Misplaced Pages

"Once, Upon Time", prefixed frequently with either "Chapter Three" or "Flux", is the third episode of the thirteenth series of the British science fiction television programme Doctor Who, and of the six-episode serial known collectively as Doctor Who: Flux. It was first broadcast on BBC One on 14 November 2021. It was written by showrunner and executive producer Chris Chibnall, and directed by Azhur Saleem.

The episode stars Jodie Whittaker as the Thirteenth Doctor, alongside Mandip Gill and John Bishop as her companions, Yasmin Khan and Dan Lewis, respectively.

Plot

With humanity now on the verge of extinction, the Daleks, Cybermen, and Sontarans occupy most of the remaining planets. In the Temple of Atropos, the Doctor jumps into the time storm and stalls Swarm by hiding Dan, Yaz, and Vinder in their pasts.

Dan experiences his date with his love interest Diane, until the Doctor appears as a hologram and Swarm's companion Passenger abducts Diane. Yaz talks with her police partner and tries to teach her sister a video game, but sees the Doctor instead. Vinder reluctantly relives his time assisting the dictatorial Grand Serpent and his demotion to a remote outpost upon revealing the Serpent's misdeeds, with Yaz as his superior and the Doctor as a hologram. Vinder makes video messages aboard the outpost.

Bel, a survivor of the Flux, evades the Daleks in a forest, finds a Lupari ship and weapons, and escapes to the Cybermen sector. Bel kills a boarding party, then confesses her motivations to the last Cyberman she kills: she is searching for her lover, Vinder. Bel finds Vinder’s messages, and comforts their unborn child.

The Doctor jumps into her own timestream and recovers memories of her past Fugitive Doctor incarnation and three other Division officers, including the Lupari officer Karvanista, raiding the Temple to confront Swarm and Azure. Swarm appears in his original form and has vessels called Passengers each storing hundreds of thousands of life essences. The Fugitive Doctor has secretly hidden six powerful Mouri priests inside, and unleashes them.

Back in her present, the Doctor finds the priests and encourages them to return to the temple, but the priests forcibly separate her from her past memories to protect her from the time storm's effects. Awsok, a mysterious old entity, chides the Doctor, claiming the Doctor's mission is futile. Awsok reveals the Flux was deliberately created and placed and is the Doctor's fault.

The Doctor returns Yaz, Dan and Vinder to the present. Azure reveals they knew what the Doctor would do and brought her to Atropos on purpose. Swarm reveals Diane's entrapment in Passenger, and the Doctor and Vinder promise to help Dan get her back before Swarm, Azure and Passenger leave the temple. The Doctor uses the TARDIS to return Vinder to his ravaged home planet and gives him a device to contact her. After taking off, a Weeping Angel jumps out of Yaz's phone and seizes the TARDIS console.

Production

Development

"Once, Upon Time" was written by showrunner and executive producer Chris Chibnall.

Casting

The series is the third to feature Jodie Whittaker as the Thirteenth Doctor, and Mandip Gill as Yasmin Khan, with John Bishop having joined the cast for the series as Dan Lewis. The episode featured a guest appearance from Craig Parkinson. Jo Martin also returned as the Fugitive Doctor; her appearance was unannounced prior to the episode's broadcast. Additional guest stars for the episode were announced on 4 November.

Filming

Azhur Saleem directed the second block, which comprised the third, fifth and sixth episodes of the series.

Broadcast and reception

Professional ratings

Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
Rotten Tomatoes (Tomatometer)	75%
Rotten Tomatoes (Average Score)	7.2/10
Review scores
Source	Rating
Radio Times
The A.V. Club	B
The Independent
The Telegraph

Broadcast

"Once, Upon Time" aired on 14 November 2021. The episode serves as the third part of a six-part story, entitled Flux.

Ratings

Overnight the episode was watched by 3.76 million viewers; it was the fourth most-watched programme of the day only behind Strictly Come Dancing, Top Gear, and Countryfile. The consolidated rating counting all views across all platforms within seven days of broadcast was 4.67 million. The episode was the sixth highest rated programme on BBC1 for the week, but across all channels, it was the fifth highest for the day and failed to make the top fifteen programmes for the week. The episode received an Audience Appreciation Index score of 75.

