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“THE SHADOW PASSES – THIRTEEN, LOCKDOWN, AND A DEADLY MOON”

Paul Cornell kicks off a trilogy of lockdown-inspired short stories with The Shadow Passes, a story that feels very much of its time—both in its real-world context and in its emotionally resonant character work. The setup is instantly familiar in a post-2020 world: the Doctor and her Fam arrive on a supposedly vibrant party planet, only to find it eerily deserted. As it turns out, the population is isolating—hunkered down in their homes while they wait out the ominous passage of a deadly moon that poses an extinction-level threat.

It's not exactly subtle, but it is effective. The parallels to our own world’s lockdown are made explicit, but rather than focusing on the threat itself, Cornell instead zooms in on how people live, cope, and connect during prolonged isolation.

THIRTEEN VS. THE BOARD GAMES

What really elevates this story is the downtime. The Doctor, Yaz, Ryan, and Graham are stranded in safety—nothing to do but wait it out. So what do they do? They play board games. Chess, Scrabble, and all the classics get a whirl, and Thirteen is hilariously, spectacularly terrible at all of them.

Cornell mines excellent comedy out of the Doctor’s bafflement at the rules and her barely contained frustration at not immediately understanding the point of human games. This is a Thirteenth Doctor who’s deeply alien in the most adorably awkward way. It’s also one of the best written takes on her social awkwardness—less quirky catchphrases, more genuine discomfort navigating social norms. A brilliant little character beat that builds on what we saw in episodes like Kerblam! or Can You Hear Me?

WHEN THE PARTY'S OVER

The second half of the story brings the emotional core to the fore. As the moon continues to loom above and the end (possibly) approaches, the Fam takes a moment to show gratitude to the local citizens who welcomed them in. It’s low-key, sincere, and heartwarming.

And in a lovely character moment, the Doctor opens up in a quiet heart-to-heart with Yaz. Their chat is brief but touching—a rare pause for Thirteen to reflect on her own sense of displacement and her endless wandering. It adds a necessary emotional weight to what could otherwise feel like a punchline-driven tale.

A SHADOW THAT PASSES BUT LINGERS

Like many lockdown stories, The Shadow Passes isn’t really about action or threat—it’s about stillness. It’s about the quiet moments in between the chaos of adventure, when companionship, humour, and gratitude become survival tools. There's a strong sense of community here, even among strangers, and Cornell makes a compelling argument for the importance of empathy during isolation.

📝THE BOTTOM LINE: 6/10

The Shadow Passes is a characterful and quietly resonant start to Paul Cornell’s lockdown trilogy. With Thirteen delightfully out of her depth with board games and a few touching emotional beats tucked into the stillness, it’s a smart, funny, and reflective story that leans into the Doctor’s alienness while reminding us what makes her human-adjacent heart beat.

I like this version of The Doctor. The one who acts strange and silly and alien. The one who's motivations for acting strange and silly and alien are to protect those around her, or to deflect from her own emotional vulnerability. I like this very open and expressive Doctor. Paul Cornell writes for the Thirteenth Doctor very well. What a pity we never saw him write for her on screen!