Yeah this is an interesting one.

On the one hand, the time loop stuff is really interesting, I like the motivations of the main antagonist being wanting to do the right thing but for all the wrong reasons, I like the murder mystery aspect of it, especially with there being so many different things going on all with different explanations so it's one red herring after another. I like the reveal of what's really going on with this conference in the end.

And then there's the misogyny. On the one hand, (at least most of) the explicit misogyny is from explicitly vile characters, and is never treated as a good thing which, you know, it shouldn't be. If you're going to have ex-o-tic dancers being called sluts and bitches in a story like this, it should be shown as a bad thing. But then there's the implicit misogyny. Leela is forced into this role as an exotic dancer against her will, forced to perform for the whims of others, and while she feels uncomfortable doing so and the misogyny directed towards her as she does is explicitly bad, it's still framed in an almost tantalizing way. If this were on TV, you can tell they'd be using Leela in this story as, to paraphrase a well known JNT quote, something the dads will enjoy.

I really want to like this story, and I think without all that it'd be an 8/10, but with it, I have to give it a 6.

I had quite a bit of fun with Square One.  There's definitely some really dated aspects to the writing I did not find endearing.  The way Leela is treated as an exotic dancer was often uncomfortable and I really didn't appreciate how Romana would refer to these performers as sluts and whores.  Sometimes you can just tell when a script was written by a guy.  In spite of those moments, the story, and idea of Leela infiltrating a peace summit was all pretty good and memorable.  I definitely feel the end detail of it all being some sort of fake summit to divert assassins a little unnecessary as a plot point, but the main focus of the story is Leela trapped in this potential time loop, while assassinations, intrigue, and sabotage are all in play.  That stuff, which is, to be fair, the main focus of this story, is all done really well.  We have a lot of good performers to back that story up, and ignoring some of the more unsavoury elements of the script, there is a good story to be enjoyed at the core of this plot line.  I was a little weary of us continuing with the Time Lords sharing power with these new races, but this was a unique and new take on the idea.  Not bad overall, in spite of some awkward elements.

📝6/10

Thworping through time and space, one adventure at a time!

POLITICS AND PARADOXES: GALLIFREY'S SECOND ACT

The second chapter of the Gallifrey saga sees President Romana attending a clandestine summit of the universe’s time-travelling powers, while Leela and K9 delve into the enigma of Free Time.

Stronger Focus, Dual Plots:

This episode feels more streamlined than its predecessor, narrowing its focus to two central storylines and a smaller cast of characters. Leela’s investigation is the standout element, blending tension, mystery, and moments of levity as she uncovers more about Free Time’s operations. The time slip mechanics add an intriguing twist, keeping the narrative unpredictable.

Political Intrigue - A Slow Burn:

Romana’s involvement in the high-stakes political summit provides context for Gallifrey’s greater struggles, though at this stage, the details remain somewhat convoluted. While these elements seem poised to pay off in later episodes, they lack the immediate impact needed to fully engage.

Performances and Atmosphere:

The cast delivers solid performances across the board. Lalla Ward’s portrayal of Romana remains commanding, while Louise Jameson continues to imbue Leela with a dynamic mix of determination and wit. The atmospheric music enhances the tension, particularly in the story’s climactic moments.

A Christie-Esque Climax:

The final act builds effectively, with a classic Agatha Christie-style reveal that ties the threads together neatly. However, while the episode creates moments of intrigue and tension, it doesn’t capture the same level of engagement as the series opener.

Final Thoughts:

This second chapter lays important groundwork for the series, with Leela’s investigation providing most of the intrigue. Though the political elements feel a bit muddled at this stage, the performances and atmosphere ensure the episode remains enjoyable.

Solid and intriguing, but slightly less captivating than the first instalment.

Gallifrey; Chapter II  - “Square One" by Stephen Cole

I really love when a Doctor Who story actually uses the show’s time travel premise effectively; it’s surprisingly rare but episodes like The Ark, Before the Flood or Turn Left are all great at utilising the fundamental mechanics of the show whilst stories such as the magnificent The Chimes of Midnight thematically embrace time travel to build their core narrative. Square One is not The Chimes of Midnight, but it is a story with a very fun central gimmick. However, there is one (or maybe two) big blemish(s) on this script that prevents it from being a favourite of mine.

