Half-Time Lord
- Publication: Daily Mirror
- Date: 2021-11-05
- Author: Ian Hyland
- Page: 21
- Language: English
Twenty minutes into her farewell tour aboard the TARDIS, Jodie Whittaker almost spoke for the nation when she asked: "What's the flux?"
I can't have been the only viewer yelling a similar-sounding exclamation during a breathless and utterly confusing series opener.
There was lots going on in Doctor Who: Flux, for sure. Just don't ask me to explain any of it.
To be fair, I was still recovering from the fact the BBC had, for once, decided against issuing an important trigger warning before the show. I'm not referring to the possible harmful effects of scary aliens, flashing lights or John Bishop's acting.
I'm talking about the Doctor's famous spaceship touching down outside Anfield exactly one week after Liverpool had annihilated Manchester United up the road. Did no one consider Ole Gunnar Solskjaer or the millions of still-traumatised United fans - some of whom were probably on Day 7 of cowering behind the sofa?
Then again, given the way Mo Salah had completed his hat-trick, perhaps Anfield was the ideal destination for a phenomenal machine that glides through space at warp speed.
It was all Cheshire lad John Bishop's fault.
He was doing what he does best. Playing a Scouser.
Dan Lewis (Bishop) was a salt-of-the-earth lad whose life was turned upside down when a 6ft alien kicked his door in on Halloween.
I mean, I know trick or treaters can be a little over-eager sometimes, but that was a bit much.
Turned out the alien in question was a dog-like bruiser called Karvanista who was known to the Doctor.
Well, I say dog-like, but he actually looked more like someone had misread the washing instructions on Bungle from Rainbow's costume.
Luckily, the other space-botherers had fared better in the make-up and wardrobe departments.
There were old Doctor Who favourites like the Sontarans (no, with those heads I don't know why they bother wearing helmets either) as well as the creepy Weeping Angels.
We also met a spiky brother and sister duo who would not have shamed the more extravagant budgets at Marvel.
This pair were involved in yet another end of the universe plotline, which is set to unfold over the next eight instalments or so.
By the end of all that we should find the answer to the only question most casual viewers are actually interested in: Who's taking over from Jodie?
The BBC is keeping cards close to chests on that one.
At this stage, though, it would appear extremely foolish to rule out Jurgen Klopp or King Kenny.
Caption: FLUX Jodie and John. Above, alien Karvanista
Caption: WHO ARE YA? The TARDIS at Anfield
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- APA 6th ed.: Hyland, Ian (2021-11-05). Half-Time Lord. Daily Mirror p. 21.
- MLA 7th ed.: Hyland, Ian. "Half-Time Lord." Daily Mirror [add city] 2021-11-05, 21. Print.
- Chicago 15th ed.: Hyland, Ian. "Half-Time Lord." Daily Mirror, edition, sec., 2021-11-05
- Turabian: Hyland, Ian. "Half-Time Lord." Daily Mirror, 2021-11-05, section, 21 edition.
- Wikipedia (this article): <ref>{{cite news| title=Half-Time Lord | url=http://cuttingsarchive.org/index.php/Half-Time_Lord | work=Daily Mirror | pages=21 | date=2021-11-05 | via=Doctor Who Cuttings Archive | accessdate=20 April 2025 }}</ref>
- Wikipedia (this page): <ref>{{cite web | title=Half-Time Lord | url=http://cuttingsarchive.org/index.php/Half-Time_Lord | work=Doctor Who Cuttings Archive | accessdate=20 April 2025}}</ref>
