After finishing series finale The Battle of Ranskoor Av Kolos comes the 2019 New Year special, which I'm chucking in with the rest of Series 11. I'll do a brief review of S11 as a whole after discussing my thoughts on Resolution, and then give my ranking of the whole series. When it comes to Resolution, I enjoy it, although I think it's definitely flawed in quite a few ways.

The shining star of Resolution is absolutely Wayne Yip. I've talked about the direction quite a bit in these rewatches, but I absolutely think that this is easily the best directed episode of 13s era so far. Every scene is kinetic and exciting, the way he uses dutch angles in the scene in the TARDIS where 13 is talking to the Dalek, or how the showdown in the warehouse is shot, or how he depicts Ryan saving his Dad at the end - it's all done so brilliantly, and I think it's a good chunk of the reason why this episode lands in how entertaining it is.

In terms of the script, I'm torn pretty 50/50 on it. I think the character bits work really well, and are very well done. The stuff between Ryan, Graham and Aaron are all really really well written, there's no compromises early on, there's no happy family for the sake of it, it feels honest and true. I also love how Grace is evoked in this episode. She gets so much characterisation throughout S11 despite behind dead, and I think that comes to a real head here, when, after Ranskoor, Graham has finally come to terms with her death and his role in it, and the way he quotes her and says the things he thinks she would've said I think is absolutely wonderful. I also genuinely quite like the ending, I like Ryan being the bigger man and learning that his father isn't going to change unless he's willing to accept him, which I think works. It's a shame he never returned in S12, but here I think that entire character arc works well.

In regards to the Dalek part of the episode, I think that's where the episode falters. While it's entertaining (again, largely because of the direction), it does feel a little silly to create a Dalek even more dangerous than a normal Dalek cause like...why? And then if you're gonna defeat it with a microwave/by tricking it really easily into thinking they've taken it to the Dalek fleet...then what's the point in doing that anyway. I do think the Dalek comes across as threatening because of how well the showdown and the army massacres are shot by Yip, and I love Wyn Jones' design, but I just don't think it's awfully well written, and it's pretty easily defeated ultimately. Briggs is great though, as always.

I also think that the humour in the episode is...interesting. Some of it is really funny, like the Doctor mistaking the doorbell for an intruder alarm, or anytime Bradley Walsh delivers any funny line, but when we cut to a family complaining about the WiFi being turned off it turns to cringe really quickly. And, talking about cringe, the relationship stuff at the start is really quite badly written.

Segun does a great job as always, but I think this is one of his highlights for S11, the combination of orchestra and rock band makes for a really kick-ass sound palette for the Dalek, the odd time signature works really well, and the "Fam" theme that plays at the end is really rousing and heroic, which is awesome. There's also that beautiful bit of string music at the end when Ryan is saving his dad, which I love. And, talking of Ryan, Tosin Cole does a really great job at the café!! You could have him uncharacteristically let loose and rip into his dad, but he keeps it understated, while also making it feel true. Love it!

Overall, I think the episode is enjoyable, and has some great elements, in both character, direction and score, but is really let down by the Dalek parts of the episode, which are especially bad because, well, if you're gonna bring the Daleks out, you've got to do it well. I'd give it a weak 6/10, because I do still enjoy it.

In terms of Series 11 as a whole, as you can probably gather from my reviews on it, I really like it! It's one of my favourite series' of NuWho, probably in my top 3 with S1 and S5. I really like how fresh and different it feels and whilst, like every series, it has episodes like Kerblam! and The Battle of Ranskoor Av Kolos which I don't enjoy, it is generally really enjoyable for me, and has highlights such as It Takes You Away, Demons of the Punjab and The Tsuranga Conundrum. I like 13 and her companions, they're not the same dynamic as we've had before, but they're really fun. I also loveeee Segun Akinola, his music really brings something fresh to the series. So overall, yeah, it's a reasonably hot take, but it's one of my favourites!! I will be going on to continue rewatching 13s era next, and my views on S12 aren't quite so positive, but we'll get there when we get there!! My ranking for Series 11 is:

1. It Takes You Away
2. The Tsuranga Conundrum
3. Demons of the Punjab
4. The Woman Who Fell to Earth
5. Rosa
6. The Witchfinders
7. The Ghost Monument
8. Arachnids in the UK
9. Resolution
10. Kerblam!
11. The Battle of Ranskoor Av Kolos

See you soon for Series 12!