Demons of the Punjab [TV/2018.11.11]
★★★★★
The first instant classic from the Jodie Whittaker era, Demons of the Punjab shows just how good Doctor Who can get when it occasionally pulls out all the stops. I'd go as far as to say an episode of this calibre hadn't been seen in the revived series since at least Heaven Sent of Series 9; it is that good.
Oh, to count the ways in which I love Demons of the Punjab. There's Jodie Whittaker firmly in her shoes as the Doctor, Mandip Gill given fantastic material as Yaz (obviously, since this is her episode), and Tosin Cole and Bradley Walsh being the respectful friends we all wish we had. There's the fact that this is the closest we ever got to a pure historical in televised Doctor Who since, if memory serves correctly, 1982's Black Orchid. There are the Thijarians, alien beings whose race renounced their bloodthirsty ways to honor the lonesome dead of the universe — there's a lesson to be learned there. There's Segun Akinola's impossibly beautiful music, creating a symphony with Jamie Childs' direction and the general visual splendor of the episode, and climaxing on one of the most wonderful Doctor Who theme compositions. There's the age-old lesson that fixed time cannot be rewritten, no matter how unjust or cruel it can be; Yaz's eyes tell us that she learned the danger of history, and will never forget it. There is the stronger characterisation of the Thirteenth Doctor, with Vinay Patel writing her as a traveller who enjoys little pleasures as they come but never lose sight on the priority of keeping her friends safe. That's the Doctor, that is.
The British Partition of India was a bold topic to tackle in a BBC programme, and I applaud Patel and everyone else involved for their dedication to bring this to life in the most faithful, beautiful way possible. There is no sugar-coating here; death is brought upon those that are different, those that have different beliefs... and your most treasured loved ones may be holding a gun against your head the next day. This episode is harrowing, an uncomfortable part of history we must all face, and it is my belief that this was one very successful effort.
*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ
I could go on for ages about this, you know. Demons of the Punjab is Doctor Who firing on all cylinders, one of its many peaks and one that will undoubtedly be talked about for years to come. This isn't just another great episode of Doctor Who, this feels important — it's a snapshot of history, telling us of imperialism and discrimination. Moreover, it's a tale of broken families and hardships, all wrapped up in the most gorgeous imagery and soundscape imaginable. To mimic what I said at the beginning of this review... an instant classic.
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