One might assume that the futuristic, sci-fi Doctor Who episodes would have the largest scope, yet this series that hasn't been the case. Whilst I loved The Ghost Monument, that was more for its familiarity than anything else and The Tsuranga Conundrum was a real mixed bag. Instead, the humble historical episodes have proven to be the most ambitious. It's also potentially notable that so far the historical episodes have been the only ones not exclusively written by Chris Chibnall. Rosa was co-written with Malorie Blackman, who explored the beginnings of the Civil Rights Movement in a deeply powerful and moving way. Now, Demons of the Punjab sees writer Vinay Patel, also a Doctor Who newbie, take viewers to another significant but often overlooked moment in history: the partition of India.
Initially, I was concerned about this episode. Patel starts by introducing a number of plot threads that could’ve easily got tangled up as things progressed. I was also unsure about how they were going to handle the politics, especially with so much going on around it. Fortunately, I had no reason to worry. Patel is clearly a skilled writer who deftly balances everything he sets up and ensures it all has a purpose. His smartest move is making sure that he focuses on the effects the politics have on the characters rather than the abstract ideas. As well as allowing him to develop characters and explore the politics simultaneously, this approach ultimately makes the politics far more effective. We see the human consequences of the partition of India in a way that everyone can relate to and understand, making Patel's ultimate message of love and unity far more impactful.
Demons of the Punjab is also an impressively daring choice for a Remembrance Day episode. It would’ve been very easy to set it during WWI and follow a predominantly white, British cast. Instead, they went for something far riskier but still highly relevant. As well as the partition of India, Patel explores the effects of WWII on the frequently overlooked 2.5 million Indian men that fought in it. WWII veteran Prem criticises the British for 'rewarding' their contribution to the war by tearing their country apart. The value of life and futility of conflict are also explored through Prem's backstory and his fractured relationship with his brother Manish. Most surprisingly, these themes are distilled perfectly in the Thijarians, the episode’s titular ‘demons’. Initially presented as deadly assassins, an ingenious twist reveals that - after experiencing a devastating war wiping out most of their kind - the survivors have committed themselves to bear witness to those who die alone.
Demons of the Punjab may also be series 11’s richest character study yet. So far this series, it’s felt like Yaz has been the least developed member of Team TARDIS. However, all of that is made up for here. Yaz is the driving force behind the episode's plot and consequently, the focus is intently on her. Mandip Gill delivers a truly brilliant performance as Yaz navigates her heritage and wrestles with the difficult truths she uncovers. Patel’s script presents the emotional nuances of Yaz’s situation in a way audiences can connect to despite the whole time travel thing. Naturally, the rest of Team TARDIS is sidelined, but that's not really an issue. For me, choosing the characters you want to focus on each episode is the smart and effective thing to do. Unlike the last episode, the one-off characters are fully developed as well. I've already mentioned the relationship between Prem and Manish, but at the centre of it all is Yaz's Nani Umbreen. As a Muslim preparing to marry a Hindu, the partition effects Umbreen particularly harshly and Patel’s script thoughtfully explores the impact this has on her throughout her life.
Demons of the Punjab is also constructed exquisitely. The cinematography is absolutely gorgeous, ranging from majestic landscape shots to intimate, emotive close-ups to freaky tilts evoking the disorienting nature of the Thijarians’ telepathic communication. Segun Akinola’s music is also on especially top form. His usual mix of styles and genres is expanded with elements of Indian music, embellishing the episode with a unique identity. This is best demonstrated by the incredible theme tune scoring the credits, sung beautifully by Shahid Abbas Khan. As usual, Jodie Whittaker continues to be a wonderful Doctor, delivering some truly Doctor-y speeches and frequently making hilarious jokes. A particularly excellent moment of comic relief occurs when she accidentally refers to when she “used to be a man” in front of Umbreen and her mother.
During Steven Moffat’s time as showrunner, the ‘ambitious’ episodes were always the ones with the most mind-bending concepts. Series 11, by contrast, is yet to attempt anything nearly as elaborate. Instead, this series is at its most ambitious when it’s exploring relevant political issues through important historical moments. Demons of the Punjab is another impressive example of this, delivering its message through richly developed characters, beautiful cinematography and spellbinding music. The result is an emotional powerhouse of an episode and a resounding return to form that will go down as a clear high point of the series.
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