SNAPSHOT
“… the new special, “Legend of the Sea Devils”, is taking the Doctor, Yaz (Mandip Gill), and Dan (John Bishop) to 19th century China.The big historical highlight of the special belongs to Crystal Yu as real life pirate queen Zheng Yi Sao, aka Madame Ching. Ching was considered one of the most successful pirates in history, taking control of her husband’s pirate confederation after her husband’s death and ending her legendary career commandeering 24 ships and over 1400 pirates before her death at the age of 68. In the special, she’s about to attack a nearby coastal village, prompting the Doctor and her companions to defend it, but the sudden appearance of the titular Sea Devils complicates matters. (synopsis (c) Gizmodo)
I will be honest – despite loving, LOVING Jodie Whittaker as the Thirteenth Doctor – she was described once by showrunner Chris Chibnall as “… incredibly lively, warm, funny, energetic, inclusive – she’s the greatest friend you could wish to have as your guide around the universe” – I somehow managed to miss the entirety of the 13th season of Doctor Who.
I can only blame being time poor because what I have seen of Whittaker in seasons 11 and 12, she is a perfect Doctor, absolutely the one person you would want in your corner when the scummier parts of the universe come calling.
So, prior to the arrival of the second of three specials for 2022 which are designed to farewell Whittaker as the Doctor and Chibnall as the showrunner with the two making a pact to do three seasons and three specials and then call it quits – I plan to watch season 13, the New Year’s special featuring the Daleks and then buckle down for some sea dragons and pirates as you do.
The sea dragons of the title are old Doctor Who favourites as it turns out, with Gizmodo noting they “first appeared in the 1972 episode [“The Sea Devils”] during Jon Pertwee’s time as the Third Doctor [appearing again when] Peter Davidson’s Fifth Doctor encountered them 1984, during the four-part opener to season 21, “Warriors of the Deep.”
It all looks like good swashbuckling fun me hearties and should make for a brilliant penultimate farewell when “Legend of the Sea Devils” drops on 17 April this year.