Doctor Who Is So Back | Boom (Review & Analysis) 

IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM STEVEN MOFFAT: "Helo heebiee wholmes viewers im glad you liked my new doccy who episode and i'd like it even more if you supported heebiee on patreon at this link: www.patreon.com/harbowholmes Thank you so much besties and i'll see you at christmas x" Aw, isn't he sweet

This episode is proof of what happens when Moffat writes with both of his hands 😂😂

I would have said A rank. Two things hold it back for me: - The child acting, good lord - The AI dad taking down the entire algorithm, that needed to be built up more. A scene of the AI acting uncharacteristically human due to the presence of his daughter, or maybe the Doctor using his forced connection to the Twistbulance to weaken Villengards protections in some way. With that said, I'm okay with S rank too!!

Moffat be like: "What if The 4th Doctor got stuck that whole time?" 🤔

This episode reminded me of why Steven Moffat used to be such a acclaimed writer and reminded me how solid how work was especially in Series 9 and 10 I liked Ncuti from the start but this one has really won me over and gave us the commanding presence and just how clever The Doctor is it and how fast his brain works

You know an moffat ep is good when HARBO WHOLMES says he doesn't mind the power of love ending it has XD Anyways what I wanted to note, that I founds REALLY clever that no one seems to address... is how this landmine situation manages to also take away the sonic... WITHOUT TAKING AWAY THE SONIC. Normally the doctor would use the sonic to disable something like a landmine, but in this case *he can't do that*, he can't reach into his pocket to grab the sonic. *Because that would shift his weight too much* his go to tool against weapons is RIGHT THERE... but he *can't use it* because that would set off the mine. Its a BRILLIANT explanation that I feel is going underapprecieated and I think we need more eps like this that find a way to take away the sonic's value without actually stripping the sonic from the doctor physically.

A lot of Maffat's episodes were solved by 'Parent Power' (Empty Child/Doctor Dances, Closing Time, The Lie of the Land) so it's Moffat's go-to sometimes

The only thing that bothers me: the two have apparently been travelling for about 6 months, and shes never been on an alien planet in all that time?!

Can I just say, it wasn't really 'the power of love' that saved them. The ai hologram of vater was designed to reflect his last moments alive and mimic what Vater would say and do. So, in fact the ai was just following it's primary function which was to 'comfort and protect' Splice

I was hoping that the Vanguard algorithm made the decision that the doctor exploding on the mine would be too costly and then shut it down, leaving a bitter sweet ending

I wonder if this was a rejected Capauldi episode. I dont mean this in a bad way, just based on how similar it is to his episodes. Thought that may just be becuase its a late moffat episode

Boom should've been episode 2, The Devil's Chord should've been episode 3

In Doctor Who "thoughts and prayers" once literally saved the world. Martha Jones went all over the world telling people to think of the Doctor and give him good vibes or whatever the hell. The Doctor regained his youth and defeated the Master. So...

Immediately thought this could be a 12th doctor episode.

I didn't realise it initially because I hadn't really followed the media running up to this season. But the decision to have Ruby's death in an episode that also features the actor pegged for the _next_ companion was pretty smart.

Harry im standing on a landmine

I didnt really mind the power of love ending compared to other episodes since it was forshadowed that Vaters personality was recompiled into an AI, maybe meaning he was debating relinquishing his faith, or distrust in the technology they fight with

While I enjoyed it, I feel this is an "age like wine" episode, where even if it's not someone's thing now, I can see it holding up stronger on rewatch, given most of the recurring criticisms do have retroactive explanations or thematic justification. Maybe not an all time classic but hopefully one, we look back on with fondness.

1:50 ish I'm really shocked to hear there this episode was filmed entirely on sets with no location shooting. I 100% assumed the alien planet was another Welsh quarry. 😂

I think that’s the main difference between this and the last few seasons. There’s a PLAN. Sure chibnalls knew where he wanted to end up but every series arc by Davies and Moffatt is so meticulously planned and implemented

I loved the episode but I can't get over the landmine's algorithm. When it feels a weight, it checks to see if there's a living victim, and blows up if it does. But if it doesn't, it.....waits and blows up later? Would it have "unset" if the doctor stayed more still? Because if not it should just always immediately blow? Idk, small nitpick

One of the most npc runs I’ve ever seen in my life 😅 and I love this ep felt like I was actually watching doctor who again

What an episode! Moffat!!!! This was so good, I was on the edge of my seat, feeling tense and nervous want sure what was going to happen. He did such a great job, definitely a favorite so far. Glad to hear your thoughts on it.

My initial thought on how this would resolve was that, like Oxygen, the algorithm would realise that killing The Doctor would be cost ineffective.

