Doctor Who season 11 episode 8, "The Witchfinders," sees Team TARDIS caught up in one of the show's more traditional historical adventures. Doctor Who season 11's previous historicals had used the concept of time-travel as an opportunity for social commentary (most notably in season 11 episode 3, "Rosa"). While Doctor Who season 11 episode 8 does make some attempts to do so, in truth, it's just a standard Doctor Who adventure in which the Doctor and her friends (not companions) get caught up in an alien invasion.

Doctor Who season 11 episode 8 opens with the Doctor intervening in a witch trial, and things just go from bad to worse for the Time Lord from there. Her best efforts to prevent a massacre in a remote Lancashire village are dashed by the unexpected arrival of King James I, who's eager to see more witches burn. In an entertaining twist, though, this is one of the few episodes in Doctor Who season 11 to really feature a traditional "Monster of the Week." It turns out dark forces are indeed stirring around Pendle Hill, but naturally they're of extraterrestrial origin, not supernatural in nature. Unfortunately, as is often the case with horror-style science-fiction, the threat of the Morax becomes a lot less engaging when the creature finally explains itself.

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While this is hardly the strongest episode of season 11 to date, "The Witchfinders" is still effective enough, and blends historical accuracy with sci-fi horror in an entertaining manner. Here, we're going to look at all the key questions posed by the latest episode.

11) Is The TARDIS Becoming Harder to Control?

The 13th Doctor seems to be having serious trouble with her TARDIS. In the last episode, Doctor Who season 11 episode 7, "Kerblam!," she complained that she "can't get the hang of these new systems." This time round, the problems are even more severe. The Doctor didn't even know what century she and her friends were in; "The TARDIS is being a bit stubborn at exact readings," she explained. It does seem as though this TARDIS is getting harder to pilot with every episode.

10) Does Anyone Believe The Doctor When She Says Not To Get Involved?

"Do not interfere with the fundamental fabric of history," the Doctor instructs her friends as they walk into the village of Bilehurst Cragg. Within a matter of minutes, she's diving into the water in an attempt to interrupt a witch trial. By the end of the episode, she's giving instructions to King James I in an attempt to stop further witch trials from taking place across the country. This pattern is becoming a hallmark of pretty much every historical adventure - and it's perfectly in-character for any incarnation of the Doctor.

9) What Really Happened At Pendle Hill?

There were a spate of witch trials across Europe in the 1600s, but the Pendle Hill trial is easily the most infamous. Twelve people were accused of practicing witchcraft; one died in prison, and ten of the others were executed. The witch trials were among the best documented in history, and they're also unusual for the sheer number who were put to death at once.

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Many of the allegations resulted from accusations that members of the Demdike and Chattox families made against each other, perhaps because they were in competition, both trying to make a living from healing, begging, and extortion. Shockingly, the witnesses included a 9 year-old girl who testified against her mother. The girl would normally have been unable to give evidence, but normal rules were suspended during witch trials.

8) Did Witch-Hunters Really Kill Horses As Agents Of Satan?

One of the strangest scenes in Doctor Who season 11 episode 8, "The Witchfinders," is one in which Lady Becka Savage tells the Doctor she had all the horses shot. It's clearly intended to signify just how deranged she was, but there's also a surprising degree of historical accuracy in the idea. It was generally believed that any animal could be a host to a demon; that idea was inspired by the Biblical tale in which Jesus cast a group of demons into a herd of pigs.

7) How Accurate Was The Portrayal Of King James I?

Curiously enough, King James I of England and Ireland (James VI of Scotland) has rarely been explored as a central character, whether on the big or small screens. He's usually a secondary character in dramas focused upon his mother, Mary Queen of Scots, or Guy Fawkes. That means Doctor Who is treading unfamiliar territory in Doctor Who season 11 episode 8, "The Witchfinders," with Alan Cumming presenting a fairly faithful version of the monarch.

He's a figure of tragedy, and tells Ryan, in one scene, of his family history. "My father was murdered by my mother," he observes, "who was then imprisoned and beheaded." The key event of King James' reign was undoubtedly the publication of an English translation of the Bible, still known as the King James Bible in his honor. James was deeply superstitious, and even self-published a book in which he explained how to identify and kill witches. Upon closer inspection, audiences can see a copy of the King's book in Lady Savage's room.

6) Did The King James Cameo In Doctor Who Work?

