Ncuti Gatwa’s Second ‘Doctor Who’ Season Starts Off Strong, Despite Speculation About Show’s Future: TV Review

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When I hear chatter about a popular series potentially taking a break during its build-up, it’s hard not to feel uneasy about its future.

Nonetheless, this is the predicament “Doctor Who,” the beloved British science fiction series, finds itself in at present. This situation persists despite a global distribution agreement with Disney+ (which means a larger budget), the rising star of “Sex Education,” Ncuti Gatwa, stepping into the role of the 15th Doctor, and Russell T Davies returning as the show’s lead writer, showrunner, and executive producer.

This upcoming season might be carrying higher stakes than any other, so it’s reassuring that the premiere, titled “The Robot Revolution,” turns out to be a solid start. Varada Sethu impresses as the Doctor’s latest travel partner, Belinda Chandra. To be precise, she’s not just a companion – Belinda seems to have no desire to be there from the get-go, setting her apart from many companions we’ve seen before in the series.

Following her abduction by extraterrestrial robots who proclaim her as their queen, Belinda finds herself stranded in time, unable to return to her original timeline, despite the Doctor’s efforts. Instead of passively following the Doctor’s lead, Belinda demonstrates independence and occasionally challenges him, creating a unique dynamic compared to previous companions and storylines. This dynamic is further enhanced by the intriguing rapport between the two characters.

This episode of “Doctor Who” leaves one questioning why it seems so vulnerable despite its entertaining nature. The intricacies of modern-day television ratings are definitely a contributing factor. To be honest, it can be challenging to accurately gauge how popular the new “Doctor Who” is. When Ncuti Gatwa’s first stint as the Doctor premiered towards the end of last year, episodes were simultaneously released at midnight on BBC’s streaming service iPlayer and Disney+ for international audiences. As a consequence, only 2.6 million viewers watched the premiere on BBC One, but this number doesn’t account for those who had already streamed it on iPlayer the same day. By the end of the day, the total viewership surpassed 6 million. This pattern persisted throughout the season, with David Tennant commenting that the show was performing well among younger demographics such as under 16s and 16-34s: “It’s not doing well in traditional ratings,” he said, “but it is achieving extraordinary success with the younger audience we aimed to attract.”

Despite weekly reports showing each episode of Gatwa’s first season being among the top five series worldwide on Disney+, the decision by Disney not to renew their current distribution deal with the BBC until after the current season concludes only fuels skepticism. Even if a future agreement between the two parties is reached, given that television production typically takes about a year, it seems unavoidable that there will be a break before the next season begins.

It would be unfortunate if there was a prolonged break in “Doctor Who” broadcast, given its status as a British cultural icon and its progressive, inclusive approach to science fiction. For the first time, the TARDIS crew consists entirely of people of color with Gatwa and Sethu. This inclusivity has been a defining characteristic of the new Davies era, evident in elements like trans characters and the Doctor having a same-sex attraction. However, this progress has sparked criticism from some narrow-minded viewers who claim that the show is too “woke.” In an interview with Radio Times, Sethu explained, “Woke simply means being inclusive, progressive, and caring about people. And if I’m not mistaken, the essence of ‘Doctor Who’ revolves around kindness, love, and doing what’s right.

It’s desired that throughout this coming season, amidst thrilling high-stakes journeys, there will be ample chances for Belinda and the Doctor to unwind and relax together. One of the allures of “Doctor Who” has been its ability to continually evolve while remaining unpredictable with each new tale, often switching between humorous and intense episodes. However, some of the standout stories from Gatwa’s first season, like the puzzling “73 Yards,” had his character appearing less frequently. A concern in today’s “Doctor Who” era is that it might get stuck in a pattern of plot twists, daring escapes, and an abundance of new characters, potentially leaving viewers less engaged with their personal histories compared to those introduced during Russell T Davies’ tenure back in 2005.

In this episode, we delve into the typical patterns that arise when a new character joins the cast of “Doctor Who”, much like they did with Ruby Sunday (Millie Gibson) in Gatwa’s first season. For instance, “The Doctor has two hearts!”, “His name is merely ‘The Doctor!'”, and “The TARDIS is larger on the inside than it appears from the outside!” are examples of such patterns. It’s unclear whether these repetitions are a tradition for every new companion or if they serve to explain the British series to American audiences more easily. The answer isn’t clear-cut.

In “The Robot Revolution,” a seemingly ordinary storyline takes a surprising and daring turn during the third act, delivering on its audacity. The opening moments of the debut episode will send shivers down your spine.

Moving forward, there’s curiosity about whether this season will successfully resolve some of its long-standing central plot enigmas. Last season presented an intriguing and entertaining mystery involving Susan Triad (Susan Twist), a secondary character who mysteriously appeared in every episode. This initially seemed like an Easter Egg for fans, but it evolved into the central storyline of the two-part finale. However, another significant series mystery, concerning Ruby Sunday’s mother’s identity, felt somewhat underwhelming when it was revealed, despite its emotional backstory being touching.

It leaves one pondering if the remaining enigmas within the series will receive a fitting resolution. Will the riddles concerning Mrs. Flood’s (Anita Dobson) identity and her habit of breaching the fourth wall finally be unraveled and become coherent? What about her tease at the conclusion of the last season that the Doctor’s narrative would culminate in a terrifying climax? Moreover, will any future explanation regarding why Sethu has previously emerged, under a different guise, in Gatwa’s debut season during “Boom” episode be plausible to viewers as well?

Furthermore, it’s puzzling as to why Belinda Chandra can’t go back to her present time despite the TARDIS making the attempt to do so.

You just hope that — like the Tardis — it manages to stick the landing.

“Doctor Who” Season 2 debuts April 12 on BBC iPlayer in the U.K. and Disney+ internationally.

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2025-04-07 22:17