Episode 5 of Doctor Who immerses us into the vibrant utopia of Finetime, a bubble city suspended in the midst of nowhere. Here, we encounter Lindy, our intrepid protagonist, deeply ensconced in a digital realm. Her mantra, "kindness all day long," is her guiding principle. However, lurking in the shadows are malevolent creatures intent on her harm.
Despite the Doctor's valiant attempt to infiltrate the digital ether, he is swiftly dismissed by Lindy, who sweeps him aside with a dismissive gesture. Ruby steps in, managing to penetrate her defenses. Though not on Lindy's coveted friend-list, Ruby explains that their mission is data refinement, purging substack information and delivering it back to the Homeworld. Everyone contributes two hours daily... yet Lindy, cocooned in her own bubble, is oblivious to the underlying truths.
Ruby's portrayal of the Doctor is far more convincing, persuading Lindy to lower her bubble briefly to glimpse the horrid creature. When the Doctor finally breaks through the ethereal veil, the pair convince Lindy to relinquish her bubble, enabling her to traverse the room without encountering the monster. Alas, she has forgotten the art of walking, but by raising the bubble once more, she manages to navigate her way through.
As Lindy opens the elevator, she encounters one of the creatures within. Surprisingly, it does not devour her. The reason for this remains a mystery, yet Lindy lowers her bubble, defying the Doctor's disdainful admonishments, and beholds numerous creatures scattered throughout Finetime. How did they infiltrate this tightly secured paradise?
Finetime caters exclusively to the affluent elite aged between 17 and 27, funded lavishly by their parents. Lindy's "Mummy," Penny, happens to be the enigmatic Twist character who has been a recurring figure in each episode. The Doctor and Ruby have uncovered a subterranean river flowing beneath Finetime, and he intends to guide them through its passageways to freedom.
Ruby admonishes Lindy to be cautious as she ventures through the streets.Still unsteady on her feet, Lindy relies on the sudden appearance of her favorite singer, Ricky September, to guide her past four of these menacing creatures.
Ricky and Lindy strode side by side, Lindy's face beaming as she declared it the best day of her life. However, the blissful moment was cut short when Ricky glanced at the Homeworld's status and discovered a devastating truth: the population had dwindled to zero.
After reviving Lindy's console and reviving the Dot Bubble, the Doctor and Ruby revealed a horrifying scenario—citizens were being devoured in alphabetical order, and Lindy stood next in line, following Gothic Paul. It seemed the Dot Bubble itself was sentient and had Lindy in its sights. Despite her efforts to knock it down, she was assaulted by a menacing drone. Nonetheless, Lindy persevered, effortlessly dodging the drone and punching in the necessary codes to unlock the next chamber.
Unfortunately, Ricky September stumbled and fell, leaving Lindy with a difficult decision. She chose to save herself by betraying Ricky, revealing his true identity and surname, Coombes, to the computer. Whether this was an attempt to create the most despised protagonist in Who's history remains a mystery, but one thing was clear: this act erased any trace of endearing qualities she might have possessed.
Lindy lied to the Doctor and Ruby, who were unaware and about to depart. She was safe, but the Doctor insisted on bringing her to the TARDIS for protection. Lindy scoffed at the suggestion and strode away, leaving the Doctor pleading with her to reconsider. But she refused.
Alone, the Doctor wept bitterly as he watched them walk away, his cries echoing through the empty chambers. Finally, he screamed to the heavens, retreated into the TARDIS, and departed, leaving behind a trail of unanswered questions and shattered illusions.
