On the one hand, I'm somewhat disappointed that we're doing stories that are earthbound with Fugitive, what with the previous story giving us glimpses of earth, and this one being set on it. On the other, this story is really creative and I can't help but enjoy it.

Fugitive inadvertently wrapping herself up in the actual events of a folk story when she's on earth to just find a creature of myth is a really fun idea, and the way it plays out is superb, and again, the creativity on display with Baba Yaga is just splendid.

Jacqueline King does a fantastic job bringing the witch to life with her performance. It's a character that really demands a certain level of almost golden age disney level camp villain in the performance and she knocks it out of the park.

The actual story on display here too is great, Fugitive coming to find someone else who's seemed to battle Division, someone who might be able to help her, and Baba Yaga being absolutely nothing like what she'd expected. The witch and her powers having been created though a psychic field, the hut being a crashed TARDIS. The reveal of it being a psychic field being through saving two people from burning to death. It's a strange but fun romp.

And again, the imagery on display here. The hut, Baba Yaga, the horsemen, etc. The vibes of this story are immaculate.

I'd give this episode a 4/5, but I'm extremely disappointed by the plot.

The majority of the episode is great. Baba Yaga has always been one of my personal favourites when it comes to folklore. The Doctor teamimg up with Vasilisa also provides great dynamics. And it's an absolute delight to hear the Doctor being confused by Baba Yaga's magic (which is something I think future writers should explore on, the Doctor is always so dismissive and knowitall when it comes to "magic", I know this is a sci-fi franchise but it'd be fun if the Doctor gets stumped by all the magic stuff every now and than). Mention of Koschei the Deathless was also an interesting little cherry on the top(KOSCHEI MENTION, THOSCHEI FOLKS WE WIN THIS), if only Baba Yaga cared to say more about this alleged husband of hers. It'd be great to have the Doctor saying that classic mouthful of a sentence(A needle inside an egg inside a duck inside a hare inside a box buried in the forest of the island Buyan)

And then it all goes crashing downhill.

"Oh, you're a creature from local folklore. So you must be a product of superstition and psychic manifestation and positive feedback loop."

Words can't even begin to describe my disappointment when it turns out that this episode fell victim to this classic and now abused trope. I hate it when they use great story materials like this. It's lazy and irresponsible. This episode would have been so much better if Baba Yaga really was a powerful entity (from the Dark Ages or somewhere eldritch, whatever, I don't really care as long as a real entity). But no, they had to make it predictable and mediocre. This really drains all the fun and life out of this episode.

So, yeah. I can't say I hate this episode, I really rather enjoyed it. But I'd be lying if I say I'm not incredibly disappointed by how the whole thing turned out.

Also, to whoever wrote this episode: it's just Baba Yaga, no definite article. Baba Yaga when translate to English means Grandma Yaga. Who adds a the before grandma? Certainly not me.

I can't stress enough how good Jacqueline King is as Baba Yaga. Had me cackling like a witch over my gumbo!

A Time Lord fairy tale in which Jo Martin owns the role of the Fugitive Doctor. There’s a deep sense of intrigue towards the true nature of Baba Yaga but the eventual revelation at the end, while a strong one, felt slightly rushed to me. The larger than life performances all stayed the right side of the line, their bombast was welcome. But it’s The Doctor themselves that is making this story an essential listen.

We continue to cook with the Fugitive Doctor. The overreaching storyline takes a little bit of backseat and instead we get the Doctor investigating some Russian folklore. The only familiarity I had with Baba Yaga was from a Tomb Raider video game, so a lot of the details and allusions were not known to me. The comparison that ends up being drawn between the Doctor and the spinster who became Baba Yaga is expertly done, as they both wonder how they can atone for past mistakes. I've heard so many other Doctors a hundred times by now and I'm still keying into Jo Martin's energy, but she's damn good isn't she? Finale tomorrow!