Cover-Ups and Conspiracies
A good Doctor Who episode is not without its charming guest stars, and “Kerblam!” delivers, introducing us to the sweetly guileless Kira (Claudia Jessie), the permanently-vexed Kerblam manager Judy (Julie Hesmondhalgh), and the awkward janitor Charlie (Leo Flanagan). Comedian Lee Mack also makes a too-brief appearance, demonstrating McTighe’s deft handling of character, successfully making us invested in the disappearance of Mack’s endearing star employee. It’s a skill that he extends to the rest of the characters, who manage to stand out in an episode that barely stops to catch a breath as the Doctor and co. rush to uncover the conspiracy at the center of Kerblam! We even get a tiny glimpse at a budding romance between Kira and Charlie, in a few cute, essential scenes that build up to the eventual twist.
But unlike previous episodes where the crowded dynamic seemed unbalanced between Team TARDIS and the guest stars of the week, everyone gets something to do. The Doctor, Yaz, and Ryan pair off to investigate the management office, while Graham gets stuck with Charlie the on-edge janitor. The Doctor, Yaz and Ryan trio is quickly becoming one of my favorite team-ups, with the three of them bouncing off each other and demonstrating a fun youthful energy. Whittaker immediately becomes positively impish in their presence (her exchange of “Too bombastic? …Alright, laters!” is a delight) while Ryan and Yaz get to prove that they’re there for more than exposition. Left on his own to navigate the Kerblam! warehouse with Charlie, Graham shines as well, with his trademark snark coming to the forefront. These dynamics are strong enough that when the team adds on the cantankerous Mr. Slade (Callum Dixon), Judy, and an adorable outdated delivery bot named Twirly, the screen doesn’t feel too packed.
“Kerblam!” doesn’t do anything new; most of its structure is pulled straight from other socially conscious Doctor Who episodes like The Beast Below and most of its characters are archetypes. It’s most entertaining sequences are a pastiche of something else — the wild ride down the chutes is a goofy Goonies-recalling scene while the complex system of conveyer belts they’re unloaded into feels eerily reminiscent of Monsters Inc. But McTighe and director Jennifer Perrott are having so much fun at the helm that you can’t help but be swept up in the ride.
Taking Things to the Extreme
This leads us to our big reveal, which I’ll admit is a twist that I didn’t see coming. The suspenseful build-up to the climax is terrific, with Kira’s tragic death forcing Charlie to step up to reveal that he was the mastermind of the rogue Kerblam! bots. While the final reveal is rather ridiculous (killer bubble wrap!) the implications of Charlie’s motivations may be darker than Doctor Who intended. A disgruntled, psychotic white guy who takes out his frustrations with the system on thousands of innocent people? How could that possibly be relevant to today?
While “Kerblam!” does let the all-consuming corporation off the hook a little with this twist, Charlie as the analogue for extremism is a sharp piece of commentary that I’m not even sure this episode understands the importance of. Though it’s contained in a rollicking sci-fi romp, the episode manages to ground itself by speaking to a greater danger posed not by robots, but by humans themselves. I can’t totally compare “Kerblam!” to the poignant episode on Partition from last week, but McTighe and Perrott somehow managed to produce an episode that felt just as pertinent to today’s issues. The dangers of extremism are emerging as a common theme this season, and “Kerblam!” nails that issue with bombast.
Tidbits in Time and Space
Please have the fez make regular appearances from now on, Doctor Who. Did anyone notices how the Kerblam Man tone sound sounds like the Jurassic Park theme? “The Unicorn and the Wasp” callback! “Talking about wasps, did I ever tell you about me and Agatha Christie?” The Doctor’s quip about “Khan and Sinclair the greatest detectives in the galaxy” reminds me too of Sparrow and Nightingale from “Blink.”
‘Doctor Who’ Delivers Throwbacks With A Timely Edge In ‘Kerblam!’
By Hoai-Tran Bui/Nov. 19, 2018 7:00 am EST
Cover-Ups and Conspiracies
A good Doctor Who episode is not without its charming guest stars, and “Kerblam!” delivers, introducing us to the sweetly guileless Kira (Claudia Jessie), the permanently-vexed Kerblam manager Judy (Julie Hesmondhalgh), and the awkward janitor Charlie (Leo Flanagan). Comedian Lee Mack also makes a too-brief appearance, demonstrating McTighe’s deft handling of character, successfully making us invested in the disappearance of Mack’s endearing star employee. It’s a skill that he extends to the rest of the characters, who manage to stand out in an episode that barely stops to catch a breath as the Doctor and co. rush to uncover the conspiracy at the center of Kerblam! We even get a tiny glimpse at a budding romance between Kira and Charlie, in a few cute, essential scenes that build up to the eventual twist.
