DOCTOR WHO: The Tsuranga Conundrum {Roundtable}

“Risk to life: ultimate.” 

From BBC America: Injured and stranded in the wilds of a far-flung galaxy, The Doctor, Yaz, Graham and Ryan must band together with a group of strangers to survive against one of the universe’s most deadly – and unusual – creatures.

Let’s see what Roz and I thought about “The Tsuarnga Conundrum”.

First of all, I’d like to get an overall impression from everyone. How did you feel about the episode?

Cara: Overall I give this episode an ok. It was good, but I don’t know that it will be a favorite that I return to often. Although, I did like Yoss. I’m officially a fan of the new doctor and companions, and of Chris Chibnall so far. I love that the show isn’t relying on all the old Doctor Who bad guys but still feels 100% true to the Doctor. This week the Doctor felt like she was channeling Peter Capaldi’s doctor a little when she first awoke in the hospital, with his cavalier nature as well.

Roz: Bottle episodes are sort of rough to deal with, depending on how it’s presented. Being stranded in a ship with a dangerous little alien is not my ideal bottle episode, but I don’t like that this put so many people are risk for such a small “villain”.

What did you think of this week’s monster? But, also, what do you think the trend of monsters and bad guys that are very hard to find any sympathy for? 

Cara: I loved this cute little destructive thing. It does feel like this season we’ve had a series of baddies who have few redeeming qualities. Sure, they’re bad guys, but at least we typically have something that helps us rationalize their behavior. The Cybermen were terrible, but at least they had an underlying justification for their actions, as did the Daleks. So far we’ve had a genocide, violence for sport, a corrupt businessman, and this cute little garbage disposal. Barring the overgrown spider, we haven’t seen much of the Doctor’s characteristic sympathy for the enemy. Perhaps that is what lead to this week’s commentary on hope in dark times, or perhaps that message was just for those of us feeling a big discouraged in the real world.

Roz:  He’s such a bad little guy, and I don’t love the idea of what its after, but I see why it puts the team at risk and why we need to see The Doctor work through this sort of stress.

Ryan and Graham. Eve and Durkas (and Ronan). Yoss and his baby. Mabli and Astos. What did you think of the various relationships this week?

Cara: I loved Ryan and Graham as doulas this week. I think it showed us a lot about who they are as men, and how their relationship is developing. Mabli and Astos were cute, but I found Mabli’s lack of confidence to be a little too much, and I didn’t feel like it was really resolved well. And, Astos just seemed like he was there to die and give Mabli a reason to have to rely on herself. Eve, Durkas and Ronan felt a little like a diversion from the main story, honestly. I felt a little like the episode could have been written without them, and it wouldn’t have been a major loss.

Roz: Interpersonal relationships are always a good way to keep me interested in the show, so this was a great way to see what’s going on between everyone. Everyone struggled with their respective partner(s) this week until they reached some sort of conclusion.

What are your thoughts on the Doctor’s relationship with her new companions and with their faith in her and their own ability to handle any scenario? 

Cara: I love that the Doctor seems to have reverted to the early Doctor’s who were out on an adventure with their pals, not the reboot Doctors with all their brooding and strange tensions between them and the companions. I like the lightness of it and the camaraderie that’s developing.

Roz: The Doctor’s bringing out the best in all three of them, each and every week. I doubt that Graham and Ryan would have imagined being doulas to Yoss when they started this journey, just as I don’t think Yass would have imagined capturing an energy-alien with a heat blanket to save the ship for a bit.

Favorite Lines or Scenes?

Cara: I really liked that moment when the Doctor became aware of her behavior and apologized to Mabli for not realizing how badly she’d been affected by the sonic bomb. The old, boorish doctor just doesn’t work anymore, and I think that scene showed us that there is a definitely departure happening.

Roz: Hamilton’s 900 casts!

Next week: India, 1947. The Doctor and her friends arrive in the Punjab, as the country is being torn apart. While Yaz attempts to discover her grandmother’s hidden history, the Doctor discovers demons haunting the land. Who are they and what do they want?

Doctor Who airs Sundays at 8/7c on BBC America.