‘THE BATTLE OF RANSKOOR AV KOLOS’
Please feel free to comment on my review.
The Return of Tzim-Sha with the Thirteenth Doctor, Graham, Ryan and Yaz
I saw the season finale of Series 11 of ‘Doctor Who’ with my parents via BBC iPlayer and really enjoyed it! Mind you, Ranskoor Av Kolos is quite a hard name to remember a planet by in the tale. 😀
‘The Battle of Ranskoor Av Kolos’ by Chris Chibnall is a satisfying episode to conclude this season of ‘Doctor Who’ on. And that’s a season that I’ve enjoyed so thoroughly for ten weeks in th autumn of 2018.
This is unlike any other ‘Doctor Who’ season finale that has come before in the new TV series. ‘The Battle of Ranskoor Av Kolos’ may not have plenty of elements that were in Series 11 to make it epic.
But somehow, this episode does round off a certain arc that’s been going on throughout this season to make it worth a finale. And that’s more to do with the characters rather than on spectacle.
The story feels straight-forward and low-key. Yet somehow, it feels rewarding at the same time. The journeys that our main heroes have been going on somehow fulfil themselves in this season finale.
This is especially with Graham and Ryan’s characters as well as Yaz and the Doctor’s characters. There’s also the return of an old enemy in this story, which was a true delight at the end of Series 11.
The episode takes place on the planet Ranskoor Av Kolos where our TARDIS foursome respond to a series of distress calls. The TARDIS lands inside one spaceship that sent out one of the distress calls.
The Doctor and her friends meet up with Mark Addy as Paltraki, who seems to be the ship’s commander. Mark Addy has starred in ‘Young Hyacinth’, the prequel to ‘Keeping Up Appearances’.
Apparently, the atmosphere of Ranskoor Av Kolos can affect a person’s mind, specifically causing memory loss and altering a person’s mood. This seems the case when our TARDIS heroes meet Paltraki.
It’s also why the Doctor gave some neuro-balancers to her three friends as well as to herself to keep their minds stable and immune from the planetary atmosphere. I did find that a pretty neat concept.
Like I said, when the TARDIS travellers meet Paltraki, he has trouble keeping his mind together and loses his memory, forgetting our main heroes. This is especially when he points a gun at the TARDIS team.
Once the Doctor realises what’s going on, she gives Paltraki a neuro-balancer too in order to keep him as their ally. The Doctor and friends have Paltraki helping them to find out what’s been going on the planet.
It becomes clear that Paltraki lost his crew. They’re being held captive by someone called ‘the creator’. This creator is a supposed deity worshipped by the Ux, a species that usually come in pairs.
One pair of Ux in the episode is Phyllis Logan as Andinio and Percelle Ascott as Delph. They can create matter with the use of their minds and can glow fire from their eyes! Things must be hot. 😀
Andinio and Delph have been waiting for the creator all their lives, especially in the first scene when they’re on Ranskoor Av Kolos. Very soon, somebody appears to them out of nowhere on the planet.
But as the episode progresses, especially when it’s 3,407 years later by the time the Doctor and her friends turn up, Andino and Delph’s fiery powers are misused. It’s the Doctor who has to help them.
It also transpires that the Ux’s ‘creator’ happens to be… Samuel Oatley as Tzim-Sha (or ‘Tim Shaw’ as the Doctor called him). Tzim-Sha is of course an enemy that the Doctor and her friends have faced before.
That was in ‘The Woman Who Fell to Earth’, the very first TV episode of the Jodie Whittaker era. I was pretty pleased that Tzim-Sha/Tim Shaw came back for thia final showdown in the season finale.
It was pretty good to have an old enemy back, especially for Jodie Whittaker’s Doctor at the end of her first season. I wondered what had become of Tzim-Sha/Tim Shaw and whether he was still alive.
He wasn’t killed off in the first episode of Series 11, as he was zapped out when he used a teleportation unit. We get to see what happened to him, as he ended up on Ranskoor Av Kolos itself.
Apparently, Tzim-Sha has been abusing the Ux’s religious beliefs in their creator by making them do his work. It becomes clear that Tzim-Sha has been developing a pretty terrible and deadly weapon.
This is in the form of a shrine built for the Ux’s creator and he plans to use it to destroy the planet Earth with total vengeance. Wow, and it took him about 3, 407 years to do that? He didn’t waste time. 😀
And all this revenge Tzim-Sha has is laid against… the Doctor! Of course. 😀 Tzim Sha blames the Doctor for what happened to him following the last time they met in ‘The Woman Who Fell to Earth’.
