Doctor Who (2024)

“The Robot Revolution” is another impressive outing for the charming Ncuti Gatwa, his 15th Doctor having settled into his stride as a mash-up of David Tennant’s dashing eccentric and Jodie Whittaker’s more grounded Time Lord.

Episodes like this one ["The Robot Revolution"} prove that Davies hasn’t completely lost his touch as a writer or showrunner. Ongoing mysteries like the true identity of Mrs. Flood (Anita Dobson) and new ones introduced here are compelling, and the self-contained story is a blast.

Belinda is set up as a companion who will challenge Gatwa’s Doctor more than Ruby ever did, and that’s an interesting dynamic being offered by season 15.

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. The last few seconds of the first episode are particularly spine-tingling. A question going forward is that, whilst the show always manages to tie up the loose ends in each episode, whether this season will be able to land some of its overarching central plot mysteries.

The first episode of season two provides an infinitely stronger setup for the season than its predecessor. It’s an effective introduction to the Doctor’s sparky new companion Belinda Chandra (Varada Sethu).

At times it’s too busy, like watching a sci-fi fairground in full swing (plot lines whirling everywhere). Then again, the Doctor and Belinda have intriguingly abrasive chemistry (“There’s always a doctor standing back while the nurses do all the hard work”), so this could get interesting.

Sethu is just right for Belinda’s no-nonsense approach to unfamiliar experiences, underscored with an instinctive compassion for strangers. Her chemistry with the ever-engaging Gatwa looks good. So we’re ready to fly again, but there remains the issue of making the comeback work as an episode on its own terms.

“The Robot Revolution” is not a patch on 2005 classic “Rose”, but it is everything you would expect - both good and not so good - from a big, broad, crowd-pleasing premiere.

While the new companion dynamic shows promise, the episode struggles to leave a lasting impression, weighed down by a dull plot and forgettable antagonists.

Buffeted by some less-than-slick social commentary yet buoyed by Ncuti Gatwa and Varada Sethu’s refreshing Doctor-companion dynamic, Who’s latest series opener — unlike the poor old TARDIS — just about manages to stick the landing. 

Those who criticise the rebooted series for being preachy and overtly political are unlikely to be placated by this unsubtle swerve into the culture wars. A shame, because as far as episodes introducing new companions go, The Robot Revolution works a treat. Varada Sethu makes an immediate impact as Belinda Chandra.

Halfway through the episode Davies seems to reverse polarity, changing the theme from technology and AI overreach to toxic masculinity. Neither are really explored in anything close to the depth they should be. .... However, 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.