This review was made possible by advance screeners of Doctor Who Season 1, Episode 4, titled 73 Yards. 73 Yards premieres on Disney+ (excluding the UK) on May 24 and on BBC iPlayer on May 25.
After the tense and explosive trip to Kastarian 3 in “Boom”, The Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa) and Ruby Sunday (Millie Gibson) take a trip to Wales where they embark on the strangest journey of their lives. Along the way, we end up in a rain-lashed pub, where the locals sit in fear of ancient legends coming to life.
WELCOME TO WALES
With a duration of scenes set atop the Welsh cliff-face, there is plenty of opportunity for Dylan Holmes Williams’ direction to shine. One moment focuses on the TARDIS, all alone at the top with the camera panning down and around the tree, as the snow slowly falls all around. It’s just absolutely wonderful, and overall one of my favourite shots from the season so far. Not only that, but a later shot of the TARDIS, almost representing a memorial with flowers and charms placed on top of the aged time machine is simply gorgeous. We really are in for a visual treat this week.
As the story moves to the setting of an old, rural pub, things become incredibly tense, with what I would describe as the story’s scariest sequence. Though, there is one towards the closing moments of the episode which is equally terrifying. We meet the villagers of Glyngatwg, including a landlady and her frequent guests who tell Ruby about the legend of one Mad Jack, giving audiences a better insight into some of the potential forces at play.
I loved seeing Siân Phillips appear as Enid Meadows, one of the villagers who meets Ruby Sunday when she shows up drenched from the storm, looking for some safety from the cold and her stalker. Her performance really adds to the eerie atmosphere whilst also providing some light-hearted humour when required to do so.
One thing I despised about the episode is when Ruby is charged £5 for a glass of Coke at the pub… Inflation is at an all-time high for the Whoniverse! Incredibly extortionate, I am very disappointed with Russell T Davies.
The supernatural elements at play, new to Doctor Who in this form, work really well here. Moving on from singing Goblins and Music Maestro Gods, the next threat is the previously mentioned mystery woman. The trailers tease her following Ruby, and that she does – partnered with an eerily creepy score from Murray Gold, which adds another edge to the episode’s more intense moments.
RUBY SUNDAY’S TIME TO SHINE
Even though 73 Yards isn’t as strong as Boom, it’s certainly still an exciting watch. Millie Gibson really shines in this episode and is allowed to do so through The Doctor’s absence from the story. From start to finish, Gibson gets to show off her acting chops, giving Ruby’s character even more depth as we spend quite a lot of time with her, adding even more emotional depth to her character.
I’ve always been a fan of Doctor-lite episodes in Doctor Who, especially with Series 3’s Blink and Series 4’s Turn Left being two wonderful examples of the sub-genre. There’s something fascinating about seeing the protagonist or companion, in this instance, just like in Turn Left, having to navigate a world without the Doctor. It really puts the quality of their acting on full display, which demonstrates Millie Gibson’s full resilience and growth as Ruby Sunday. 73 Yards sees Ruby in some of her most emotionally taxing situations yet and I can’t express how well Gibson plays the role, really allowing us to see her at both her highest and lowest.
While I would love to see more of these unique episodes, I’d hate to lose any screen time with Gatwa’s incarnation of the Doctor, who I’m growing to love more and more each week.
WHY DO YOU WRITE LIKE YOU’RE RUNNING OUT OF TIME?
A notable signature of RTD’s writing this season seems to feature a number of scenes clearly being cut, with episodes feeling very rushed at times. The idea that he could have been writing scripts which exceed the intended 45-minute runtime is quite worrying. If it’s doing one thing, is massively affecting the overall structure and pacing of stories. Coming right after Boom, it feels like a small blow for the season.
73 Yards clearly has some elements missing from its final act, for me, I think there could be another 10-15 minutes added to the final act. Either that or RTD has failed to conclude the story in a well-paced manner – I’m hoping it’s the first option though. Which really is a shame given the superb pace of the first half. The story is set up well with the mysterious woman and supernatural elements, but the rushed final act leaves gaps I hope to pinpoint once the episode airs.
As mentioned, I won’t spoil any of the plots from the final act, I look forward to the episode airing so I can scream from the rooftops the exact points which make up the most rushed areas of the episodes, until then I am keeping it spoiler-free!
HOW WILL THE WHOVIANS REACT?
I think a good proportion of viewers will appreciate the fresh direction taken in 73 Yards. The combination of supernatural elements and Doctor-lite storytelling format is quite a match – the episode’s exploration of Welsh folklore and its eerie atmosphere is likely to captivate fans who appreciate when the show’s narrative is Twisted.
Moreover, the focus on Ruby Sunday’s solo adventure presents a compelling character study that helps give the companion more time to gel with the audience, not that she hasn’t already enough. However, it’s worth noting that the pacing and structure of the episode may divide opinions among fans, which includes myself. While I’m intrigued by the brisk narrative and unexpected twists, I also wonder if certain aspects could have been further developed or explored.
Nonetheless, the anticipation surrounding the episode suggests that it will spark lively discussions within the Whovian community, and I look forward to engaging in debates about its plot, characters, and implications upon release!
FINAL THOUGHTS
73 Yards is a good episode, though I do caution that expectations should be tempered. What I hoped to be the standout of the season landed a little short of my prediction. Though the solo performance of Millie Gibson as Ruby without The Doctor is great. I had a great time with the show’s dive into more supernatural stuff, even appreciating when the show makes a slight meta-joke and acknowledges the increase in supernatural things popping up (nice touch RTD).
The episode is clearly at its strongest when it leans into the darker tones, when it is spooky, the episode is almost perfect, but it could really benefit from a little more breathing space in some of its set-pieces, especially the climax.
It’s crazy to think that 73 Yards marks the halfway point for the season. I look forward to the next episode, Dot and Bubble, which seems we’re on the way to another social commentary-focused episode from RTD. The “Next Time” trailer looks very intriguing, revealing a bit more than we’ve seen in the previous marketing, with only the huge slugs, and Callie Cooke as Lindy Pepper-Bean being teasers for the episode.
Doctor Who Season 1, Episode 4 “73 Yards” releases on Disney+ (excluding the UK) on May 24 and BBC iPlayer on May 25. Check out the trailer below.
The Review
‘Doctor Who’ Season 1: “73 Yards”
I found '73 Yards' to be a solid episode, particularly being impressed by Millie Gibson's standout portrayal of Ruby. While it didn't quite meet my lofty expectations, its exploration of supernatural themes was vastly engaging. The episode truly excelled in its darker moments, though I couldn't help but feel that certain scenes, especially the climax, would have benefited from a bit more breathing space to fully realise their potential.