Critical reception

On Rotten Tomatoes, a review aggregator website, 6 of 8 critics gave the episode a positive review, with an average rating of 7.2 out of 10. Patrick Mulkern, a reviewer for Radio Times, stated that the episode was "one of the most dizzying and blatantly confusing episodes of Doctor Who." The Independent's Isobel Lewis agreed, calling it a "meaningless mess", but said there were some "hopeful moments" among the "bewildering plotlines." Meanwhile, Michael Hogan with The Telegraph disagreed, believing that the "disorienting" and "woozy, trippy narrative" of the episode was the overall goal and that it was "jam-packed with treats for the fans." Caroline Siede similarly praised the episode writing that "one of the things “Once, Upon Time” does best is evoke a dream-like sense of confusion".

References

1. "Chibnall Has Written All of Series 13 Solo (Bar One Episode), Confirms Directors". Doctor Who TV. 15 October 2021. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
2. Collis, Clark (22 January 2020). "Doctor Who star Jodie Whittaker will play time traveler for at least one more season". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on 23 January 2020. Retrieved 23 January 2020.
3. Cremona, Patrick (30 November 2020). "Doctor Who: Mandip Gill says there's "more to come" for Yaz and her mental health storyline". Radio Times. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
4. Foster, Chuck (1 January 2021). "New companion for Series 13". DoctorWhoNews.net. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
5. Jeffery, Morgan (8 November 2021). "Doctor Who overnight ratings revealed for series 13's War of the Sontarans". Radio Times. Retrieved 8 November 2021.
6. Fullerton, Huw (14 November 2021). "Doctor Who brought back another Doctor, and it's about time". RadioTimes. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
7. Laford, Andrea (4 November 2021). "Doctor Who: Flux – 'Once, Upon Time' guest cast list". Cultbox. Retrieved 5 December 2021.
8. Laford, Andrea (9 August 2021). "Doctor Who Series 13 and 2022 specials: directors and casting news". CultBox. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
9. ^ "Flux: Once, Upon Time". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
10. ^ Mulkern, Patrick (14 November 2021). "Doctor Who – Once, Upon Time review: A feverish kaleidoscope reveals a few delicious gems". Radio Times. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
11. "A trippy Doctor Who travels up its own timestream". The A.V. Club. 15 November 2021.
12. ^ Lewis, Isobel (14 November 2021). "Doctor Who review, 'Once, Upon Time': Even the most feared villains in the Whoniverse can't save this meaningless mess". The Independent. Archived from the original on 24 May 2022. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
13. ^ Hogan, Michael (14 November 2021). "Doctor Who: Flux, episode 3 review: a rollicking, timey-wimey greatest hits package". The Telegraph. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
14. "Once, Upon Time". BBC. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
15. Haring, Bruce (9 October 2021). "'Doctor Who: Flux' Unveils Season 13 Trailer, Promises New Villains For Jodie Whittaker Finale". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 9 October 2021.
16. Mellor, Louisa (9 October 2021). "Doctor Who Series 13 is Titled 'Flux' and Starts On Halloween". Den of Geek. Retrieved 9 October 2021.
17. Molina-Whyte, Lidia (15 November 2021). "Doctor Who overnight ratings revealed for episode 3 Once, Upon Time". Radio Times. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
18. "Most viewed programmes | BARB".
19. Foster, Chuck (16 November 2021). "Once, Upon Time - Appreciation Index". Doctor Who News. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
20. "A trippy Doctor Who travels up its own timestream". The A.V. Club. 15 November 2021.

External links

• "Once, Upon Time" at the BBC Doctor Who homepage
• "Once, Upon Time" on Tardis Wiki, the Doctor Who Wiki
• "Chapter Three: Once, Upon Time" at IMDb

