A pluri-temporal tater invasion splinters the fam across history while the baddies provide time stream tech support
The Mummy Returns, The Serpent is the Plain Foe, and Indiyaza Jones and the Candle of Tomb
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Three years have passed since Yaz, Dan and Jericho were Angeled back to the past, and she’s been Indiana Jonesing around the world with her new fam, trying desperately to hamfist a dotted red line composited onto a map into this episode’s b-plot. Bla bla bla something about the end of the world and tunnels through space and time.
Meanwhile, five seconds have passed since the Doc was Angeled, and it turns out she’s not an Angel anymore, they just petrified her for the pigeon shits and giggles, and to transport her to the one place Tecteun told her she should never come, courtesy of… well… that’d be Tecteun again. Yada yada yada Grand Serpent UNIT Kagels Sontarans.
Hi folks
The Doctor’s part of this is fairly similar to that in The Timeless Children with Tectuan taking over The Master. At least there isn’t the powerpoint presentation and the Doctor has a bit more interaction with Tectuan, so in a way this is an improved version upon TTC. Well, that’s something I suppose. The setting for the Division HQ is cool, though it reminds me of something from the pre-2005 novels where the CIA (the Gallifreyan one) took themselves out of the universe and sat outside watching.
Yaz being so certain how to get rid of a dead body is…interesting for a police officer. Some fairly nice scenes of Yaz, Dan and Jericho. They are actually a fairly good grouping, though I think the Chibnall trademark quick cutting between locations announced by title card does belittle their journey. It would be nice if it was shown more of.
I’m viewing the setting up of UNIT here as an alt-history version of what is actually in the normal timeline due to the Grand Serpent interfering with things. Also Lethbridge-Stewart being a corporal in 1967 is not how military ranks work. He would have had to have gone to an officer academy (Sandhurst) and it’s very rare for officers to come up through the ranks.
This is very much an episode where everything is being set in place ready for the finale which is always a problem when you have this kind of length of story (see classic series). It’s alright but nothing special 3.3/5
Cheers
Kieren
Hi Chaps,
So, after one of all-time best cliffhangers, we get one of the all-time worst resolutions! That aside though this episode barrels along nicely, throwing out plot points left right and centre.
Likes
The seer – brilliantly fun
Yaz, Dan and Jericho’s globetrotting. I love their relationship and banter.
Steve Oram as Williamson, his relief at Yaz & Co believing him is great.
Beefs
How is the Grand Serpent moving through time? Did I miss something?
Ok so this may be niche, but Lethbridge-Stewart is said to be a corporal, yet he went to Sandhurst meaning he’d be at least a 2nd Lieutenant – if you’re gonna start messing with UNIT history at least try and get basics right.
The exposition! I know it cursed the Chibnall era, but it’s so clunky
When Vinder gets taken by Passenger he materializes inside him but shows no signs of disorientation – he doesn’t even look around to see where he came from, he just draws his gun and walks down the steps
Overall, by no means the best story in flux I did find it barrelled along nicely, and while not all plot points get resolved it’s an enjoyable episode.
I award this 3.7 dead bodies thrown overboard out of 5
Andy Parkinson
@caffreys71
Hello awesome people!
Here is my mini review for “ Survivors of the Flux”
Urgh! I really don’t like this Division storyline.
And why does the current humour still seem so forced?
This episode does have some good points, like ( possibly ) the Brigadier speaking in the UNIT building. If so, that was a great nod. I approve.
And, I found this storyline far more interesting than the Whitaker stuff.
I’m also glad Jericho was still here. Why can’t he be our new companion? Please? Better yet, make him the Doctor!
Once again Dan was totally superfluous to the story, but it was great to see Yaz with some get up and go.
Production was pretty good, the special effects were top notch, especially the Serpent.
“Is what the Master told me true?”…..”Yes”
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
“Humans are annoying, especially him”
Couldn’t agree more mate, couldn’t agree more.
Rating: 2.2 Sad Oods working for Tecteun
Cheers
GP Haynes
Australia
Likes:
– Yaz and company’s fun Indiana Jones mini adventures, and the wonderful teasing shaman dude – one of my favourite scenes of Jodie’s reign (obviously second favourite to you-know-who’s cameo in Power of the Doctor).
– The birth of UNIT! Bagels’s soothing voice! A cheeky reference to the War Machines!
– Wacky Joseph Williamson – I really want to visit his Tunnels! (hehehe).
Beefs:
– Put the blankets over the fuse Yaz you total muppet!
– The ‘protect the earth from displaced aliens’ has an ugly undertone of ‘Stop The (space) Boats’. It risks providing Suella inspiration for a loony speech about woke Daleks and Cybermen “comin’ over here to steal our benefits!”
– Surely the worst snake effect in ‘Who History. And that includes the rubber Mara in Snakedance. C-Minus effects people! Stop snoozing on the job!
– I query the feasibility of: 1) painting such a neat message over such a large jungle; and 2) maintaining the message’s legibility over 120 years.
Rating: should we even rate Flux as an individual episodes? If so, 4/5 cheeky chuckles the mountain dude provided. One whole point for him. Make him a new companion please!