The Lie of the Land

Last updated

272 –"The Lie of the Land"
Doctor Who episode
Cast
Others
Production
Directed by Wayne Yip
Written by Toby Whithouse
Produced by Nikki Wilson
Executive producer(s)Steven Moffat
Brian Minchin
Music by Murray Gold
Series Series 10
Running time45 minutes
First broadcast3 June 2017 (2017-06-03)
Chronology
← Preceded by
"The Pyramid at the End of the World"		Followed by →
"Empress of Mars"
List of Doctor Who episodes (2005–present)

"The Lie of the Land" is the eighth episode of the tenth series of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who . Written by Toby Whithouse, it was broadcast on 3 June 2017 on BBC One. "The Lie of the Land" received mixed reviews from television critics.

Contents

Continuing on after Bill (Pearl Mackie) gives her consent to the Monks, she and Nardole (Matt Lucas) have to find a way to rescue the Doctor (Peter Capaldi) after he is imprisoned, and end the Monks' invasion of Earth. It is the third and final of three loosely connected episodes called "The Monks Trilogy". [1]

Synopsis

The Monks are rulers of the Earth, and appear to have been on Earth for millions of years, guiding human development. Bill and a few others are aware of the truth: the Monks have only been present on Earth for six months. Those who hold this view are imprisoned for "memory crimes" (manufacturing and distributing propaganda that details the truth) and sentenced to labour camps. The Twelfth Doctor appears on television praising the Monks' guidance over humanity.

Bill keeps herself grounded in reality by imagining that she is talking with her long-dead mother, based on pictures the Doctor gave her. Nardole, who survived the bacteria due to his alien physiology and is also aware of the truth, locates Bill and helps her to find the prison hulk where the Doctor is thought to be a captive. Inside, after a team of commandos swarm inside, the Doctor tells Bill he is cooperating willingly with the Monks, believing that humanity was doomed without their guidance. Bill becomes distraught and shoots the Doctor, who appears to begin regenerating, but quickly stops. The entire scenario is revealed to have been a test by Nardole, the Doctor and the team, to make sure Bill was not under the influence of the Monks.

At the university where the Doctor and Bill work, they enter the Vault to talk to Missy, who says she has encountered the Monks before. She confirms the Monks maintain control by broadcasting a signal containing the false history to their subjugated victims via the numerous statues they have built across Earth, enabled by a psychic link established through the person who originally gave "consent"; Missy claims she defeated them during her own encounter by killing that individual. The implication is that Bill must die as the one who gave consent on Earth.

The controlling Monk, on display at a Doctor Who exhibition Monk - Doctor Who Experience - Cardiff-102 (35813181334).jpg
The controlling Monk, on display at a Doctor Who exhibition

Believing there is another solution, the Doctor, Bill, Nardole, and the commandos infiltrate the Monks' pyramid in London so that the Doctor can hijack their broadcast with his own mind to break the psychic transmission. In the central chamber, the Doctor attempts to link his mind to the controlling Monk, who after a struggle overpowers the Doctor. Bill intends to sacrifice herself, linking her own mind to the Monks', despite the Doctor's protests. The Monks unintentionally replace their broadcast with images of Bill's mother, which the Doctor recognizes as a strong, loving memory in Bill's mind. Humanity recovers from the Monks' lies and rebels against them. The Doctor, Bill, and Nardole watch as the Monks abandon Earth. Sometime later, the Doctor and Bill find that most of humanity have no recollection of the Monks. In the Vault, Missy expresses remorse for those she has killed.

Continuity

In images showing the Monks' aid to humanity, clips from the stories "Blink", "Nightmare in Silver" and "Into the Dalek" are shown. Later, a clip from "The Pilot" is shown, as well as several still images from past episodes of the tenth series. [2] Magpie Electrical, which debuted in "The Idiot's Lantern" and recurs throughout the revival series, is shown as the shop where Bill watches one of the Doctor's broadcasts. [3] [4]

Outside references

Missy briefly plays selections from Eric Satie's Gnossienne No. 1 and Scott Joplin's "The Entertainer" on her piano. [2]

Production

The read-through for "The Lie of the Land" took place on 11 January 2017. Filming took place, alongside the subsequent episode "Empress of Mars", from 16 January to 22 February 2017. [2]

In Missy's initial scene, the visual of her eyes superimposed over a panning shot is an homage to a similar scene from the 1996 film. [2]

