The Vanquishers – theregenerations

# Doctor Who – Series 13, Episode 5: “Survivors of the Flux”

First broadcast: 28 November 2021 · Running time: approximately 50 minutes

[“Doctor Who” Flux: Chapter Five – Survivors of the Flux (TV Episode 2021) – IMDb](https://images.openai.com/static-rsc-4/1dpWX_sRc8JRaTlWv6KvQxFr6CCwjHZv84LEsxFgEz3vH3BQ2rVj9K3ZNRiJEaQyb1-YTi0rYm8dquXOMXP_GWbFlFs_P5ktzJ-ZWsGA6hGsQkTVYbKfP3VbnNwnoW5P0b9LwfcbXmkIiGa_6tbe23U9L4I87dywEkxo9S4WP9U?purpose=inline)

[Doctor Who review, ‘Survivors of the Flux’: Jodie Whittaker gives a subtle, pained performance as we discover the Time Lord’s origin story | The Independent](https://images.openai.com/static-rsc-4/iuUu4vfP20p-br43lDRRXLre9H5fi3OF4Cw50k4unaG2VBSgr-SijiIby3E7ONwTgSwY7cszkDa3vSE_XaseMHtMbE3dREUHKP2Sf5a_gxRYbdKTgrv7sLmUigEfLrmbH9bhBjm5y2U16IVR_pq90xZyTVAPiUJdlzShRJhsqGI?purpose=inline)

Written by: Chris Chibnall\
Directed by: Azhur Saleem\
Starring: Jodie Whittaker, Mandip Gill and John Bishop\
Guest cast: Barbara Flynn, Craig Parkinson, Jacob Anderson, Thaddea Graham, Kevin McNally, Craige Els, Sam Spruell, Rochenda Sandall and Jo Martin\
Overnight viewing figures: 3.82 million\
Consolidated viewing figures: 4.72 million (4.83 million including four-screen viewing)\
Appreciation Index: 77

With only two chapters remaining after this episode, Doctor Who: Flux begins moving its many storylines towards a conclusion. “Survivors of the Flux” is an important instalment, revealing more about Division, exploring the Grand Serpent’s rise to power and bringing the Doctor face to face with the person responsible for some of the biggest secrets in her life.

It is an episode full of significant developments, although it sometimes feels more like a collection of explanations and preparations than a complete adventure. There are some excellent performances and intriguing revelations, but the sheer number of plot threads makes it difficult for everything to receive the attention it deserves.

## The story: a universe falling apart

The episode follows several separate groups as the Flux continues destroying the universe.

Yaz, Dan and Professor Jericho remain stranded in the early twentieth century after the events of “Village of the Angels”. The Doctor has been taken by Division, leaving her companions to find their own way through an increasingly dangerous situation.

Their journey takes them through different locations and periods, as they attempt to understand what has happened and how they might return to their own time. Jericho’s intelligence and practical experience prove useful, while Yaz continues to demonstrate how much she has developed as a traveller.

Meanwhile, the Doctor finds herself in the company of Tecteun, the mysterious founder of Division. Tecteun reveals more about the organisation’s history and its relationship with the Doctor. Their conversation brings the Timeless Child revelations into the centre of the Flux storyline.

Elsewhere, Vinder and Bel continue their separate journeys. Bel’s attempts to find Vinder have brought her into contact with the Passenger, while Vinder is captured and subjected to the attention of Swarm and Azure. Their relationship remains one of the emotional threads running through the serial.

The Grand Serpent’s story also becomes increasingly important. Having established himself as a powerful political figure, he turns his attention to UNIT, the organisation responsible for defending Earth against alien threats. Through manipulation and deception, he begins working his way into a position of influence.

The episode moves towards a confrontation between the Doctor and Tecteun, while the wider forces behind the Flux continue to gather. By the end, the audience has learned considerably more about Division, but the organisation’s full purpose and the true nature of the Flux remain unresolved.

[image](https://www.google.com/s2/favicons?domain=https://en.wikipedia.org\&sz=32)

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## Tecteun: the woman behind Division

[Doctor Who Goes Hunting for Answers, and Only Begets Frustrating Questions](https://images.openai.com/static-rsc-4/0lOF8OOtxrShr3UlUVRsCVtBcAwNmi_Zr8avtHoHvYo5IlxvB6VyX36c-d1Th6xY30YAvgXZwubRk5DEyjtYExU7lC7Iu1CCi9NoG8-8-VWHzhWdltoqZlOwMTsidlCeAZnmhVYkeYaU9L1hRpfjlL9jkWotp6spNw8knpoC5fQ?purpose=inline)

[gizmodo.com](https://gizmodo.com/doctor-who-goes-hunting-for-answers-and-only-begets-fr-1848131748?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

Barbara Flynn is excellent as Tecteun. She brings a calm, authoritative quality to a character who has played an enormous role in the Doctor’s forgotten history.

