REVIEW: ‘Doctor Who Season 1 Episode 3’ — “Boom”

Doctor Who Season 1 Episode 3, “Boom” continues the new era created in a collaboration between the BBC and Disney+. Directed by Julie Anne Robinson and written by Steven Moffatt. The Doctor and Ruby, played by Ncuti Gatwa and Millie Gibson, land on a war-torn planet with hostile ambulances and militaristic bishops. But their adventure is halted when The Doctor steps on a landmine.

In a series that has so far been sprawling, energetic, and adventurous, “Boom” slows right down. The episode spends almost its entire runtime in one place, hovering around the Doctor’s situation. The Doctor has his foot on a landmine, and so cannot move at all. This causes the story to come to The Doctor and Ruby, not vice versa.  Excessive emotions or dramatic movement could cause the futuristic explosive to detonate.

Within the story is an in-depth and expansive social commentary on just about every facet of society. Moffat touches on capitalism, warfare, faith, healthcare, algorithms, and many more subjects within the same plot. They all connect, feeding into similar problems and creating an extremely hostile location that the time travelers have landed on. Blurring the lines between bishops and soldiers is a callback to some of Moffatt’s previous work, which hints at a longer, more drawn-out idea around the concept.

Moffatt displays not just contempt for many of the themes analysed within the script but a seething rage. The former Doctor Who showrunner repeats the phrase “thoughts and prayers” countless times, and each time, they are spoken with either disdain or a sickly saccharine. The pacing may be slower than in previous iterations, but that is perfect. The tone is still intense, and the tension makes blood pulse through the veins.

And yet, the brilliance of Doctor Who Season 1 Episode 3’s concept means that the Doctor and everyone have to remain calm to prevent calamity. This is elicited at every possible moment, from venomous monologues to tearful tragedies. The issue and the ending address death in a way that is ruthless and unflinching while also being touching and caring within the same scenes.

The fact that “Boom” is stationary and slower forces some phenomenal performances from its actors. Gatwa is phenomenal, displaying tremendous range within the fifty-minute runtime. He has to stay completely still for practically the whole episode. And yet, the performance is incredibly physical, with delectable facial expressions. His tearful and terrified expressions are stunning.

Always hilarious, this is among the first instances where this incarnation of The Doctor gets angry. Really angry. Gatwa displays that presence again, with a fury that shrinks those it aims at. A bit of sass is laced within the lines, shrinking the subject of his anger with mockery. He laughs in their faces and scoffs at stupidity.

As for Ruby, her defiance and power shine through. Her disgust at the society they land in instantly reveals how intelligent and righteous she is. She is still incredibly new to the adventures, bewildered by the immediate danger and heartache befalling her. Gibson can be quick and chatty but stops and lets her face say just as much. When needed, her caring side makes itself known when a young girl comes to find her father.

A heartbreaking conflict on how to proceed is replaced with brutal honesty, and at that moment, Ruby is forced to mature. This episode features the first signs of rebellion and conflict between the pair. All of it happens through a place of love, but it demonstrates what happens when The Doctor and Ruby are not on the same side of an argument. The performances heighten a script from Moffatt that is already dripping with emotion, capturing every word immaculately.

The production is fascinating due to how static it is. It is equal parts simple and complicated. Aside from the opening, the cast is in an exploded crater. It reduces the visibility of the ravaged planet and presses the shots close to the characters. This draws every drop of emotion from their faces. Some props are insidious and revolting, highlighting the cruelty of the location masked with kindness. But in the sky is a stunning canvas of space, giving Ruby her first glimpse of an alien world. The simplicity of the setting provides Moffat’s message room to breathe.

Doctor Who Season 1 Episode 3 is perfectly profound. Where Russell T. Davies was adventurous and loud with his first forays into the new era, Moffat is quiet and precise. The ending in Moffat’s run as showrunner sometimes suggested that his star was burning out. But in this episode, we are reminded of his experience and capabilities. It’s a story that takes aim at everything, but there is a control and a connection to all of it.

The issues investigated all stem from a similar beginning, and Moffat can unleash hellfire over it all. Doctor Who Season 1 Episode 3 really feels like a piece of theatre rather than a sci-fi, time travel show. The cast has shown that they can be on the centre stage with hardly anyone else involved and captivate the audience.

Boom is available on BBCiPlayer in the UK and Disney+ everywhere else.