The Ghost Monument

"This entire planet has been made cruel."

Writer: Chris Chibnall

Format: TV

Broadcast: 14th October 2019

Series: 11.02

Featuring: Thirteenth Doctor, Yaz, Ryan, Graham

Synopsis

Still reeling from their first encounter, the Doctor and her new friends face a challenge to stay alive in a new hostile alien environment. Can they solve the mystery of Desolation amidst the final of a giant space race? 

Verdict

The Ghost Monument was a superb episode of Doctor Who to continue my rewatching of Series 11! This is why I am always keen to specifically blog the TV episodes twice because this story receives a huge increase in rating! I don't know why I didn't quite rate this so highly on broadcast, but watching in hindsight has shown me that this was an excellent episode. I was really impressed and I just loved the pace and action! The cinematography was also incredible with the landscape of Desolation. Following on from The Woman Who Fell to Earth with the team stranded in space was really good and I liked how they were quickly separated before rejoining rather quickly on the planet's surface. The scene on Epzo's ship particularly with the Doctor and Yaz was outstanding and once again allowed Jodie Whittaker to absolutely shine as the Thirteenth Doctor. I thought she was tremendous throughout and it was a real joy to see her so settled in her role at this early stage. She got to really shine in her first proper little adventure. Her reaction when she was shown an image projection of what the Ghost Monument was really hit home and showed just how much the TARDIS meant to her, as if we didn't already know. The bitterness between Epzo and Angstrom was really good to see and it was also clear that there was considerable history between the pair. Their race for the financial security for life was good and I liked that it was questioned if it was worth it. The resounding answer was yes. The pair's differing relationships with the TARDIS team was intriguing and the story from Epzo regarding the lesson he was taught by his mother was quite incredible! The reactions of the main characters said it all. I loved it. Ilin was a very good character despite not featuring for much of the episode and the Doctor immediately knowing that he was a hologram was terrific. I thought she was on top form and just loved her throughout. The relationship between Ryan and Graham following Grace's death was an interesting element of the episode and I was a little surprised with how quickly they seem to have got over her death. It was nice though that Graham was using what she would say to cope and she would tell him how cool it was to be on an alien planet! I really liked how the writing captured the newness of space and an alien planet for all three new companions. That was an impressive element and it is sometimes taken for granted or not considered. The Remnants turned out to be really good and I was fascinated by their comments to the Doctor. They were in her head and I would love for the 'timeless child' comment to be addressed in Series 12. The way they were dealt with was quick and sudden with the cigar and I definitely didn't think that was as naff as first viewing. The history of the planet and its people being subjected to the Stenza was good continuity, if not a little coincidental, but this episode will firmly be remembered for having the Thirteenth Doctor in the TARDIS. It was overdue! The moment she touched the outside was pure magic and even though I'm not a fan of the interior, it was splendid to see her do her thing with the controls. The reactions of the companions probably could have been better, but they had been quite bewildered recently! The race ending as a tie was a nice finish to what was a fantastic episode! Overall, brilliant stuff.

Rating: 9/10