The Witchfinders Review

The Witchfinders is probably one of the most unusual episodes of Series 11. The Doctor and friends land in Bilehurst Craig where the Doctor attempts to save a innocent lady from rowing in a witch trial but is unsuccessful but the Doctor’s attempts to help end up badly when James I arrives and since she is women, gives it to her friend Graham.  The Doctor attempts to find the truth nearly ends in Disaster when she is wrongly accused of being a witch by James I and Becka Savage Who is the landowner but she narrowly escapes drowning thanks to Harry Houdini’s lesson. Becka Savage who is the local landowner who is in charge of the witch trials is later revealed to be possessed by the alien Morax after cutting down a tree that her mother, Older Mother Twiston had planted and the more escape taking over dead bodies including Willa’s Grandmother and other victims of the Ducking Stool! She also reveals she had her own mother trialled for not helping her get rid of the alien in her body when the Doctor stays up to her like she did before and is very angry about it.  James confronts Becka and accuses her if being a witch but she confesses before she is fully transformed into the Morax Queen and reveals they are imprisoned and take King James to be transformed into their king. The Doctor learns about the tree and manages to throw up a plan and Graham gives the Doctor James I hat and says she is in charge and everyone else agrees and Willa joins them as she knows the way and has learned a lot from Yaz and the Doctor. They successfully rescue James and defeat the Morax by holding them back with their torches made by the Morax prison and the lames are able to scare the Morax back except their Queen Who is burned by Names I and it angers the Doctor. James I later asks Ryan to join him who politely refuses and the crew leave in the TARDIS in front of Willa and James I.

Joy Wilkinson took a risk to use the Doctor’s gender against her and it worked in this time period. I do respect it but I ranted about it when she was accused and nearly killed as its  one of my pet hates but it worked and that is a great thing. I was also annoyed with Becka and James I but after the Doctor survived, they actually stood out to me

Tilly Steele who starred with Jenna Coleman on Victoria Series 2 played Willa Twiston and the character stood out for me and I could feel her and am glad Joy developed her character as she became a hero in the end and was instrumental to the defeat of the Morax.

Jodie Whittaker was at her best and they finally made her stand out when she stood up to her gender and the deaths. This is what the Doctor is about, being kind and not using violence which we have seen through S11. Bradley Walsh, Mandip Gill and Tosin Cole were also a great as their characters got them to shine and there is reason why these guys should be a team. Yaz gave advice to Willa, Graham used his role well to save the Doctor from drowning and Ryan’s friendship with James I is definitely amazing as this team is probably rising every episode.

Finally, a proper alien threat. I loved that it was a alien that could posses humans and make them scary. The plot with Morax wanting King James I busy probably made it stronger and created a rescue mission which doesn’t normally impress me but it was good and quite convincing.

I liked this episode but the Doctor’s treatment was a nightmare and was the only thing that ruined it for me and it shows that Historicals have been good this series.

Score: 8/10