Spiders?  Oh come on, not spiders.

Let's be clear, if any other show had an episode featuring giant mutant spiders, we'd immediately see what else was on TV.  Only the Doctor could get us to stick around for this, even if it means a week's worth of nightmares to follow.  Okay, deep breath, here we go...

Warning: Spoilers ahead

Observations:

• We assume showrunner/episode writer Chris Chibnall was paying tribute to the Sex Pistols' Anarchy in the UK with this episode's title.

• Chris Noth, known to many for his roles on Sex and the City, The Good Wife, and Law & Order: Criminal Intent, is a perfect fit as Jack Robertson, the Donald Trump wanna-be, except that Noth has better/real hair.

• Cheers to the production team for a gorgeous time vortex, as the visuals continue to be outstanding this season.  Here's a question, do you think the various vortex appearances over the years are solely due to turnover in creative teams, or does the vortex itself regenerate, much like our favorite Time Lord?

• We all know the Doctor isn't really saying goodbye to her new friends so soon, but the scene still carries a punch which makes us think eventual real farewell is going to be brutal.  The look of anguish on Jodie Whittaker's face as she contemplates the idea of being alone again is heartbreaking, and it feels like she's been #13 for years now.

• Hey, we finally get to meet Yaz's family and learn just a little more about her life.  (Side note:  This looks like it might be Clara Oswald's old flat, and we love the idea that Yaz and her family moved in after "The Impossible Girl" left.)

• The Doctor saying, "I'd be good at a flat," immediately brings to mind #11 thinking he'd be a good curator.  These little dashes of previous lives are welcoming for both old and new fans of the show.

• The Doctor says she's still figuring herself out, as are we, but so far, so good.  There's more to #13 than the slightly manic humor, and we want to see how that plays out.  The series has downshifted to a much more methodical pace, and we're confident we'll eventually see what else makes this Doctor tick.

• Wait, did the Doctor really have sisters?

• Wait again - did we just open the door to the Doctor being attracted to women?  River Song is going to love that.

• We're really enjoying Graham so far.  He's done a tremendous job of showing his pain over the loss of Grace and his desire to connect with Ryan.  It's easy to see why he'd rather join along with a time-traveling space alien than stay at home waiting for his grief to pass.  Also, the fact that Graham is talking to Grace's spirit leaves us convinced they'll eventually somehow reconnect.

• Completely lost count of how many times we've had to look away during this show.  It's creepy as hell, perfect for Halloween, and we're going to need to talk to a shrink once the nightmares begin.

• Do we think there will end up being a story behind Ryan's dad, or will he simply be what drives Ryan and Graham to be a "proper" family?

• #13 is a hugger, which adds a little more joy to this go-around.

• Always love a quick psychic paper appearance.

• "I call people 'dude' now," also reminds us of the 11th Doctor, and #13 does seem to share some of the same quirks.

• Jack Robertson avoids responsibility and has an empire literally built on trash.  How are voters supposed to differentiate him from Trump?

• Yaz's family seems overly-eager for her to be dating.

• Only Doctor Who could get us to both watch a show about spiders and end up feeling bad for a gigantic spider.

• What started off as a funny caricature turns into a scathing indictment of Donald Trump, as Jack Robertson's dismissal of mercy in the face of his naked lust for power is especially frightening (even more so than all of the spiders), given the current state of the world.
  

• We can only assume that someone at the BBC has already made "Team TARDIS" t-shirts, so we know what Christmas present we're asking for this year.

The Doctor wants to know what's wrong with all of the spiders.  (pic via bbc.co.uk)

Final Thoughts:

This episode was a lot of fun, as the 13th Doctor continues to settle in to her new life.  The story was  appropriately creepy, the humor was spot-on, and we feel fully invested in this squad after only four episodes.  The new era continues to come together, and we can't wait to see what next week brings.  See you then!