By James Pearson on
We are back my fellow time travellers! With a new air time, new companion and new mystery, the Doctor has come crashing back into our lives with one goal: Get Belinda home!
The Robot Revolution (Season 2, Episode 1), follows Belinda Chandra as she is whisked away into the world of spaceships and robots thanks to a gift from a long gone boyfriend, resulting in her being kidnapped by two bulky red robots who have proclaimed her as Queen!
So how do I rate the episode? Well if you could give me a drum roll please… I give it a 7/10. Although by no means perfect, it has its issues but as a season opener and an introduction to the new companion it ticks all the boxes it needs to. Without giving away too many spoilers let’s discuss the good, the bad, and the adorable!
And where better to start than with the adorable! That being Scoot, a cute small polishing robot whose only job is to ‘Polish! Polish!’. Despite this basic function, he plays a pivotal role in the episode aiding the Doctor and Belinda in the defeat of the AI Generator. (The Big Bad of the episode.) Harkening back to Gadget (‘The Waters of Mars’ Nov 2009) Scoot brings the cute factor and definitely joins the halls of adorable Doctor Who side characters!
When it comes to the good there is plenty to sink our teeth into. Belinda Chandra (Varada Sethu) is a delightful addition to the show. Unlike many of her predecessors, Belinda wants nothing to do with the Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa) and would rather get back home in time for work than travel time and space with the last of the TimeLords. She’s headstrong, brave and quick on her feet despite the crazy new world she has been thrown into. Sethu gives Bel (a nickname given by the Doctor) a strong sense of moral compass, with her character putting others first on multiple occasions. Not to mention her dynamic with the Doctor being refreshingly compelling, showcasing a mix of mistrust and teamwork that adds depth to their relationship.
Gatwa continues to bring a magnetic presence to the role, clearly gaining confidence and looking more comfortable now it’s his second voyage aboard the Tardis, blending his Doctor’s playful charisma with flashes of vulnerability. In this episode, his ability to pivot seamlessly between zany improvisation and commanding authority is on full display. Whether he’s delivering rapid-fire quips or grappling with moral complexities, Gatwa anchors the story with a performance that feels both fresh and inherently Doctor.
This new pairing of Doctor and reluctant companion is a refreshing take on one of the show’s quintessentials. The chemistry between Gatwa’s Doctor and Sethu’s Belinda carries the episode. Their banter and growing trust promise a rich dynamic for the season ahead. But there is still tension between the pair which definitely draws the viewer in.
Aside from our dazzling dynamic duo there is still plenty more to love from this episode. From the absolutely stunning sets, to the breathtaking CGI and the cherry on top of this Doctor Who sundae being the hilarious Big Red Robots (Missbelindachandrabots), who take the role of our alien of the week. The production value is in full force and definitely gives the episode a nice refined sheen.
So despite the praise so far we now come to the bad. Largely these are the same issues many have had with the previous season and that’s the pacing and storytelling. Russel T Davies is and always will be one of the best things to happen to Doctor Who, but his newest seasons have been lacking in that good old RTD sparkle! From the lackluster introduction of Belinda and her regular life, to the rather rushed and dialogue heavy resolution and defeat of the Big Bad, the story itself leaves a lot to be desired. With anticlimactic defeats and emotionless deaths we have definitely seen better and hopefully if the next time trailer is anything to go by we will see that in the coming weeks.
Overall I did like this episode despite the faults I’ve laid out. As previously said, being a companion introduction it is (almost) perfect, setting Belinda up to be an amazing foil to the Doctor’s more excitable side. The story, despite being a tiny bit of science fiction gobbledygook, was fairly straightforward and relatively fun to follow. And the Robots felt ripped straight from the classic and original RTD era. Not to mention, with the new early morning streaming drop it reminded me of early morning cartoons, and definitely paired well with my large bowl of Cheerios. However for those purists, you can still watch it cuddled up on the sofa with a takeout on Saturday evening.
The Robot Revolution is now streaming on BBC iPlayer in the UK and on Disney Plus to the rest of the world.
Next week we will be travelling to Miami 1952 , where people seem to be going missing at the movies and a rather animated foe is set to face off against the Doctor and Belinda. See you next week for my review of Episode 2 ‘Lux.’