Doctor Who S11 E4 Recap

"Yas, you're so uncool right now."

Coming off an incredibe episode that dealt with racism far more in depth than any previous modern Who escapade, "Arachnids in the UK" takes us back to Earth for a little R&R that just so happens to include a hotel of giant spiders that'll make your skin crawl.

Right off the bat this episode introduces us to a businessman who's uber rich, firing a woman for walking into a room where he was having a "meeting," and has big plans to switch his career to the political, specifically a big white house. Oh, and he's American. Keeping the theme of tackling important, relevant, stories Chibnall uses this episode to tackle the rich and injustice that the United States is in right now, clearly referencing Trump and the "guns solve problems" mantra, but this is all in the B-plot.

The real heart of the episode, like every one that has come before thus far, are the characters. I am really liking the slow, but natural, character growth that Chibnall is striving for this season. Now that they're back on Earth Graham and Yas have to confront their misplaced lives while venting their problems by helping the Doctor battle mutant spiders. Sounds like an average Sunday, doesn't it?

One of the things I loved about modern Doctor Who, that I desperately wanted to see more of, were the times when the Doctor interacted with his companion's parents. There's a special kind of chemistry when the Doctor is playing off an older actor, and it really shows in this episode with Graham. His story takes him back home where he has to confront his grief and try to move on. His acting is superb and heartfelt, and when it intersects with Ryan's subplot of receiving a letter from his dad...it hits me in the feels. Their relationship has come so far in four episodes, but it's written so subtly, and mostly through actions, that it feels incredibly natural and life-like.

Yasmin finally gets to take center stage as this episode introduces her family; mother, father, and mischievous sister. So far I had felt that Yas had been underused, and I am very glad that we got an insight into her relationship with her family, and job here. She's a workaholic, her family keeps pestering her about why she isn't in a relationship yet, and while it's clear that she loves her family it also seems like she feels smothered by them too.

One interesting thing I picked up on was how her father had asked if she and the Doctor were in a relationship, and her mother asked if she and Ryan were in a relationship. Nosy parents aside, I don't believe we know what Yas's sexuality is and these interactions brought up a few questions. Is this foreshadowing that she's bisexual? Did she come out to her father, but not her mother? It's a small detail, but I felt like the show is setting up something down the line for Yasmin's character this season.

Anywho, this episode is great if you couldn't tell. There were moments where I felt Chibnall was a little too on the nose when relating this story to Trump, but overall I had a great time. The spiders had my skin crawling (sadly it has no connection with Planet of Spiders) and every character had a great arc with the Doctor being the most vulnerable I think I've seen her around companions. It had a heartwarming reunion with everyone pledging more adventures, and possibly a huge death flag from the Doctor's "speech" at the end.

Key Points

• Spiders!
• Yasmin's family dynamic - relationship in the future?
• Graham/Ryan relationship for the win
• The Doctor saying someone might die

What did you think of this episode, did it make your skin crawl as much as mine? Comment below!