Doctor Who (2023– ) User Reviews

The start of something new..and it could be great

[nucleus-24718 · 9/10 · 15 March 2024]

I won't lie. I had my issues with the first four episodes. They wrapped up way too neatly for me. Dialogue was clunky and there were a lot of choices I did not like. I also had a lot of problems with "The Giggle" and bi-generation as a whole.

But there was still a lot of great. Especially with the episode "Wild Blue Yonder" which is a masterpiece. Ncuti is an excellent doctor and there is a new sense of mystery to the show. Any of these specials is better than what Chipnall made. There is so much set-up and so much I want to see paid off. As of writing this there are a ton of mysteries set-up: Who is Mrs Flood? Who are Ruby's parents? How will the new master be involved? Who is the One Who Waits? Who is the Meep's boss? What are the Doctor's origins?

I'm leaving a review here for the day in which this new series of Who is also regarded as fantastic. I don't want to make a review just harping on the several flaws of the specials. I know the new series will be flawed, but Doctor Who has always been flawed. It just made up for it with great episodes. Doctor Who has the strange ability to pick itself up again and continue being amazing.

First review. Love Doctor Who

[shahismail · 10/10 · 3 March 2024]

First review of the soft reboot. Please don't let us down RTD. Ncuti has so far been promising in the christmas special and I can't wait to see what he brings in the upcoming season. Ruby also seems like she is going to be a good companion. RTD please give good scripts and good story telling. Hopefully the new episodes can bring back the old viewers who have stopped watching the show and can also bring new viewers who will enjoy this beautiful show. I am extremely excited for the upcoming season and I can't wait to see what sort of episodes Russell has for us.

P. S. Hate the timeless child arc and hopefully RTD does something about it.

An interesting new beginning!

[charlieak-17791 · 9/10 · 31 March 2024]

While I don't necessarily love the show's numbering getting reset again, I do hope Season One succeeds at it's goal of drawing in new viewers.

Ncuti Gatwa has only appeared in two episodes at the time I'm writing this an he's absolutely electric. This is the first time since I started watching (~2013) that a new Doctor has won me over instantly. Took time for me to love Capaldi and Whittaker but Gatwa is just undoubtedly a perfect casting. I hope RTD's second go as showrunner does Ncuti justice.

The venture into a more supernatural Who is very intriguing. I've always loved Who being grounded in a reality, even if that realty is completely made up on the spot. Venturing into ideas like "the language of luck" and baby eating Goblins is camp, silly but perfectly Who.

The partnership with Disney thus far (as long as RTD maintains creative control) seems like a great move. Wild Blue Yonder is one of the best Who stories we've seen since Capaldi's finale and I cannot wait to see what our silly little sci-fi show is capable of now.

The beginning to a new journey

[if-i-dont-love-it-i-dont-swallow · 10/10 · 9 March 2024]

Doctor Who has always been my favorite show, ever since I was nine years old and watched "Rose". Since then, I've developed a love for pretty much every era, and my favorite episode from the modern version has to be "Heaven Sent". I have extremely good memories of this show and always will. I've also made my way through 24 seasons of classic Who, and it's as good there as it is here. Pure imagination.

RTD brought me into the show with his bombastic ideas and blockbuster style. Moffat made me love the show as much as I do now because of his superb character drama and truly "out there" absurd plot arcs. Chibnall, however, really made me lose interest. I don't want to sound clichéd, and I don't want to sound like every other hate train YouTuber, so I'll stress that Doctor Who has always been avidly political and inclusive, ever since even William Hartnell. All of you "diversity hire" weirdos out there make this fandom look so toxic, and thank you ALL of you idiots for making me embarrassed to even like the show. Anyway...

