How is an episode with a returning villain, the Pirate Planet's cool planet crushing stuff, a unique concept for a race, and companion growth be SO boring???

Nothing actually happens for most of the run time, and despite being a yappy episode like some of my favourites of the series, the dialogue isn't particularly engaging or interesting to me. Despite enjoying the concepts here, I'm just not caring. And especially as the pace is so languid on top of the dialogue issues. Oh, and I just don't care even remotely about the side characters. Totally forgettable.

This is also the first episode of the series I've found just straight up ugly to look at. It's so darkly lit throughout and it is honestly unpleasant. Plus the weird constant uncomfortable zoom instead on Tim Shaw???

This is still not completely awful or irredeemable though. As always, the acting is solid enough. And I love the Graham and Ryan subplot - it feels like a perfect ending to their set up arc.

Overall, the ugliest finale of the show and maybe the least watchable. But not egregiously bad. I just don't care about it other than the Graham plot. What a waste of cool concepts.

Fortunately not half the flimsy, discordant, incomprehensible mess that I’d previously thought. Obviously I never bothered to rewatch this after the initial broadcast, and I liked it more in retrospect. I’ve been really enjoying Graham’s arc this season, and I’m actually a big fan of how it’s concluded here. Walsh’s performance is mainly what sells it.

Is the episode good? No, but like it’s far from the worst that this season or the show has to offer. It still features an uncomfortably stilted and in charismatic lead performance. This is Chris’s best season finale unfortunately. 13’s era is by far the one I make the most comparisons to the classic era. This time I found myself constantly reminded of Time and the Rani. Make of that what you will.

Battle of Ranskoor av kolos

Damn that's a long name

Good finale, the return of fan favorite character Tim Shaw. Graham has the chance for revenge but doesn't take it becoming a better man. Ryan and Graham bonding moment.