Doctor Who: The Robot Revolution ★★

“We need you as our queen” – Robot

2008 in London, Alan bestows a star with the name Belinda Chandra upon his girlfriend. Fast forward to 2025, robots from Missbelindachandra One – a planet orbiting that star – seek Belinda as their queen. Before The Doctor can intervene, she is taken by the robots in a spacecraft. He chases them in the Tardis, but a time rift sends him to the planet prematurely by six months. A strategy is devised with the oppressed Missbelindachandrakind natives to prevent her from being married off to the ruling AI Generator. It’s revealed that a golden entity within the Generator is none other than Alan, now robotized. He is defeated by the time rift’s power, and harmony returns between the people and robots. The Doctor vows to bring Belinda back home, but the Tardis is abruptly propelled elsewhere. Could Earth have been erased…?

First UK broadcastSaturday 12 April 2025

As a devoted fan, I’d like to share the cast for an exciting new series:

1. I am The Doctor, played by Ncuti Gatwa.
2. Belinda Chandra portrays Varada Sethu.
3. Alan Budd is brought to life by Jonny Green.
4. Manny is brilliantly portrayed by Max Parker.
5. Anita Dobson takes on the role of Mrs Flood.
6. Kirby Blake is wonderfully depicted by Thalía Dudek.
7. Stefan Haines is played by Jeffin Kunjumon.
8. Tombo is brought to life by Tom Storey.
9. Evelyn Miller portrays Sasha 55.
10. Caleb Hughes embodies the character of Scoley.
11. Nadine Higgin plays Shago.
12. William Ellis takes on the role of our Prime Minister.
13. The Receptionist is skillfully played by Belinda Owusu.
14. Nicholas Briggs provides the Voice of the robots.
15. Stephen Love, Robert Strange, Charles Sandford, and Lucas Edwards are part of the ensemble, portraying various robots.

As a movie enthusiast, I had the pleasure of watching a captivating production, penned by none other than the talented Russell T Davies, who masterfully crafted the script. The visionary behind the camera was Peter Hoar, whose direction brought this story to life in a way that was nothing short of extraordinary. The enchanting music that resonated throughout was composed by Murray Gold, adding an emotional depth to every scene. Lastly, but certainly not least, Vicky Delow served as the producer, ensuring the smooth execution of this cinematic journey. This production was also overseen by executive producers Russell T Davies, Julie Gardner, Jane Tranter, Joel Collins, and Phil Collinson, who collectively contributed to the success of this film.

RT review by Patrick Mulkern

If you’re on the hunt for something fresh and substantially engaging, I must disappoint you. This season premiere, despite boasting a mere eight episodes, barely justifies being called a “season.” It evokes memories of Smith and Jones from 2007. Now, I understand that was quite some time ago, but in both instances, the Doctor’s new companion – a nurse this time around instead of a trainee doctor – is depicted working in an immaculate hospital setting, only to be snatched away by menacing extraterrestrial invaders.

In recent years, Doctor Who has showcased numerous female characters who are puzzling and complex, such as River Song, Amy Pond, Clara, Missy, Ruby, and her veiled mother. The latest addition to this list is Belinda, whom the Doctor will likely need to solve the mystery surrounding her. These women, much like a lumbering, top-heavy, headless robot, carry a sense of enigma within them, as if they were sewn with riddles and secrets. Interestingly, our calendars indicate a significant date – May 24th, 2025 – which happens to be the air date for the two-part finale.

Varada Sethu performs well as Belinda, although she might not create the instant impression like Billie Piper or Catherine Tate do when they first appear on set. However, given our limited time frame of a few weeks, it may take “Bel” a while to get fully established, but we’re working with what we have.

Similarly, Ncuti Gatwa’s portrayal of The Doctor seems to be a fresh character we haven’t fully grasped yet. He exudes enthusiasm and charm, but lacks the weightiness often associated with the role. He sheds tears – again – yet fails to convey the underlying emotion. I find myself missing the classic Time Lord aura that Gatwa has not quite captured yet.

In my film enthusiast perspective, hearing him declare “It’s not Artificial Intelligence; it’s Artificial Living” struck me as quite a shocker. And then there was Belinda, clarifying to the less perceptive viewers about her ex: “You’ve seized power and turned it into absolute dominion over the entire world.” Indeed, this one’s a real doozy that we’re witnessing unfold in our current era.

In this episode, we encounter several individuals, yet none seem particularly significant, except perhaps Mrs. Flood. Another enigmatic woman, indeed, but any scene with Anita Dobson is priceless. Even a fleeting appearance of her in a housecoat, hair disheveled by rocket engines, left me yearning for more. I can’t help but wish the cameras had captured her indoors. The mundane activities of La Flood are more captivating than happenings in other universes.

A lasting impression from The Robot Revolution is the X-ray fabric – a costly yet lightweight substance that exposes large acts of kindness, but offers limited insights into its inner operations.