1 week Ago By Lucas Hill-Paul
Doctor Who’s second outing with Ncuti Gatwa has been branded “predictable” by critics, but expect some shocking twists. The BBC One science fiction series, now also available on Disney+, sees the return of Gatwa as the titular Time Lord facing off against alien threats through time and space. Series 15 will feature the Doctor saving the universe with a new companion by his side, Belinda Chandra (played by Varada Sethu), along with Millie Gibson returning as Ruby Sunday.
Expect the usual madcap adventures with plenty of scares as the TARDIS team takes on robots, giant spiders and even the Interstellar Song Contest over the next eight weeks. A synopsis for this Saturday’s series premiere, The Robot Revolution, reads: “When robots from outer space kidnap nurse Belinda Chandra, the Doctor embarks on an epic intergalactic quest to get his new friend back home to Earth.” Unfortunately, the new instalment could be off to a lacklustre start as this week’s series debut has been given some lukewarm reviews by TV critics.
RadioTimes called the episode a “shaky start” to the series, though admitted Sethu “shines” as the new companion. “The episode is dragged down in various ways, most of which we can't talk about just yet,” they explained. “Suffice to say that the episode's climax, involving a rather ludicrous reveal, fails to stick the landing.
“There's also some very on-the-nose writing, characters stating the obvious rather than allowing the episode's themes to speak for themselves...
” TechRadar gave the premiere three stars, calling it a “curious re-tread of the hit sci-fi show's best ideas” that’s “not as glorious as it could be”. They went on: “The Doctor and Bel's robotic foes are largely unoriginal. In fact, I'd say, unique design notwithstanding, they're an uninspired amalgam of two of the most notorious enemies in Doctor Who's rogue gallery – those being, the Daleks and Cybermen.
“The Robot Revolution also moves at a break-neck pace. Episodes of Doctor Who are renowned for being breezy, but it feels like this one is particularly guilty of barrelling through its story without stopping to take a breath. “That doesn't allow its most pertinent story beats to have the emotional impact they require.
” However, Variety gave the episode a more promising write-up, highlighting some unexpected turns in the third act, which could set up a thrilling storyline over the coming weeks. “Without revealing spoilers of The Robot Revolution, an initially predictable plot has an unexpected and pretty ambitious twist in the third act, which it manages to land,” they teased. “The last few seconds of the first episode are particularly spine-tingling.
” And The Times wrote: “It is a fun, fast-paced hour of TV, laced with trademark Davies wit and the joyous surprises you expect from a man who still clearly longs for that blue box to come and sweep him far, far away.” Will you be coming along for another ride in the TARDIS? Doctor Who series 15 premieres Saturday, 12th April at 6:50pm on BBC iPlayer and will be available to stream internationally on Disney+..