Links to related articles

v t e Doctor Who episodes by Chris Chibnall Tenth Doctor "42" Eleventh Doctor "The Hungry Earth" / "Cold Blood" "Dinosaurs on a Spaceship" "The Power of Three" Thirteenth Doctor Series 11 "The Woman Who Fell to Earth" "The Ghost Monument" "Rosa" "Arachnids in the UK" "The Tsuranga Conundrum" "The Battle of Ranskoor Av Kolos" "Resolution" Series 12 "Spyfall" "Fugitive of the Judoon" "Praxeus" "Can You Hear Me?" "Ascension of the Cybermen" / "The Timeless Children" "Revolution of the Daleks" Series 13 "The Halloween Apocalypse" / "War of the Sontarans" / "Once, Upon Time" / "Village of the Angels" / "Survivors of the Flux" / "The Vanquishers" Specials "Eve of the Daleks" "Legend of the Sea Devils" "The Power of the Doctor" Mini episodes Pond Life "P.S." v t e Doctor Who: Thirteenth Doctor television stories Series 11 "The Woman Who Fell to Earth" "The Ghost Monument" "Rosa" "Arachnids in the UK" "The Tsuranga Conundrum" "Demons of the Punjab" "Kerblam!" "The Witchfinders" "It Takes You Away" "The Battle of Ranskoor Av Kolos" "Resolution" Series 12 "Spyfall" "Orphan 55" "Nikola Tesla's Night of Terror" "Fugitive of the Judoon" "Praxeus" "Can You Hear Me?" "The Haunting of Villa Diodati" "Ascension of the Cybermen" / "The Timeless Children" "Revolution of the Daleks" Series 13 "The Halloween Apocalypse" / "War of the Sontarans" / "Once, Upon Time" / "Village of the Angels" / "Survivors of the Flux" / "The Vanquishers" 2022 specials "Eve of the Daleks" "Legend of the Sea Devils" "The Power of the Doctor" Minor appearances "Twice Upon a Time" v t e Doctor Who: Cyberman stories Television First Doctor The Tenth Planet Second Doctor The Moonbase The Tomb of the Cybermen The Wheel in Space The Invasion Fourth Doctor Revenge of the Cybermen Fifth Doctor Earthshock "The Five Doctors" Sixth Doctor Attack of the Cybermen Seventh Doctor Silver Nemesis Tenth Doctor "Rise of the Cybermen" / "The Age of Steel" "Army of Ghosts" / "Doomsday" "The Next Doctor" Eleventh Doctor "Closing Time" "Nightmare in Silver" Twelfth Doctor "Dark Water" / "Death in Heaven" "World Enough and Time" / "The Doctor Falls" Thirteenth Doctor "The Haunting of Villa Diodati" "Ascension of the Cybermen" / "The Timeless Children" "The Power of the Doctor" Other appearances Major "Cyberwoman" Minor The War Games The Mind of Evil Carnival of Monsters "Dalek" "The Pandorica Opens" / "The Big Bang" "A Good Man Goes to War" "The Day of the Doctor" "The Time of the Doctor" "Face the Raven" "Hell Bent" "Once, Upon Time" / "The Vanquishers" See also Dimensions in Time Tardisode "Twice Upon a Time" Audio Spare Parts Legend of the Cybermen Books Iceberg Made of Steel Video games Destiny of the Doctors Top Trumps "Blood of the Cybermen" Return to Earth The Mazes of Time The Eternity Clock Legacy Lego Dimensions Stage Doctor Who Prom Doctor Who Live v t e Doctor Who: Dalek stories Television First Doctor The Daleks The Dalek Invasion of Earth The Chase "Mission to the Unknown" The Daleks' Master Plan Second Doctor The Power of the Daleks The Evil of the Daleks Third Doctor Day of the Daleks Planet of the Daleks Death to the Daleks Fourth Doctor Genesis of the Daleks Destiny of the Daleks Fifth Doctor Resurrection of the Daleks Sixth Doctor Revelation of the Daleks Seventh Doctor Remembrance of the Daleks Ninth Doctor "Dalek" "Bad Wolf" / "The Parting of the Ways" Tenth Doctor "Army of Ghosts" / "Doomsday "Daleks in Manhattan" / "Evolution of the Daleks" "The Stolen Earth" / "Journey's End" Eleventh Doctor "Victory of the Daleks" "Asylum of the Daleks" "The Time of the Doctor" Twelfth Doctor "Into the Dalek" "The Magician's Apprentice" / "The Witch's Familiar" Thirteenth Doctor "Resolution" "Revolution of the Daleks" "Eve of the Daleks" "The Power of the Doctor" Minor appearances The Space Museum The