Doctor Who Series 11 Review #3 - Rosa by Majoire Blackman and Chris Chibnall

Here we are finally,

Rosa by Majorie Blackman and Chris Chibnall

Rosa is the third story and third episode of the 11th series of the modern era, and 13th Doctor's third series as well.

This episode marks the second time in the history of the show where the Doctor Who theme does not play in the closing credits. Now don't get me wrong, the episode was impactful but to put on the same scale of a death of a companion (I know it was Adric) seems wrong to me. This episode was a gem by series 11 standards though, it dealt with a real issue quite well I would say and although it was political correctness which was the series in a nutshell, it wasn't over the top, which was good.

Doctor Rating

13th Doctor - 7/10 - Jodie felt more in charge in this one than previously, of which I was pleased about. She took the stage and delivered the lines better, but it still was a bit CBBC

Companion Rating

Ryan Sinclair - 7/10 - Again Ryan felt a bit more alive in this episode. His delivery of when speaking to Martin Luther King and then to Rosa Parks payed off as I laughed. He still feels really awkward but this one did feel a bit more personal for Ryan

Yas Khan - 7/10 - Again same for Yas. She felt more real in this episode. Although it was only a throw away line, the one about her boyfriend from year 10 just made her feel more human and the line came at an appropriate time and wasn't just chucked in there which I know, through the benefit of hindsight, does occur later on in the series

Graham O'Biren - 8/10 - The little reference of Grace was acted so well by Bradley. He really was a good character in this one. Steve Jobs bit was very funny too

Enemy Rating

Krasko - 5/10 - Our space racist from the future in true pantomine style. His motives were well and good but he wasn't very threatening and he was just dealt with in a lacklusture way. Poor villains and poor pay offs for them is a common theme in this series

Story Rating

Story: 7/10 - This wasn't anything special other than dealing with an important issue. The actual story is quite simplistic.

Scariness: 5/10 - Krasko first couldn't aim and then that was then explained that he couldn't kill, which in turn made it not that scary. The seriousenss of the situation which is separate to scariness in my marking did provide a bit of fear factor

Seriousness: 9/10 - It didn't need to be universe exploding for it to be serious. I genially was on the edge of my sit hoping Rosa would be able to get to the bus on time. Therefore a high score is necessary here

Continuity: 6/10  - No references to the past really but the story made sense and flowed well. I deducted an entire point for the closing credits having a pop song in them. That is not Doctor Who.

Rest of Cast Performance

Rosa Parks - 8/10 - No fault in the acting, she played the part well. I think she could have been portrayed as more likeable but it is possible that Rosa was like that in real life, I don't know

James Blake: 8/10 - He was more believable than the villain. He seemed like a genuine human racist, which is good in the sense of portrayal but obviously racism isn't good

Total: 81/110

Series 11 Rankings:
The Woman who Fell to Earth: 64.29%

The Ghost Monument: 62.14%

Rosa: 73.63%

Scores out of 10:

The Woman who Fell to Earth: 6/10

The Ghost Monument: 6/10

Rosa: 7/10*

*As I have now seen all of the main run of series 11 and have loosened away from the recent episode syndrome I have lowered quite a few of my marks. Therefore on here I will initially have my score I had at the time before than lowering the score when I thought in my head to lower it. 

Rosa at this stage was my favourite episode, shown through my review and through my own brain.

In terms of when I will review the rest of the series, the answer is I just don't know but hopefully soon.

I am looking forward to the New Year Day's feature of the Daleks