Doctor Who is back for series 15 this weekend and the first episode, titled The Robot Revolution, has divided critics
Doctor Who’s latest season featuring Ncuti Gatwa as the lead has been met with mixed reviews, with some critics calling it “predictable” but fans should brace for some unexpected plot twists.
The iconic BBC One sci-fi show, which is now also accessible on Disney+, welcomes back Gatwa as the Doctor who battles extraterrestrial perils across the cosmos.
In Series 15, the Doctor is set to thwart universal threats alongside a fresh companion, Belinda Chandra, portrayed by Varada Sethu, and sees the return of Millie Gibson as Ruby Sunday.
Audiences can anticipate classic Doctor Who hijinks, complete with heart-stopping moments, as the crew confronts adversaries from robots to mammoth arachnids, and even takes part in the Interstellar Song Contest over the upcoming eight episodes.
An excerpt from the summary for the upcoming Saturday series opener, titled The Robot Revolution, describes: “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.”, reports the Express.
However, the reception for the season’s kickoff might not be as stellar as hoped, with early episode assessments being somewhat tepid.
RadioTimes referred to the initial episode as a “shaky start” for the fresh series, nonetheless conceding that Sethu positively “shines” in her role as Belinda Chandra.
“The episode is dragged down in various ways, most of which we can’t talk about just yet,” they noted.
In their critique, they concluded: “Suffice to say that the episode’s climax, involving a rather ludicrous reveal, fails to stick the landing.”
The critique highlighted some blunt scripting, as noted: “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, while acknowledging potential, awarded the premiere just three stars describing it as a “curious re-tread of the hit sci-fi show’s best ideas” that’s “not as glorious as it could be”.
Continuing their assessment, they observed: “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.”
TechRadar further mentioned the tempo of the episode: “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.”
They remarked on the impact this has on storytelling: “That doesn’t allow its most pertinent story beats to have the emotional impact they require.”
Belinda is desperate to return home after being kidnapped by robots(Image: (Image: BBC))
On the upside, Variety offered a sunnier perspective, spotlighting intriguing developments towards the episode’s end which could lay the groundwork for a compelling narrative over the upcoming episodes.
They hinted at something to look forward to without giving too much away: “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,” and stirred intrigue about the cliffhanger noting: “The last few seconds of the first episode are particularly spine-tingling.”
And The Times penned: “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.”
Are you ready to hop aboard the TARDIS once more?