It was interesting to see how the consequences of the Doctor’s actions ended up being resolved in this story. It’s also interesting how Tzim-Sha became obsessed with the Doctor in the years he spent on Ranskoor Av Kolos.
Involved in Tzim-Sha’s plan is the usage of a number of planets regressed to small sizes to create a powerful engine. These happen to be planets that Tzim-Sha stole! Wait! This does sound familiar.
Before Tzim-Sha came to Earth and faced the Doctor, did he have a run in with the Pirate Captain from ‘The Pirate Planet’?! It would make sense and I’m surprised there was no a reference to that in this. 😀
Jodie Whittaker is brilliant as the Thirteenth Doctor in this episode. What I’ve noticed about Jodie’s Doctor in this particular TV story is how she shifts from being funny and flippant to being serious and edgy.
This is especially when she confronts her enemies like Tzim-Sha. I like how Jodie strikes a balance of that in her performance as the Doctor, and this is particularly throughout her first season too.
She also notices things, especially when confronting Andinio, who points a gun at her during their first meeting. Jodie’s Doctor warns Andinio about using a gun on her before she soon tries to help out.
This is especially when she knows who ‘the creator’ is and she tries to save Andinio and Delph’s lives. She also takes a few precautions in the story, especially when defeating Tzim-Sha and his plans.
I really like how Jodie’s Doctor confronts Tzim-Sha in the final episode. This is when she tells him off; says what he’s doing is wrong; and that everything he’s doing can change the nature of the universe.
The Doctor works hard in this episode to find a way to stop the Earth from being destroyed with the Ux’s help. I like how the Doctor utilizes the TARDIS as well as the Ux to send the planets back home.
Bradley Walsh is equally brilliant as Graham and he goes on a pretty significant character journey in this episode. This is when the TARDIS team realise that it’s Tzim-Sha of the Stenza who’s back.
Graham becomes pretty determined to exact his revenge on Tzim-Sha over what happened when Grace died. I found this quite unusual to see in Graham’s character, especially in that he wanted revenge.
I liked that scene between Graham and the Doctor, as he has a private word with her about his plans for revenge. The Doctor tells Graham to go back to the TARDIS, but Graham is pretty determined.
The Doctor warns Graham about his plans of revenge, almost threatening to not let him travel in the TARDIS ever again. It seems that Graham needs to be strong and not succumb to any revenge.
I like how Graham seems to appear battle-hardened in the episode, especially when he’s blowing up the SniperBots in the episode. Oh yeah, the SniperBots from ‘The Ghost Monument’ are back in this story.
I also like how Graham confronts Tzim-Sha in the episode before he makes his final decision about him. I did wonder whether Graham was actually going to kill Tzim-Sha or not whilst watching the episode.
Tosin Cole is equally good as Ryan in this episode. I love the scenes that Ryan shares with Graham, especially when they’re tackling the SniperBots and using laser rifles aboard Tzim-Sha’s base.
I suppose the SniperBots are like the robot warriors for the Stenza – thus why they serve Tzim-Sha. Ryan also learns some lessons about using guns from the Doctor in this particular TV adventure.
Ryan also tries to persuade Graham not to exact plans for revenge against Tzim-Sha, saying that it’s not what her nan Grace would have wanted. It’s very intriguing how Ryan tries to dissuade Graham here.
Graham tries to not listen to Ryan by saying that it is what Grace would want him to do. But Ryan tells Graham he loves him and has never considered him less worthy being his granddad in the series.
Mandip Gill is very good as Yaz in the episode. Yaz gets to spend a lot of time with Paltraki in the episode. I enjoyed it when they exchanged the names of the planets that they come from in the episode.
It’s amusing when Yaz and Paltraki don’t think much of their planet names: Earth and Stebble. They soon discover the crystal boxes containing the regressed planets in miniature form in the story.
I liked it when Yaz was determined to keep the Doctor company as well as trying to find a way to use the Ux in order to save the planet Earth. Yaz does comes across as being very loyal to the Doctor here.
Yaz and the Doctor soon risk it with taking off their neuro-balancers and giving them to the Ux to stop them from destroying Earth. I liked it when Yaz pulled a cable from the TARDIS for the Doctor’s plan.
