Flux: Chapter Three - Once, Upon Time

I actually quite enjoyed this. I usually wouldn't bother writing a review but I kinda went ham on the last episode so it's only fair ig. I was gripped right the way through and even though the pacing was choppy and there was quite a lot happening, i still like the way the plot developed. It also seemed to really tone down the usual issues, although they were still present to an extent (people not talking and behaving like normal people, relentless action etc). This wasn't amazing by any means, especially considering this is supposed to be the biggest story Who has ever done or whatever, but all the same this was a step in the right direction and probably the best episode to come out of the Chibnall era, or maybe second to fugitive. Im on my knees for it to not revert back to the quality of the last two episodes.

I haven't really been enjoying this season. It has been confusing to me, with all the muddled up stories. After this episode, I increased my rating from 5 to 6 - not that much better, but it is still maintaining my interest.

But there were a few little things that spoiled it for me. For example, there was a line in the previous episode when the Doc asked Swarm "What do you want?" to which he replied, "All in good time..." I don't know if that was a pun or not, but I found it to be weak. The same question was asked again in this episode, and the reply was that he wanted to "reign in hell". Really? Hell? That one line annoyed me so much and I am not sure why. Maybe it's because I was thinking of the "Satan Pit" episode, which so cleverly handled the subjects of Satan, hell, etc.

And maybe it's just me, but the Bel character's narration gave me (unpleasant) flashbacks to Clara. I guess her love story was okay, but a bit too soppy for my liking. Dan's love story not so much.

Anyway, next week's episode looks like it might be interesting. Who knows? Maybe my rating will increase again.

This episode seems to be convoluted and confusing for sake of it. Chibnall thinks he is being clever with this and failing.

CGI is also pretty poor. The scenes of Doctor being trapped in time are almost embarrassing to watch.

Hansel and Gretel have lured the Time Lord and Bishop Twankey to the Temple of Atropos where Yaz and Vinder are already statuesque (comes quite naturally). The Doctor gets to delve into past and future and somewhere in-between with a bit of role play, when you're not quite sure of the day, or night, but where unrevealed secrets are brought into light, and probably misinterpreted. There's also an introduction to Bel, who at the moment we're not that interested in, and if I'm honest I don't think we'll ever be that bothered. What is of note and was unfurled, was that the Mouri are not from New Zealand and not of this world, definitely not from New Zealand because I've been there, but like Atropos, it's all Greek to me, but I prefer the salad and raki, ah yes, some Angel activity, enough to make you weep, ball your eyes out and cry yourself to sleep (just be mindful of those mucous monsters from what seems like a long forgotten twelfth Doctor though, now that was awful! That moon egg still haunts me too!!! So it's not just this clown making us frown).

Tonight's episode of Doctor Who is surprisingly difficult to review because "Once Upon Time" is essentially the vague punchline to a joke we haven't actually heard yet. Thus, our proper reactions will verge heavily on whether the said joke ends up being funny... Which is something we'll only be able to know for certain in the future.

Hence, as of yet, our opinions of it ironically remain in "flux".

Until then (when we finally have more clarity), all the story does is continue to tease things still yet to come, secrets which will later be revealed & plot developments that'll be addressed in "Village of The Angels", the penultimate installment "Survivors of The Flux" or the (currently unnamed) final chapter.

The narrative is specifically designed & constructed for one sole purpose: to keep us (the viewers) watching - like an advertisement for the show existing within itself - urging us to stick with the series, making promises we're unsure it's intending to keep.