📝7.4 = ENJOYABLE!

Time Lording through time and space, one victory at a time!

FIRST IMPRESSIONS: "WEAPON OF CHOICE"

This story is intriguing right off the bat, with the groovy score and the four assessors inspecting time technology on a barren moon (Torvald, the Time Lord and the lady inhabiting the body of an enslaved woman stand out). It has Raiders of the Lost Ark vibes to it.

It takes a while to place everyone, but I like how quickly we are introduced to the main players—Torvald, Narvin, Romana, K9, Leela, and Braxiatel—and get a hunch of the basic plot beats that are relevant in this series, such as the space politics and terror organisations, the character drama, and the wider nature of Time Lords and Gallifrey.

I really like how effectively the characters are established. Romana and Leela are strong women (the former surrounded by people who constantly annoy her; the latter frequently solving problems with her fists), and there’s an intriguing tension between Leela and Torvald, while Braxiatel seems like a very dry Cardinal (as they all are).

The simple music and sound design and the superb performances contribute to building a surprisingly effective atmosphere.

So this Free Time movement and the conflict surrounding the regulation of tune travel is a political allegory I find very intriguing.

The abundance of characters and new concepts mean that this is somewhat confusing at times, but I see great potential in the political intrigue and the character drama, such as the conflict and tension between Romana, Narvin, and Braxiatel.

Alas, the episode lost me a bit in the end. Leela being appointed as Romana’s bodyguard should be cool, though.

STANDOUT DIALOGUE:

K9! We have been unfilterated!