Mind you, and it pays me to say it, but Yaz does seem to be the least developed of the TARDIS crew. Mandip Gill is superb and the TARDIS regulars have been likeable, but Yaz does seem overshadowed.
It’s like when Nyssa was overshadowed by Tegan and Adric in Season 19 of the classic TV series as well as Susan being overshadowed in Season 1. Here, Yaz is overshadowed by Graham and Ryan throughout Series 11.
Again, this is always going to be a problem with a crowded TARDIS, especially in 10 episodes that last for about an hour’s length. But at the same time, I enjoyed the interaction between the TARDIS foursome.
Graham, Ryan and Yaz are characters that want to be there with the Doctor. This season could easily have had Graham, Ryan and Yaz being combative like in the Peter Davison era, but thankfully it wasn’t.
I prefer it when the TARDIS foursome are really good friends in the series. Some say it makes them bland, but I didn’t find that, as I found their characters and the journeys they go on so compelling throughout Series 11.
I did like it when the Doctor made mention of towing the Earth halfway across the universe from ‘Journey’s End’ to Yaz. She also mentioned that the TARDIS regressed a Slitheen back to an egg in ‘Boom Town’.
It’s those nice little continuity references from the TV show’s past that remind me that this is still ‘Doctor Who’. I hear they’ll be using some more classic ‘Doctor Who’ monsters in Series 12 next. 😀
Thankfully, all is well and Paltraki’s crew are saved. Tzim-Sha gets what he deserves by Graham and Ryan once they stuff him into a stasis chamber. They soon reunite with the Doctor and Yaz at the episode’s end.
I liked it when Graham told the Doctor that he couldn’t kill Tzim-Sha and that he was too weak to do it. But the Doctor reassures him that he’s the strongest man that she knows. Well, one of them anyway. 😀
The TARDIS heroes soon head off in the TARDIS whilst the Earth is safe. I liked how the Earth gets to be in peril in the TV episode before the Doctor and her friends save it, which usually seems to be the case. 🙂
‘The Battle of Ranskoor Av Kolos’ has been a compelling episode for me to finish off Series 11 of ‘Doctor Who’. I enjoyed watching it and seeing the character journeys of the Thirteenth Doctor, Graham, Ryan and Yaz.
I like how everything comes ‘full circle’ (no pun intended) in the episode. I also like how the Doctor and her friends get to face an old enemy in Tzim-Sha, who I was amazed to see come back in the TV series.
After seeing this episode, I did read somewhere that the reviews on the season finale were mixed. Many have said that it’s a disappointing season finale. I agree that it hasn’t been as epic as previous series finales.
But somehow, this was a welcome change for me and a refreshing one at that. The Earth being in peril during the episode did seem to be underplayed, but at least it was present in this particular story of this TV era.
And like I said, I was pretty compelled into the story itself as well as the characters, enjoying the Thirteenth Doctor, Graham, Ryan and Yaz as a TARDIS foursome. Even after watching it a few times more, I enjoyed it.
The DVD/Blu-ray special features for this episode are as follows. There’s ‘The Battle of Ranskoor Av Kolos’ – Closer Look’ behind-the-scenes featurette. There are additional bonus features, including ‘Becoming the Doctor’, ‘Friends of the Doctor’, ‘Regenerating Doctor Who’, ‘Directing Doctor Who’, ‘Video Diaries: Bradley on a Train’, ‘Video Diaries: Mandip’s South Africa Diary’, ‘Everything You Need to Know About the New TARDIS’, ‘Making the Theme Tune’ and the ‘Best of Social’.
Before we finish, I’ve found Series 11 of ‘Doctor Who’ to be pretty good! It’s not a perfect season and there are a few issues I have with regards to some of the episodes featured in Series 11. In my opinion, ‘The Tsuranga Conundrum’ is the weakest of the ten episodes in the whole of Series 11. 😐
But overall, this has been a pretty solid ‘Doctor Who’ season with good storytelling, good characters and good acting throughout. The music by Segun Akinola has been wonderful to listen to and the tone and atmosphere of the season feels refreshing and enjoyable, making it easy to watch.
In many ways, I feel that Series 11 of ‘Doctor Who’ is a direct response to the Steven Moffat era. The series’ tone didn’t feel silly and pantomime, as things were taken more seriously in the season. There are moments of humour, but it was very well-balanced with good character drama throughout.