Tecteun is not presented as a conventional villain who simply wants to conquer the universe. She sees herself as a scientist and an architect of civilisation, someone whose discoveries have changed the course of history. Her attitude towards the Doctor is particularly revealing: she regards her as an important part of an experiment rather than as a person deserving of compassion.

Their scenes together are among the episode’s most significant. The Doctor is understandably furious at the way her life has been manipulated, while Tecteun remains disturbingly detached. Flynn makes that emotional distance convincing, creating a character whose apparent reasonableness makes her behaviour all the more unsettling.

The revelation that Tecteun founded Division also gives the organisation a more personal connection to the Doctor. It is no longer simply a mysterious group from her forgotten past; it is an institution built around the exploitation of her unique abilities.

There is a lot of information in these scenes, and some of the exposition feels rather concentrated. Nevertheless, the confrontation is compelling because it gives the Doctor someone to challenge over the secrets that have shaped her existence.

## The Grand Serpent: UNIT under threat

[For his latest villainous role – as Doctor Who’s The Grand Serpent – Craig Parkinson tells me he essayed “the slight camp of a Las Vegas magician but with the deadly viciousness of a Sopranos… | Robin Parker](https://images.openai.com/static-rsc-4/hIt_7vN1mZY1fx9recq-GhjI-_Ht7lfZE4Qaj0W2z-P3TzFOqIt4NU_YbNjl5WMWGkCTf3cWIt6g5jHUlGNtDhNzM4kMgkT3l4dZh8OYeg9rYhljh8HvEyE6lVtstZfP71e1GlKpNSTPBbcKHF9ZgXAaz4Qzl6JqxM3GJxmj6jc?purpose=inline)

[linkedin.com](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/robin-parker-aa889121_for-his-latest-villainous-role-as-doctor-activity-6870866161102307328-_8LC?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

Craig Parkinson gives one of the episode’s strongest performances as the Grand Serpent. His character has been quietly manipulating events, and this chapter reveals the extent of his ambition.

His plan involves infiltrating UNIT, the organisation that has protected Earth from alien threats for decades. By exploiting his knowledge of future events and manipulating the people around him, he works his way into a position of authority.

The storyline is particularly interesting because UNIT is such an important part of Doctor Who history. Seeing it compromised from within creates a different kind of threat from the usual alien invasion. The Grand Serpent is dangerous because he understands how institutions work and knows how to exploit their weaknesses.

Parkinson plays him with a chilling mixture of charm and cruelty. He rarely needs to raise his voice to make himself threatening, and his calm manner makes his actions more disturbing.

The return of Kate Stewart, played by Jemma Redgrave, is also welcome. Kate has become an important figure in modern Doctor Who, and her involvement gives the UNIT storyline a connection to the programme’s wider history. Her attempts to resist the Grand Serpent add tension, although this strand feels rather rushed.

The episode’s biggest missed opportunity is that UNIT’s downfall happens largely in the background. The idea of such an important organisation being taken over deserves more time, and the story could have made better use of the people working there.

## Yaz, Dan and Jericho: surviving without the Doctor

[imdb.com](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13469800/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

With the Doctor missing, Yaz, Dan and Jericho have to rely on themselves. Their journey through the early twentieth century provides a welcome change of pace from the more exposition-heavy scenes involving Division.

Mandip Gill continues to show how much Yaz has grown. She is increasingly confident and capable, and her determination to find the Doctor gives the storyline a clear emotional focus. She is no longer simply waiting for the Doctor to arrive and solve everything.

John Bishop also remains a strong presence. Dan’s humour helps lighten the atmosphere, but he is increasingly becoming a useful member of the team. He is resourceful, observant and willing to put himself in difficult situations to help others.

Kevin McNally is particularly good as Jericho. His character’s military background and practical intelligence make him a useful companion for the journey, while his dry humour provides some enjoyable exchanges with Dan and Yaz.

The trio’s exploration of the strange tunnels associated with Joseph Williamson is an important part of the episode. The tunnels have been a recurring mystery throughout Flux, and their significance becomes clearer as the story approaches its conclusion.

However, the storyline is not without problems. The characters spend much of the episode moving between locations and trying to understand what is happening, and the emotional impact of being separated from the Doctor could have been explored more deeply.