But unlike previous episodes where the crowded dynamic seemed unbalanced between Team TARDIS and the guest stars of the week, everyone gets something to do. The Doctor, Yaz, and Ryan pair off to investigate the management office, while Graham gets stuck with Charlie the on-edge janitor. The Doctor, Yaz and Ryan trio is quickly becoming one of my favorite team-ups, with the three of them bouncing off each other and demonstrating a fun youthful energy. Whittaker immediately becomes positively impish in their presence (her exchange of “Too bombastic? …Alright, laters!” is a delight) while Ryan and Yaz get to prove that they’re there for more than exposition. Left on his own to navigate the Kerblam! warehouse with Charlie, Graham shines as well, with his trademark snark coming to the forefront. These dynamics are strong enough that when the team adds on the cantankerous Mr. Slade (Callum Dixon), Judy, and an adorable outdated delivery bot named Twirly, the screen doesn’t feel too packed.
“Kerblam!” doesn’t do anything new; most of its structure is pulled straight from other socially conscious Doctor Who episodes like The Beast Below and most of its characters are archetypes. It’s most entertaining sequences are a pastiche of something else — the wild ride down the chutes is a goofy Goonies-recalling scene while the complex system of conveyer belts they’re unloaded into feels eerily reminiscent of Monsters Inc. But McTighe and director Jennifer Perrott are having so much fun at the helm that you can’t help but be swept up in the ride.
But unlike previous episodes where the crowded dynamic seemed unbalanced between Team TARDIS and the guest stars of the week, everyone gets something to do. The Doctor, Yaz, and Ryan pair off to investigate the management office, while Graham gets stuck with Charlie the on-edge janitor. The Doctor, Yaz and Ryan trio is quickly becoming one of my favorite team-ups, with the three of them bouncing off each other and demonstrating a fun youthful energy. Whittaker immediately becomes positively impish in their presence (her exchange of “Too bombastic? …Alright, laters!” is a delight) while Ryan and Yaz get to prove that they’re there for more than exposition. Left on his own to navigate the Kerblam! warehouse with Charlie, Graham shines as well, with his trademark snark coming to the forefront. These dynamics are strong enough that when the team adds on the cantankerous Mr. Slade (Callum Dixon), Judy, and an adorable outdated delivery bot named Twirly, the screen doesn’t feel too packed.
“Kerblam!” doesn’t do anything new; most of its structure is pulled straight from other socially conscious Doctor Who episodes like The Beast Below and most of its characters are archetypes. It’s most entertaining sequences are a pastiche of something else — the wild ride down the chutes is a goofy Goonies-recalling scene while the complex system of conveyer belts they’re unloaded into feels eerily reminiscent of Monsters Inc. But McTighe and director Jennifer Perrott are having so much fun at the helm that you can’t help but be swept up in the ride.
Taking Things to the Extreme
This leads us to our big reveal, which I’ll admit is a twist that I didn’t see coming. The suspenseful build-up to the climax is terrific, with Kira’s tragic death forcing Charlie to step up to reveal that he was the mastermind of the rogue Kerblam! bots. While the final reveal is rather ridiculous (killer bubble wrap!) the implications of Charlie’s motivations may be darker than Doctor Who intended. A disgruntled, psychotic white guy who takes out his frustrations with the system on thousands of innocent people? How could that possibly be relevant to today?
While “Kerblam!” does let the all-consuming corporation off the hook a little with this twist, Charlie as the analogue for extremism is a sharp piece of commentary that I’m not even sure this episode understands the importance of. Though it’s contained in a rollicking sci-fi romp, the episode manages to ground itself by speaking to a greater danger posed not by robots, but by humans themselves. I can’t totally compare “Kerblam!” to the poignant episode on Partition from last week, but McTighe and Perrott somehow managed to produce an episode that felt just as pertinent to today’s issues. The dangers of extremism are emerging as a common theme this season, and “Kerblam!” nails that issue with bombast.
While “Kerblam!” does let the all-consuming corporation off the hook a little with this twist, Charlie as the analogue for extremism is a sharp piece of commentary that I’m not even sure this episode understands the importance of. Though it’s contained in a rollicking sci-fi romp, the episode manages to ground itself by speaking to a greater danger posed not by robots, but by humans themselves. I can’t totally compare “Kerblam!” to the poignant episode on Partition from last week, but McTighe and Perrott somehow managed to produce an episode that felt just as pertinent to today’s issues. The dangers of extremism are emerging as a common theme this season, and “Kerblam!” nails that issue with bombast.
Tidbits in Time and Space
Please have the fez make regular appearances from now on, Doctor Who. Did anyone notices how the Kerblam Man tone sound sounds like the Jurassic Park theme? “The Unicorn and the Wasp” callback! “Talking about wasps, did I ever tell you about me and Agatha Christie?” The Doctor’s quip about “Khan and Sinclair the greatest detectives in the galaxy” reminds me too of Sparrow and Nightingale from “Blink.”
