The gayest episode of Doctor Who, literally. Directed by Australian director, Ben Chessell, he returns for only his second episode following “The Devil’s Chord.” Though “Rogue” is also the first episode not written by a former showrunner of Doctor Who this series, instead written by two people, the horror. Truth be told, I can’t find much on Briony Redman, written a thing here, acted there, and writing The Sims movie with Kate Herron for Margot Robbie. Herron, who co-writes “Rogue,” has also written the odd thing, produced a thing or two – oh, and directed four episodes of Sex Education (when it was good) and a small show called Loki.

No far-off planets, no strange gods, no talking babies, and no techno-racists, just a plain and simple 1813 party at a duchess’s mansion. Yes, if you’ve been paying attention you’ll know Ruby does go on to mention Bridgerton, which is getting on my nerves, by the way. I wouldn’t have minded it if it were once or twice this season, but we’ve had Bridgerton a couple of times, Love Island, so what next? No, really, I don’t watch normal TV, I don’t know what you children watch at the best of times.

Though “Rogue” is arguably the most standard Doctor Who has been this series (shut up Russell!), we don’t get The Doctor and Ruby landing, poking their head out, then coming out in period-appropriate garb. Starting out we just get someone being called a “Cad” – the shock! – then killed so a shapeshifter can take their place at the duchess’s party. Plain, simple, classic Russell Doctor Who: there is straight-up villainy, there is a solid historical setting, and we get some proper Doctoring going on. To give the game away a little, I love “Rogue.”

Already, I’ve written thousands of words this week and I’ve got more to do as it is faux-E3, as I like to call it, so I’m also thankful this is a simple episode of Doctor Who. That said, I’ll try and be detailed where I can. The costumes, the set design, everything was beautiful, including humanoid, shapeshifting-bird-people, Chuldur. I know some dislike the idea of anthropomorphizing in Doctor Who because sometimes it can look crap, but if anyone talks dirty about Karvanista I’ll beat them to death with a bag of Jelly Babies.

So Rogue in “Rogue,” or another example of an American in Doctor Who; the people I’ve said sound weird when they are in Doctor Who because the writing doesn’t always work for the accent. I mean, I’ve given the game away, Frozen, Hamilton’s, and The Matrix Resurrections’ Jonathan Groff knows how to handle campy dialog like a true theater pro. From Kylie’s “Can’t Get You out of My Head” playing (I’d have liked “Love at First Sight”) to Ncuti dancing on the spot and flirting, as well as the kiss, I’m with the majority of people who love the episode, I want more of him.

I also want more of this type of episode. I know we’re doing streaming, and streaming focuses more on this lower number of episodes and bigger budgets, but I like a villain that’s this. The Chuldur are like stomping boots and little mustaches on Austrian men, they are the villainous villains. They are Doctor Who at its most brilliant: Villains who want to be evil because it is fun. The opposite of The Doctor in every way, that’s why Missy worked when she was being made to be good.

Yeah, I’ll admit, the Rogue and D&D reference (“Roll for insight”) could have been done without, at least explicitly. It feels – and yes, I know production takes a long time – like it is banking on the likes of Baldur’s Gate 3’s success and the general nerd community surrounding Doctor Who. It is a family show, I don’t think Nanna is sitting around playing a warrior princess in her spare time. Though I’m sure she’s also not sitting comfortably as a Black and White man kiss, so fair point.

I love this brilliantly flirty, over-the-top campiness and madness, it is that sweet spot of Doctor Who that puts off some people, but I love it so much. Yeah, the romance is a bit quick, but I think I forgive that because the Chuldur are more along the line of LARPing (rather than cosplaying) and both Rogue and The Doctor need to play into that. Ruby, now she’s cosplaying, but the Chuldur are LARPing their evil plans, looking to become King (it is always men) and ultimately destroy the Earth. I love villainous villains!

That said, I also would have liked the “Fight Mode” scene not to be bodged in the editing to imply greater danger. I’m really trying to avoid spoilers in every possible way, but this was a reveal and twist that tries to do something that falls to pieces if you think about it for more than a second. It doesn’t ruin the episode from the opening to end, but it does take away a little bit from an all-around fun episode that I just want to watch for a third time now.

Ultimately, I think “Rogue” may be my favorite episode of the series (shut up Russell!) not just for its fun bits but also its near-ending, spoiler-territory bits too. That’s provided they are paid off well enough. It isn’t an episode that really ties into much, though it did finally give us the outright, no questions asked, “I’ve seen Susan Twist – there’s always a Twist at the end” tease ahead of the two-part finale. Go watch “Rogue,” it is an utter delight of an episode.

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Doctor Who "Rogue"

9

Score

9.0/10

Pros

• A fun, camp, brilliantly quick-paced love story.
• Richard E Grant.
• Jonathan Groff is great.
• The rest of the cast is also great, especially Indira Varma.

Cons

• Some of that editing was a cheat.