, but not ones that are unsubtle and biased. IMO this is one of the worst seasons in dr who history and definitely the worst of nuwho.

    5/10

    10. The woman who fell to earth. 3.5/10
    9. The tsuranga conundrum. 4/10
    8. Rosa. 4.5/10
    7. Arachnids in the uk. 4.6/10
    6. It take you away. 5/10
    5. The ghost monument. 5/10
    4. The battle Ranskoor Av kolos. 5.5/10
    3. The witchfinders. 5.6/10
    2. Demons of Punjab. 5.9/10
    1. Kerblam. 6.5/10

    Reply
  • Pusher

    December 9th, 2018 - 7:45pm

    I believe tonights finale was a wasted opportunity, it could have spilled into the new years special or even season 12 in 2020, but the burnt through a season and a half’s worth of plot and allegedly the daleks are trundling in new years day special to SAVE THE SHOW??????
    This is nuts, they are the awesome villains the show needs to hold up this house of cards, the doc and daleks are swapping placed out of universe. I at least hope the paradigm daleks make a cameo or a variation of them appear (maybe slimmer and bronze) or an altogether new design to blow us away. I hope a special weapons dalek, a modern type not the old one makes a grand appearance and actually kicks ass. I do want to see a story where the paradigm daleks face the “children of davros” to at least explain the absence of them.

    Reply
  • When The Doctor Was Me

    December 9th, 2018 - 7:33pm

    I’m not gonna lie, I found this very lackluster for a finale. It was alright, but i’m not blown away.
    I thought the things inside the crystals, were going to be the electric ball from episode 1. And it would get all timey wimey. With Tim Shaw not having been to Earth or met the team yet, then it would leave The Doctor and team in the predicament of sending them there to save the day. Which would mean they in a way make them choose Grace’s fate. If that makes any sence at all.
    The teaser 100% has to be the Daleks!!

    Reply
  • Anonymous

    December 9th, 2018 - 7:31pm

    The episode relied a lot on us thinking tim shaw was a great villain in the first place which he wasn’t really, as in the woman who fell to earth he was (rightfully) more of a secondary plot to introducing the main characters. Overall it was a good episode with some cool concepts but an easy fix ending that the audience shouldn’t think too much about. Could have done with a plot twist at some point to make it feel like a finale – a companion dying did cross my mind but I don’t think Yas or Ryan dying would have a huge impact on me personally.

    Reply
  • Dalek Eye Stalk

    December 9th, 2018 - 7:28pm

    Average episode for an average series. One of the fundamental problems I have had with this series is the boring tedious exposition. Long drawn out explanations of plot, instead of being written well enough to explain less and have more action adventure. Jodie Whitaker is an average Doctor and lacks the gravitas that the part truly requires. Three companions is too many, and the only one who held my interest and the one holding this entire series together was Graham (Bradley Walsh). The other two, Yaz and Ryan were lacklustre for most parts. As un-memorable as the villains in this series. Weakest Doctor Who series in it’s entire history. Chibnall worst show runner EVER! Jodie might be back for series 12…I’m not sure how many viewers will be.

    Reply
  • prototype dalek

    December 9th, 2018 - 7:28pm

    It was ok, didn’t feel it was a finale episode and a bit of a slow burner at the start. Overall I thought it alright, not amazing but not poor.

    Curious to know more about the new years episode.

    Reply
  • Puddle

    December 9th, 2018 - 7:25pm

    This episode for me summed up the whole season awful I for one won’t be bothering on new years eve

    Reply
  • Anonymous

    December 9th, 2018 - 7:20pm

    Ummm….it was ok

    I mean, a bit underwhelming and seriously, how is everyone on earth recovering from nearly being desoryed, is Tim sha just going to stay in that pod forever, and why did graham change character and then change back. So out of character, though Bradley was a stand out. And so was the actor playing Tim Shaw. I don’t think this episode is finale worthy, there’s wasn’t any stakes. I mean if blowing up a cgi model of earth and no one is running. Yeah. And those five planets that are never named. I mean, it was nice to have the fist bump and Graham and Ryan are the only ones with an end of an actually story arc. Also is Chris Chibnall stealing ideas with the stolen planets, from series 4, oh wait, he references that. Yeah, better than most of the season, no finale worthy though

    Reply
  • Anonymous

    December 9th, 2018 - 7:18pm

    That name better be Daleks!!! Can’t wait for new year’s!!!

    Reply
  • Who rules

    December 9th, 2018 - 7:17pm

    Great episode great season. Bring on new year

    Reply

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