Even the most thoughtful parent is aware, perhaps painfully aware, of ‘the favored child.’ That one out of the brood which seems to have been doted on and given an extra dallop of attention, and Rogue for this season is certainly that.
The reputation, going back as far as anyone can care to remember, is that the BBC has always been exceptionally good at historical costume drama, and Rogue certainly fits well in that tradition. This was an episode that was lavished upon, and the money is certainly on-screen. It’s an exquisite cosplay, both in material and in plotting.
And then there’s the rest.
It turns out that not that much actually happens (aside from the deaths, of course) in Rogue, having it set all in one night (much like The Happiness Patrol come to think of it). The Doctor and Rogue take turns showing off their ships, and of course also take turns flirting with each other. That’s fun, as far as it goes, but for the Tour Honchos it isn’t all that compelling either, as such it sits firmly in the middle of our Dynamic Ratings. Not even seeing images of all of Gatwa’s predecessors, a distinct rarity in the whole of Doctor Who’s grand panoply–kinda like Earthshock in that regard–can raise our appreciation.