I guess it can’t be a Doctor Who series without at some stage the Doctor and Companion going back in time to a former era in Earth’s history. Actually must research that a bit as it might have just been a Nu-Who development, wait research, something Davis would never think of doing with his current agenda. Anyways Rogue is series fourteen’s journey into the past. Just checking the overnight figures, yeap down again, this time we have a 2.11 million result which while not the worse for the series is still circling the plug hole in terms of franchise longevity. The Doctor will rise again, hopefully guided by people who actually know what they are doing and are somewhat aware of what the viewing public want to see.

The Doctor and Ruby arrive in Somerset England circa 1813 in order to attend the Duchess of Pemberton’s ball. While enjoying the Bridgerton ambiance, the Doctor becomes aware that there are unlikely guests in attendance. He confronts a gentleman, who turns out to be a bounty hunter named Rogue, who has been hired to hunt down a shape shifting avian humanoid called a Chuldur. Naturally there is some confusion, but the Doctor and Rogue join forces, only to discover that there are more than one of the Chuldur attending the ball. Meanwhile Ruby has been caught up in the drama surrounding another guest named Emily, shock, horror, she is also a Chuldur and is intent on “putting on” Ruby as it appears the ball is more of your fancy dress party for the Chuldur who love them some drama. Oops forgot to mention, the Chuldur love to dress up as humans, which unfortunately means killing a human and doing an Invasion of the Body Snatchers. Ultimately one of our team will have to sacrifice themselves to save the day, sorry to break it to you but it’s not the Doctor.

I have a slight issue with this episode in that it shatters the historic setting, though zoomers probably don’t give a toss, when has authenticity ever been a part of their vocabulary. No I’m not talking about the “people of colour” who are littering the ballroom scenes, hey we’re paying homage to Bridgerton here kids, but more the background music. Sorry Billie Eilish and Lady Gaga! As soon as I recognised tunes by either artist I was taken out of the episode, pretty much we are in Queen Cleopatra (2023) territory here, nothing of historic accuracy need apply. Sigh, at least get the music right Davis, your so called writers were at pains to point out Ruby’s language was different to the period. Consistency went out the window in this series I guess some time ago, the bollocks here just underlines we are pulling scribes out of the BBC writers crèche. Surely Adults can’t be this appallingly bad?

I’m just going to address the white elephant in the room and get it out of the way real quick. The Doctor has a love interest! Sure in the past the Doctor has had bonds with various companions, notably Rose in the modern era, but this has always been kept on the low burner as it isn’t what the Doctor is about. Naturally that concept is pissed on during this episode, as modern writers, or at least the writers for this series, seem incapable of handling subtly or sexual tension in anything approaching a passable level. Why not half-arse it, that seems to be the accepted level of competency the franchise has devolved to. Shot to the head is needed, this put this shambling zombie like series out of our misery, Davis is too busy having fun and no doubt squealing like a pre-teen chick to recognise the issues that are mounting episode by episode.

Hold onto your knickers kids this is also the episode were we get a girl boss fight as Ruby takes on Avian Emily, using a large book to good effect in the melee. Okay I know a lot of you are going to scoff at the choreography used in the fight scene, but hey it matches the absolute shite recent Marvel movies have been fooling themselves with. Hey common denominator here, both franchises are in the hands of the ever deplorable House of Mouse, Ruby needed a couple of huge henchmen to stand around while she kicked them or something, about Disney’s speed really. On the bright side at least one of our leads is able to take action, you go girl!

Speaking of the Doctor, guess that was a better segue than normal, how does he do on the hero stakes, fracking terribly would be the answer friends and neighbours. Besides crying like a little bitch, yes this is the Doctor we are talking about – various previous leads are screaming, as usual he does nothing to resolve the situation. It takes Rogue to get the required solution while Gatwa’s Doctor stands around like a stale bottle of beer. Yes, the Doctor doesn’t take charge, get the requirement done, or risk himself in any possible way, it takes the support character we haven’t seen before to get us over the finish line. Could we have Rogue taking over as the Doctor?

Just in case you thought the episode might be missing Susan Twist, who has appeared in every episode thus far, she is in a Portrait because whatever. Clearly Ms Twist is going to have some impact in the final story but at this stage I can’t deduce what that might be, is she Ruby’s mother? Does anyone actually care at this stage?

I thought it might be worthwhile to see what ever reliable shill outlet Rotten Tomatoes have to report in terms of viewer reception, since Disney+ have gone out of their way to hide those figures. Anyone else think the House of Mouse might just be getting a rude shock! The RT for their part are not reporting episode reception, because that could shatter the façade the access media are trying to erect but as usual critic scores are nowhere near the audience score for the series. Any outlet that keeps to the party line of this being season one are no doubt fabricating some results. The Critics score is a non-shocking 96% from 138 reviews, while the audience score is decidable lower with a 27% result from over 1,000 ratings. Get ready for claims of review bombing, racism, or whatever excuses are currently being trotted out by the purveyors of cringe.

Looking through some of the critic reviews I’m left wondering how some of these people got their jobs and are still employed. I particularly enjoyed Verne Gay writing for Newsday and I quote, “Fun, lively, imaginative – with a whiff of Disneyficition”. There’s a whiff of something mate, you just failed to correctly identify of what.

At least they aren’t wasting money in the effects department, why try to achieve something when the rest of the show is so bad. The Chuldur, when they reverted to their avian form, are clearly wearing masks, at least one of which looks like it failed an audition for the Muppets. I was actually belly laughing when they were revealed, think really bad Halloween costumes your mom threw together when she forgot it was the 31st. Fingers crossed they are holding back on the budget till the final episode.

I’m just amazed they can make steadily worsening episodes’ week in week out and no one is pointing out the show runners are pumping out complete rubbish. Russell T. Davis embolden by no doubt some cheers from social media is happily dismantling the lore of the show, not noticing his audience has evaporated and the “modern audience” he is somehow relying on to boost viewer numbers haven’t bothered to show up. Gee, what a shocker, hold the front page. Clearly another episode with no recommendation, don’t waste your money on Disney+ would be my advice, go grab a previous series of Nu-Who maybe in the Smith or Tennant era, or really rock out with some Classic Who. Only two episodes to go, yeah short series we wouldn’t want anyone involved in this tripe developing blisters through actually doing any work, so I’m seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. Series 14 turns out to be worse than Series 13, and that’s saying something.