| ARACHNIDS IN THE UK |
| A story explicitly about hidden depths, Arachnids in the UK (2018) reminds us of one of humanity’s archetypal phobias. Sam Maleski explores the symbolism of spiders, the use of horror tropes generally, and the politics underlying this example of Chris Chibnall’s ‘Sheffield Gothic’ Doctor Who. |
| KERBLAM! |
| Kerblam! (2018) defies expectations by showing us a corporate dystopia that proves to be merely ordinary, and a Doctor who refuses to overthrow the System. Naomi Jacobs and Tom Rodebaugh look into the science and politics of artificial intelligence, automation and the Internet of Things. |
| THE BATTLE OF RANSKOOR AV KOLOS |
| The Battle of Ranskoor Av Kolos (2018) rounds off a season taking Doctor Who into new realms of spirituality. New Testament scholar James F McGrath looks at the religion of the Ux, Tzim-Sha’s delusions of godhead, and the faith of the Doctor and her companions. |
| THE HAUNTING OF VILLA DIODATI |
| 2020’s The Haunting of Villa Diodati delves deep into Doctor Who‘s long association with the Gothic by presenting the origins of Frankenstein and the lives of the Shelley Circle. Philip Purser-Hallard investigates its roots in the apocalyptic darkness of 1816. |
| ASCENSION OF THE CYBERMEN / THE TIMELESS CHILDREN (coming in 2024) |
| A key moment in the Doctor’s spiritual development, Ascension of the Cybermen / The Timeless Children (2020) has its roots in the brainwashing programmes Buddhist and psychedelia of Doctor Who’s original decade, Ryan Bradley argues. |
| FLUX |
| Seven authors examine Chris Chibnall’s six-part saga Flux (2021). James Cooray Smith, Matt Hills, James Mortimer, Philip Purser-Hallard, Emma Reed, Alasdair Stuart and Oliver Tomkins contribute to this special anthology Archive edited by Paul Driscoll. |