Unfortunately, King James' appearance in Doctor Who season 11 episode 8, "The Witchfinders," is the moment the episode jumps the shark. It's simply impossible to imagine a scenario in which the King would be wandering across the country, with only a single guard at his side. What's more, his disguise - a metal mask - is more likely to draw attention than to avoid it. This particular plot twist takes suspension of disbelief beyond the breaking point for the historical episode. While Cumming's portrayal of King James is excellent, the King of England still sits uncomfortably in a plot centered in a small Lancashire village.

Page 2 of 2: King James, Witches' Mark, & More Questions

5) Was King James Homosexual?

Doctor Who season 11 episode 8, "The Witchfinders," makes it clear that King James is attracted to Ryan. "What is your field of expertise, my Nubian prince," he asks the Doctor's friend lasciviously, "Torture?" There's a clear sense of fetishism in this comment, and his attraction is restated at the end of the episode when the King asks Ryan to return to London with him as a courtier. This is actually a matter of historical accuracy, with the King rumored to have countless relationships with his male courtiers.

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King James was so open about these affairs that it was common to hear him called "Queen James." In 1617, King James addressed the Privy Council with an official affirmation of his right to love men. "You may be sure that I love the Earl of Buckingham more than anyone else," he said, "and more than you who are here assembled. I wish to speak in my own behalf and not to have it thought to be a defect, for Jesus Christ did the same, and therefore I cannot be blamed. Christ had John, and I have George."

4) What Is A Witches' Mark?

The 16th Century saw the rise of a new superstition, the idea of a witches' mark. This doctrine suggested that any birth-mark could be a sign that a man or woman had been touched by the Devil; being found to have a so-called "witches' mark" was seen as undeniable proof of witchcraft. Just as in Doctor Who season 11 episode 8, "The Witchfinders," inquisitors carried needles with which they pierced any birth-marks to see if they bled. "Professional" witchfinders, who were paid handsomely for uncovering a village's witches, often faked this; they carried a range of clever tools, including pins with hollow wooden handles and retractable points. The idea of the witches' mark was prevalent into the 17th Century, and then died down with surprising speed.

3) What Did King James Mean When He Suggested The Doctor "Hides" Behind Her Title?

Doctor Who season 11 episode 8, "The Witchfinders," drew a fascinating parallel between the Doctor and King James. The Doctor accused the King of wearing the crown as a sort of mask, using his role to avoid dealing with the darkness of his own heart. "It must be comforting playing that role," she observed, "Hiding behind a title." The King's response was a fascinating one; "Just as you hide behind 'Doctor,' perhaps," he suggested, and the Time Lord was silenced. It was a fascinating scene, one that suggests the Doctor's heroism is indeed an attempt to avoid admitting that she has the potential for evil within her. There's a sense in which this is the theme of "The Witchfinders" - that the real danger lurks within, and must be confronted.

2) Will Historical Adventures Be More Dangerous Now The Doctor Is A Woman?

Jodie Whittaker has made history as the first female Doctor, but Doctor Who has generally avoided tackling the issue head-on. Showrunner Chris Chibnall has been careful to treat Whittaker as just another incarnation of the Doctor, even hinting that previous Doctor incarnations have also been female. What's more, the actress' portrayal has been particularly evocative of Patrick Troughton's, giving a strong sense of continuity.

But Doctor Who season 11 episode 8, "The Witchfinder," includes one of the few overt references to the fact we now have a female Doctor. "Honestly, if I were still a bloke, I could get on with the job and not have to waste time defending myself," the Doctor fumed. It's an interesting point; the Doctor will no doubt find historical adventures more of a challenge now she's female. Human history has been rife with sexism, with precious few time-periods even believing in the idea of educating women.

1) Who Were The Morax?

The villains of Doctor Who season 11 episode 8, "The Witchfinders," are only revealed towards the end of the episode. They're an alien race known as the Morax, a ferocious monarchy who committed unknown war crimes millennia ago. Presumably defeated in battle, they were imprisoned beneath Pendle Hill. It's unclear whether the Morax were originally a mud-race; the Doctor makes a throwaway reference to the aliens' essence being "concentrated" in some form. Whatever the truth may be, these creatures are dangerous monsters who can possess living beings or inanimate corpses. They were restrained by an ancient "lock" that was inimical to their very nature, and had been disguised as a tree. Unfortunately, the mechanism had been damaged, and they had begun to escape - at least until the Doctor repaired the lock, which drew all Morax essence back into the ground.

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