Things I've Learnt from Watching My Favourite Doctor Who Stories: Part 21 - Flux

21: Flux

I guess a Flux isn't out of the question!

Initially I was going to choose two episodes from the Flux season to be in this list. But then I thought to heck with it, I'm having all six in one go and that meant I could have an extra story! 

Flux is nothing short of a miracle. In terms of the production, the Doctor Who crew led by showrunner Chris Chibnall ensured that six episodes were produced in 2021, rather than none at all. With new health and safety protocols and restrictions it meant filming each episode of Doctor Who was taking significantly longer than previously. And time means money, even for a Time Lord. 

But this seemed to spur the production team on, rather than make them take the easy route. Chibnall was quoted as saying, "You could go 'let's do lots of tiny little episodes in one room, with no monsters,' or we could throw down the gauntlet and do the biggest story we've ever done... definitely the most ambitious thing we've done since we've been on the series."

And it is ambitious. We'd already seen the production values step up a notch in this era, with magnificent photography from episodes such as the Ghost Monument, but of course with no travelling allowed, the production team had to resort to green screen and the usual Welsh quarries. This is a serial, the biggest Doctor Who story since the Trial of a Time Lord. After his success with Broadchurch, Chibnall goes for the murder mystery-style set up, introducing disparate characters in a variety of different locations and at the end of the first chapter, you're wondering how they will all come together! Or if they actually will come together at all... 

And what great characters: In the first scene Yaz and the Doctor are great together yet they spend the majority of this apart. They're accompanied by newcomer Dan, played by John Bishop, who effectively captures this character's heart. What I've loved about the Chibnall companions is they've felt like real people and Dan is no exception. He's not an impossible guy who's life is a mystery to be solved, he's just an ordinary guy who's way in life is to be kind. But he's not just a soppy do-gooder, he's got a quick wit about him and, unsurprisingly for a comedian, Bishop knocks the one liners out of the park! 

Swarm and Azure are quite grotesque, both in looks and character; typical Doctor Who villains who are silky smooth and deadly. Then we have the grumpy Lupari, Kalvanista, a sort of Lancashire Chewbacca, wonderfully played by Craig Els. 

We see other characters along the way, the nice Diane, the mysterious Claire who falls foul of the Weeping Angels and vinder, a Lone outpost technician who may or may not fulfil the role of a certain Captain. By the end of the first episode, you're in an exciting whirlpool of plots and characters. 

Chapter Two (one of the episodes I was going to choose individually!) is the spectacular War of the Sontarans. Chibnall is an expert with classic monsters having revitalised the Daleks and Cybermen. Here he rehabilitates the Sontarans, making them proper baddies again whilst maintaining the opportunities of humourously pricking the pomposity of their warmongering ways. Sara Powell is wonderful as Mary Seacole, a lovely turn as a character now celebrated but iny school days was passed over in favour of Florence Nightingale (wonder why?) 

General Skaak is played by Jonathan Watson, giving a great performance that's light years away from playing the henpecked Colin in two Doors Down! His confrontation with Jodie's Doctor is superb, a great scene for her full of fire and humour ("take yet helmet off mate... On second thoughts leave it on! ") Jodie keeps the anger low and contained, while other Doctors might have been a bit more shouty... 

Chapter 3, Once Upon Time is a quieter more contemplative episode but we see the return of Jo Martin as the fugitive Doctor. Jo Martin is wonderful but we don't get to see enough of her and if I have a criticism of this era, it's the rather shabby treatment of her character, although maybe, who knows what Russell T Davies has on store for us! We're getting more hints about the Division and the return of the Weeping Angels. There's a lot to pack in in this episode, so it's possibly my least favourite but it's still impressive in its world building. 

Village of the Angels is a classic (my other choice!) and we have the arrival of Professor Eustace Jericho, one of the finest guest characters ever on the series, played wonderfully by Kevin McNally. Initially you think he's going to be a fussy sceptic who's more of a hindrance than a help but he's brave, loyal and terrific fun. No wonder they added him into the later episodes. Chibnall again uses the Angels well and Jamie Stone Magnus's direction is superbly spooky and unsettling. And that cliffhanger is 100%!

I want to say Survivors of the Flux is rubbish and then say "Aah I'm teasing you!!" (But someone got there first! Quick plug for Frazer Gregory's superb Sky Full of Diamonds blog!) However the episode goes off on a tangent with the arrival of the Grand Serpent which might be one plotline too many. However Craig Parkinson is brilliantly nasty, taking a leaf out of the Julian Glover school of villains and keeping it low and sinister! We get the return of Kate Stewart and I think she's delightfully underplayed by Jemma Redgrave. The plot of Yaz, Dan and Jericho is well done, with some nice character moments between Yaz and Dan. 

The Vanquishers is a non-stop roller-coaster. If I was picky, I'd say it needs another ten minutes to breathe a bit better as Swarm and Azure's downfall seems unnecessarily rushed. But that might just be me being greedy and wanting ten minutes more Who. It does largely come together at the end and there's real heart to this as well. The death of Jericho is heartfelt as Kevin McNally was superb in bringing him alive and Diane's rebuttal of Dan is understandable after what she's been through but still a good emotional scene for John Bishop. 

A recurring theme of the making of Doctor Who is that desperation and necessity can sometimes produce it's best work. Just look at City of Death, Five Doctors, Time and the Rani (no honestly, I know it's not on this list but it's incredible that it got made! Some might say unbelievable... ) 

Flux came at a time of desperation in the world and at one point before production, apparently for an hour, it was axed! I'm glad they didn't as it would have deprived us of a wonderful collection of six fantastically mad episodes, rich in humour, drama , thrills and scares. It's an absolute marvel and a miracle! 

Next Time: I know what a space helmet for a cow looks like!