Huh... I never would have guessed they'd used anything other than a green screen. It still looked fake AF in the background. My 15 year-old daughter even referred to it as a matte painting. The sets were great, but TBH, I'd rather see less ambitious but more convincing backdrops. Remember that basement hallway they used a ton during the first six series or so? Never thought I'd miss it, but....

My prediction is 73 yards would be better or at least on par with boom because it seems like it's going to be a classic ghost story and I'm super excited to see that come into doctor who, only time will tell.

This is the best episode so far

This episode was so refreshing! Although, I would be lying if I said the whole land mine concept didn't distract me. It felt inconsistent in its implementation. Felt like it should have exploded about 5 or 6 times after a certain point based on what we knew about it. It really took me out of the episode. The stuff against faith was also upsetting to me. I get that what the doctor said applies here, but it felt like the show trying to make a more general statement about faith that I personally did not appreciate. But besides that, this was a very good time! Gave me hope for the future of the show! The tease for next week's episode also has me intrigued.

The guy who wrote this episode should be showrunner.

This was good, really good. Finally an ep were we can see more of Gatawa acting and Moffat writing was on point.

The devils chord wasn’t that bad in my opinion, though the musical number at the end felt sorta weird for the show. As for space babies, if the didn’t animate the mouths and said something like “the prams have future tech that lets the communicate through thought”, it would have been a pretty solid episode.

“Freema Agyeman situation” that happened with Karen Gillan too. She was in Fires of Pompeii.

This was the first episode since 2017 that I came out of feeling excited and giddy.

I was taken out of the AI dad bit, reminded me too much of Let’s Kill Hitler, when 11 tries to convince the voice interface hologram of Amelia Pond into helping him while he was dying

I didnt watch space babies or devils chord because everyone was saying they were a bit weird (something us fans say when we dont want to outright call something bad) but when I read the description of this episode and saw "can the doctor save the day while stuck on a landmine?" I was all in.

I can hear Summoning Salt music!

Steven Moffat once again proving that he's the best individual Doctor Who writer! I CANNOT wait for the Christmas special this year!😄

10:51 I also got that vibe, like Splice was meant to be 4 or 5 instead of 10.

23:09 THANK YOU!!! I was so waiting for the moment in this video where you'd point that out!!!!!!!!!!!

Biggest question I have from Boom: Ruby is 3000 (and change) years old, born in the 21st century. Vilengard is introduced with Cpt Jack as the biggest arms dealer ever. #9 didn't like guns. He went to Vilengard once. That site now grows bananas. He likes bananas. How did #9 know that #15 destroyed Vilengard?

The day is saved by Parent Power! Next time he writes he'll probably save the day by everyone learning the true meaning of Christmas!! 😉😅 I really loved Boom though. That line about Faith being the magic word that allows you not to think for yourself, that was FIRE! I love this Doctor!!🎸🤘😸

As important as Vator was to the story, it felt like Joe Anderson was so underutilized

big shoutout to that repeated line about the clear symbolism of blind faith, gotta be one of my favourites

Doctor Who is so back, but Nathan Gibson is not back 😢

It’s so nice to see a happy Harbo Wholmes 👍

New Companion that isn't Millie is Announced. New Companion appears early. Millie Dies. Aaaaaaaargh!!! Me panics. Moffat! Moffat! Panic! Help! Wut? Millie Lives! Brilliant!

the tension ratcheting up every five minutes really is what made this episode great to me.

Moffat and RTD really need to pen a series together where they trade off every other episode. I honestly think they bring out the best in each other and stop each other from going in to some of their worst tendencies.

A Moffat classic - simple premise, complex characters 👍

Such a change in tone for the message of this episode compared to Kerblam with its whole "the system isn't the problem". I'm absolutely here for it

The fact she was brought back by the end seriously impacts the dramatic effect.

The thing is, we know Ruby wasn't going to stay dead, because we've seen trailers of later in the season where she was in it. Perhaps if this was the penultimate or last episode that would be a different story. Plus we know Moffat can't just kill companions and have them not have some sort of happy-ish ending. He gave Amy the chance to grow old with her husband, Clara the chance to live in the last second of her life forever, Bill the opportunity to be amongst the stars with her girlfriend, and River being downloaded into the library's computer. That last one is also where we know Vater's "AI" would be able to prevail. We've seen the techology to preserve someone's memory already (in a Moffat story no less), so it makes sense he was able to win save everyone.

When I tell you I have been on the edge of my seat waiting for this review. You are my favourite Whotuber now, just so you know. Please never stop being awesome! ❤

Hands down the best episode since the Doctor Falls. (I personally think that Twice Upon A Time, Rosa, Spyfall, Wild Blue Yonder and the Giggle were all good but I don't think they outperform the Doctor Falls or Boom)

Glad to see a positive review from you Harbo. It’s been a while 😂

So you're saying because this episode was better than the previous two, the whole series is saved? This episode might have been better, but it was still miles below 2005-2017

i think this is genuinely the only Dr W review channel on all of youtube that doesn't think the show is garbage. i'm sure you're right and everyone else is wrong.