## Bel and Vinder: a search for hope

[Doctor Who: Flux – We Hope This Bel and Vinder Theory Isn’t True | Den of Geek](https://images.openai.com/static-rsc-4/CCMGyABApz837ZzAkqG9FykUzvSaw-GnI9K11CReuqhDp4Ha2nFshBXSGmS55Yc4ZaeVv6PdYVivo1vbjZkV-ijxEL_80q-uq6fB5Nn2T4L29HxAdOnsJtn6Y16hy1i9BJQDyXuaOg83_rs5i0PNkkYx8GFkcTUhrM5A2Cn7kSo?purpose=inline)

[denofgeek.com](https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/doctor-who-flux-we-hope-this-bel-and-vinder-theory-isnt-true/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

Bel and Vinder continue to provide one of the serial’s most personal storylines. Their determination to find one another gives the wider disaster an emotional centre.

Thaddea Graham makes Bel an engaging character. She is brave and resourceful, but her actions are motivated by a very simple desire: to find Vinder and survive the catastrophe together.

Jacob Anderson also gets more to work with as Vinder. His capture by Swarm and Azure places him in considerable danger, and his experiences reveal more about the forces controlling events.

The relationship between the two characters is an effective contrast to the Doctor’s complicated struggle with Division. While the Doctor is trying to understand the history of the universe, Bel and Vinder are trying to preserve their own future.

Their storyline is sometimes interrupted by the episode’s other developments, but it remains one of the most sympathetic elements of Flux.

## Swarm and Azure: the Ravagers’ plans

[Doctor Who: The Vanquishers Review – 4 Ups & 9 Downs](https://images.openai.com/static-rsc-4/PRxgSCDy_1e-2hEV-dWuibI1Gtg4lc6BRymqjFm_8UVqNIZGQOrb6uhzlwM5U2bRYFC-O27Ej_XmQGvejgNx5nkTlqX7HQDsJAvBpt6P77yVNtSV4tFRTZxlKqppsdsE9zhxSmTaBUFlnEhOv9-jVj1b5JPrchOiZOrcua6TmPc?purpose=inline)

[whatculture.com](https://whatculture.com/tv/doctor-who-the-vanquishers-review-4-ups-9-downs?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

Sam Spruell and Rochenda Sandall continue to make a strong impression as Swarm and Azure. Their performances remain theatrical and unsettling, and their confidence suggests that they are operating according to a plan much bigger than the destruction of individual worlds.

Their confrontation with Tecteun is one of the episode’s most important developments. Tecteun’s apparent control over Division does not protect her from the Ravagers, and their actions demonstrate that even the organisation’s founder is not beyond their reach.

The scene also changes the balance of power in the story. The Doctor has finally found someone who can explain her past, only for that opportunity to be taken away. It is a cruel twist, and it leaves the Doctor with even more questions.

The Ravagers are effective villains, although their motivations remain rather obscure. Their connection to the Doctor is intriguing, but the serial is running out of time to explain exactly what they want and why.

## The Doctor’s past and the truth about Division

The central conversation between the Doctor and Tecteun is the episode’s most important narrative development.

The Doctor wants answers about her forgotten lives, the organisation that controlled her and the mysterious force destroying the universe. Tecteun provides some of that information, explaining more about Division’s history and its involvement in the events surrounding the Timeless Child.

The revelations give the Flux storyline a larger scale. Division is not simply an organisation that has been hiding the Doctor’s past; its activities have consequences for the structure and future of the universe itself.

This is an ambitious expansion of the mythology established in Series 12. It also raises some difficult questions about the Doctor’s identity. How much of her life was chosen freely? How much was shaped by Division? And can she ever recover the truth about the person she was before her memories were erased?

Whittaker handles the scenes well. Her anger is understandable, but there is also a sense of sadness as she realises how much has been taken from her.

The weakness is that the explanations arrive in a concentrated block of dialogue. The ideas are interesting, but the episode sometimes feels as though it is delivering information because the finale is approaching, rather than allowing the revelations to develop naturally.

## Direction, production and music

Azhur Saleem maintains the visual style established in the previous chapters, moving between historical settings, the tunnels, UNIT headquarters and the more alien environments associated with Division.

The production design is particularly effective in the UNIT sequences. The organisation’s familiar surroundings make the Grand Serpent’s infiltration feel significant, while the tunnels provide a mysterious backdrop for Yaz, Dan and Jericho’s journey.

The Division scenes also have an appropriately unsettling atmosphere. Tecteun’s environment feels detached from ordinary human experience, reinforcing the idea that she belongs to an organisation operating on a much larger scale.

Segun Akinola’s score continues to provide a strong sense of continuity. It adds tension to the Doctor’s confrontation with Tecteun and helps connect the different storylines, although the episode’s busy structure sometimes makes it difficult for individual moments to stand out.

The direction is competent and visually appealing, but the episode lacks some of the suspense and atmosphere that made “Village of the Angels” so effective.

