Allow me to borrow the catchy lyrics of a viral TikTok tune, for indeed, what an astro-turmoil unfolds this week! "The Interstellar Song Contest" dares to grapple with profound themes such as racism (or is it speciesism?), genocide, terrorism, the fight against oppression, retribution, justice, capitalism, colonialism, and propaganda. And this is merely the prelude before the highly anticipated reappearance of two pivotal characters. Yet, for an episode brimming with such ambition, its climactic moments lack the necessary punch; they resemble a gentle, underwhelming massage. I commend the exploration of these myriad tensions but wish they were more potently addressed.
This week, we find ourselves aboard a space station hosting the Interstellar Song Contest—the 2925 iteration of Eurovision. The ever-youthful Rylan Clark, preserved through the wonders of cryogenics, shares the viewer's seat with Belinda and the Doctor as the vindicator scans the premises. Mrs. Flood, hidden in the auditorium, quietly takes out a device, whispers that the vindicator stands "ready and primed" as "the final link." However, her cryptic utterances are swiftly overshadowed by another unfolding drama.
Kid, a Hellion hailing from Hellia, storms the broadcast control room with Wynn, his lover and fellow Hellion, assisted by armed drones. Their horned species endures normalized discrimination, often portrayed as cannibalistic sorcerers. Misconceptions abound that the Hellions doomed their own planet, when in reality, it was the nefarious Corporation that wrought havoc to harvest Hell Poppy flowers for honey flavoring. This same Corporation sponsors the contest, oblivious to Kid's vengeful mission. Orphaned and named only after his mother was shot (before she could reveal his true name), Kid intends to punish all attendees by lifting the station's roof, sending 100,000 souls into the icy embrace of space. Meanwhile, three trillion viewers, tuned in to the dress rehearsal, remain blissfully unaware of Kid's plan to terminate them next via a delta wave transmitted through their screens.
Yet, within the space station, a few souls remain shielded from peril. Wynn, with stealthy precision, activates a button, sparing competitor Cora Saint Bavier and her partner Len. Meanwhile, though the Doctor and TARDIS are catapulted into the void, Belinda miraculously bounces to safety. Cora alerts a frantic Belinda to the show's transmission block, implemented to prevent gambling fraud, meaning no external rescue is forthcoming. Or is it? For the Doctor, still cognizant amidst the stars, receives a vision of his granddaughter and former companion, Susan Foreman (!!!), urging, "Grandfather, return. Find me." It seems a travesty to reintroduce Carole Anne Ford in such fleeting, disjointed clips, especially after fans' long wait to behold the last living member of the original Doctor Who cast once more. Nonetheless, it suffices to ignite the Doctor's resolve. Utilizing a confetti cannon, he propels himself back to the station in a Wall-E-esque maneuver, where he encounters the couple whose seats he and Belinda had occupied.
Nurse Mike and hologram expert Gary, an unlikely duo, possessed the precise blend of abilities necessary to assist the Doctor, who promptly softened the gravity of the situation: it transpired that the levitating figures were not deceased, thanks to his earlier duplication of the gravitational field, maintaining them in a reversible state of suspension. Amid a charming guest appearance by holo-Graham Norton, the Doctor embarked on hacking the station's system. Upon glimpsing Kid on the monitor, his heart hardened. "I shall exile your corpse into the abyss, where I shall stand and witness your icy demise," he vowed, his words echoing in the minds of Belinda and Cora, who watched via Len's technological prowess.
Cora, recognizing Kid and Wynn, confessed her true identity as a Hellion who had concealed her heritage and forcibly removed her horns. Determined to reason with Kid, she ventured to the control room but was preceded by the Doctor, who promptly dismantled the delta wave device. Then, a dark transformation took place: the Doctor, who had once harbored empathy for other villains, accused Kid of possessing a "heart as cold and filthy as it is inclined towards murder" and commenced torturing him with the aid of a hologram and a specialized glove. Even when Susan's voice echoed in his mind, urging him to desist, he merely screwed up his face and persisted. Kate Lethbridge-Stewart, who once asserted in "Lucky Day" that the Doctor would never permit her to unleash a Shreek upon Conrad, would undoubtedly be astonished by his current demeanor. It was jarring, distressing Belinda upon her arrival with Cora, despite her immediate rush to embrace him.
Prior to Wynn and Kid's impending judgment before "the justice monolith," the Doctor admitted that the icy malevolence Kid had instilled in him might linger indefinitely. He later confided in Belinda that Kid's genocidal aspirations, coupled with his own past traumas with the Time Lords, had triggered his vengeful actions. While understandable, it seemed uncharacteristic that he displayed no inclination to hold the Corporation accountable for radicalizing Kid and Wynn. He scarcely addressed, much less inquired about, the plight of the Hellions and their home world. The aftermath of his harsh treatment towards Kid was swiftly glossed over. (The next mention of his startling conduct saw both him and Belinda承认it frightened them... only to laugh moments later about a "delectable chef" she had matched with on Hinge.)
The episode's climax was awash with optimism. Mike and Gary, seemingly eager for the Doctor to join their polyamorous relationship, once again leveraged their unique skills to revive hundreds of thousands in Rylan's chamber. Rylan announced to the cosmos that, though the Interstellar Singing Contest would not proceed this year, one singer would still take the stage. And it was then that Cora, at last ready to embrace her authenticity, chose to perform. Instead of a frivolous pop tune about her prominent feet, she sang in her native tongue, a tribute to the civilization annihilated by the Corporation—a melody they had sought to suppress.
Just as Cora was about to embark on her performance, bigots in the audience greeted her with heckles, yet her enchanting voice soon had everyone in tears and applause. The song resonated with such force that it seemed capable of reversing years of marginalization that had branded Hellions as the “scum” of the galaxy. Cora's music emerged as a potent symbol of advocating for her people's cause with dignity and grace. However, this heartening turn of events was clouded by the stark revelation from Cora herself: Hellions were not even permitted to sing. Considering the Corporation's known demeanor, it's unlikely they'll take kindly to being publicly denounced before a potential audience of 3 trillion. While the ideal of fostering harmony through a serene musical performance is noble, what becomes the recourse when people shut their ears and bar your entrance to the stage? Must resistance inevitably devolve into extremist tactics, or are there other, more nuanced paths untapped by the episode?
In an abrupt shift, 'Doctor Who' jogs our memories of its intention to keep us eagerly anticipating the two-part season finale. Holo-Graham unveils a shocking revelation: Earth disintegrated inexplicably on May 24, 2025, prompting the Doctor to make another solemn pledge to Belinda—he vows to save her homeworld. Upon their arrival, red lights flash, the cloister bell tolls ominously, and an explosion tears through the TARDIS, hurling its door wide open. As if this cliffhanger weren't enthralling enough, a mid-credits scene introduces Mrs. Flood, emerging from a cryo chamber on the brink of death, declaring, “Let battle commence,” before bifurcating into Rani and The Rani, a rogue Time Lady and classic antagonist once portrayed as an obsessed scientist devoid of morality. The return of this character, long speculated and yearned for by 'Doctor Who' fans, in the midst of the season's final stretch, serves as an intriguing narrative twist. Actor Archie Panjabi hints at impending doom for the Doctor, suggesting an impending journey to a perilous locale for some undisclosed mission. We'll have to await the finale to witness the fruits of these teasers. Until next week, when we confront the fateful day of Earth's demise.
