The Doctor becomes embroiled in an attempt to replace the Tsar of Russe…

Sarah Grochala’s historical tale takes the Doctor to Moscow at the start of the 17th century – a time of plotting, mistaken identity, hidden love and… alien invasion? It’s a period of history I don’t know that well, but Grochala sets up the necessary information very quickly, so we understand what the stakes are, and just how critical the role of the Tsar is. There’s plenty of misunderstandings in this – some of which are deliberately created by those the Doctor realises are responsible, others of which are committed by the Time Lord himself – but one of the most fundamental turns out to be the most important to the resolution, and Christopher Eccleston sells the moments of realisation well.

Helen Goldwyn’s direction keeps multiple balls in the air successfully – essential in a story with the narrative tricks it employs – and allows the very human elements at the centre of it to come to the fore. Alexander Arnold, Jack Myers, Katy Brittain and John Banks convince in their roles, while Iain Meadows’ sound design and Howard Carter’s score capture the echoey feel of the Kremlin and its environs.

Verdict: A historical without the celebrity is a change of pace for 21st century Who, and this shows it can work well. 8/10

Paul Simpson

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