2021 Doctor Who episode
"
The Halloween Apocalypse
", prefixed frequently with either "Chapter One" or "
Flux
",
[1]
[2]
is the premiere episode of the
thirteenth series
of the British
science fiction
television programme
Doctor Who
, and the first part of the six-episode serial known collectively as
Doctor Who: Flux
. It was first broadcast on
BBC One
on 31 October 2021. It was written by
showrunner
and executive producer
Chris Chibnall
, and directed by
Jamie Magnus Stone
.
The episode stars
Jodie Whittaker
as the
Thirteenth Doctor
,
Mandip Gill
as
Yasmin Khan
, and John Bishop as new
companion
Dan Lewis. The episode features the return of the
Sontarans
and
Weeping Angels
.
Plot
[
edit
]
The
Doctor
and
Yaz
are in pursuit of
Karvanista
, one of the dog-like Lupari species, for reasons unclear to Yaz. They escape from his capture and follow him to Earth in the
TARDIS
. En route, the Doctor experiences a psychic vision of Swarm, a mysterious being, escaping from its millennia-long imprisonment by the Division.
In present day
Liverpool
, Dan Lewis arranges a date with museum worker Diane before attending a shift at the soup kitchen and heading home. Karvanista breaks into his house and transports him onto his Lupari ship. The Doctor and Yaz arrive after Dan's abduction, investigating his house and discovering what appears to be a Lupari invasion fleet approaching Earth. They escape just before Dan's house is collapsed by a trap set by Karvanista. They then briefly encounter Claire, a woman who claims to have met the Doctor in the latter's future. Departing, the Doctor and Yaz are confused by the appearance of a second doorway in the TARDIS' console room. Claire is subsequently captured by a
Weeping Angel
.
On Karvanista’s ship, Yaz rescues Dan while the Doctor confronts Karvanista over his connection to the Division. Karvanista reveals that the Lupari are in fact saving humanity from Earth’s imminent destruction by the Flux, an unknown entity that defies all laws of space and time and consumes everything in its path. The Doctor, Yaz and Dan escape the ship and return to the TARDIS (where another doorway has appeared) to investigate the Flux.
Meanwhile, the Flux causes Vinder, the sole crew member of a remote outpost in deep space, to evacuate his position. It also catches the attention of the
Sontarans
, who relish the prospect of destruction it poses. Swarm attacks a base in the Arctic Circle, killing one of its two crew members and reviving his "sister" Azure from the other. Azure later lures Diane into a derelict house.
The TARDIS takes the group to an area of space where they observe the Flux from a distance. The Doctor experiences another vision of Swarm, who claims an old association with her. The Flux then accelerates its attack on Earth, before the Lupari fleet can rescue its population. The Doctor has Karvanista form a defensive shield with the other Lupari ships, protecting Earth from the Flux. However, the TARDIS is unable to transport behind the shield. The TARDIS' three doorways fly open as the Flux approaches.
Production
[
edit
]
Development
[
edit
]
"The Halloween Apocalypse" was written by showrunner and executive producer
Chris Chibnall
.
[3]
The story featured the return of the show's recurring aliens, the
Sontarans
and the
Weeping Angels
.
[4]
Casting
[
edit
]
The series is the third to feature
Jodie Whittaker
as the
Thirteenth Doctor
.
[5]
Mandip Gill
also returns as
Yasmin Khan
.
[6]
John Bishop
joined the cast for the series as Dan Lewis.
[7]
Guest actors within the episode include
Annabel Scholey
,
Rochenda Sandall
,
Sam Spruell
, Craige Els,
Steve Oram
, Nadia Albina, and
Jonathan Watson
.
[4]
[8]
Filming
[
edit
]
Jamie Magnus Stone
, who directed four episodes of the
previous series
, directed the first block, which comprised the first, second and fourth episodes of the series.
[9]
Filming was originally set to begin in September 2020,
[10]
but eventually commenced in November 2020 due to the
COVID-19 pandemic's impact on television
.
[11]
Broadcast and reception
[
edit
]
Broadcast
[
edit
]
"The Halloween Apocalypse" aired on 31 October 2021.
[1]
The episode serves as the first part of a six-part story, entitled
Flux
.
[17]
[18]
In the United States the episode aired on
BBC America
at the same time as its broadcast on BBC One.
[19]
An "extended cut" of the episode aired on BBC America later that day featuring an additional two minutes of content that had been edited out of the initial broadcast to allow for
television advertisements
.
[20]
Ratings
[
edit
]
"The Halloween Apocalypse" was watched by 4.43 million viewers overnight and a 26.9% share,
[21]
making it the second most watched programme for the night in the United Kingdom.
[22]
The episode received an
Audience Appreciation Index
score of 76.
[23]
Within seven days the total number of viewers rose to 5.81 million ranking as the ninth most viewed program for the week.
[24]
The original BBC America broadcast of the episode was watched live by 339,000 viewers, while its later evening broadcast was seen by 277,000.
