Doctor Who Review: The Tsungara Conundrum (Season 11 Episode 5)

We’re halfway through the Thirteenth Doctor’s maiden voyage and we’re greeted with bombs, tiny adorable aliens that eat metal, and a pregnant man.

As ridiculous as that list sounds, Doctor Who Season 11 Episode 5, “The Tsungara Conundrum,” is a high-stakes ship-under-siege story that is as much about the character the doctor meets along the way as the plot itself.

Jodie Whittaker has found her footing as the Doctor, and it has all the humor we have come to expect from the Time Lord. The three companions she has to play off of also add to the humor.

The opening on the junk planet is hilarious, and a great way to get them onto the medical ship. The thing is, once they’re on the ship, we also get a scenario with no Tardis, and the sonic taken out of commission really quickly.

I really appreciate how the doctor isn’t relying on fancy toys or tech talk this season, but instead on knowledge and people. It’s a nice shift from plot-driven science fiction, and it’s one that  “The Tsungara Conundrum’s” navigates expertly.

However, the bad guy doesn’t seem that formidable.

Unlike the spiders in Doctor Who Season 11 Episode 4, “Arachnids in the UK,” which were generally terrifying if not for some easy comparisons to Aragog in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, the threat in “The Tsungara Conundrum” is adorable at first glance and terrifying when it shows its teeth.

The Pting itself isn’t terrifying, it’s actions are terrifying and the fact that such a tiny being is unstoppable.  Since there isn’t really a fi-fo-fo-fum threat to be had here, it’s really up to the main cast and the side cast to pull together and ultimately carry the episode.

Yoss’s pregnancy storyline is interesting, and not just because he’s a pregnant male. It’s also that it brings up feelings Ryan has about his dad. There’s also a subtle new life vs. end-of-life contrast when the story is paired with patient Eve Cicero.

The little sibling rivalry that goes on between Eve and her brother Durkas serve as a very touching b-plot to the main danger.  The rivalry between Eve and Durkas feels very common and the fact that she dies and has to hand her brother control just adds to the moment of love and understanding between them.

Overall, “The Tsungara Conundrum” might not be an action-packed episode, but the character stories are what make it a strong outing. 

Stray Thoughts:

• Does it bother anyone that we don’t know who set off the sonic bomb? Because it’s kind of bothering me a little bit.
• Okay, the Doctor has already lost her Tardis twice. Can she not lose it again this season?
• Graham’s response to Yoss’s pregnancy saying that he’s seen every episode of Call the Midwife but looks away during the squeamish bits isn’t
• Yoss named his son Avocado Pear after a superhero. My initial read on this was: “Oh history gets so skewed by time.” Then it turned into: “Wait, is this commentary on some of our naming practices?” Then finally went to: “Well, it is over 40 centuries into the future.
• Did anyone else want to shove the Doctor into a chair and tell her to take it easy when she started to walk around the ship looking for a way out? On the same note, she hit the nail on the head when it came to talking about posted signage.
• The Pting actually reminds me of what might happen if a koala met Stitch (yes, from Lilo & Stitch).
• I really want to try neuro-piloting! That looks amazing.

What did you think of this episode of Doctor Who? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Doctor Who airs Sundays at 8/7c on BBC America.

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