Demons of the Punjab

282 – "Demons of the Punjab"
Doctor Who episode
File:Doctor Who Series 11 Episode 6 Demons of the Punjab.jpg Promotional image for the episode, showing Yaz's grandmother Umbreen (Amita Suman)
Cast
Doctor Jodie Whittaker (Thirteenth Doctor)
Companions Bradley Walsh (Graham O'Brien) Tosin Cole (Ryan Sinclair) Mandip Gill (Yasmin Khan)
Others Leena Dhingra – Nani Umbreen Amita Suman – Umbreen Shane Zaza – Prem Hamza Jeetooa – Manish Shaheen Khan – Hasna Shobna Gulati – Najia Ravin J. Ganatra – Hakim Bhavnisha Parmar – Sonya Emma Fielding – Voice of Kisar Nathalie Curzner – Performance of Kisar Isobel Middleton – Voice of Almak Barbara Fadden – Performance of Almak
Production
Directed by	Jamie Childs
Written by	Vinay Patel
Script editor	Fiona McAllister
Produced by	Alex Mercer
Executive producer(s)	Chris Chibnall Matt Strevens Sam Hoyle
Music by	Segun Akinola
Series	Series 11
Running time	50 minutes
First broadcast	11 November 2018 (2018-11-11)
Chronology
← Preceded by "The Tsuranga Conundrum" Followed by → —

"Demons of the Punjab" is the sixth episode of the eleventh series of the British science fiction television programme Doctor Who. It was written by Vinay Patel, directed by Jamie Childs, and first broadcast on BBC One on 11 November 2018.

In the episode, Yasmin Khan (Mandip Gill) asks the Doctor (Jodie Whittaker) to take her to see her grandmother (Leena Dhingra) during her youth (Amita Suman), only to cause both them and her friends Graham O'Brien (Bradley Walsh) and Ryan Sinclair (Tosin Cole) to become caught up in the events preceding the partition of India. During this time, the Doctor questions if aliens are involved in the death of a man killed during their visit.

The episode was watched by 5.77 million viewers overnight.

Plot

While visiting her family, Yasmin receives a broken watch from her grandmother Umbreen Khan. Curious over the mystery surrounding where it originally came from, Yasmin asks the Doctor to take her back to her grandmother's past. Although hesitant, she agrees, bringing her and her companions to the Punjab in August 1947. Upon arriving, Yasmin learns that the watch's previous owner was a Hindu man named Prem, whom a younger Umbreen was set to marry despite her family's background. The Doctor notes that they have arrived on 14 August, the day before the deadly partition of India, and advises her friends to rush to the wedding ceremony before Umbreen, Prem, and their family are caught in the partitioning.

Just before reaching the ceremony, the Doctor has visions of alien figures during brief head pains, prior to the discovery that the sadhu Bhakti who was to marry the couple had been murdered. Investigating the death, the Doctor is joined by Prem, who reveals he saw the aliens at the time of his brother's death during his military service in World War II. Assuming the aliens killed Bhakti, the Doctor eventually finds their ship and meets them, recognising them as members of the Thijarian, a race of assassins. However, the Thijarians explain that they came to Earth simply to witness the deaths of those who die alone, revealing that Prem will become a casualty of the partition. At her request, they allow the Doctor to view a recording of Bhakti's death, revealing he was murdered by Prem's younger brother Manish, who opposed the wedding.

Returning to the wedding ceremony the next day, the Doctor and her companions witness Prem's watch being accidentally broken and given to Umbreen as a representation of their moment in time. Seeing Manish, the Doctor accosts him for Bhakti's murder, causing him to reveal that he called for a small group of armed Hindu nationalists to attack the ceremony, before fleeing. While Umbreen and her mother escape with the Doctor's group, Prem remains behind to reason with Manish and dies when the nationlists shoot him. Returning to the present, Yasmin decides to spend an affectionate conversation with her grandmother, having learnt much about her past.

Production

Casting

After the premiere episode, "The Woman Who Fell to Earth" was broadcast, it was announced that Shane Zaza, Hamza Jeetooa, and Amita Suman would be among a number of guest actors that would appear in the series. They play Prem, Manish and the younger Umbreen respectively.

Music

The episode ended with an Indian music inspired version of the theme, rather than the traditional theme.

Filming

The episode was filmed in the Province of Granada, Spain.

Broadcast and reception

Professional ratings

Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
Rotten Tomatoes (Average Score)	7.43
Rotten Tomatoes (Tomatometer)	95%
Review scores
Source	Rating
Entertainment Weekly	B+
Daily Mirror
New York Magazine
Radio Times
The A.V. Club	B+
The Telegraph
TV Fanatic

Ratings

"Demons of the Punjab" was watched by 5.77 million viewers overnight, a share of 27.5% of the total TV audience, making it the second-highest overnight viewership for the night and the tenth-highest overnight viewership for the week on overnights across all channels.

Critical reception

The episode received positive reviews. On Rotten Tomatoes, it has an approval rating of 95%, based on 19 reviews, and an average rating of 7.43/10. The critics consensus states "'Demons of Punjab' focuses on family and progress, solidifying the cohesive thematic stamp this season is making upon the greater series."

External links

• "Demons of the Punjab" at the BBC Doctor Who homepage
• "Demons of the Punjab" on Tardis Wiki, the Doctor Who Wiki
• Template:Brief
• "Demons of the Punjab" at IMDb