{"id":9432,"date":"2022-01-01T21:00:18","date_gmt":"2022-01-01T20:00:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/?p=1541362"},"modified":"2022-01-01T21:34:18","modified_gmt":"2022-01-01T20:34:18","slug":"doctor-who-eve-of-the-daleks-addresses-series-13-flux-plot-holes","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/rss_feed\/doctor-who-eve-of-the-daleks-addresses-series-13-flux-plot-holes\/","title":{"rendered":"Doctor Who: Eve of the Daleks addresses series 13 Flux plot holes"},"content":{"rendered":"

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By Huw Fullerton\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Saturday, 01 January 2022 at 12:00 am<\/p>

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Doctor Who\u2019s latest series was largely a hit with viewers, who enjoyed the six-part Flux\u2019s more serialised storylines and action, even if a few moments still seemed a little rushed from time to time.<\/p>\n

However, season finale The Vanquishers<\/a> \u2013 which aired in early December \u2013 did leave some fans a bit perturbed, who noted that some plot threads seemed to have been left dangling. Was the TARDIS really just going to be left all broken? Had Dan and Yaz been changed at all<\/em> by their years trapped in the past? And how did the Doctor get away with (sort of) killing millions of Cybermen, Daleks and Sontarans?<\/p>\n

Well, it turns out she didn\u2019t \u2013 because a few parts of Flux\u2019s storyline were addressed in new Doctor Who<\/a> festive special Eve of the Daleks<\/a>, suggesting that showrunner Chris Chibnall had always intended to follow up on these questions.<\/p>

The episode begins with the Doctor \u201cresetting\u201d the Flux damage to the TARDIS \u2013 those creepy webs, extra doors and so on \u2013 stranding the TARDIS trio in a Manchester self-storage business while it repairs.<\/p>\n

Dan (John Bishop) later notes that it\u2019s only been a week since the Doctor saved the universe (a little bit longer for viewers), meaning this episode takes place quite soon after the events of The Vanquishers \u2013 which may also explain why the Daleks are still so ornery about the whole \u201cmass genocide\u201d thing.<\/p>\n

As it turns out, the fallout of the Flux finale is what\u2019s behind this entire episode \u2013 the damaged TARDIS creating the time loop, and the vengeful Daleks hunting our heroes within it, hoping to execute the Doctor (Jodie Whittaker) for her \u201cactions against the Dalek race.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhich particular actions?\u201d the Doctor asks, presumably rattling through a mental rolodex of nearly 60 years of battles and defeats.<\/p>\n

\u201cUsing the Flux to destroy the Dalek war fleet,\u201d the Dalek replies, much to the Doctor\u2019s indignation.<\/p>\n

\""Doctor\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Dalek \u2013 (C) BBC Studios \u2013 Photographer: James Pardon<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

\u201cThat wasn\u2019t my idea! That was a Sontaran strategem that I hijacked!\u201d<\/p>\n

The Dalek, however, is not convinced.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou are responsible for the destruction of millions of Daleks! Your death is the priority of the Dalek race! We will not stop! Exterminate!\u201d<\/p>\n

Later, the Doctor blames herself and notes that her \u201cactions are catching up with me,\u201d in what could be an interesting acknowledgement of the shady morality of her actions in the series 13 finale.<\/p>\n

At the time, many viewers were troubled by the Doctor\u2019s plan causing the death of countless foes, noting that previous incarnations had rejected similar mass culls of Daleks on a point of moral principle. Yes, technically the Sontarans were going to do it first \u2013 but the Doctor didn\u2019t stop it, or warn the Daleks and Cybermen. Instead, she just trapped the Sontarans in the path of the Flux as well, putting even more deaths on her ledger.<\/p>\n

The fact that she did this wasn\u2019t necessarily the issue, fans argued \u2013 it\u2019s that the episode didn\u2019t present it as any kind of difficult or unethical choice at all, rather glossing over it as a moment of victory.<\/p>\n

\""Doctor\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Jodie Whittaker (and Jodie Whittaker) in Doctor Who (BBC)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

Now, Eve of the Daleks seems to suggest that the Doctor\u2019s actions in the finale were a bit murkier than they were originally presented. While she doesn\u2019t blame herself for the Dalek massacre, the Daleks clearly see her as responsible \u2013 and her comments that her actions and \u201ctime\u201d were catching up with her could hint that she\u2019s beginning to see she\u2019s been too reckless in recent travels. Maybe it could even be part of her regeneration arc, ahead of Whittaker\u2019s exit in the October centenary special.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s an interesting coda to the fast-paced Flux finale in a special that (thanks to a fairly simple production) has a little bit more time to breathe. They even find time to acknowledge Yaz and Dan\u2019s (Mandip Gill and John Bishop) closer relationship, which would have had to develop after years trapped in the 1900s between Flux episodes four and six.<\/p>\n

\u201cI spent four years travelling around the world with you. I noticed it then,\u201d Dan tells Yaz, when challenging her to admit her feelings for the Doctor<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Altogether, perhaps we shouldn\u2019t be surprised that modern Doctor Who\u2019s most serialised story yet had a sneaky epilogue. Certainly, Eve of the Daleks helps iron out a few of the lingering issues with Flux, making it a stronger final series for Whittaker and Chibnall and tying it all off ahead of the Thirteenth Doctor\u2019s final episodes this year.<\/p>\n

Though we\u2019re still not quite sure what the Sontarans wanted with all that chocolate\u2026 maybe let\u2019s add some dialogue in the Spring special to sort that one out?<\/p>\n

Read more about Doctor Who:<\/strong><\/p>\n