Fugitive of the Judoon

"Follow the light. Break the glass."

Writers: Vinay Patel & Chris Chibnall
Format: TV
Broadcast: 26th January 2020
Series: 12.05

Featuring: Thirteenth Doctor, Yaz, Ryan, Graham, Captain Jack

Synopsis

Ko Sho Blo! Trigger-happy space police the Judoon are targeting 21st-century Gloucester. The Doctor, Yaz, Ryan and Graham race back to Earth in order to prevent them doing too much damage to the cathedral city. But who are they looking for, and what did they do to incur the wrath of the Judoon?

Verdict

Fugitive of the Judoon was an excellent episode of Doctor Who! It really did continue things along in Series 12 very nicely and I certainly wasn't expecting that. There was so much continuity which was just great and everything tied in nicely whilst opening up so many more questions. When Ruth kicked off the episode, I really wasn't expecting her to be revealed as the Doctor. Yep, that happened. Now, I'm going to go on record and guess that she is a Doctor from a parallel universe and that the Master's trip to another dimension has something to do with it. It's quite clear now that with the Doctor admitting that she is searching for the Master that he will return and I do expect that to happen in the finale, but how this all ties in with the lone Cyberman and the Timeless Child is yet to be answered. The fate of the universe is at stake, at least that's according to a returning Captain Jack! I have to say, I am thrilled that they managed to keep this a secret as his arrival in the episode was just wonderful. Kidnapping Graham aboard his stolen spaceship was just magnificent and I thought it was hilarious that he thought he was the Doctor! That kiss was quite something. John Barrowman was sublime in recapturing the magic of his character and I am certain that he'll be back to meet the Thirteenth Doctor at some point. I will be quite gutted if he isn't! Jack getting to meet Ryan and Yaz as well was terrific and it was nice to see that the companions also enjoyed him as he was a good cheesy. The Doctor's reaction to discovering that her companions had encountered Jack was brilliant and she remembered him very fondly. Lee knowing the truth about what the Judoon were after was interesting and the twist that it was actually Ruth who they were after was fantastic. Twists upon twists occurred though as she had used the chameleon arch to hide her true identity from even herself. I loved that! The Doctor taking her to the lighthouse was intriguing and her digging up the ground beneath what wasn't a gravestone was sublime because it revealed the TARDIS! The slight change in the exterior with the white information background and the thinner structure mirroring that of the Classic era was so delicately fantastic. The interior also looked incredible and seemed like a modern version of the Classic design. Could this be the First Doctor from a parallel universe? There are so many questions! Just what was it that this Doctor was running from? Gat was a really great villain and I would have liked to have learnt more about her before she was essentially killed by the Doctor. The confirmation that she was a Time Lord was brilliant and her contact with the Thirteenth Doctor to show her what Gallifrey had become at the hands of the Master was very good. The use of the Judoon in the episode was very good and the Doctor's reaction to their presence was terrific. Jodie Whittaker was outstanding in this episode it has to be said. Her slumped and shocked reaction as she was walking back to the fam after encountering her other self was outstanding. This story was so close to full marks and I think when everything is revealed, it may increase with hindsight on second viewing, but for now there just needed to be slightly more clarity, specifically regarding Lee. Overall though, a superb episode!

Rating: 9/10