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Doctor Who season 11 finale synopsis: The Battle of Ranskoor Av Kolos

By Nick Tylwalk

Image credit: BBC
Image credit: BBC /
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The Doctor doesn’t care much for war, but she and her companions will find themselves in the middle of it for this year’s season finale.

There’s always a big risk making time-related puns when it comes to Doctor Who, but this one is actually true: Time had just flown by in season 11, so much so that it’s hard to believe we’re already at the season finale. It’s one with an ominous-sounding title, too, as we’re left to ponder what “The Battle of Ranskoor Av Kolos” is all about.

You also almost need a TARDIS of your own to get any info on the plot. The usual sources, like TV Guide, have been mum as far as a season 11 finale synopsis.

Fortunately, with the power of Google and enough patience and commitment, it’s possible to get some story nuggets (they go well with your favorite dipping sauce). Here’s what Radio Times has to say:

"And the series finale, The Battle of Ranskoor Av Kolos, written by showrunner Chris Chibnall himself, will find the Doctor and co on the planet of Ranskoor Av Kolos amongst the remains of a brutal battlefield, where they must field nine separate distress calls.The planet, however, holds far more secrets. Who is the mysterious commander with no memory? What lies beyond the mists? Who or what are the Ux? The answers, according to the BBC, “will lead the Doctor and her friends towards a deadly reckoning.” Yikes."

We’ve seen some of these elements already on Doctor Who this season. For starters, the Doctor has been explicitly answering calls for help, which has always been part of her M.O. but rarely as obvious as it has been since the Thirteenth Doctor arrived.

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From as far back as episode 2, we’ve also encountered planets that are mysteries in and of themselves, so that part should feel a little familiar as well. But the really intriguing part is that the teaser for “The Battle of Ranskoor Av Kolos” has the Doctor hearing a voice she recognizes.

Yes, it could simply be one of the villains from earlier this season coming back for more. We’ve wondered all along if the Doctor and her friends were leaving loose ends that should be properly tied up.

But as the Express explains, Doctor Who fans are keen on the idea that someone is making a triumphant return, with guesses ranging from Rose Tyler (unlikely but she’s come back before) to Donna Noble (even less likely, given the way she was written off) to River Song (where we’d place money if forced to make a wager).

The guess here is that it’s none of the above, but the speculation and anticipation certainly could make for a fun finale. Doctor Who season 11 bids us adieu, at least until the New Year’s Day special, on Sunday, Dec. 9 at 8:00 p.m. on BBC America in the U.S.