It's been six action-packed weeks but the end has finally arrived, as Doctor Who series 13 draws to a close - ending both this series' ongoing Flux storyline and signalling the beginning of the end for Jodie Whittaker's 13th Doctor . While there is usually a pretty high expectation when it comes to series finales as the culmination of the show's first series-long story in decades, it's fair to say that anticipation is running particular high when it comes to  The Vanquishers . As per the rest of the series, this final chapter was written by show runner Chris Chibnall and directed by chapters three and five director  Azhur Saleem .

After The Halloween Apocalypse kicked off Doctor Who: Flux in spectacularly manic fashion, it's now time to truly get into what series 13's continuous storyline has to offer. Despite the series only running for a total of six episodes and having its work cut out for it introducing new villain Swarm , it wouldn't be Doctor Who without some classic monsters making a reappearance. War of the Sontarans marks the first title appearance of the cloned warrior race since 2008's The Sontaran Stratagem/The Poison Sky , with subsequent appearances either having been cameos or centred around the commander turned nurse turned Paternoster Gang butler Strax. This episode however firmly re-establishes them as an enemy of the Doctor though, along with giving them a whole new look – again their first redesign since 2008.

Release Date: August 2019 RRP: £19.99 2019 saw the Doctor Who figure line truly start making steps towards a comeback. Daleks were back in new Big Finish -inspired two packs, sought after figures were finally getting much-needed reissues and we even got a brand new companion figure in the form of Harry Sullivan . Sure they may be slight retoolings at best and still exclusive to B&M Stores , but the variety of characters and hype around them suggested Character Toys were finally getting serious again. Among the 2019 offerings was a three-figure set based on 1985’s  The Two Doctors , once again bringing new variants of popular characters as well as a whole new character. Included in this set are Sixth Doctor companion Perpugilliam “Peri” Brown , the Androgum-spliced Second Doctor and Group Marshal Stike of the Ninth Sontaran Battle Group.

Release Date: August 2019 RRP: £19.99 Summer 2019 was a big season for Doctor Who toys. After years of multi-pack repaints (with the odd new figure) exclusive to B&M stores that largely slipped under the radar, Character Options came out with a huge new range that injected some energy back into the once great line. There were Big Finish -inspired Dalek sets, there were TARDISes and there were of course more three-packs. Among these was The Sontarans Collector Figure Set, which not only paid homage to one of the show’s most popular monsters but also gave collectors the one thing they’re always crying out for - another companion. Included in this set at Commander Linx from 1973’s The Time Warrior , Field Marshall Styre from 1975’s The Sontaran Experiment , and popular Fourth Doctor companion/Royal Navy Surgeon-Lieutenant Harry Sullivan .

It's been a while since I did a little rant/opinion piece for the blog that wasn't a review, so I think another one is long overdue. And naturally once again its going to be Doctor Who  related, though this time there won't be any Daleks involved (at least, there shouldn't be unless I end up rambling). The subject of this rant is the Sontarans, the militaristic clone race and arguably currently the most popular classic Doctor Who monster now after the Daleks and Cybermen. Well, in terms of onscreen appearances they certainly come third... Inspired by a recent listen of Big Finish's "Lost Stories" audio The First Sontarans  (which I urge everyone to check out, along with Big Finish's entire Who range in general), I've recently been thinking about the Sontarans' place in Doctor Who and whether their recent onscreen appearances have taken away the edge of what should otherwise be a pretty fearsome monster.

After a bombshell of a season finale and a triumphant 50th anniversary special, it's finally time to say goodbye to the Eleventh Doctor. Matt Smith has led the show since 2010 and seen it through seasons that have been met to varied reception, but his eccentric and childlike incarnation has certainly been a popular one. But the special thing about The Time of the Doctor is that not only that it covers Smith's regeneration into number 12 Peter Capaldi , but it also addresses something fans have wondered about since it was first mentioned back in the days of the classic series...what will happen when the Doctor reaches the end of his natural life with no regenerations left? When a mysterious but untranslatable signal leads thousands of alien races to an unknown planet, the Doctor is first in line to take a look at what mystery it holds. Passing through the forcefield set up by the Church of the Papal Mainframe to keep all of the Doctor's enemies out, he finds one final...