I love Andy, I love character focused pieces, I love queer stories, I love the UNIT era, and I love time loops. Wow, this was made for me.

This story is another Stranded story that uses Sci-Fi elements but to tell a very human story. Tony and Ron had mostly just been background characters before this story, they got a few lines and they were really sweet in Must-See TV, but they did at times feel a little like set dressing. This story completely changes that though.

In the present, something is happening to Tony's memory, and Helen, Liv, and Ron are all trying to help him with it. It's written in a way that conjures imagery of Dementia, but intentionally avoids bringing it up by name very much to the benefit of the story, when there's sci-fi explanations for real world conditions it can downplay the severity of that real condition, but here I think it's done really effectively, drawing parallels without downplaying it.

Then back in the past, we see Andy and Eight caught in a time loop, I said I loved their interactions before but here it's even moreso. Andy has experience with Time Travel, but never in such a personal manner and I love that he just keeps putting his foot in it. His comments about what if he doesn't look anything like this 'Jo Grant' are great as well. The Time Loop itself isn't anything stand out on it's own, but the character moments it allows for, especially with Eight realising he never did give The Brigadier enough credit, are brilliant, and the cuts to the present where we can see the effects of the changes in the loop though Tony are done really well and just make this story work.

Culshaw's Brigadier is superb and is written spectacularly here. The moment with him in the past at the end, his comment about Ron and Tony's relationship is great.

My only critique is that Liv and Helen don't get all that much to do, that said Helen opening up to Liv about her brother she's never spoken about before is written just oh so well, I've spoken to older people before who have spoken on the topic in much the same way, the way she struggles with how open everyone is about it now, not because it's a problem but because of the pain that she's seen people who couldn't be open about it go through. It's just so heartfelt sad, and superbly written.

This story was definitely my favourite one in the UNIT stranded series yet. It just carried such a weight and yet such a positive lightness at the same time. I love that this set gets the opportunity to get more time to explore its characters in such a personal way, and yet still feels entirely like a Doctor Who episode. It was also really something to see what becomes of the people that usually just stand on the sidelines.

I loved the Brigadeer and the interactions he got with the Doctor, and I adored the heartfelt moment the Doctor had with Helen in the end. It actually made me cry a little bit. I love that Stranded also tends to question the actual impact that the Doctor has on the people around him and if it's really a net positive. I know a lot of stories do that, but with this one, I just felt like it was handled in a way that is worth pointing out.

Overall, this piece was just everything I could've wished for.

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

“UNIT DATING – OGRONS, OLD LOVES, AND TEMPORAL MISCHIEF”

A charming blend of timey-wimey romance, classic UNIT nostalgia, and gentle humour in a deceptively light episode.

UNIT Dating is the second episode in Stranded 2, and true to its punny title, it’s all about relationships—romantic, professional, and temporal. What initially presents as a low-stakes temporal romp soon reveals itself to be one of the more emotionally rich and character-driven entries in the Stranded saga. A tale of love across time, of UNIT oddities, and of one very polite Ogron, this episode is as sweet as it is slyly smart.

This story cleverly weaves together the past and present, with the Doctor and Andy off on a test flight into the 1970s while Helen, Liv, Tania, and Robin remain in the present. Fitton uses this divide to his advantage, giving the episode a structure that plays with cause and effect in ways that remain unseen until the final act.

RON & TONY: A LOVE WRITTEN IN TIME

At the heart of the story are Ron and Tony, the elderly couple who were previously intriguing background figures in Stranded 1. Here, they become the emotional core, with the narrative peeling back layers of their past to show how they met while working for UNIT—and how their relationship formed in the margins of a very different era.

The story gently explores their romance, subtly highlighting the contrast between attitudes towards same-sex relationships in the '70s and today. The emotional weight hits hardest in a beautifully executed final scene between Liv and Helen, drawing a touching parallel between past love stories and present-day acceptance.

BRIGS, OGRONS, AND TIME LOOPS

Jon Culshaw turns in another uncanny performance as the Brigadier, helping the 1970s setting feel vivid and nostalgic without descending into mere pastiche. Fitton’s script has fun teasing the audience’s expectations—especially with a cheeky gag that sees the Doctor’s big reunion with the Brig completely skipped over with a throwaway joke.

Meanwhile, the inclusion of an Ogron is a delightful nod to Doctor Who's colourful UNIT era. This particular Ogron, rather endearingly friendly and misunderstood, adds levity and warmth to the story. He’s a simple presence, but memorable—less a villain and more a charming plot device caught in a loop of accidental destruction.

That time loop itself is classic Doctor Who—a modest riff on Groundhog Day that mixes slapstick with sincere character development. The repeating days become a vehicle for Tony and Ron’s romance, their frustrations, their regrets, and ultimately their connection.

DOCTOR, ANDY, AND THE CHAOS OF GOOD INTENTIONS

Paul McGann’s Doctor is once again test-driving the partially functional TARDIS, this time dragging Andy into the past with him. Andy remains the lovable blunderer—never quite in control of anything, yet deeply earnest in his desire to do good. His stress and confusion are a perfect foil to the more composed Doctor, and their fish-out-of-water routine in the past is played to gentle comedic effect.

Back in the present, Helen, Liv, and Tania piece together the mystery from their side, giving the companions an active role even while separated from the Doctor. It's a nice reversal of the usual dynamic, and keeps the narrative engaging across both timelines.

UNITED ACROSS DECADES

The strength of UNIT Dating lies in its ability to balance whimsy with heart. It’s a small-scale story that never feels inconsequential thanks to the emotional weight it lends its characters—especially Ron and Tony. The title proves a clever double entendre, referencing both the chaotic continuity of UNIT’s timeline and the literal romantic entanglements of its personnel.

While the resolution to the plot sneaks in quietly and resolves itself with minimal fuss, it’s in keeping with the episode’s understated charm. This isn’t about blowing up timelines—it’s about honouring the people who lived through them.

📝VERDICT: 99/100

UNIT Dating is a lovely breather between the heavier instalments of Stranded, but don’t mistake it for filler. With warm-hearted character work, a touch of retro Who flair, and a poignant look at love across time, it’s a deceptively rich entry in the saga. Fitton’s script deftly juggles comedy and emotion, giving long-standing background characters the spotlight they deserve—and reminding us that in the midst of killer robots, time loops, and future extinctions, the small human moments are often the most powerful.

Brilliant story. Tony and Ron are great characters, and it's wonderful getting this backstory into their relationship. Also, Andy is an absolute failure of a human being, and I love him very much.

S. Maybe A+.

The ending song is me and my girlfriend's song. That's all I wanted to say. It reminds me of her every time I hear it, and this audio by proxy makes me happy. This audio is just peak too. Love wins.