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

“TIME OF THE OOD: A SHORT, SERVICEABLE TALE”

Kicking off Roots, the second collection in The Sapling arc, Time of the Ood sees the Eleventh Doctor and Alice answering a distress call from an old friend, leading them to a space station orbiting a black hole. There, they discover 15 enslaved Ood—prisoners of a former Ood rights activist who has now turned to cruelty and torture.

While the premise offers a chance to explore the Ood’s ongoing struggles, the story plays it safe, delivering a straightforward rescue mission. At only 22 pages, it doesn’t have the space to dig into deeper themes, and while the antagonist serves their role, they aren’t particularly compelling. The Ood remain a fascinating species, but this issue does little to expand on their established lore.

A RETURN TO THE ELEVEN/ALICE DYNAMIC

With the Sapling sidelined for this adventure, Time of the Ood shifts focus back to the core relationship between Eleven and Alice. Their teamwork is a highlight, showcasing how well they complement each other’s strengths in a crisis. For those who enjoyed their earlier dynamic before the Sapling joined the TARDIS, this is a nice return to form. However, the story itself doesn’t give them much to work with beyond a standard escape plan.

SOFT ART, SIMPLE STORY

Visually, this issue stands out with its soft, almost whimsical art style and vibrant colour palette. It’s a pleasant aesthetic, though it contrasts somewhat with the darker themes of Ood enslavement and oppression. The designs are appealing, but the lack of visual intensity mirrors the story’s overall simplicity—it looks nice but doesn’t leave a lasting impact.

📝VERDICT: 6/10

Time of the Ood is a serviceable but unremarkable entry in The Sapling arc. It’s a quick, contained adventure that revisits the Ood and briefly separates Alice and the Doctor from their new companion. While the story moves along at a brisk pace, it doesn’t offer much that’s new, either thematically or narratively. A decent but forgettable issue.