When the British Empire said “the sun never sets,” they forgot to add “…even on Mars.”
Short Synopsis
The Doctor, Bill, and Nardole stumble upon Victorian soldiers mining on Mars, where they’ve awakened Iraxxa, the Ice Warrior queen. Cue a showdown between imperialist humans and Martians who are very much done with being colonized.
Extended Storyline
It all begins with NASA spotting a mysterious message on the surface of Mars. Written in giant rocks: “God Save the Queen.” (Because apparently, the Victorians thought Mars was just another colonial holiday resort.)
The Doctor, Bill, and Nardole zip back to 1881 to figure out what’s going on. Deep underground, they discover Victorian redcoats… mining. On Mars. Turns out a group of British soldiers somehow befriended a lone Ice Warrior, Friday (named after Robinson Crusoe — colonialism bingo, check). Friday helped them travel to Mars in exchange for assistance reviving his people. The soldiers, naturally, saw this as a chance to claim a new planet for the Empire.
The Brits’ mining operation awakens Iraxxa, Empress of the Ice Warriors, who is Not Amused™. She demands respect, her people, and her planet back. The Doctor, trying his best to be a cosmic mediator, urges diplomacy. But Victorian arrogance being what it is, the soldiers decide guns > peace talks.
Of course, things escalate quickly. Guns prove very ineffective against Ice Warriors, who can fold people up like accordions. (Yes, really. It’s their new trick. Terrifying. Also makes for very compact storage.)
As tensions rise, Iraxxa considers executing the humans. Bill, ever the voice of compassion, steps in and appeals to her sense of honor and fairness. Bill’s empathy gives Iraxxa pause — and ultimately sways her toward mercy. She offers the humans a chance to leave peacefully.
The soldiers, now realizing they are massively out of their depth, accept. The Doctor ensures there’s a truce, and the Martians begin preparing to rebuild their civilization. The episode ends with a delightful cameo: Alpha Centauri, the squeaky-voiced alien from classic Who, appears to welcome the Ice Warriors into the galactic fold. A lovely nod for longtime fans.
Meanwhile, poor Nardole gets accidentally stranded back on Earth when the TARDIS takes off without him (because of course it does), leaving him to scramble to reconnect with the Doctor later.