Episode ten. Ten! This series of Doctor Who is whizzing by and we're getting close to saying goodbye to Capaldi (sobs!).

But before the series two part finale, just enough time for a quick standalone adventure.

The Eaters Of Light takes us back to 2 AD and the highlands of Scotland. Bill thinks she knows what happened to a legion of Roman warriors. The Doctor thinks he knows better. Nardole was quite happy in bed it would seem.

But quickly after they arrive, it's clear that something isn't right. Local villagers are being picked off, one by one. Something threatens the future of the planet.

If you haven't watched The Eaters Of Light yet, then go no further. There are spoilers lurking below...

The Doctor strolls with a pyjama wearing Nardole
The Doctor strolls with a pyjama wearing Nardole


Um, yes... the episode.

I've always had a bit of sympathy for writer Rona Munro since her classic era adventure Survival. She wrote a four parter that explored companion Ace's origins, brought The Master back to his more sinister roots and played the darker sides of McCoy's Doctor. She wrote a pretty fantastic story that is remembered for the wardrobe department's dodgy Cheetah People costumes and unintentionally being the last episode before the series was cancelled in 1989.

The Seventh Doctor and The Cheetah People in 1989's Survival
The 7th Doctor and cute, fluffy Cheetah people in 1989's Survival

28 years later, Munro has returned to the Whoniverse with The Eaters Of Light.

Overall, it's not a bad episode at all but it's got some niggles that will prevent being a memorable hit.

Firstly, we're very much in the Who 'safe zone' when it comes to plot. That's fine, monster in the dark picking victims off one by one is stable ground to be on.

The Light Eaters are visually glorious and using them sparingly helps build the tension for their screen appearances.

This series of Doctor Who continues its tightrope act of exactly how gory can corpses get before the watershed and this is pretty gruesome. The bodies of the fallen soldiers and villagers are truly unpleasant, but more than enough to punctuate the danger for anyone who crosses the Eaters' path.

Unlike last week's Empress Of Mars, we've got some humans that are worth saving. The defeated ninth legion soldiers and the villagers are fleshed out to have some depth with each of the guest cast having a bit of limelight to share.

Credit to Matt Lucas in this episode, he gets some cracking one liners that he turns in with perfect comedy timing. With only two episodes left to go, we've not got much time left to see if adding Nardole to the series was worth it but his character works well here.

Bill and a Roman soldier duck for cover
Bill and a Roman soldier duck for cover

Also, good to get some new material from composer Murray Gold. The score over the scenes where Kar chases Bill and her first meeting with the legion are punchy, dramatic and perfectly in place with the Celtic setting.

But there's parts of the episode that just don't work, almost to the point of being grating. The opening and closing scenes with the children on the hill don't really serve the story.

The plot strand of talking crows seems a little silly, especially when the crows don't really affect the story in any way.

There didn't really seem to be much rationale in the final solution to the Eaters either. The Doctor volunteers to step through the gate because he has a longer life span, but then six humans step through and everything is okay now.

The Doctor and Bill shelter with flaming torch
The Doctor and Bill fend off the darkness

Then there's the odd characterisation of the leads. The Doctor seems overly rude and patronising to young Kar for little reason. When separated, he doesn't seem that concerned with finding Bill. And where has this new dislike of brave people come from?

Bill's suddenly got an obsession with history and the ninth legion that hasn't been mentioned at all. One would assume when she met a time traveller who gave her free choice of destination that she might have mentioned this super love of a Roman mystery. Considering the number of times the TARDIS just turns up somewhere, Bill's Roman obsession is too contrived and unnecessary.

As is her apparent willingness to override The Doctor's judgement and let the band of humans just pop off to their apparent deaths.

So it's a mixed bag for me and comes off more as a filler episode before the final two parter. What could have been a nice straight forward story gets a little lost in places. Not a terrible outing, but not going to be one of the greats either.

The villagers prepare to fight
The villagers prepare to fight

This week's closing Missy scenes are enigmatic to say the least. Why has The Doctor taken Missy out of the Vault and just left her roaming the TARDIS? Even if he is beginning to trust his childhood friend, this seems like a bad move. All series, it's been unsubtly hinted that she must stay in the vault as part of The Doctor's oath but now it doesn't matter.

Again, Michelle Gomez turns in a great performance as 'Rehab Missy'. She's playing it perfectly to keep the audience on their toes wondering if this is genuine or just a really committed performance to get The Doctor on the back foot.

While it looks like there's going to be a lot going on in next week's episode, I'm looking forward to Missy taking centre stage.


Missy, classic Cybermen, John Simm as The Master, big black hole danger. Roll on next week.

John Simm returns as The Master
Give us a kiss
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What did you think of The Eaters of Light?

Last week's Empress Of Mars was a tie for readers, 50% hit and 50% miss.

Doctor Who returns on Saturday June 24 on BBC One at 6.45pm with World Enough And Time.