I don't like Chibnall's stuff because of the poor acting, even poorer storylines, and lack of emotional music. The direction and cinematography was also consistently bland, and the big plot arcs were either so quaint it makes me amazed Chibnall ever thought anyone would've cared (looking at you, Battle of Ranskoor Av Kolos), or so utterly grand and misguided that they divided people more than it gave you any sort of emotional catharsis (looking at you, Timeless Children). On top of that, the Thirteenth Doctor (played by the incredible yet entirely miscast Jodie Whittaker) did a lot of amoral stuff, to the point that to me she resembles an up-and-coming Valeyard more than the Doctor. Which could've been amazing if they actually leaned into it!! But making her trap a guy in an eternal nightmare chamber or blow up a guy for no reason or side with the rich instead of the workers or sideline her companion's cancer trauma because of her own "social awkwardness" or send her childhood friend turned enemy into the N*zi death camps because of his skin color...?!?!?!?!?! Instead of being the Doctor, she becomes a tantrumming murderous space toddler. For the first female Doctor, an idea with so much potential... why oh why did this have to happen?

Nevertheless, not all was negative. The Spy Master and Ashad were interesting, and a total of four episodes were actually kinda good - "Demons of the Punjab", "The Haunting of Villa Diodati", "War of the Sontarans", "The Power of the Doctor". Yet even the highest this era achieved was just a 7/10 from me.

After 5 very long years of sadness accomplished from this era, Chibnall left his reign of the show and RTD took back his chair as showrunner. And this is the current iteration we are at now.

In this era, RTD has already proven he can write an amazing episode "Wild Blue Yonder", a positive yet contrived finale "The Giggle" (which as much as others seem to complain about, is nothing new - remember "Last of the Time Lords"? Even "Journey's End"? Great but... contrived finales), a fun Christmas special "The Church on Ruby Road", and a genuinely bad episode "The Star Beast". The villains were all unforgettable, Beep the Meep, the Not-Things, the Toymaker, even the Goblins. Murray Gold is back to compose emotional, beautiful music; that doesn't sound like ambience at best and a hundred rats running across glass at worst (referring to Segun Akinola). It has genuinely fun, cool performances from the Doctor that really show off his alien side and his love for humanity. The show's genuinely funny again! It also tackles political subjects subtly and doesn't ever make it the forefront (minus Rose Noble, who as a trans woman myself I felt a little disappointed by the representation - although I'm still glad young trans people will see themselves, the storyline with her just felt a little overblown and... well, contrived). The direction is pretty, the cinematography strikingly beautiful, practical effects are BACK BABY!!!! There's so many positives, a few negatives, but that's Doctor Who for you. For every "Heaven Sent", we get a "Love & Monsters", for every "Genesis of the Daleks" we get a "Horns of Nimon". I'm just glad we're out of the era that felt like every episode was "The Twin Dilemma".

In short, THIS is Doctor Who, and it's back, and I'm so happy that it is. It's brilliant, it's goofy, it's emotional, it's flawed, it's Who at it's most Who. The best show, the king of TV.

What have I just watched.

[romansheehan · 1/10 · 30 April 2024]

Wow, that was undoubtedly one of the worst pieces of media I have ever viewed in my entire life. Just to go over some things, Ruby Sunday (god awful name), While caring for an INFANT child, it gets taken away by these unoriginal, unnamed and visually disgusting, goblins, Now, put yourself in her shoes what do you do? Obvious, try to save the child, and she does, BUT FIRST, she whines about being on a roof for a MIRACULOUS 7 SECONDS. Ok, whatever at least she tries to get the baby afterwards. Just kidding, she whines again about the ugly goblin making a hiss noise at her. Jesus Christ, what is wrong with her. She is so stupid, she's inconsiderate for anyone around her, incredibly slow in the head and just overall unlikable. I don't even know where to start with Ncuti Gatwa. After performing a fantastic role as Eric in Sex Education seasons 1-3. But oh my god he should NOT have been cast for the billion year old, genociding alien. Aside from the half-assed acting from himself and, just about everyone else. I can't be asked to rewatch the episode so I'll just go over the worst part of it. The dance scene. WHAT. Why did he sing???????? It makes ZERO sense????? A CHILD WAS SECONDS AWAY FROM BEING EATING ALIVE AND NUCTI GATWA IS DOING TIKTOK DANCES. I will not be watching Season 31.