With a rogue terrorist cell and a missing doomsday weapon weighing down on the temporal powers, the approaching peace summit may be the only way to prevent a complete breakdown of negotiations. But when Leela is sent to covertly keep an eye on proceedings, strange time anomalies threaten to shatter the order.

(CONTAINS SPOILERS)

Square One’s premise, on the surface, seems like the exact sort of thing I wanted out of Gallifrey: great ideas presented in the form of a tightly written political thriller. And you know what, Square One delivers (mostly). A peace summit starts groundhog daying, restarting each time something goes awry, and Leela is mysteriously immune to the effect. It’s a really fun idea that, in my humble opinion, works incredibly well. Cole makes good use of the premise to display a pretty fun murder mystery with a good number of fake outs. At first you think it’s a corrupt delegate trying to cover up a murder, then you think it’s Free Time back to cause more mayhem, and then it’s finally revealed that it’s the summit’s organiser - Hossack - who’s reversing time in an attempt to make sure the conference goes off without a hitch. It’s a nice little mystery that is effectively done and Hossack is a fun villain to end off the story with.

But past that? I’ve got nothing. I’ve tried writing this review four times now and each time I had to give up because I just couldn’t think of anything to say. Well actually, that’s a lie, Square One actually poses a challenge I haven’t come across as of yet as a reviewer that was an exhausting hurdle to overcome; I have one big positive to talk about, and one big negative to talk about, and everything past that I’m lukewarm on. Square One isn’t bad, but past its premise, the actual contents are just fine. Maybe it’s because Weapon of Choice was also a stripped back political thriller, but this just felt like nothing special - and it’s only episode two. Also, since it has little to do with the series arc, I think Square One could easily have been cut from the season, leading me to ask what the point of it was. However, I do have one big problem and that is the treatment of Leela. Basically, Leela is having to go undercover to infiltrate the summit, but is having to go undercover as an “exotic dancer”. It is, unsurprisingly, really uncomfortable to listen to, especially since Cole gave Leela almost childlike ignorance making the whole thing just icky. I guess it could be saying something about how Romana puts her duty before her friends or something but either way it just doesn’t sit right with me and is hell to listen to. And this isn’t the first time Cole’s done this, see here the short story Face Painter that he wrote under a pen name, it is an incredibly strange read with some very questionable choices made. With every Stephen Cole story I experience it becomes even weirder to me that my first exposure to him was through the Astrosaurs series I read when I was eight.

And that’s Square One. Apologies if this review was brief but I have exactly two things to say about this story and not much else. It’s another fun episode of political intrigue and duplicitous characters with a fun time travel mechanic thrown in, but it also makes some uncomfortable choices that don’t sit well with me and fails to be anything more than enjoyable.

6/10

Pros:

+ Really unique, timey-wimey premise

+ Hossack was a pretty interesting antagonist

+ Decent murder mystery

Cons:

- The awkward circumstances surrounding Leela’s cover make this a pain to sit through

- Just not particularly deep past its premise

One of the most frustrating and compelling parts of Gallifrey is how Leela is treated by every other character. Especially in the early episodes, some of the xenophobia she is exposed to from the Time Lords is utterly vile, though she always proves herself to be more capable and intelligent than the other characters - and on occasion, the narrative - give her credit for. Square One is one of these episodes that I go back on forth on. Certainly, it is compelling. The relationship between Leela and Romana blossoms, and it isn't hard to believe in their friendship at all, and Narvin and Brax continue to be slimy and fascinating in themselves.

But Square One is Leela's episode. She is sent by Romana to a top security peace summit, with Narvin, where they both must navigate the tensions between the temporal powers. However, Leela is sent as an exotic dancer, which leaves little to the imagination as to her objectification. Indeed, the episode paints a rather dire view of politics, about seedy deals and secret meetings, and about the extra-curricular activities of the diplomats. And though the worst offenders of the episode get what is coming to them, I still find myself questioning why Leela is always cast into these roles, and why Romana is the only one who ever sees her utility for her brain. It is more than possible that I have overthought this episode to an incredible degree, because I have listened to it a lot of times, but the question I always get stuck on is, when will Leela be seen for more than the alien who does not belong?

And the answer is, very rarely. But in Square One, despite the objectification and the insults that get slung at her, she is only there because Romana values her intellect. More than anything, it is clear here that this is Romana and Leela's show. And that is when Gallifrey thrives best, when it is about them.