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Spoilers for “The Well.”
In fictional narratives, sometimes demonstrating a vital point can be as simple as exploring how a scenario unfolds in reality. This principle is exemplified in this week’s episode of Doctor Who, titled “The Well.”
Continuing directly from “Lux,” the Doctor and Belinda, dressed in their 1950s attire, are attempting to get the TARDIS operational. While Belinda assists with the controls, the TARDIS still refuses to land on May 24, 2025, causing further anxiety for Belinda. Fearing for her parents’ safety, she assumes that either the time or Earth itself may be malfunctioning. The Doctor echoes her concerns but reassures her of a reunion with her family.
The Doctor’s plan involves landing in additional locations using the Vindicator he constructed in the previous episode. Their next destination is set 500,000 years in the future, leading Belinda to question humanity’s existence at that time. The Doctor confirms that humans have indeed expanded throughout the cosmos. They then don appropriate attire from the TARDIS wardrobe before venturing out.
Upon exiting, they find themselves on a spaceship’s gantry, where a team of marines prepares to leap into the void below. With no other option, they follow suit and descend to the planet’s surface, allowing the Doctor to take a Vindicator reading. Unfortunately, the planet is fraught with heavy radiation, causing the ship to descend slowly over the next five hours. They join the mission, using the Psychic Paper to integrate themselves into the team.
This desolate planet is home only to a small mining colony that has extracted its final valuable resources. The colony had fallen silent days before their arrival, prompting one marine to suggest a nuclear option for safety—a nod to the classic film Aliens that elicits some apprehension.
The scene reveals that all colonists have perished, with injuries sustained from gunfire and severe falls. With shattered mirrors and disabled systems, the details of the tragedy remain elusive. Yet, one survivor exists: Aliss Bethick (played by Rose Ayling-Ellis), the colony’s chef, who is deaf and has been waiting on a large cargo turntable amidst the chaos.
Aliss finds herself isolated due to both her physical location and her hearing impairment. Although she can lip-read, there remains a communication barrier with the soldiers. The Doctor engages Aliss using sign language, while soldiers feature captioning displays on their uniforms. Much of the episode focuses on their attempt to converse with her, using visual cues to get her attention; for instance, directing her gaze through another soldier’s screen. Meanwhile, Belinda tends to Aliss’s injuries while sensing an ominous presence nearby.
As the Doctor investigates, he learns that the barren world was once carpeted with diamonds. This planet is the same as that featured in the episode “Midnight,” where the Doctor faced a malevolent entity. However, his attempts to instill calmness do not succeed, resulting in a mutiny among the soldiers who seek to provoke the entity. Tragically, this decision costs lives.
Belinda recognizes a crucial pattern: if one stands directly behind Aliss—who serves as the host—the unseen monster attacks. Those positioned at six o’clock are safe, but if you occupy the danger zone, you face dire consequences as the entity hurls victims around violently.
In the climax, the Doctor approaches Aliss to confront the creature, but time constraints force him to formulate a solution swiftly. The colonists had previously dumped mercury to mine diamonds—a pipe inadvertently running behind Aliss’s head should create a reflective surface to fend off the monster.
After they manage a narrow escape, the Doctor pauses to confront the entity, inadvertently allowing it to latch onto Belinda. The marines’ captain shoots Belinda, tricking the being into believing she is on the verge of death, prompting it to switch hosts before they all plunge into a mineshaft. Belinda regains consciousness in the TARDIS under the Doctor’s care, ready for their next adventure. The marines debrief with Mrs. Flood, revealing their knowledge of the Vindicator and indicating that the alien has indeed made its way aboard their ship.
A recurring theme throughout the episode involves Belinda’s engagement with human beliefs and superstitions, met with puzzled reactions. Both she and the Doctor sense a deeper disturbance within reality itself.
You die at midnight…
Showrunner Russell T. Davies recently addressed criticisms regarding the show’s perceived embrace of “wokeness” and diversity. He stated, “There are always voices claiming that we inject messaging into our narratives, but I prefer to think of diversity as an open door, a gateway to the myriad possibilities of storytelling.”
This perspective not only fosters rich storytelling avenues but also distinguishes how characters are developed. Previously, in the episode “Under The Lake,” a deaf character relied on others for interpretation, reducing her role to that of a mere plot device. In contrast, Aliss is a fully-rounded character whose deafness is integral to the storyline yet does not solely define her. The inclusion of accessibility considerations allows for a nuanced exploration of communication, a credit to the collaborative writing effort of Sharma Angel-Walfall and Davies.
As I watch contemporary episodes of Doctor Who, I often ponder how external funding impacts production quality. The episode “Midnight,” from which “The Well” draws inspiration, was designed for a limited budget with most of the action occurring in a single space. While “The Well” stays confined to a few locations, the infusion of resources allows for an expansive and detailed representation of its environments, creating a richer viewing experience.
The focus of “The Well” lies more on character development than high-octane action. Belinda emerges as a prominent figure in the narrative, showing both determination and vulnerability throughout the episode. Unlike earlier episodes this season that felt overloaded, this installment strikes a balance, allowing character arcs to resonate deeply.
Though the story also channels a darker tone, it introduces more hopeful elements than previous outings. Notably, Davies appears to be deliberate in drawing parallels between episodes, with motifs and narrative threads intertwining across the season. Such narrative repetition raises intriguing questions about character arcs and thematic repetitions.
Mrs. Flood Corner
Contrived “The End… or is it?” cliffhangers often dilute emotional impact but can sometimes serve as effective plot devices. In this episode, such an approach introduces Mrs. Flood, linking her role to the marines’ debriefing while providing insight into their understanding of the Doctor’s technology.
While the fourth wall remains intact, the dynamics echo previous encounters from the series. This element offers an interesting glimpse into how narrative structures can innovate while maintaining familiar tropes.
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