The Doctor (JODIE WHITTAKER) and Yasmin Khan (MANDIP GILL) - Doctor Who: Legend of the Sea Devils - Photo Credit: James Pardon/BBC Studios/BBC America CHICAGO - There’s a big "Doctor Who" event on the horizon this fall: Jodie Whittaker will step down from her role as the Doctor just as showrunner Chris Chibnall hands over the reins to returning creator Russell T Davies.
That means an end of one era, the start of another and the arrival of a new Doctor, just in time for the show’s 60th anniversary.
But first, it’s time for a rather aimless pirate romp in 19th century China! The Easter-day special "Legend of the Sea Devils" was reportedly a late addition to the line-up after the BBC decided it wanted an extra episode before the Thirteenth Doctor regenerates, and it very much feels like it.
This largely standalone hour is ostensibly designed to be one last burst of fun before the dramatics to come. But beyond an intriguing setup and some great costume design, it too often falls prey to the weaknesses of Chibnall’s era of "Who" — flat characterizations, an over-reliance on exposition and a tendency to favor plot over emotion, all of which are magnified by the episode’s comparatively brief runtime. (It’s the shortest special of the modern era.) "Legend of the Sea Devils" isn’t bad, exactly.