The storytelling provided by Chris Chibnall and his writing team didn’t feel convoluted. I was able to enjoy the episodes from beginning to end. ‘Kerblam!’ is my absolute favourite and episodes like ‘The Woman Who Fell to Earth’, ‘Rosa’, ‘Demons of the Punjab’, ‘The Witchfinders’ and ‘It Takes You Away’ are brilliant.
I found how easy it was to like the main characters who have come across as heroes for me. Bradley Walsh, Tosin Cole and Mandip Gill excel as proper companions in Graham, Ryan and Yaz, who wanted to be there in the TARDIS. They weren’t combative at all, as they became pretty good friends.
As for Jodie Whittaker, well, she won me over in an instant as the Thirteenth Doctor and continued to be even more likeable and reassuring as I watched the TV series. And, I know you think I’m going to sound crazy here, but Jodie has become one of my favourite Doctors in the entirety of ‘Doctor Who’.
I really mean that! Jodie Whittaker is one of my favourite Doctors alongside Peter Davison and David Tennant. She’s exactly who I hoped she would be in how she played the Doctor. She was funny when she needed to be and she was serious when she needed to be. She’s also very warm and energetic.
I know many people will disagree with me on these points, but it’s how I feel and Jodie’s interpretation of the Doctor is the way I would’ve gone with in a female version of the Doctor. I had doubts before Series 11 began in 2018, but I’m glad to say that Jodie Whittaker’s Doctor made me happy indeed.
But it’s not over yet! Believe it or not, whilst ‘The Battle of Ranskoor Av Kolos’ is technically the season finale for Series 11, it also isn’t. There’s another ‘Doctor Who’ episode after Series 11 with the Thirteenth Doctor TARDIS team. It’s of course the 2019 New Year’s Day Special called ‘Resolution’.
‘The Battle of Ranskoor Av Kolos’ rating – 8/10
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Bradley's Basement 
Interesting premise. Zzzzz…. Zzzzzz Zzzzzz…. What oh sorry! What’s going on? Oh, good scene with Graham and the Doctor.
Zzzzz… Zzzzz…. It’s the tooth fairy again… and Tim Shaw’s been watching the Pirate Planet…. Zzzzzz
Great review Tim. I found it deadly dull, it’s interesting I think if you’d put it as a trilogy after Woman Who Fell and Ghost Monument it might have had more impact.
Overall Season 11 was like the curate’s egg, good in parts. For me the historicals worked better than the science fiction ones.
I do like the TARDIS team, but thought Ryan and Yaz seriously underdeveloped and not used as well as they could have been. However, they do gel as a team.
Jodie is a lovely contrast to her previous incarnation. Full of joyous enthusiasm but not afraid to confront villains like Tim Shaw and the scene with James I is brilliant. My favourite scene is the diy sonic screwdriver scene.
My biggest gripe with Chibnall storytelling is there is a lot of telling rather than showing. Characters saying what we can actually see happening as viewers. Here’s to season 12.
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Hi Tony,
Ah, I wondered whether it was ‘The Battle of Ranskoor Av Kolos’ that made you fall asleep. 😀 I know a lot of people don’t rate this season finale very highly. The irony is, I enjoyed it following my enjoyment of what had gone on before in previous episodes of Series 11 with Jodie Whittaker, Bradley Walsh, Tosin Cole and Mandip Gill. Would I do things differently with the Series 11 finale? Absolutely! I would probably have it be a two-parter instead of a one-parter, and perhaps I would connect it to ‘Resolution’ where the Reconassiance Dalek is waiting on Earth.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on ‘The Battle of Ranksoor Av Kolos’ and on Series 11 itself. I agree, the historical stories are good, although ‘Kerblam!’ is definitely my favourite story out of the season with Jodie Whittaker’s Doctor. I agree that characters like Ryan and Yaz tended to be underdeveloped, but I enjoyed their presence in the TV series and I like how the Graham becoming Ryan’s granddad storyline was handled in Series 11. I look back fondly on Jodie Whittaker’s first season as the Doctor, especially since she left a big impression on me and I grew to like her more and more as Series 11 went on in 2018.
I’ve heard people say that Jodie Whittaker can bes a good Doctor whilst Chris Chibnall is a bad writer, but I enjoyed both at the same time throughout their era from 2018 to 2022. I see where you’re coming from in terms of how Chris Chibnall handled his time as showrunner on ‘Doctor Who’, but I was able to get into his storytelling and I felt it was a marked improvement over what Steven Moffat delivered in the previous few seasons.
Many thanks for your comments.
Tim 🙂
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