had its last non-special, non-Flux episode? The yearhas aired 14 episodes, many of which have been great, but few of which have been the kind of fun, low-stakes adventures the series is known for. Finally, after four years, we’re back to episodic hijinks—but that doesn’t mean something isn’t brewing in the background; a compelling and mind-bending mystery is on the horizon, with the potential to be as captivating as Bad Wolf.
Kicking off Season 1’s premiere, “Space Babies” is a bit of a debriefing session between the Doctor and companion Ruby . It’s nothing we didn’t know before, but for the benefit of audiences jumping in for the first time , he goes through all the basics: he has two hearts, his home planet is Gallifrey; and the more recent lore bits as well: he was adopted by the Time Lords, and he doesn’t know his entire history.
Although there’s often a silent grief, loneliness, or rage lying behind the Doctor’s eyes when he shares with Ruby, it’s shocking how fast he does so after keeping these details secret from so many other companions. It shows a more vulnerable, emotionally open Doctor who’s willing to show hurt in healthier ways than just screaming outbursts.
I don’t want to give away the twists of either episode, but the presence of fantastical creatures such as the Bogeyman and fourth-wall breaking definitely seems to carry forward the consequences of last year’s. At times, reality seems to melt away, leading to scenes where it’s hard to tell what’s real or not. Some things are made clear, especially by the end of the second episode, but this only opens the door for more questions, sometimes even crossing the line from sci-fi to fantasy.
Joseph Stanichar is a freelance writer who specializes in videogames and pop culture. He’s written for publications such as