Prior to this episode, I'd virtually arrived at the give up stage - so disappointed I've been with the writing and Jodie Whitaker's primary school teacher take on the character. However with 'Kerblam', I've been given a slight energy boost.
The story, alas in its continuing trend of moralising from the producers, is still an engaging, futuristic and unashamedly subversive take on the Amazon machine. It borrows fairly heavily in feel from the early Matt Smith episode 'The Beast Below', it is a linear affair with a reasonable twist (let down only by a flat ending - again) and with a few nice nods to previous seasons, overall this would be considered a decent but lower-end Tenant or Smith offering.
More significantly, Jodie Whittaker gives her best performance to date - and finally we get to see more of the potential she has to offer. Whilst we are still subjected to the occasional-but-still-so-annoying vacant expression and rising intonation, Whittaker this time shows us a bit of steel and authority and even hints of the ominous, so largely missing from her performances to date. If she carries along in that vein, then we could have the makings of something good. Fingers crossed.
The story, alas in its continuing trend of moralising from the producers, is still an engaging, futuristic and unashamedly subversive take on the Amazon machine. It borrows fairly heavily in feel from the early Matt Smith episode 'The Beast Below', it is a linear affair with a reasonable twist (let down only by a flat ending - again) and with a few nice nods to previous seasons, overall this would be considered a decent but lower-end Tenant or Smith offering.
More significantly, Jodie Whittaker gives her best performance to date - and finally we get to see more of the potential she has to offer. Whilst we are still subjected to the occasional-but-still-so-annoying vacant expression and rising intonation, Whittaker this time shows us a bit of steel and authority and even hints of the ominous, so largely missing from her performances to date. If she carries along in that vein, then we could have the makings of something good. Fingers crossed.