‘Doctor Who: 73 Yards’ Season 1, Episode 4 Spoiler-Free Review – Millie Gibson Steals The Show In A Very Doctor Who Take On Folk Horror

Ruby Sunday (Millie Gibson) | Photo Credit: Bad Wolf/BBC Studios/Disney+

One of Doctor Who’s greatest strengths is its ability to take almost any genre and put a quintessentially Doctor Who spin on it. And that’s exactly what the latest episode of Doctor Who does. Written by Russell T. Davies and directed by Dylan Holmes Williams, “73 Yards” sends the Doctor and Ruby straight into an old-fashioned bit of folk horror. If last week’s episode offered a showcase for Ncuti Gatwa’s Doctor, then this week’s episode turns the spotlight on Millie Gibson’s Ruby Sunday. “73 Yards” delivers a creepy, funny, heartbreaking, and wholly satisfying hour of television. It might even rival one of Davies’ best episodes of Doctor Who, “Turn Left” – and that’s not a comparison to be made lightly.

Doctor Who Meets Folk Horror

When the Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa) and Ruby Sunday (Millie Gibson) land on a Welsh cliffside, they embark on a journey unlike any they’ve been on before. An ancient legend haunts this small Welsh town; a legend that the Doctor and Ruby might just have brought to life. Now, everywhere Ruby goes, a mysterious woman lurks some distance behind her. And anyone who interacts with this woman quickly runs away in sheer terror. Who is this other-worldly woman, and what does she want with Ruby? Can Ruby get to the bottom of what’s happening to her before it’s too late? Or is she cursed to be haunted for the rest of her days? In “73 Yards”, Russell T. Davies steers Doctor Who straight into the realm of folk horror. Overall, “73 Yards” tells a relatively simple story that will stick with you long after the credits roll.

Going into any detail about the plot would do the episode a great disservice. Any good piece of folk horror is all about the experience. And “73 Yards” delivers a breathtaking one. It’s a creepy, tightly-paced story that immediately sinks its teeth into your skin and never lets go. The fear of someone following you is such an inherent human fear, and “73 Yards” takes that fear and cranks it to an eleven. How do you escape a force that’s hell-bent on keeping you within its grasp? The episode takes a dash of It Follows and a dash of Welsh folklore and throws them into the Doctor Who blender with excellent results. In many ways, Doctor Who is just as much about the companions as it is about the Doctor, and that’s even truer for a story like “73 Yards”. And the episode’s all the better for it, too.

Millie Gibson Shines in a “Doctor-Light” Episode

Longtime fans are sure to recognize “73 Yards” as the latest in a long Doctor Who tradition of “Doctor-light” episodes – episodes that focus more on the companion and often feature very little of the Doctor. “73 Yards” is Ruby’s story through and through, and it offers Gibson the chance to take center stage. How does Ruby go about saving the day when the Doctor’s not around? That’s the question at the heart of “73 Yards”, and it’s a question the episode answers brilliantly. In many ways, “73 Yards” feels like it’s cut from a similar cloth as the Tenth Doctor episode, “Turn Left”. The vibes are similar, they’re both “Doctor-light” episodes, and they both see the companion having to save the day in the Doctor’s absence. And, coincidentally, both stories easily rank among the best of their respective seasons.

Once again, saying much more ventures too far into spoiler territory, as does going into any specifics about Ruby’s journey throughout the episode. Needless to say, however, Gibson delivers a truly breathtaking performance. The way she commands every single scene is truly a sight to behold. And the journey she goes on throughout the episode puts her through the emotional ringer, that much is for sure. Her performance is just so assured, so confident, even as she goes in and out of horror, comedy, and heartbreak. In a way, this entire episode is Ruby’s chance to prove herself. To look deep inside and discover what she’s made for. Gibson sells that discovery, giving it all the emotional heft it deserves. In fact, the entire episode hinges on her performance, and she knocks it out of the park. This is Millie Gibson’s world, and we’re all just living in it.

Final Thoughts

“73 Yards” is one of the most satisfying episodes of Doctor Who in a long time – even if the ending feels a bit abrupt and leaves a few elements unaddressed. Not a moment feels wasted or rushed; everything works brilliantly. Davies’ script tells a gorgeous, haunting story while Gibson’s performance gives the whole affair a layer of emotional truth that holds the entire story together. Having an episode like this so early in the season feels a bit weird. But it offers a great showcase of just how varied Doctor Who can be. Two weeks ago the Doctor saved some space babies from a literal Bogeyman and here we are, neck-deep in an old-fashioned bit of folk horror. It’s hard to imagine an episode better than “73 Yards”. At its core, it tells a scary, emotional story that sticks with you long after the credits roll.

Doctor Who continues with “73 Yards”, premiering Friday, May 24th, at 7pm on Disney+. New episodes premiere on Fridays at 7pm on Disney+