#Once upon time doctor who series

I don’t know where this Chris Chibnall has been hiding, but Once, Upon a Time is a masterclass in well-constructed fantasy storytelling. That makes a resounding three out of three for this series. Azhur Salhem’s direction was urgent and focused, delivering some quality character moments – particularly for Dan – and stylish visuals like the Antropos skyline morphing into Liverpool’s similar horizon, as well as a Weeping Angel jumping out of Yaz’s phone. Crucially, the potentially confusing, time-jumping framework was expertly handled so the audience never lost track of what was going on. There was mystery, striking plot developments, questions that demanded to be answered, genuinely surprising moments, clever, subtle writing and dramatic revelations.

#Once upon time doctor who series

In my review of Chris Chibnall’s 2018 Series 11 season ‘finale’ The Battle of Ranskoor Av Kolos, I rather caustically commented that “it was directed with all the urgency of a Sunday afternoon ramble.” I also criticised the episode for important plot beats that fell totally flat, and as well potentially interesting themes that were “so down in the mix they had no real importance within the story.”įour years later, the Chris Chibnall behind Once, Upon a Time seemed like a different writer. ❉ Chapter three of Flux was a masterclass in well-constructed fantasy storytelling, writes Robert Fairclough.