The Doctor (still Jodie Whittaker) witnesses the release of an ancient nemesis (whom she can't remember), who in turn triggers the end of days by releasing the universe consuming 'Flux'. As the opening launch of a six part trajectory, 'The Halloween Apocalypse' can't be expected to do much other than introduce the major players, establish whatever existential threat the Doctor (and whoever is going to be her new 'fam') must overcome, and set up some side-excursions and possible red-herrings (usually involving characters who were popular in earlier episodes). The head villain, 'Swarm', is an unimpressive blur of CGI and makeup characterised by the megalomaniacal verbosity typical of cartoon villains. As mankind's best friends, the caninoid Lupari are amusing but it will take some clever writing if their puppy-like appearance isn't going to end up as a beaten-to-death joke. Typical of the Whittaker era, the show is hyperkinetic, excessively colorful, and above all, loud -loud to the point where it is hard to make out whatever plot-point the Doctor's rapid-fire yammering is trying to make. The episode opens with a juvenile escape sequence featuring some awful CGI that hopefully does not represent the look of the rest of the season. All in all, I didn't find 'The Halloween Apocalypse' particularly entertaining or intriguing but it can't really be judged solely on its merits, so I'll give it an appropriately noncommittal 6/10. At least last season's heavy-handed trendy social-preaching was limited (and hopefully will stay so).