This episode proves my theory - Moffat works best when he is a writer alongside RTD as showrunner. Whilst myself and a good chunk of the fans enjoy his more complex series arcs, it can confuse a lot of fans too, and is very polarising. However, when he writes a handful of episodes alongside RTD's series design, they're always near perfect to masterpieces. He is the writer of every episode that many put in their top 3 - Empty Child/Doctor Dances, Blink and Girl in the Fireplace

The Doctor Who fanbase is infuriating, even after Boom was a really good episode I've *still* seen so many people complaining and saying the series is unwatchable, this was a classic RTD era-esque episode written by Moffat and I don't get what else people want

I thought it was a great episode. I loved Moffat as a writer and the Capaldi era is my favorite. However, I was hoping for an evolution in this series but so far we are doing a 'best of' RTD era, in some cases without the 'best'. I would have liked to see the new era treated as such. I miss the new music style that Segun Akinola gave us and the title sequence, one of the few positives from the Chibs era. I would have liked a memory loss story line, taking the Doctor back to a re-formed Gallifrey, to watch him rediscover who is again, helped by a companion he picks up on a mission to earth, given to him by the Time Lords. He could meet characters who know him and drop in many easter eggs for long term fans while introducing a new audience.

I really love the Hitchcockian vibes in this one. You get this great sense that being stuck on a landmine plays with the Doctor psychologically, and as you say he's just putting on a brave face for Ruby. When you make the Doctor vulnerable, it brilliantly highlights how precarious the situation is.

Given how it’s been talked about I’m really intrigued to see if 73 yards can top this. If Russell brings his Turn Left writing chops to it it COULD be.

I really did like Boom but for me the ending with Dad AI magically overcoming being deleted to hack the Valenguard system was such an eye roll moment, it wasn’t built up enough imo, there was no scene somehow showing the power of the AI to the point where we can believe the death hologram of a random captain is strong enough to take down the entire algorithm. However I loved the episode up until that point and the epilogue was touching, very interested to see the continuation of the series and whether it can continue to improve after the strange first episode

Don’t think anyone has made this comparison yet, but the whole “there is no war” twist pretty much is taken from an old Sarah Jane Adventures story, Warriors of the Kudlak

The one thing I wish they could have addressed was how the Sonic "Screwdriver" (looks more like a Sonic TV Remote at this point), is unable to be used. A simple line like "if the Landmine detects any sonic signals it will automatically detonate" would have been easy to do.

Can I just say, this episode really made me appreciate the others, because this one actually had me at the verge of tears (then again, midnights with a whiskey and a zoot I become fragile) so you can imagine how I went from one week dancing and laughing to quite literally witnesssing one of my new CLASSIC docotor who episode! BOOM came in with a BANG!

I have a feeling mundy flynn will return.

I was watching genesis of the daleks right before I saw this, and it opens with a similar ish scene of the doctor stepping on a land mine but he was a lot more composed than 15 was so early on in the episode when 15 was freaking out I was really confused cause like, you’ve been here before, but as it becomes revealed what the actual stakes were and how it seemed like the doctor knew that it was a great realization. Made rewatch even better

RTD as showrunner with a story written by Moffatt is always going to be a recipe for success. The best episode in at least seven years, maybe longer. Not a top 10, I don't think - Moffatt has written much better episodes, and there were quite a few misteps here - but it certainly shows the potential of the new series.

LOVE THIS EPISODE. SO GOOD I CAN'T WAIT FOR 73 YARDS

Hold on... They built a set to look like a Welsh quarry???

A character standing on a mine 4 a long time: will he be saved or perishes? Wait... Didn't we have it in S09E1 "The Magician's Apprentice" with much more effect? Now THAT was... Do I need 2 say more?

Man, I loved that 11th Doc theory

14:20 Beerus from Dragon Ball Super can answer this question. He blows up half a planet in his literal first appearance

Okay but that’s definitely a roomba right?

26:37 Oooh I’m really excited for that!

How has no one talked about how similar the Ambulances are to the Daleks???

The thing that makes this A tier instead of S for me is… they literally talked about this. How do you end the war? You lay down your weapons. “Surrender”, as the Doctor says. That’s what should’ve resolved the conflict, not magic dad AI zipping in.

Boom is a great episode. The best episode of Doctor Who we have had in a long time. 💥

maybe episode 6 deserves an A in the future if it's kinda good to you

I love this episode but maybe have to rewatch as still not convinced on Ncutis doctor

canto and mundy are literally Rory and Amy reborn lmao

I feel alone in saying I prefer the devil’s chord! Both episodes are superb.

