Doctor Who ep 6: Are the Stenza this year's Big Bad?
The Doctor (Jodie Whittaker) and friends faced off with the 'Demons of the Punjab' this week, but these monsters were misunderstood, with an angry and confused young man the real villain of this tragic story.
Caught up in the Partition of India in the 1940s, and the heartbreaking history of Yaz's (Mandip Gill) family, team TARDIS did their best to tread softly back in history, but their time-travelling antics left us with a question or two (or seven).
Here are the head-scratchers, and a few of our best theories, after series 11, episode six.
1. Why didn't Nani Umbreen remember meeting Yaz?
Maybe we missed a subtle nod, but how come the elder Umbreen (Leena Dhingra) didn't recall meeting her granddaughter in 1947? Surely she'd remember someone who featured so prominently in such a pivotal moment of her life?
Yaz even introduces herself to young Umbreen (Amita Suman) using her real name.... not exactly treading softly!
Unless... maybe Nani Umbreen does remember, and is keeping schtum for her own reasons? That might explain why she made a gift of the broken watch, and why she considers Yaz to be her "favourite granddaughter".
2. What was up with the Doctor's headaches?
It's never entirely explained what caused the Doctor to have a "bit of a wobble", though she does suggest that she'd "intercepted something, in [her] brain" – and it does appear that the Fijarians are telepathic, with the Doctor complaining about how they "push" their words into our heroes' heads.
The Doctor herself also has limited telepathic ability – previous incarnations have demonstrated the power to share memories ('The Big Bang') and enter into other people's memories ('The Girl in the Fireplace'), with different incarnations of the Doctor also able to communicate via mental link when they meet.
Presumably, then, she accidentally 'tuned in' to the Fijarians' psychic communications, setting off her Spidey senses.
3. What actually happened during the Partition of India?
In 1947, around the same time that what was then known as "British India" won its independence, it was decided that the nation would be divided into two separate states – India and Pakistan (according to a plan put into place by the departing British).
India was formed mostly of Hindu regions, while Pakistan was mostly Muslim areas, with a good deal of tension between the two groups.
Partition forced millions to leave their homes, and with the newly-formed governments of India and Pakistan unequipped to deal with migration on such a scale, riots and outbreaks of violence occurred on both sides of the border.
Estimates of those killed go as high as 2 million, and tensions and divisions still exist between the countries today, with both states arguing that the disputed territory of Kashmir should belong to them.
4. Why didn't we get to see those killer turtles?
The Doctor had to apologise to her travelling companions "profusely", for a trip that saw them encounter a batch of monstrous amniotes.
We demand to see the adventure of Doctor Who and the Death-Eyed Turtle Army!
(Notably, the Doctor battled a race of turtle-like reptilian humanoids in several spin-off novels, though these creatures, the Chelonians, have never appeared on television. Was this a niche reference?)
5. Did the Stenza destroy the Fijarian homeworld?
'The Woman Who Fell to Earth' established the Stenza as would-be conquerers of "the Nine Systems", terrorising several planets in the Twelve Galaxies.
'The Ghost Monument' then revealed that, once T'zim-Sha's race had conquered a planet, they would "cleanse" it, driving many of the inhabitants away.
Is this what happened to the Fijarians? Kisar (played by Nathalie Cuzner, but voiced by Emma Fielding) and Almak (played by Barbara Fadden, voiced by Isobel Middleton) are the only two of their race still surviving, with their home planet destroyed and dust all that's left of their ancestors.
Might the Stenza have been responsible? And could this all be setting up a dramatic comeback for T'zim-Sha, backed up with more of his kind, in a future episode?
6. How well does the Doctor know Einstein?
In 'Demons of the Punjab', the Doctor claims she hasn't "officiated a wedding since Einstein's" – apparently, his parents didn't approve of the union.
The fourth Doctor first mentioned knowing Einstein in 1978 story 'The Stone of Blood" – he'd tried to "explain the realities" of the "absurd" theory of relativity to the brainy physicist, but "poor old Albert... would insist that he knew best".
Played by Tom O'Leary, Einstein also makes a cameo in Sylvester McCoy's seventh Doctor debut, 1987's 'Time and the Rani', as one of a gaggle of geniuses kidnapped by the Rani to help her create a giant mutated "time brain", part of a scheme to help the Time Lord villainess reshape the universe to her liking.
In 2010's 'A Christmas Carol', the Eleventh Doctor (Matt Smith) claims to have attended a party alongside Einstein and Father Christmas at Frank Sinatra's hunting lodge... which explains, we suppose, how to managed to bag those VIP Sinatra tickets in 'Rosa'.
Albie's most substantial televised Doctor Who appearance was in 'Death Is the Only Answer', written by "the Children of Oakley Junior School" for Doctor Who Confidential. This mini-episode saw Einstein (Nickolas Grace) attempt to build a time machine to rival the TARDIS, with his efforts somehow briefly transforming him into an Ood.
...Whaddaya mean it's not canonical?
7. How well does the Doctor know Mountbatten?
Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma, is referenced several times throughout 'Demons of the Punjab' – an uncle of Prince Phillip (and second cousin, once removed of Queen Elizabeth II), he was the last Viceroy of India (1947) and the first Governor-General of independent India (1947–1948).
The division of India was accomplished according to what has come to be known as the "Mountbatten" plan, with Mountbatten giving his "complete assurance" that there would be "no bloodshed and riot" – and we all know now just how wrong he was.
The Doctor mentions having "bumped into" Mountbatten before, though their encounter has never been portrayed on-screen or in any spin-off media. (Get on it, Big Finish!)
In 1979, Mountbatten, his grandson Nicholas, and two others were assassinated by a bomb set by members of the Provisional Irish Republican Army, hidden aboard his fishing boat in Ireland. These events were portrayed on-screen in Netflix series The Crown, where Mountbatten was played by Greg Wise and Prince Phillip, of course, was played by Doctor Who's Matt Smith.
8. What's going to happen in episode seven?
Next week's adventure is 'Kerblam!' – yep, with an exclamation mark and everything.
It's written by Pete McTighe (Wentworth), directed by Jennifer Perrott, and features guest stars Julie Hesmondhalgh as Judy Maddox, Lee Mack as Dan Cooper, Callum Dixon as Jarva Slade, Claudia Jessie as Kira Arlo, Leo Flanagan as Charlie Duffy and Matthew Gravelle (killer Joe Miller from Chibnall's Broadchurch!) as the voice of Kerblam.
Here's the official synopsis: 'Delivery for the Doctor!' A mysterious message arrives in a package addressed to the Doctor, leading her, Graham, Yaz and Ryan to investigate the warehouse moon orbiting Kandoka, and the home of the galaxy's largest retailer: Kerblam!
"Something is very wrong here at Kerblam," notes the Doctor in the Next Time... teaser, warning an unseen villain, "If anything happens to us, or anyone else here, you'll have me to answer to."
(Note: Doctor Who is pure fiction and any resemblance to real online retailers is purely coincidental.)
Oh, and it's on at the earlier time of 6.30pm, so make sure you don't miss it!
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