Sadly I can't rate this a 0, so I'll give it a 1.

This is Who...

[geoffbb · 10/10 · 28 April 2024]

I've been around since watching very early Dr Who on an old square B&W tv. This new Doctor is every bit a Doctor. Of course, with something new - we who love the Doctor - can feel a threat to a much loved character due to change. But the Doctor is meant to be better than we mere mortals. He/she/they will always be more human, humane, brave, and fun, than our mundane real lives, ourselves, and often those around us. But it does inspire us to do and be better. Give the new Doctor a chance. If he's anything like those in the past, we're all in for loads of fun. Sit back all, fasten your seatbelts, and let's enjoy the ride.

#NotMyWHOuniverse

[idoeg · 1/10 · 2 March 2024]

Doctor Why?" - A Disappointing Journey into Gen Z Space

As a long-time fan of the Doctor Who universe, I approached "Doctor Why?" with a mix of excitement and trepidation. The spin-off, aimed squarely at the Gen Z audience, promised a fresh take on the beloved series. However, what unfolded on screen left much to be desired, resulting in a disappointing journey through space and time.

One of the immediate issues that plagued "Doctor Why?" was its writing. Rather than maintaining the nuanced, clever storytelling that has been a hallmark of Doctor Who, this spin-off opted for a heavy-handed approach to capturing the attention of Gen Z viewers. The result? A mishmash of trendy slang, forced internet references, and attempts at social commentary that felt more like a desperate bid for relevance than genuine storytelling.

The once enigmatic and brilliant Doctor now felt like a caricature of a Gen Z influencer, more concerned with likes, shares, and viral moments than the complexities of time and space. Gone was the sense of mystery and wonder that surrounded the Doctor, replaced instead by a shallow facade of internet-savvy quips and antics.

Perhaps the most disappointing aspect of "Doctor Why?" was its treatment of the series' rich history and mythology. Doctor Who has a legacy that spans decades, with intricate storylines, memorable characters, and a vast universe to explore. Instead of embracing this wealth of material, "Doctor Why?" seemed intent on ignoring or outright dismissing it in favor of shallow, standalone plots that lacked the depth and complexity fans have come to expect.

In the end, "Doctor Why?" felt like a missed opportunity. Rather than using the unique platform of Doctor Who to explore the hopes, fears, and dreams of a new generation, it chose instead to pander to stereotypes and surface-level trends. The result was a spin-off that lacked the heart, soul, and imagination that has made Doctor Who a cultural touchstone for so many.

For fans of the classic Doctor Who series, "Doctor Why?" is a disappointing addition to the canon. It fails to capture the essence of what has made the series endure for so long, opting instead for cheap gimmicks and hollow attempts at relevance. Here's hoping that future iterations of Doctor Who, whether spin-offs or main series, can learn from the missteps of "Doctor Why?" and return to the thoughtful, imaginative storytelling that has defined the series for generations.

In conclusion, "Doctor Why?" falls short of its potential, delivering a lackluster and disappointing experience for fans of Doctor Who, both old and new.

The Doctor gets Americanised

[emmaeldred · 1/10 · 12 May 2024]

I was really looking forward to the new Dr Who. I've watched the doctor all my life and my father remembers watching the first episode when it aired. Ruby Sunday is a great companion and was looking forward to seeing her grow. The new doctor has great energy and major potential. But why on earth do we have to make it American. And is every episode going to be a musical now. Please bring back the great british story telling without having to become American. Have the creators sold there souls to Disney, and no longer care about the authenticity of the program and the following of all the loyal fans.

what happened to Dr Who?

