Ncuti Gatwa’s Doctor Who season ups the stakes with its new villains, and I couldn’t be happier to see it

2024-05-10

EntertainmentTVSci-Fi ShowsDoctor WhoNcuti Gatwa’s Doctor Who season ups the stakes with its new villains, and I couldn’t be happier to see itWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

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(Image credit: BBC)

Doctor Who

I’ve lovedDoctor Whomy whole life, it’s one of my earliest memories – no, I won’t tell you which scene is the first I remember, but suffice to say, my fandom spans ‘Classic’, ‘Revival’ and now ‘Nu-Nu-Who’. I just made those terms up, don’t write in.

With a new season upon us – again, don’t write in, it is season one with good reason – Doctor Who is back, brand new and completely different yet still somehow exactly the same. But better.

Given the extended amount of time (and space) I’ve been plodding around the Whoniverse there have been many highs and lows over these (long, long) decades and moments where I’ve enjoyed the series more than others. So it stands to reason that there have also been points – eras, stories – that I haven’t enjoyed quite so much. And that’s OK! Everyone stand down, you’re allowed the good with the bad, not everything can be the best thing ever all the time. Yes, sometimes I like stories that ‘The Fandom’ has deemed to not be very good. But it would be terribly boring if we all liked exactly the same things.

I mention all this so as not to get your Fezzes in a twist when I say that Doctor Who was long overdue a ‘rehaul’. Whatever your personal opinion, in themainstreamthe popularity of Doctor Who had waned. Drop the sonic device! This is not uncommon – the show has been back on our screens since 2005 and all things have peaks and troughs.

(Image credit: Darren Scott)

Doctor Who

But the landscape has changed. As much as Doctor Who was responsible – and it absolutely was – for a glut of home-grown fantasy like Merlin, Primeval, Robin Hood, and such, genre entertainment has overtaken our little Blue Box Show in recent years. Finally – FINALLY!! – people seem to have got wise to just how brilliant sci-fi and fantasy is and we have a glut of television series and films in a seemingly never-ending cycle of production. That’s great forSFX, the magazine is finally mainstream after 30 years – albeit it’s harder to keep up with everything. But with constant Star Wars shows, Marvel productions, universes, world-building, multiverses and goodness knows what else, the Doctor is fighting altogether new enemies – crowded space and shorter attention spans.

That’s why I’m glad it’s found a new global home withDisneyPlus – what better way to bring the show to almost 250 countries simultaneously? We know that Who’s been around the planet several times, but this is the first time that’s happened properly dubbed and subtitled all over the world at the same time. This is a VERY GOOD THING.

Yes, that means some changes to how we might access the new episodes, and yeah, the extra budget probably helps our quaint British show compete with the big boys, girls and others. Now, if you’re going to whip out an endless Twitter thread about the ‘old school charm’ of Doctor Who or something – don’t bother. Places to be, babes! Plus I can save you the time – there’s 61 years of shows available on iPlayer, DVD, Blu-ray, audio, comics, books, ice lolly wrappers etc etc. They’re still there, no one’s taking them away (well, except for one ongoing attempt but that’s a whole ‘nother story).

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(Image credit: BBC)

Doctor Who

The whole point of Doctor Who is change – it’s literally hardwired into the premise. As much as I’d like to see Beryl Reid and Kate O’Mara rock up in a quarry or spaceship – and I still can, thanks to iPlayer – times change too. So the fact that this new series leans into fantasy – though you could argue that it’s always been that way inclined – is like a breath of fresh air for a franchise that could do with some slight resuscitation.

There’s been fan speculation that the spilling of salt and invoking a superstition at the edge of the universe in Wild Blue Yonder has opened the door for a ‘bigger bad’. Showrunner Russell T Davies has spoken of a ‘pantheon of Gods’ who will face off against the Doctor – The Toymaker has already returned and seemingly been vanquished, but he looms large in the episodes ahead.

For more on Ncuti Gatwa’s debut season, here’s ourDoctor Who season 1 episode 1 and 2 review, as well as ourDoctor Who season 1 release schedule.

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GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS

1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”

Nemesis board game models and tokens laid out on a board

1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”

Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”

2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”

Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”

3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”

Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”

4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”

5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”

Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”

1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”

Shadow brandishes a gun in Sonic The Hedgehog 3

1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”

2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”

Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”

3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”

Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”

4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”

The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”

5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”

Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”

1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now”

Squid Game season 2

1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now”

Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now”

2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”

Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”

3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”

Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”

4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”

Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”

5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”

Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”

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