Doctor Who: Wish World / The Reality War ★★★

First UK broadcastsSaturday 24 May 2025

Saturday 31 May 2025

As a devoted cinephile, let me rephrase the cast list in my own words:

I’m excited about the star-studded lineup for this upcoming production:

* Ncuti Gatwa plays The Doctor.
* Jodie Whittaker also portrays The Doctor (in flashbacks or alternate timelines, perhaps).
* Varada Sethu brings Belinda Chandra to life.
* Millie Gibson steps into the role of Ruby Sunday.
* Anita Dobson gives voice to Mrs Flood.
* Archie Panjabi takes on the role of The Rani.
* Jemma Redgrave portrays Kate Lethbridge-Stewart.
* Bonnie Langford plays Melanie Bush.
* Steph de Whalley embodies Anita Benn.
* Carole Ann Ford reprises her role as Susan Foreman.
* Ruth Madeley takes on the character of Shirley Bingham.
* Yasmin Finney portrays Rose Noble.
* Jonah Hauer-King is Conrad Clark.
* Alexander Devrient plays Colonel Christofer Ibrahim.
* Susan Twist portrays Susan Triad.
* Angela Wynter takes on the role of Cherry Sunday.
* Michelle Greenidge portrays Carla Sunday.
* Jonathan Groff appears as Rogue.
* Atilla Akinci plays Otto Zufall.
* Leni Adams brings Violett Zufall to life.
* Sienna-Robyn Mavanga-Phipps is Poppy.
* Nila Aalia portrays Lakshmi Chandra.
* Josephine Lloyd-Welcome embodies Devika Babu.
* Hermon Berhane takes on the character of Val Balham.
* Sam Lawton plays Winnie Petheridge.
* Joshua J Parker brings Brian Dale to life.
* Aidan Cook is The Vlinx, and Nicholas Briggs lends his voice to Omega.

The team behind the production includes:

– Screenwriter: Russell T Davies
– Director: Alex Sanjiv Pillai
– Music Composer: Murray Gold
– Producer: Vicky Delow

The project is overseen by Executive Producers: Russell T Davies, Julie Gardner, Jane Tranter, Joel Collins, and Phil Collinson.

RT review by Patrick Mulkern

Greetings! Billie Piper, looking as vibrant and youthful as when she first appeared as Rose Tyler in 2005, is taking on a new role as the ambassador for Doctor Who. It’s charming that this journey spanning two decades reaches a pause – or more like a continuation – with the original face we met in 2005, who played a pivotal part in the series’ successful relaunch.

In retrospect, I must admit that the “classic” era of Doctor Who, as we now know it, seems to have been a male-dominated realm, where female characters were few and often underdeveloped, primarily serving as companions to the Time Lord. Back then, the sci-fi genre, along with many other dramas, appeared to be trapped in a stale, gender-imbalanced era. Fast forward to today, and it seems that the pendulum has swung to the opposite extreme, with Doctor Who now boasting a more diverse cast and a greater focus on women’s roles.

In this series, not just one, but two queens lead the UNIT team, which is predominantly composed of women: Kate, Shirley, Mel, Susan (the trio), and Rose Noble, who identifies as non-binary but presents as female. In the past, we catch a glimpse of ancient Susan’s granddaughter. The new character, Poppy, although significant, is not particularly engaging. The familiar face of Anita returns from the Time Hotel. Interestingly, only women appear in Ruby’s background, and Belinda’s male family members are considered unfit for screen time. Even this season’s returning doctors and the newly “regenerated Doctor” are female. While it’s a progressive move, the abundance of female characters in the grand finale results in limited screen time for each, leaving one to imagine them all waiting on set for their brief appearances. Each character has their moment, but it’s hard not to think about them waiting around for their single lines.

The implication is that the show could be weakened and it appears to reflect the prejudiced perspective found in a lot of contemporary plays today. One might wonder, where does the typical straight man fit in? (I don’t belong to that group.) However, this ending mostly presents a warped Conrad character and Colonel Ibrahim from UNIT who wasn’t utilized fully.

The main issues, it seems, lie in the fact that Doctor Who can sometimes be excessively complex and confusing. The plot involving the Rani duo, which included babies, wishes, magical kisses, tearing apart reality, and freeing an ancient deity, was either impossible to understand or hard to swallow. Additionally, the frequent references to the past and reliance on nostalgia can be likened to watching a washing machine spin cycle that’s overloaded – you know it should be done well, but you have to wait for it to finish. However, old favorites can quickly become old news. It aims to please fans, but fans are a demanding audience – they can range from wild enthusiasm to explosive anger.

In general, I found this two-part story quite entertaining. I’m particularly glad to see Jodie Whittaker reappear after a three-year absence, interacting with Ncuti Gatwa’s Doctor. The two Rani characters are quite humorous together. Archie Panjabi delivers an impressive performance as the amoral alien scientist, while Anita Dobson is flawless, although I admit I prefer her portrayal of strength over submissiveness to her other character. The moment when Archie Panjabi’s Rani was eaten by the Omega-ogre was quite funny, as was Anita Dobson’s abrupt farewell. “Well then, goodnight from me!

I must extend my admiration to the captivating design of the Bone Palace. Its grandiose exterior, towering majestically like a tribute to Louise Bourgeois’s sculpture Maman, a colossal steel spider that graced Tate Modern’s opening in 2000, leaves me awestruck. The interior is nothing short of breathtaking, with its intricate skeletal details and the peculiar “clone-type classiform” Seekers PVC-bonded into their consoles creating an enchanting atmosphere. The Doctor’s thrilling skyride on the Rani’s bike in this visually stunning production is a moment I shall never forget.

Well, it’s me signing off from here, Gatwa too. I’ve lit up the screen with my energy, charm, and brought a unique blend of emotion and a fresh, queer perspective to the Time Lord role. Though I haven’t been around for the longest time, just under two years, the demanding nature of this show and its uncertain future can’t always accommodate a rising star like myself who’s still shaping my career.

Could it be possible that we might see a break and refresh for Doctor Who? If it ever comes back, let’s hope it rekindles the elements from its past that originally captivated us. Doctor Who was revolutionary with its unique ideas, sound, and aesthetics, brought to life by a group of young creators envisioning a strange and enchanting future.