Legend of the Sea Devils [TV/2022.4.17]

★★★☆☆

  What could have been (or, on paper, actually was) pretty darn mediocre turns into a much more enjoyable romp thanks to some elaborate setwork, a shockingly good directorial showcase from Haolu Wang (the Dutch angles and the POV handhelds made my heart leap... more of her for the new series going forward, please), and an extended discussion into Yaz's love for the Doctor and the Doctor feeling pretty much the same thing -- and being too afriad of the approaching end to commit herself to a proper relationship. Despite the fact that (like many episodes of the Chris Chibnall era) the way it shifts from action adventure to reserved character moments is pretty jarring, the adventure ultimately benefits from more material to sink your teeth into. 

  This era has been visually stunning from the off, and nowadays it's no surprise that a giant sea creature is brought to life pretty convincingly and in style -- how lucky are we, eh? It's also good to see that Who hasn't lost its penchant for great practical effects and makeup, as the Sea Devils are proper nasty and lifelike. Yes, their eyes are comically large, but that's the weirdness that adds to the charm, see? I could very much believe them to be living, breathing creatures, which is more than what I could say for some rubber monsters I've seen during my long, ongoing history with the mythos. I understand some people may believe visuals and set designs are subservient to the plot and narrative, but I consider them equal parts of the same end result -- and when all these other aspects are pretty darn good, the performances from the regulars and guest cast are also pretty good (Jodie Whittaker just aces the awkward and hopelessly distant nature of Thirteen, doesn't she?), and the story itself isn't bad by any means, I tend to... quite enjoy a Doctor Who episode. Yeah, I enjoyed Legend of the Sea Devils. Once again, I'm left baffled by the negative reception of a Chibnall-era adventure.