## Audience response and viewing figures

“Survivors of the Flux” attracted 3.82 million overnight viewers in the UK. Its seven-day consolidated audience was approximately 4.72 million, rising to 4.83 million when four-screen viewing was included. It received an Appreciation Index of 77.

[image](https://www.google.com/s2/favicons?domain=https://thedoctorwhocompanion.com\&sz=32)

The Doctor Who Companion+2

The overnight figure was an improvement on the previous episode, although the consolidated audience remained below the opening chapter’s total. The Appreciation Index matched the average for the six-part series at that stage.

[image](https://www.google.com/s2/favicons?domain=https://www.doctorwhonews.net\&sz=32)

Appreciation Index+1

Critical reaction was mixed but generally positive. Some reviewers appreciated the expanding mythology and the Grand Serpent’s storyline, while others felt that the episode was weighed down by exposition and the number of separate plot threads.

[image](https://www.google.com/s2/favicons?domain=https://en.wikipedia.org\&sz=32)

Wikipedia+1

## What works and what doesn’t

The strengths:

– Barbara Flynn gives a commanding performance as Tecteun.
– Craig Parkinson makes the Grand Serpent a quietly menacing villain.
– The Doctor’s confrontation with Tecteun provides important developments in the Timeless Child storyline.
– Yaz, Dan and Jericho continue to work well together.
– The return of Kate Stewart gives the UNIT storyline a welcome connection to the programme’s history.
– Bel and Vinder provide an emotional thread amid the cosmic destruction.

The weaknesses:

– There is a considerable amount of exposition, sometimes delivered in lengthy conversations.
– The Grand Serpent’s takeover of UNIT deserves more screen time.
– Several storylines feel as though they are being rushed towards the finale.
– The Doctor’s revelations are interesting but raise more questions than they answer.
– The episode lacks the atmosphere and suspense of “Village of the Angels”.

## Final verdict

“Survivors of the Flux” is an important episode, but not quite a great one.

Its biggest achievement is bringing the Doctor face to face with Tecteun. Barbara Flynn is excellent, and the confrontation provides some of the most significant revelations of the entire Thirteenth Doctor era. The Grand Serpent also becomes a more substantial threat, with Craig Parkinson delivering a particularly enjoyable performance.

However, the episode is trying to accomplish an enormous amount. The UNIT takeover, the Doctor’s history, the Williamson tunnels, the journeys of Bel and Vinder, and the Ravagers’ plans all need attention. As a result, some of the individual storylines feel hurried.

There is plenty to enjoy, and the episode does a useful job of preparing the ground for the conclusion. But compared with the previous chapter, it lacks a strong central adventure and occasionally feels more like a collection of explanations than a fully satisfying story.

Still, the revelations surrounding Division make it essential viewing, and the stage is now set for the final confrontation.

Final score: 7/10

## Next episode: Series 13, Episode 6 – “The Vanquishers”

[Doctor Who: Flux: What Is Swarm and Azure’s Plan? | Den of Geek](https://images.openai.com/static-rsc-4/3d8duYE96iGaNUIEmEcf1u5JOg-8_2AqtHbb7i1A-NIO5dyxS97ZmcG4Bu_FVopUpfhl0oREMGmT8yh0zr5yYGizFpxE8yfHGk52Dg4JOPtxTb3WOPY45UeuX_bnWhyJbADnBN2T-zJw5EW-xJhX2hfBt8ZnW7eGCNowKE_G-jE?purpose=inline)

[Doctor Who: Flux Flubs The Finale In The Supremely Unsatisfying The Vanquishers](https://images.openai.com/static-rsc-4/73q5yLDO-TqdUBT0UsnM9Z0NlhTmj0Zswh4167xRE2zk2dyEidr8yI-xGLVR5ip0ZibT1Yyh0VCPIP_p1nAPE0lW7dChoFWNHZNJTeDGGYmA6TOM70tNGikPUB1bZ_AH0njiq5RAeNoiNQl4nHF-Z2a9TXc2e8XrlE9wNWSqMHo?purpose=inline)

First broadcast: 5 December 2021

Everything comes together in the final chapter of Doctor Who: Flux.

The Doctor faces Swarm and Azure, the Sontarans continue their plans, the Grand Serpent’s actions threaten UNIT, and the remaining survivors must find a way to stop the Flux before the universe is destroyed.

Written by Chris Chibnall and directed by Azhur Saleem, “The Vanquishers” has the difficult job of resolving six episodes’ worth of mysteries, character journeys and major threats.

Will the Doctor save the universe, discover the full truth about Division and finally bring the Flux to an end?

Next up: “The Vanquishers” – the epic conclusion to Doctor Who: Flux.