This isn’t the first time Doctor Who has done futuristic corporations. Most of the time it’s pretty standard stuff – the bad guys are either the suits in charge, evil robots, or completely misunderstood. And in this episode as the Doctor investigates the central mystery of the disappearing workers, ‘Kerblam!’ teases each of these possibilities.
But instead of settling on any of these well-worn tropes, ‘Kerblam!’ pursues an original concept that sets it above the typical “corporations are evil” cliché we have come to expect. The automation of human jobs is a topic that hasn’t been touched on very much in fiction, and yet it is one that has become increasingly relevant in recent years as technology has become more cost- and energy-efficient.
The first few scenes introduce Kerblam! as a galactic delivery service, drawing some obvious parallels with Amazon in its sheer magnitude and variety of deliverable goods. But new writer Pete McTighe skilfully colours in the history of Kandoka – the planet where Kerblam! originated. A government quota that requires at least 10% of the staff to be “organic” (i.e. not creepy robots) was only put in place following a series of protests from blue-collar workers in fear of losing their jobs. This kind of world-building goes a long way in constructing an authentic society not unlike our own, bridging the emotional gap between us and the alien world.
McTighe’s masterful use of foreshadowing strikes a complicated balance that isn’t always easy to maintain throughout a 45 to 50 minute Doctor Who episode. Especially when it builds to a plot twist of some kind, too much foreshadowing can spoil the ending while too little leaves the audience feeling cheated. The misdirections that pop up in ‘Kerblam!’ rarely last for long before they are debunked and the Doctor moves onto a new hypothesis, but each one serves a purpose in the final reveal.
When at first the robots seem to be the malevolent ones, it soon becomes apparent that they are merely pawns being used by a greater mind. When the corporate bosses appear to be the instigators, we prod deeper into their concerns for the technology-based workforce that Kerblam! is functioning on. And finally, when the perpetrator is revealed to be humble maintenance man Charlie (Leo Flanagan), every passing piece of information we have learnt ties into a greater comment on true corruption not stemming from technology, but rather its exploiters.
While ‘Kerblam!’ is perhaps the most plot-driven episode we have had so far in series 11, everyone in the main and guest cast has a definitive and memorable part to play. Julie Hesmondhalgh is the real standout of the episode though, delivering a noteworthy performance as the genuinely compassionate and unflinchingly stern HR Manager, Judy.
We also get another opportunity to see our TARDIS team put each of their individual skills to the test in equal measure. Yaz’s handling of a violent criminal, Ryan’s familiarity with warehouses, and Graham’s ability to ingratiate himself with strangers all come into play, but most importantly we finally get another signature hero speech from the Thirteenth Doctor as she faces off against one of the few truly malicious villains this series. Even though having three companions has sometimes felt a little crowded, their cohesion in ‘Kerblam!’ proves the strength of a dynamic that isn’t often attempted in the show.
As his first entry into the Doctor Who universe, ‘Kerblam!’ has quickly solidified Pete McTighe as one of the strongest new writers this series. He innately understands the show’s ability to dig into complex ethical issues, while maintaining a fun adventurous vibe. McTighe even appropriates one of Moffat’s favourite tropes of making ordinary objects scary with his darkly funny creation of explosive bubble wrap. And although ‘Kerblam!’ drags a bit in the middle act, the pacing is mostly successful in driving along its engaging core mystery. If Chibnall knows what he is doing, then he will hopefully secure McTighe for series 12 next year.