[ronn214 · 2/10 · 11 May 2024]

I have watched the new Dr Who episodes for 2024, and I have been urgently waiting and waiting and this is the mess I get. Space Babies and some other nonsense about a "Maestro" that steals music. The show is stupid. The new Dr is stupid. I hate it. The script is terrible, the acting is terrible. I cannot believe what they have done to this wonderful series. A lot of people gave up when Jode Whitaker took over as the doctor, I didn't, I thought she was great and the series was pretty good. There were some weak storylines but all in all I thought the series was still good. Not now. It's terrible. It's not the new doctor, its the scripts; they have been stupid and silly. I'll watch one or two more episodes and if it doesn't get better, I'm done.

Waste of time

[smesh-22459 · 1/10 · 11 May 2024]

I really did give this a chance but my God it was bad.

Space babies:

• the CGI on the "baby's" was absolutely horrific, I've been better from films back in 2002.

• The acting was terrible in this as well, nothing about anyone's performance shouted "Doctor Who".

• space babies pretty much stole parts of 2005's "End of the World" (such as seeing the earth in the further from space and the doctor using sonic screwdriver on phone so companion can ring mother".

• the story was so weak in this one as well, what an incredible dull episode.

The Devil's Chord:

• this episode had so much potential by as expected it fell flat. The acting was slight better but again, nothing about ncuti's or Millie's performance shouted "Doctor and companion"

• Jinx Monsoon, although does naturally look terrifying, didn't do well in this part. There was far too much overacting which was extremely off putting.

• the story line was pretty forgettable and of course they have to mention pronouns.

• The worst thing about the episode was the totally unnecessary musical number at the end, what was the point of that? When you're trying to have a "serious" story line and you have this at the end it throws the story off completely.

• the only thing I did enjoy in this episode was the music (not including the off putting musical at the end) Murray gold is a great composer and he deserves some props, also the costumes were better in this one compared to the first one.

• Overall, this is not Doctor Who anymore just a cheap imitation.

Dreadful

[irelandkeith · 2/10 · 11 May 2024]

Ok, it's clear this manifestation or DrWho has a decent budget, but what a waste. It's jarring to watch... Why does the Music woman have an overdubbed (and badly synchronised ) voice.

The whole Beatles section was uninteresting, unfunny and almost unwatchable. Clearly the generations of people who have grown up, sweaty-palmed behind the sofa, aren't the target for this new incarnation, which is a shame. Most of the earlier series managed to appeal to a multi-generational audience. My guess is that this will not appeal to the older generation who will switch off, and I'm by no means convinced it will attract the Gen Whatever it's supposed to appeal to.

Sorry Russell. Nil points from me (and not just because I can't wait for this to finish so I can watch Eurovision. Budget wasted. Not my thing.

Looks like they dredged the bottom of the barrel for the story writers

[rabski3 · 4/10 · 11 May 2024]

I've just watched the first two episodes of the newest Dr Who and as I feared, the latest Dr Who is following the suit of the previous Dr Who's of recent years, where the episodes and storylines are progressively getting more and more ridiculous.

I appreciate that Dr Who is totally fictional with outlandish stories about space, aliens and the inexplicable. But these latest shows are getting more and more ridiculous and stupid, too stupid in fact, to watch.

The shows writers seem desperate to write something which is entertaining and seem to be writing for a childrens show, rather than writing in the vain of the previous writers, who created interesting story lines and characters.

The actors do a great job with the scripts which they are given and try their hardest to make each episode as entertaining as possible.

While Ncuti Gatawa has proved himself as a good actor in various different roles and I think would make for a really good Dr Who, he would do a lot better with decent scripts and storylines, but unfortunately, I can't see him getting them with these writers.

Dr Who has progressively worsened over the years and if this vein of writing and storylines continues, I can see Dr Who being a thing of the past.