A scene was recorded featuring a family watching an episode of Casualty . This specially filmed scene included Casualty's Connie Beauchamp and Noel Garcia interacting with the Monks as part of the story line. Both characters were played by their regular actors Amanda Mealing and Tony Marshall. Despite being referred to in the Doctor Who Magazine preview of the episode, the scene was ultimately cut from the broadcast version. [5]

Broadcast and reception

The episode was watched by 3.01 million overnight, the series' lowest overnight rating in its history at the time, after the rating of 3.10 million for Battlefield in 1989. This was due to the episode being placed directly against the Britain's Got Talent final. [6] The episode received 4.82 million views overall, at the time the lowest official rating since the programme's return in 2005, and it received an Appreciation Index of 82. [7] [8]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Rotten Tomatoes (Average Score)7.28 [9]
Rotten Tomatoes (Tomatometer)83% [9]
Review scores
SourceRating
The A.V. Club B− [10]
Entertainment Weekly B [11]
SFX MagazineStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [12]
IndieWireB [13]
IGN 8.7 [14]
New York MagazineStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [15]
Radio Times Star full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [16]
Daily Mirror Star full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [17]

"The Lie of the Land" received mixed reviews, with a number of reviewers finding it the weakest story in the season so far. [18] The episode holds a score of 83% on Rotten Tomatoes, the site's consensus reading "'The Lie of the Land' closes a significant chapter for Doctor Who's tenth season—yet leaves some major characters' fates tantalizingly open." [9]

Alasdair Wilkins of The A.V. Club gave the episode a score of B−, stating that he felt disappointed in the episode, and how the script and its quality were "outpaced" by the skills of Capaldi's and Mackie's acting, stating that Capaldi was "great as ever but [his] talents are sometimes misused in service of ideas the story won't commit to". He did, however, compliment Michelle Gomez for her role as Missy yet again. [10]

Zoe Delahunty-Light of SFX Magazine gave "The Lie of the Land" a perfect score of 5 stars out of 5, calling the episode "chilling", and complimenting the idea of the Monks taking over the human race and its development. She commented especially upon Pearl Mackie, complimenting her on her role in leading the episode, and her "uncanny ability to transition between emotions flawlessly", especially concerning her scenes with the Doctor and his apparent betrayal. Delahunty-Light also went on to praise how Missy finally got more screen time than she had received in previous episodes. [12]

Ross Ruediger of New York magazine gave the episode 3 stars out of 5, stating that the episode started out as "disturbingly effective", but that certain questions arising from the episode were "frustratingly unanswered". He also felt that the Monks had become far less of a danger than they had been in the previous episode, and that it made little sense that the Monks did not defend their leader in the climactic scene. Overall, he stated that "The Lie of the Land" was a "disappointing conclusion to what was an otherwise killer story line". [15]

Patrick Mulkern from Radio Times also gave the episode a lower rating, grading it 2 stars out of 5. He felt that the worst part of the episode was the poor decision to have a companion fire a gun at the Doctor; the viewers saw "nothing that would push her to such an extreme act", and this could not be "rationalised or condoned". He described the actors as being "blocked awkwardly" and that they appeared uncomfortable in the situation, though he complimented their acting overall throughout the episode. [16]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Twelfth Doctor</span> Fictional character from Doctor Who

The Twelfth Doctor is an incarnation of the Doctor, the protagonist of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. He is portrayed by Scottish actor Peter Capaldi in three series as well as four specials. As with previous incarnations of the Doctor, the character has also appeared in other Doctor Who spin-offs.

"Thin Ice" is the third episode of the tenth series of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. It was written by Sarah Dollard and broadcast on 29 April 2017 on BBC One. "Thin Ice" received mostly positive reviews from critics, with many labelling the topic of racism in the episode as well-executed.

Dark Water (<i>Doctor Who</i>) 2014 Doctor Who episode

"Dark Water" is the eleventh episode of the eighth series of the British science fiction television programme Doctor Who. It was first broadcast on BBC One on 1 November 2014. The episode was written by showrunner and head writer Steven Moffat and was directed by Rachel Talalay. It is the first of a two-part story; the concluding episode "Death in Heaven", the finale of the eighth series, aired on 8 November.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Death in Heaven</span> 2014 Doctor Who episode

"Death in Heaven" is the twelfth and final episode of the eighth series of the British science fiction television programme Doctor Who. It was first broadcast on BBC One on 8 November 2014. The episode was written by showrunner Steven Moffat and directed by Rachel Talalay. It is the second of a two-part story; the first episode "Dark Water" aired on 1 November.

