Doctor Who: The Robot Revolution

When she was younger, Belinda Chandra (Varada Sethu) had a star named after her by her then boyfriend Alan Budd (Jonny Green).  Years later after the two had broken up and Alan moved away, Belinda is now a nurse and on May 24, 2025, robots storm her home and kidnap her calling her their Queen and whisking her off to the star system named after her.  The Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa) is in hot pursuit attempting to save Belinda. During her journey she passes through a time fracture, which causes the Doctor to arrive on the planet six-months prior to Belinda.  Once on the planet Missbelindachandra One, she is informed that she is there to marry the Great AI overlord and would be integrated with robotic parts.  For centuries, the Robots and Missbelindachandrians had lived in peace, but ten years prior something happened that caused the robots to turn on the living inhabitants. The robots now follow the tyrannical AI who kills indiscriminately, and a faction of resistance fighters attempt to win their planet back.  While the Doctor is able to rescue Belinda, after much loss of life, she decides to give her self up and marry the Great AI in order to stop the killing.  Belinda soon finds that the Great AI is not what anyone thought it was and together with the Doctor, she is able to save the world named after her.  With peace restored, the Doctor attempts to take Belinda back to Earth on the exact date she was taken, but something blocking them.

Doctor Who S2,12-04-2025,1 – The Robot Revolution,1 – The Robot Revolution,Robot & Belinda Chandra (VARADA SETHU) ,BBC Studios,Lara Cornell

The Robot Revolution is the first episode of the fifteenth series/season (also referred to as series/season 2 by some sources).  It introduces new companion Belinda Chandra with the episode being written by showrunner, Russell T. Davies and was directed by Peter Hoar. The episode was released on May 12, 2025 on BBC iPlayer and Disney+ and received mixed reviews.  Most critics praise Sethu for her performance and the onscreen chemistry between her and Gatwa, but note that other than Belinda’s introduction, the episode made little impact with some calling it “shallow”.

As a long time Doctor Who fan, I always enjoy the introduction of a new companion and the resulting interactions they have with the Doctor.  Unlike the previous companion, Ruby, Belinda isn’t in as much shock and awe while in the presence of the Doctor.  She is a strong independent character who even scolds the doctor for defending her, making it known that she can fight her own battles.  I also like the fact that when she saw an opportunity to help survivors of the robot attacks, using her nursing training, she jumped in without even hesitating.  Often the Doctor’s companions’ role is to get into trouble and be saved by the Doctor, but I think Belinda will be more capable and independent.  Keeping with the characterization of the previous season, Ncuti’s Doctor is more emotional which allows the audience to see the Doctor’s pain, shedding a tear, for example, over a fallen friend.  I love this aspect, but I feel it may have come at a cost.  I like Ncuti’s Doctor, but there is a quirkiness that all the previous incarnations have had that just feels missing in his interpretation. Visually, the episode is beautiful with the production design reminiscent of the old 1950s science-fiction movies.  As for the storyline and the writing, I would have to agree with the other critics.  It was a light and fun adventure but lacked any real substance.  It does establish Belinda’s character quite well and also sets up the season long story arc, but the rest of the plot felt rushed with little chance to really feel the gravitas of the episode.  A lot of people die (and one cat which I am very upset about, I wish they would stop killing animals on screen) and unfortunately, with the time allotted to tell this story, the overall emotional impact is barely felt.  On a personal note, I was kind of hoping that the character of Manny, played by the gorgeous and openly gay actor Max Parker, would join Belinda and the Doctor on their adventures.  Manny didn’t get as much screen time as I would have liked, but I think it would be interesting if you had the dynamics of a “healer” like Belinda and a “soldier” like Manny traveling around the universe learning from each other.  Overall, this was a good season opener and accomplishes what it set out to do, introduce Belinda.