I was distracted during the generic and didn't who write the episode. I'm a fan who decided to stop the show after the last episode of serie 12 and knew I would come back after Chibnall departure. And boy by the end of this episode I knew I was watching the Doctor Who that I loved still without knowing who the writer was. When I learned it was Moffat I just had tears in my eyes. Him and RTD succeed to make an older Whovian very happy.

Boy oh boy where do I even begin. Steven Moffat... honey, my pookie bear. I have loved you ever since I saw your first story. The way you write anti-capitalist material and strike fear into your enemies eyes. Your silky smooth poetry, and that gorgeous story telling. I would do anything for you. I wish it were possible to freeze time so I would never have to watch you retire. You had a rough start, but you never gave up hope. You are even amazing away from Doctor Who, you're a great husband and father, sometimes I even call you dad. I forever dread and weep, thinking of the day you will retire. I would sacrifice my own life if it were the only thing that could put a smile on your beautiful face. You have given me so much joy, and heartbreak over the years. I remember when you first left Doctor Who and its like my heart got broken into a million pieces. But a tear still fell from my right eye when I watched you produce Dracula, because deep down, my glorious king deserved it. I just wanted you to return home. Then allas, you did, my sweet baby boy came home and I rejoiced. 2018 - 2022 were hard years for us baby, but in 2024 you made history happen. You came back to Doctor Who and I couldn't believe it. I was crying, bawling even, and I heard my glorious king exclaim these words, "Doctor Who fans would kill themselves if I came back" Not only have you changed the game of Doctor Who and the world forever, but you've eternally changed my world. And now you're getting older, but still the goat, my goat. I love you pookie bear, my glorious king, Steven Moffat.☺️♥️🫶🏻

15:39 "honestly, even though this is only episode 3, you never actually know for that it isn't going to be a real death" sure, not like we're on... episode 3, or anything.

14:19 look for pictures of Alderaan. Oh, wait.

Space Babies put a very sour taste in my mouth for what this season could end up being like, The Devil's Chord was better but by a small amount. Boom however completely blew me away and had me on the edge of my seat the entire run time. This episode alone restored my faith in this season being really good and it's a contender for one of my favorite episodes in the entire show. Yes it's THAT good.

Moffat and Davies have a special relationship, and Moffat was showrunner too, so he and Davies can talk about episode ideas on that same level.

Definitely my favorite episode so far. The Deus Ex Machina ending is questionable but at the same time so Doctor Who. The character writing was fantastic and the situation did a good job making everything tense and pushing characters to the limit. I thought I'd put this on the background and do a few runs of Hades 2 based on the last two episodes. But no. I sat down and glued my face to the screen and took in every moment. I don't think it's perfect, but it was definitely my favorite so far and the first that made me feel confident in Ncuti's era (which actually makes me feel a little less confident but we'll see 😅). I do love Moffat's Easter eggs beyond the direct plot connections. Like the little song that mentioned the moon and president's wife the Doctor "stole" as a child. My only real issue is I still wouldn't show this episode to get first time viewers interested in Ncuti's era. It's the second episode I'd show them. Still waiting for a good first "this is Doctor Who" for first time viewers and Space Babies and Devil's Chord just aren't it (and none of the specials are either; Church on Ruby Road is almost though).

I might be nitpicking but my only problem was that I felt the episode came too soon. Like I feel like I’ve barely had time to warm up to the doctor and ruby just yet to care that much whether they die. That may just be me but I was struggling to care

Yes! Houston- we have a good episode!

I would give this episode an 8/10, or an A rank. I tend to multitask while watching TV these days, but I was completely glued to the screen while watching, which I can't say about either Space Babies or The Devil's Chord. My criticisms: -- It got a little bit too characteristically Moffat-y at points (e.g. the frankly uncomfortable romance plot line) -- Some character reactions did not feel realistic to the situation (although that could be put down to shock, I guess) -- The child acting

Steven Moffat is such the best when he has a supervisor. My problem with him grows when he is in charge and goes overboard, without thinking much about rest of the world he creates or goes overboard with puns. This episode was easily the best of Ncuti, even though there wasn’t much surprises in the story but thinking about it, this series actually feels as if it’s for young people, new possible fans and its also great

I wish that Ncuti got his I am The Doctor moment in his first episode like David and Matt did but better 4 1/2 episodes late than never I suppose? 🤷🏾‍♂️

By far, this episode is the most mixed from the RU-vidrs I been watching. Either they love it or hate it.

I really did not expect to hear this man to use the words “tsundere” and “uwu” in a review but here we are 😂

The first good episode in years tbh

19:33 editing error?

13:06 I really hope she becomes Mundy Sunday 😂😂