Wheel in Space The War Games The Mind of Evil Frontier in Space Logopolis "The Five Doctors" Doctor Who "The Waters of Mars" "The Beast Below" "The Pandorica Opens" / "The Big Bang" "The Wedding of River Song" "The Day of the Doctor" "Hell Bent" "The Pilot" "Twice Upon a Time" "Once, Upon Time" / "The Vanquishers" See also The Curse of Fatal Death Tardisode 13 – "Doomsday" "The Last Day" Daleks! "Destination: Skaro" Films Dr. Who films Dr. Who and the Daleks Daleks' Invasion Earth 2150 A.D. See also The Lego Batman Movie Audio The Monthly Adventures The Genocide Machine The Apocalypse Element The Mutant Phase The Time of the Daleks Jubilee The Juggernauts Return of the Daleks Renaissance of the Daleks Brotherhood of the Daleks Enemy of the Daleks Plague of the Daleks Daleks Among Us Dalek Empire Dalek War I, Davros Innocence The Davros Mission Other Death and the Daleks Unbound The Lost Stories The Four Doctors The Five Companions Energy of the Daleks The Eighth Doctor Adventures The War Doctor Living History The Tenth Doctor Adventures After the Daleks Nightmare of the Daleks The Final Beginning Minor appearances Seasons of Fear Eyes of the Master Books Novelisations Doctor Who in an Exciting Adventure with the Daleks The Dalek Invasion of Earth The Chase The Daleks' Master Plan Part I: Mission to the Unknown The Daleks' Master Plan Part II: The Mutation of Time The Power of the Daleks The Evil of the Daleks Day of the Daleks Doctor Who and the Space War Planet of the Daleks Death to the Daleks Doctor Who and the Genesis of the Daleks Doctor Who and the Destiny of the Daleks Resurrection of the Daleks Revelation of the Daleks Remembrance of the Daleks Eighth Doctor Adventures War of the Daleks Legacy of the Daleks New Series Adventures I Am a Dalek Prisoner of the Daleks The Dalek Generation Engines of War Other The Dalek Factor Video games Dalek Attack Destiny of the Doctors Top Trumps "City of the Daleks" Evacuation Earth Return to Earth The Mazes of Time The Eternity Clock Legacy Lego Dimensions Stage The Evil of the Daleks The Daleks' Master Plan Doctor Who Prom Doctor Who Live v t e Doctor Who: Multi-Doctor stories Television Major instances The Three Doctors "The Five Doctors" The Two Doctors "The Day of the Doctor" "Twice Upon a Time" "Fugitive of the Judoon" "The Power of the Doctor" "The Giggle" Minor instances "The Name of the Doctor" "Deep Breath" "Listen" "The Doctor Falls" "The Timeless Children" "Once, Upon Time" Audio The Sirens of Time Zagreus 100 The Four Doctors The Eleven Cold Fusion Books Timewyrm: Genesys Timewyrm: Revelation Who Killed Kennedy Cold Fusion The Eight Doctors Players Interference – Book One Interference – Book Two The Colony of Lies Wolfsbane Comics Emperor of the Daleks Assimilation Video games Dalek Attack Destiny of the Doctors Legacy Lego Dimensions See also Regeneration The Brain of Morbius The Trial of a Time Lord Dimensions in Time The Curse of Fatal Death "Time Crash" "Journey's End" "The Big Bang" "Time" "The Rebel Flesh / "The Almost People" "Last Night" "Journey to the Centre of the TARDIS" "The Vanquishers" Regeneration stories v t e Doctor Who: Weeping Angel stories Television Major appearances "Blink" "The Time of Angels" / "Flesh and Stone" "The Angels Take Manhattan" Flux "The Halloween Apocalypse" / "Once, Upon Time" / "Village of the Angels" / "Survivors of the Flux" Minor appearances "The God Complex" "The Time of the Doctor" "Hell Bent" "The Lost" "Revolution of the Daleks" Audio Fallen Angels The Side of the Angels Wink Reflect Books Touched by an Angel The Angel's Kiss: A Melody Malone Mystery Video games Legacy Lego Dimensions See also Doctor Who Live "Good as Gold"

• 2021 British television episodes
• Doctor Who multi-Doctor stories
• Television episodes written by Chris Chibnall
• Thirteenth Doctor episodes