Finally a show that agrees with my brain

[browniesnack57 · 10/10 · 11 May 2024]

My overall feeling watching the first two episodes was...calm and content. Which is very unusual for Doctor Who, personally. But not altogether unwelcome ^^

Ncuti Gatwa has a magical ability to put you at ease with a single syllable of his subtle Scottish accent. Millie Gibson's Ruby makes you believe everything is going to be okay. For once, Doctor Who doesn't scare kids- it thrills them.

This new version is definitely something I haven't seen before, and yet all the good things that should be there are present like they never even left. RTD has got the recipe down to an art form. I didn't think you could improve it at this point. I stand corrected.

I really hope it's on purpose

[WoodyNH · 11 May 2024]

As of writing this there have only been the 3 Ncuti Gatwa episodes, and he's a wonderful doctor.

There are clear minutiae where the Doctor says things like 'I thought that was non diegetic' in episode 2, along with the frequent breaking of the fourth wall in this era. And it's kind of making me feel like the big 'twist' they reference at the end of that episode for this seasons arch will be very truman-show esque (no complaints from me if that is the case!!)

As for the season, I do fear that it's a little too heavy handed. I've just finished the devil's chord and I really enjoyed it, but it's a bit too much. I appreciate the bombastic ideas and characters and plots that is nothing new to Doctor Who especially RTD, but the singing in the Christmas special threw me so much, and the musical lala land sequence we had at the end of this one was just nuts. I really really really hope they either commit hard with the fourth wall stuff and make an interesting season arch, and have everything be back to normal for season 2 - or god knows tbf, I'd hate to see the future of dr who be this mental on accident.

I also don't know if it's as accessible as they hoped it to be honestly, there are frequent references to the past, but not really giving new viewers as much exposition as is required for such a massive and long running show. I feel that if I was a new viewer watching this I'd still be very confused and want to watch the OG kush we were all raised on. Which begs the question as to why they're soft rebooting it so softly?

We'll just have to wait for Steven Moffatt's episode next week and the rest of the series, so far all good though even with it's flaws it excels the past 7 years of who by lightyears!!

Lush.

The Doctor is BACK

[andrewheit · 10/10 · 11 May 2024]

I have not enjoyed Who for quite a while, I felt it went down an odd route with Doctor 13 and after many attempts I just could not get through it. However, after watching the first 2 episodes of this season I am delighted! What a return, it's almost nostalgic. Ncuti's acting is sublime, he can say a thousand words in a single expression and oozes the Doctor - I felt my favourite character was back. Millie plays Ruby perfect, she is a classic companion with what appears to be a great story arc underway. As for villains, to early to say but Maestro - wow, again sublime acting - oozed evil! Well done.

N'CUTIE Gatwa!

[ultravioletsymphony · 8/10 · 12 May 2024]

Okay, yes he's handsome and that will go a long way...hopefully. He has a Tennant-like charisma with a great smile (is that why Doctor/Tennant originally checked his teeth?) I actually enjoyed Whittaker's Doctor, but she had the misplaced fortune of being Chibnall & Co's test run. Shame on them.

I can see this Doctor going a significant distance, and should be thankful for the captain at the helm this go around. It would be great if the battles could be analogous to many of THIS era's concerns, just as orevious story arcs.

BTW, am I one of the first who thinks there's a connection between Pond, River...and Flood?

Fresh and New

[pbware-92716 · 10/10 · 11 May 2024]

Fabulous two episodes! So refreshing, new and so very vibrant! However we still have The Doctor and companion being chased by monsters in classic fashion. Unfortunately I'm sure there will be naysayers, as there are with anything , saying how it's not what it was like when they were younger (although I'm sure there has been division ever since Patrick Troughton took over) ... this is not their doctor, my own doctor was Tom Baker, but nothing says I can't enjoy something new! No doubt there'll be a new generation hiding behind the sofa! Doctor Who at its very core is all about change, keep up! Welcome back RTD, I look forward to what else comes next for Ncuti, Millie and the rest of the cast! 🙌