The Magicians Apprentice (<i>Doctor Who</i>) 2015 Doctor Who episode

"The Magician's Apprentice" is the first episode of the ninth series of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. It was first broadcast on BBC One on 19 September 2015. The episode was written by showrunner Steven Moffat and directed by Hettie MacDonald. It is the first of a two-part story; the second part, "The Witch's Familiar", aired on 26 September.

<i>Doctor Who</i> series 10 2017 series of Doctor Who

The tenth series of the British science fiction television programme Doctor Who premiered on 15 April 2017 and concluded on 1 July 2017 with twelve episodes, after it was formally announced in July 2015. The series is led by head writer and executive producer Steven Moffat, alongside executive producer Brian Minchin. It is the third and final series overseen by the two as executive producers, as well as Moffat's sixth and final series as head writer. This series is the tenth to air following the programme's revival in 2005 and is the thirty-sixth season overall.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Return of Doctor Mysterio</span> 2016 Doctor Who episode

"The Return of Doctor Mysterio" is an episode of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. First broadcast on BBC One on 25 December 2016, it is the twelfth Christmas special since the show's revival in 2005. It was written by Steven Moffat and directed by Ed Bazalgette. The episode received generally positive reviews from critics.

"The Eaters of Light" is the tenth episode of the tenth series of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. It was written by Rona Munro and broadcast on 17 June 2017 on BBC One. Munro previously wrote Survival, the final serial of the original run of Doctor Who, making her the only writer to date to have worked on the classic and revived eras of the show. The episode received generally positive reviews from television critics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nardole</span> Fictional character in the TV series Doctor Who

Nardole is a fictional character created by Steven Moffat and portrayed by Matt Lucas in the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. He is a companion of the Twelfth Doctor, an incarnation of the alien time traveller known as The Doctor, played by Peter Capaldi. Nardole initially appeared in the 2015 Christmas special "The Husbands of River Song", as a companion of River Song, before returning in the following episode "The Return of Doctor Mysterio", having become the Doctor's companion in the meantime, later alongside Bill Potts, who comes to mistakenly believe Nardole to be a robot.

"Extremis" is the sixth episode of the tenth series of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. It was written by Steven Moffat and broadcast on 20 May 2017 on BBC One. "Extremis" received very positive reviews from television critics, with many praising Peter Capaldi's performance and Steven Moffat's script, though some commented on the complexity of the script.

"Smile" is the second episode of the tenth series of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. It was written by Frank Cottrell-Boyce and broadcast on 22 April 2017 on BBC One. "Smile" received generally positive reviews from critics, with critics commenting on the Doctor and Bill's growing relationship.

"Knock Knock" is the fourth episode of the tenth series of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. It was written by Mike Bartlett and was broadcast on 6 May 2017 on BBC One. "Knock Knock" received mixed to positive reviews from critics, receiving criticism regarding the strength of the writing, but praise on the quality of the performances in the story, particularly Suchet's.

"Oxygen" is the fifth episode of the tenth series of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. It was written by Jamie Mathieson and broadcast on 13 May 2017 on BBC One.

"The Pyramid at the End of the World" is the seventh episode of the tenth series of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. It was written by Peter Harness and Steven Moffat and broadcast on 27 May 2017 on BBC One. "The Pyramid at the End of the World" received generally positive reviews from television critics.

"The Pilot" is the first episode of the tenth series of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. It was written by Steven Moffat and broadcast on 15 April 2017 on BBC One. "The Pilot" received mostly positive reviews, with praise on the introduction of Pearl Mackie, and how the episode served both as a soft reboot and as a series premiere.

"World Enough and Time" is the eleventh and penultimate episode of the tenth series of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. It was written by Steven Moffat, directed by Rachel Talalay, and was broadcast on 24 June 2017 on BBC One. The episode received overwhelmingly positive reviews from television critics.

"The Doctor Falls" is the twelfth and final episode of the tenth series, and 843rd episode overall, of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. It was written by Steven Moffat, directed by Rachel Talalay, and was broadcast on 1 July 2017 on BBC One. It is the second episode of a two-part story, the first part being "World Enough and Time". The episode received overwhelmingly positive reviews from television critics.

