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The Ghost Monument - Review

WARNING  - SPOILERS AHEAD

 So I’ll admit, The Ghost Monument was probably one of the least complex stories we’ve seen on the show for a while. There were no sudden twists or revelations to the main plot to throw viewers off guard. The discovery that the Ghost Monument was (spoiler alert!) the TARDIS, was sinfully obvious, and even the monstrosity of the ribbon/bandage creatures, that are apparently called The Remnants, was so clearly foreshadowed through the use of camera shots and music that I was sure there was something bad going on surrounding them, way before anything actually happened.

But does the simplicity of the story mean it was a bad episode? Absolutely not! Sure, it wasn’t a surprising episode, but it was actually rather refreshing to not be thrown around plot twists every few seconds, and instead to focus on the characters and their involvement in the story. The episode had me laughing, and holding my breath, and jumping for joy. Everything a good episode should make you do.

Despite this, there were just a couple of things that didn’t feel quite right to me. First of all the dangerousness of the planet. Sure you have sniper bots and killer ribbons, but it’s repeatedly stated that the planet itself is highly dangerous, “This entire planet had been made cruel”. The water has flesh-eating microbes in it, the atmosphere is supposedly toxic, and they have to cross mist swamps and mountains, but none of this ever seems like any real danger. No-one almost dies in the water, the toxicity of the atmosphere is apparently no big deal, as our heroes are able to walk around and breath absolutely fine, and we never even see mist swamps or mountains. Maybe Chibnall felt that two monsters and the villainous Ilin (played by Art Malik) was enough danger for one episode, but for me, the threats of a cruel world fell a little flat.

In addition to this, the one thing that did come as a surprise to me was the mention of the Stenza, and I’m really not sure how I feel about the implied story arc that brings. I was very excited when Chibnall revealed that each episode would be completely stand alone. Don’t get me wrong, I did love some of the previous season's arcs, and how cleverly everything would twist into itself and connect right at the last moment. However, the format was beginning to feel a bit stale, so for Chibnall to say he was abandoning this idea in favour of stand-alone episodes really peaked my enthusiasm. And now, well now I feel slightly betrayed, the Stenza are clearly an overall bad guy of the season and combined with that we have another mystery surrounding the Doctor. “The Timeless Child […] the outcast, abandoned and unknown”, The Remnants chant, digging around in the Doctor’s head. Am I intrigued by who or what they could be referring to? Of course I am. Could Chibnall bring a fresh new perspective and style to the format of the season arc? Yes, he certainly could. I really hope he does, and this season stays as amazing as it has started. But that doesn’t change the fact he promised stand-alone episodes, and so far it seems, that is not what has been delivered.

So, at last, the TARDIS wheezes into view (as we all knew it would) and we finally get the reveal that we’ve all been waiting for. And it is magnificent. The new TARDIS is suitably steampunk, and grungy, with an all new control panel featuring a mini spinning TARDIS, hourglass, and custard cream dispenser. But the best bit of the reveal? It’s Jodie, hands down. Her facial expressions, her pure joy at seeing the new TARDIS is unlike any reaction we’ve seen before (from Doctor, or companion), and it just makes the moment so magical. Throughout the episode, Jodie continues to bring such a humanity to the Doctor, such compassion and sincerity, that it is impossible not to love her.

 Overall, I would rate the episode roughly on par with last weeks (although for completely different reasons), and I am excited to see what next weeks 'Rosa' has in store for the Doctor, and her new best friends.

Highlights
The opening credits
That dramatic flourish Jodie does every single time the Doctor uses the sonic.
Ryan’s Call of Duty moment/blunder (and the fact he just straight up admits it was a mistake and he was wrong)
Angstrom - badass space gay (“My wife died because of them”. “So did mine”.)
The new TARDIS
The humanity of the Doctor.

 Questions
Who/what is the timeless Child?
If the atmosphere was toxic, how were they able to survive?
How were the Remnants able to get inside the Doctor’s mind?
Will Ryan ever call Graham Grandad?
Why was the planet out of orbit?
Why are the Stenza cleansing planets?

 What did you think of this weeks episode? What questions were you left with as the credits rolled? Let me know in the comments below, and don't forget to share this review with all your Whovian friends!
- E.S
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Comments

  1. Jamie15 October 2018 at 19:11

    Another brilliant review! I totally agree about the atmosphere, like they kept saying how dangerous it was, but it was never shown. No one was ever really in any danger, I never believed any of them would die.
    Overall I loved the episode, I'm loving 13 more and more each episode, and I can't wait for next week :)

    ReplyDelete

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