[25]
Critical reception
[
edit
]
On review aggregator
Rotten Tomatoes
, 77% of 13 critics gave the episode a positive review, and an average rating of 6.8/10. The site's consensus reads, "Setting a crowded table for this season of
Doctor Who
, 'The Halloween Apocalypse' is an ambitious opener that should leave fans feeling optimistic."
[2]
References
[
edit
]
- ^
a
b
"Series 13, Ep. 1/6 - Chapter One: The Halloween Apocalypse"
.
BBC Media Centre
. Retrieved
20 October
2021
.
- ^
a
b
c
d
"Flux: The Halloween Apocalypse"
.
Rotten Tomatoes
. Retrieved
5 November
2021
.
- ^
"Chibnall Has Written All of Series 13 Solo (Bar One Episode), Confirms Directors"
.
Doctor Who TV
. 15 October 2021
. Retrieved
14 October
2021
.
- ^
a
b
Haring, Bruce (15 October 2021).
"
'Doctor Who: Flux' Releases First-Look Trailer For 13th Season, Spotlighting Guest Actors And Monsters"
.
Deadline Hollywood
. Retrieved
15 October
2021
.
- ^
Collis, Clark (22 January 2020).
"Doctor Who star Jodie Whittaker will play time traveler for at least one more season"
.
Entertainment Weekly
.
Archived
from the original on 23 January 2020
. Retrieved
23 January
2020
.
- ^
Cremona, Patrick (30 November 2020).
"Doctor Who: Mandip Gill says there's "more to come" for Yaz and her mental health storyline"
.
Radio Times
. Retrieved
1 December
2020
.
- ^
Foster, Chuck (1 January 2021).
"New companion for Series 13"
.
DoctorWhoNews.net
. Retrieved
2 January
2021
.
- ^
"Doctor Who reveals more series 13 cast including another Line of Duty star"
.
Radio Times
. Retrieved
19 October
2021
.
- ^
Laford, Andrea (9 August 2021).
"Doctor Who Series 13 and 2022 specials: directors and casting news"
.
CultBox
. Retrieved
11 August
2021
.
- ^
Jeffery, Morgan (16 February 2020).
"Doctor Who series 13 to begin filming in autumn 2020"
.
Radio Times
. Retrieved
17 February
2020
.
- ^
"Doctor Who showrunner Chris Chibnall confirms three episodes cut from next series"
.
Radio Times
. Retrieved
11 November
2020
.
- ^
Nicholson, Tom (31 October 2021).
"Doctor Who review - A promising start to Jodie Whittaker's closing run"
.
www.standard.co.uk
.
- ^
"Doctor Who - The Halloween Apocalypse review: Chris Chibnall turns up the heat for a fast, fun-packed opener"
.
Radio Times
.
- ^
"Doctor Who returns with a new experiment in serialized storytelling"
.
The A.V. Club
.
- ^
"John Bishop is the shining light in Doctor Who's chaotic series 13 opener ? review"
.
The Independent
. 31 October 2021.
Archived
from the original on 18 June 2022.
- ^
Hogan, Michael (31 October 2021).
"Doctor Who: Flux, episode 1 review: Whittaker's long goodbye has begun and it was bafflingly hectic"
.
The Telegraph
– via www.telegraph.co.uk.
- ^
Haring, Bruce (9 October 2021).
"
'Doctor Who: Flux' Unveils Season 13 Trailer, Promises New Villains For Jodie Whittaker Finale"
.
Deadline Hollywood
. Retrieved
9 October
2021
.
- ^
Mellor, Louisa (9 October 2021).
"Doctor Who Series 13 is Titled 'Flux' and Starts On Halloween"
.
Den of Geek
. Retrieved
9 October
2021
.
- ^
Cooper, Matt (31 October 2021).
"What to watch on TV: 'Doctor Who,' 'Narcos: Mexico,' the World Series and more"
.
Los Angeles Times
. Retrieved
2 November
2021
.
- ^
Jacobs, Meredith (31 October 2021).
"How to Watch the 'Doctor Who: Flux' Premiere on BBC America This Weekend"
.
TV Insider
. Retrieved
2 November
2021
.
- ^
Marcus (1 November 2020).
"The Halloween Apocalypse - Overnight Viewing Figures"
.
Doctor Who News
. Retrieved
2 November
2021
.
- ^
"Ratings Guide"
.
Doctor Who News
. Retrieved
5 November
2021
.
- ^
Foster, Chuck (2 November 2021).
"The Halloween Apocalypse - Appreciation Index"
.
Doctor Who News
. Retrieved
3 November
2021
.
- ^
"Four-screen dashboard"
.
Broadcasters' Audience Research Board
. Retrieved
8 November
2021
.
- ^
Metcalf, Mitch (2 November 2021).
"SHOWBUZZDAILY's Sunday 10.31.2021 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals UPDATED"
.
ShowbuzzDaily
. Retrieved
8 November
2021
.
External links
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