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Celebrating 20 years of New Who with the New Who Doctors - 12th Doctor

“A CONFUSION OF ANGELS: WEEPING ANGELS, HOSTS, AND A STOLEN TARDIS IN A CHAOTIC SPACE THRILLER”

The Twelfth Doctor, Bill, and Nardole arrive on the Jeden, a spaceship left adrift in space and owned by none other than Max Capricorn—the same cutthroat businessman behind the doomed Titanic from Voyage of the Damned. A small, diverse crew is searching for a missing member when the TARDIS team arrives, setting the stage for what initially appears to be a traditional base-under-siege story. There’s a malfunctioning Host being used as a bodyguard, mysterious stowaways, and Bill is wrongly accused of murder—all classic elements that help build tension and intrigue.

TOO MANY MOVING PIECES

Then the second half cranks everything up to eleven. Missy escapes the Vault and steals the TARDIS. The Shadow Proclamation arrives, led by none other than a Raxacoricofallapatorian detective named Jingatheen, who bears a striking resemblance to Margaret Slitheen. And just when it seems like things can’t get any wilder, a Weeping Angel sends the Doctor back in time. While these individual elements are all interesting, the sheer number of competing plot threads makes the story feel disjointed.

The story eventually reveals that the entire setup is an elaborate trap by the Weeping Angels to steal the Doctor’s TARDIS, which Missy has conveniently taken for herself. The way this plan unfolds is clever, but with so many competing characters and twists, it doesn’t land as strongly as it could.

THE LONG WAY ROUND

One of the most enjoyable aspects of the story is the Doctor’s solution to being stranded in the past. Instead of finding a quick way back, he does it the long way—spending a century working his way through the company’s ranks, influencing its employees, and even naming the Titanic before eventually ending up back on the Jeden as the mysterious stowaway. It’s a classic Twelve move, demonstrating his patience, intelligence, and ability to turn setbacks into carefully constructed plans.

JINGATHEEN, NARDOLE, AND THE HOST-TO-ANGEL TWIST

The return of Margaret Slitheen (or rather, Detective Jingatheen) is another fascinating touch. The comic takes the time to explain her backstory, revealing how she ended up working for the Shadow Proclamation after the events of Boom Town. She’s a surprising highlight, proving to be competent and dedicated—far from the selfish, conniving figure she once was. Her reaction to the Weeping Angels, even taking decisive action against them, adds to her newfound credibility.

The story also manages to deliver a strong horror element, with eerie glimpses of Weeping Angels lurking in the dark. The tension builds effectively, culminating in the jaw-dropping reveal that the Jeden’s enemies aren’t just the Weeping Angels, but also the golden Hosts from Voyage of the Damned. Even better, the Hosts—left in standby mode, endlessly staring at the Angels—end up becoming Weeping Angels due to their ability to project what they see. It’s a fantastic, chilling twist that merges both returning villains in a way that feels genuinely inventive.

A RUSHED CLIMAX AND A MISSED OPPORTUNITY

Despite all the buildup, the climax is disappointingly rushed, with the Doctor’s plan playing out across just a few panels. Missy’s theft of the TARDIS also feels like an underdeveloped subplot—ultimately, she doesn’t do much with it, and her role is reduced to being a part of the Doctor’s ongoing attempts to turn her good. Given the potential of this setup, it feels like a wasted opportunity.

📝VERDICT: 7/10

A Confusion of Angels is a story bursting with great ideas, but it struggles to balance them all. The Weeping Angel-Host hybrid concept is a stroke of genius, the Doctor’s long-game strategy is satisfying, and Margaret Slitheen’s reinvention as a detective is a pleasant surprise. However, the sheer number of twists, characters, and competing storylines results in a somewhat chaotic experience, with a finale that doesn’t quite stick the landing. A fun, visually striking adventure with plenty to love—but also a reminder that sometimes, less is more.