The Thousand Worlds review [Nicholas Briggs]

The Doctor is sent behind enemy lines to find a Time Lord strategist who holds vital Gallifreyan secrets. The Daleks are playing with drills again. When will they learn that this never ends well for them?

When and Where: This is set on Keska, between The Innocent and The Heart of the Battle. For Rejoice, it's been decades.

The Warrior's Case:

• Rejoice was a pleasant character in the previous story, even if her feelings for the Doctor were a little strange. Her reunion with the Doctor here is a highlight, with Hurt's delivery of the line "Hello... Rejoice" being heartwarming. 
• Beth Chalmers has a wonderful voice and does a good job as Veklin. It's a shame that it's difficult to separate her from Raine Creevy given how she uses the same voice and accent.

The Cardinal's Case:

• In the beginning of The Innocent, we had a Time Destructor used. Here, we don't have a weapon return but an entire evil plan - the drill one from The Dalek Invasion of Earth. Nods or returning weapons are welcome but the Daleks having the exact same plot means that this story isn't that original. It's The Dalek Invasion of Earth with more Time Lords and fewer twisted ankles. The titular Thousand Planets are reminiscent of The Stolen Earth/Journey's End, as well.
• What was the point in The Innocent? This story could just have easily have been the first of the box set, functioning perfectly as an introductory story and would arguably have been a better one. To be reintroduced to the War Doctor on a Gallifreyan machine behind enemy lines is far more unique a beginning than him having a traditional adventure.

I'll Explain Later:

• "Keep to the cloisters," Veklin says. Hopefully these aren't the same super deadly, seriously dangerous cloisters we see in Hell Bent.

This Reminds Me...:

• The Doctor has met his companions when they're older before, with Molly O'Sullivan for example.
• The Daleks' drilling plan was previously enacted in The Dalek Invasion of Earth and Lucie Miller/To the Death.

The Inquisitor's Judgement: Slightly better than the previous story, The Thousand Worlds is nothing too special. It's The Dalek Invasion of Earth with sprinklings of The Stolen Earth and The Traitor. The Daleks supposedly wanting peace is an interesting enough twist, but I'll eat my hat if they aren't lying. This story is bad, earning it a D.

The War Doctor - Only the Monstrous

The Innocent  |  The Thousand Worlds  |  The Heart of the Battle