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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

#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.