If he did, it would probably resemble The Timeless Children more than Twice Upon a Time, with characters just expositing at one another. An extremely charitable reading of this theme is that the show understands that it is a television show and that it cannot literally change the world. However, the biggest problem with Revolution of the Daleks is that its primary sources seem to be other episodes of Doctor Who. It makes sense that the characters might harbour some resentment to the Doctor for this, but it feels a bit unreasonable that it becomes such a big deal within the narrative. The Daleks have long been a stand-in for fascism and xenophobia, and given the direction that British politics have gone in recent years, there is a lot to say about that. Doctor Who: Revolution of the Daleks (Review), a threat originally designed as potential surrogates for the Daleks, a striking image less than a day after Brexit, The past year has seen mass protests in the United Kingdom and the United States over systemic racism, Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker, with the Weeping Angels reportedly due to make a return in the season ahead, J.K. Rowling’s outspoken opposition to trans rights, the Doctor’s most recent regenerations have been read by many as a trans narrative. This desire to shape Revolution of the Daleks into something recognisable as Doctor Who is most obvious when it comes to the inclusion of Captain Jack Harkness. The primary benefits of the episode’s structure are logistical rather than narrative. If the show has plagiarise itself, perhaps the energy is best spent trying to rework ideas that were undermined by clumsy execution. Having been cloned back into existence by Robertson’s scientist-slash-flunky Leo, the mutant from ‘Resolution’ has been practicing its two favourite tricks – puppeteering a human host, and online shopping. The mastermind behind the theft turns out to be Jack Robertson – the Trump-envying, Scooby-Doo villain last seen burying toxic waste during the divisive ‘Arachnids in the UK’. All of these elements push against one another for space, and none of them really feel like they belong together. The result of all this is an episode that feels incredibly empty and shallow. Others fell in love, elected to remain somewhere they could make a difference or, sometimes, sacrificed their lives. There’s nothing wrong with recycling elements. The shots of Daleks working at “border control” is a striking image less than a day after Brexit, but Revolution of the Daleks refuses to connect the use of the Daleks by Prime Minister Jo Patterson to any latent racism or xenophobia. (But then, who can’t sympathise with someone who gets through their day one cuppa at a time?). That would be growth. Davies frequently referenced Harry Potter, with the books serving as a touchstone in The Shakespeare Code and Davies even considering casting Rowling in one of his holiday specials. This time around, Robertson is accompanied by a ruthless Defence Secretary with her eyes on Number 10. Revolution of the Daleks is not so much an episode as a collection of familiar Doctor Who elements thrown into a blender with even more familiar elements thrown on top. Whatever their fate, there was always a sense they knew that their relationship with the Doctor was a transitory one; a journey into the unknown, but one that definitely had a final destination. The episode is supposed to build to his decision to leave the TARDIS. After the events of “Resolution” GCHQ comes into the procession of a Dalek battle suit. In fact, the episode works best when it is pared down to the idea of the Doctor and the Daleks. Sadly, the Chibnall era has never been particularly interested in biting political and social commentary. Doctor Who: Revelation of the Daleks is the final series in the twenty-second season of Doctor Who.