Bill Potts (<i>Doctor Who</i>) Fictional character in the TV series Doctor Who

Bill Potts is a fictional character created by Steven Moffat and portrayed by Pearl Mackie in the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. In the show's tenth series, starting with the first episode, Bill served as a companion of the Twelfth Doctor, an incarnation of the alien time traveller known as the Doctor.

"Empress of Mars" is the ninth episode of the tenth series of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. It was written by Mark Gatiss and broadcast on 10 June 2017 on BBC One. "Empress of Mars" received generally positive reviews from television critics.

Twice Upon a Time (<i>Doctor Who</i>) 2017 Doctor Who episode

"Twice Upon a Time" is an episode of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, written by Steven Moffat, directed by Rachel Talalay, and was broadcast as the thirteenth Christmas special on 25 December 2017 on BBC One. It features the final regular appearance of Peter Capaldi as the Twelfth Doctor, the first official appearance of Jodie Whittaker as the Thirteenth Doctor, and guest-stars David Bradley as the First Doctor, having previously portrayed original First Doctor actor William Hartnell in the 2013 docudrama An Adventure in Space and Time. Pearl Mackie guest stars as the Twelfth Doctor's former companion Bill Potts, while his other companions make guest appearances – Jenna Coleman as Clara Oswald and Matt Lucas as Nardole. Mark Gatiss plays a British army captain taken from the First World War.

References

  1. ↑ Hogan, Michael (20 May 2017). "Doctor Who: Extremis, series 10 episode 6: the Doctor meets the Pope". The Daily Telegraph . Retrieved 20 May 2017.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "The Lie of the Land, Series 10, Doctor Who – The Lie of the Land: The Fact File – BBC One". BBC. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
  3. ↑ Dillon-Trenchard, Pete (3 June 2017). "Doctor Who: The Lie Of The Land geeky spots and Easter eggs". Den of Geek. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
  4. ↑ Fullerton, Huw (3 June 2017). "Did you spot a recurring Doctor Who Easter egg in The Lie of the Land?". Radio Times. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
  5. ↑ Pixley, Andrew (June 2018). "The Cutting-Room Floor". Doctor Who Magazine (525): 13.
  6. ↑ "The Lie of the Land – Overnight Viewing Figures". Doctor Who News. 4 June 2017. Retrieved 4 June 2017.
  7. ↑ Marcus (12 June 2017). "The Lie of the Land – Official Ratings". Doctor Who News. Retrieved 12 June 2017.
  8. ↑ Marcus (5 June 2017). "The Lie of the Land – Audience Appreciation:82". Doctor Who News. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
  9. 1 2 3 "Doctor Who, Series 10, Episode 8, The Lie of the Land". Rotten Tomatoes . Retrieved 29 November 2018.
  10. 1 2 Wilkins, Alasdair (4 June 2017). "A frustrating Doctor Who lacks the courage of its convictions". The A.V. Club . Retrieved 5 June 2017.
  11. ↑ Serrao, Nivea (3 June 2017). "Doctor Who recap: 'The Lie of the Land'". Entertainment Weekly . Retrieved 8 June 2017.
  12. 1 2 Zoe Delahunty-Light (3 June 2017). "DOCTOR WHO S10.08 REVIEW: "A MASTERFUL ACT... THE DYSTOPIAN TONES ARE PALPABLE"". GamesRadar . Retrieved 8 June 2017.
  13. ↑ Nguyen, Hanh (3 June 2017). "'Doctor Who' Review: Bill and the Doctor Take On Fake News to Prove Resistance Matters". IndieWire. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
  14. ↑ Collura, Scott (3 June 2017). "DOCTOR WHO: "THE LIE OF THE LAND" REVIEW". IGN. Scott Collura.
  15. 1 2 Ruediger, Ross. "Doctor Who Recap: Alternative Facts". New York Magazine. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
  16. 1 2 Patrick Mulkern (3 June 2017). "Doctor Who The Lie of the Land review: "showing Bill fire a gun at the Doctor is horribly misjudged"". Radio Times . Retrieved 8 June 2017.
  17. ↑ Jackson, Daniel (3 June 2017). "Doctor Who Series 10 Episode 8 The Lie Of The Land Review: Excellent performances wasted on a nonsensical trilogy". Daily Mirror . Retrieved 8 June 2017.
  18. ↑ "The Lie of the Land – Reaction". Doctor Who News. 5 June 2017. Retrieved 4 June 2017.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.