Doctor Who: Wild Blue Yonder Review - 9 Ups And 2 Downs

The Star Beast went at a million miles a minute, speedrunning the character moments and giving this week’s story room to breathe. It walked so that Wild Blue Yonder could run, and run it did.

This, plus the lack of cast members to introduce in this episode, also meant that Wild Blue Yonder really had time to spare in a way few episodes of this show ever do, allowing for a proper slow-burn mystery.

We get to spend plenty of time exploring and planting the seeds of intrigue: the shifting walls, the unknown language, the ploddy little robot and the empty ship drifting at the fringe of reality are all introduced gradually, and the discussion takes its time to really work through each of them, giving us insight into the Doctor’s thought process as he deciphers what’s going on.

The other thing this reduced pace is absolutely fantastic for is building the atmosphere – that feeling of isolation and ever-present tension are only achieved through that prolonged period of time with just these two characters on screen, and a score that is uncharacteristically subtle punctuates that loneliness by making the scenes feel empty.

This is a big part of why the psychological thriller vibe of the rest of the episode works so damn well.