I notice this one is rated TV-14 for "strong coarse language and intense violence" - not sure if other Doctor Who episodes had that rating on Disney Plus.

I realize it's probably just a British quarry at night, but the new planet reminds me of the prison planet from the 13th Doctor's last season.

It's likely just a common sci-fi trope, but my brain jumped to Aliens when it shows an abandoned mining colony on a barren dark world.

I have a bad feeling about Troopers 4-10.

I think I've seen rumours, or voice clips in trailers, that this episode is a sequel to another one. Not sure if it's something like the Beast or Weeping Angels.

Okay, going by the "nuke the site from orbit" comment, they're definitely going for Aliens vibes.

Maybe the Vashta Nerada? I doubt it, though; they wouldn't leave corpses intact.

I forget if the Vashta Nerada have only appeared in the one two-parter.

I'm guessing that whatever's going on has to do with hearing, as Aliss is either deaf or hard of hearing (not sure which) and she's seemingly immune. (unless her hearing problems or her immunity is a ruse)

Okay, Aliss just did the shifty eye thing. She's faking something.

shifty eyed dog

They really should put guard rails around that well.

I wonder if whatever happened to keep the Doctor and Belinda from getting to Earth in 2025 resulted in Earth being erased from future history.

Now that I've typed it, I realize that's a bit of an oxymoron, but that comes with the territory of time travel.

Okay, it's definitely not the Vashta Nerada. Maybe that perfect hider from one of 12's episodes? (though I'm not sure if that ever existed to begin with or if it was just a product of the Doctor's paranoia)

Ohhhhhh no

The mention of an Xtonic star and the carbon on the surface has me thinking I know what this is a sequel to now.

Also, the entity (whatever it is) survived for around half a billion years. (or maybe it's a different one of the same species - I was under the impression there was only one, though that could be jumping to conclusions)

"Look behind her. All of you, look." Yeah, because nothing could possibly go wrong if that happens.

The description of the creature (killing whoever looks at its host's back and jumping to whoever kills its host) reminds me of a Stand from JoJo's Bizarre Adventure.

I managed to pause it on a shot of the side of the creature's head, though fittingly, the screenshot couldn't actually be pasted onto Plurk. (though I'm guessing I just can't take a screenshot of Disney Plus)

I find it ironic that Cassio has the current leader dismissed due to a lack of competence, only for him to get most of his fellow soldiers killed due to sheer incompetence.

(after one soldier dies, he knows for a fact that the creature will kill whoever's on the opposite side of Aliss when someone else is in front of her, and yet he basically runs in a circle around her)

I get that they're trying to show that the Doctor is more open to expressing his emotions, but having the Doctor cry in seemingly every episode feels like it's overdoing it. (it makes the times where it does happen feel less special)

"How many can fit in the airlock?"
"Six."
"And there's seven of us... Shaya, get ready with that pistol!"
if not for the triumphant music playing, my mind would have went to a very dark place.

I feel like this isn't going to work - it seems too easy.

Having Aliss run first seems like a bad idea. (in case the entity was still there)

Oh no.

Also, the credits listed Paul Kasey as playing "It Has No Name". (guessing those are the creature's whispers)

Or maybe he played the physical form that we see briefly. (speaking of which, I'm glad that it didn't reveal anything about the creature and kept it unknowable/mysterious - there's always the concern of revisiting something scary that they'll try to explain it and take away the horror as a result)