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Why Doctor Who’s big villain twist is completely in keeping with the BBC show’s legacy

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As a dedicated gamer, I find myself constantly navigating the tightrope act that is “Doctor Who.” It seems like the line for acceptable storytelling is getting thinner with each passing episode. The show manages to weave tales that captivate audiences universally, but it also delves deep into the experiences of women, LGBTQ+ characters, and people of color. This balancing act keeps me hooked, wondering where the next leap in representation will take us.

As science fiction and fantasy series increasingly feature diverse and inclusive casting, they are also facing intense scrutiny and criticism. Yet, the newest cast member of “Doctor Who,” Varada Sethu playing the intelligent character Belinda Chandra, proudly embraces this challenge.

Just as Doctor Who’s current showrunner Russell T Davies puts it, speaking to Digital Spy and other press for the premiere of season two ‘The Robot Revolution’, he expressed the relationship between Doctor Who and diversity: “It’s like taking a breath. You open your door, and there is the world.

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Davies says that while this is important to the show, it’s not unique.

It’s not surprising that ‘The Robot Revolution’ would seize the opportunity to explore politically-charged science fiction, a concept as old as the genre itself. The latest season introduces both the Doctor and the companion as characters of color for the first time. Moreover, the villain’s unmasking in this episode underscores that ‘Doctor Who’ has always been willing to take risks.

The episode begins by showing an apparently harmless scene. A younger Belinda and her boyfriend Alan are seated on a park bench, engaged in conversation. They’re discussing the stars above them, and Alan casually remarks, “Girls usually aren’t strong in math.

The incident appears quite amusing, suggesting possibly they exchanged a private joke. This is further supported by the fact that Alan later presents Belinda with a gift she finds incredibly thoughtful, referring to it as the best gift anyone has ever given her.

The document bestows upon her the designation of a star, thereby granting her a tiny corner of the universe. This certificate, along with its significance, will prove crucial when an elderly Belinda is abducted by robots and proclaimed queen of the planet Missbelindachandra. Here, she will be wed to a monstrous AI ruler who governs over this distant world.

The certificate designates a star in her name, thereby claiming a minuscule piece of the cosmos for her. In the future, when an older Belinda is seized by robots and crowned queen of Missbelindachandra, this document will be indispensable. On that planet, she’ll wed an ominous AI ruler who commands the entire world.

In an unexpected turn of events, I found myself face-to-face with none other than my old girlfriend’s ex, Alan, hidden behind this cosmic game I was playing! It turns out he had been controlling the entire planet all along, just to grab Belinda’s attention. Talk about going too far for love!

Initially, Alan’s casual remark didn’t seem to be affectionate or self-reflective; instead, it revealed his underlying perspective towards women. As we flashback to the end of their relationship, when Belinda declined his proposal, we observe him setting stringent rules such as forbidding her from wearing tight clothing and restricting her texting after a specific hour.

In this rephrased version, I’ve attempted to maintain the original meaning while simplifying the language and making it more conversational.

As Belinda comes to terms with her new surroundings, she labels this world as “the planet of the socially awkward men”. The show’s boldness in employing such a charged and straightforward term is striking. Through flashbacks, we witness how Alan becomes entangled in this belief system due to his experiences with loneliness, video games, and the allure of power given by the robots.

To be honest, while I can understand some resistance, it’s clear that the notion that “Doctor Who” is only recently becoming politically charged overlooks the fact that this show has always been deeply engaged in social and political issues since its revival two decades ago – a trait that even extended back to its original run.

In the initial comeback, the first installment delved into themes related to false news and misinformation through the episode titled ‘The Long Game’. The subsequent narrative arc consisting of ‘Rise of the Cybermen’ and ‘Age of Steel’ is quite overt in its use of the uniformity of the Cybermen as a symbol for totalitarian or fascist ideologies.

As a dedicated fan, I can’t help but marvel at how Doctor Who consistently delves into significant social issues through its journeys to the past. For instance, the captivating episode ‘Rosa’, starring Jodie Whittaker in season 11, brilliantly employed historical figures to shed light not only on the enduring impact of racism but also on the capacity for personal transformation. On a different note, ‘Thin Ice’ from Peter Capaldi’s Twelfth Doctor’s tenure was particularly memorable as he physically confronted a Victorian-era racist, standing up for his companion Bill against injustice.

Although speculative fiction might occasionally give the impression that biases are relics of the past, this novel “The Robot Revolution” focuses squarely on a current, persisting problem instead.

Among the most widely admired tales in the series, the story titled ‘Genesis of the Daleks’ depicted Tom Baker’s character, the Doctor, contemplating whether he had the authority to travel back in time and completely eliminate the Daleks from their origin.

As a devoted admirer, I must say, if this fresh season deviates from the politically charged past of Doctor Who, it does so by crafting tales that don’t solely depend on the implicit undertones of distant galaxies and extraterrestrial species. Instead, it seems to weave compelling narratives that resonate closer to home.

Contrary to some opinions, Doctor Who hasn’t suddenly turned political; it has always been a politically-charged series. Just as former showrunner Russell Davies described its diversity, so too does its politics permeate the fabric of the show: it’s an inherent part of its existence, much like breathing. Open your eyes, and you see the world – political, complex, filled with contradictions, ever-evolving – mirroring the very nature of The Doctor themselves.

The series may not always provide every solution, but it consistently dares to pose the questions, a trait that remains vibrant in Gatwa and Sethu throughout this latest season.

The political dynamics in the show “Doctor Who” are constantly evolving based on the characteristics of the actor portraying the main character. For instance, it might range from the aggressive and combative demeanor of Christopher Eccelston to the aloof and distant persona of Capaldi or the warm and optimistic attitude of Whittaker.

In the Christmas special titled “Joy to the World,” Gatwa made his second appearance at dawn, presenting a character who was lost, solitary, and capable of immense wrath. If “The Robot Revolution” serves as an indicator, the show may become more aggressive itself – and there seems to be no lack of targets for this newfound anger.

Take our interdimensional Doctor Who quiz!

The television series “Doctor Who” is broadcast on BBC One within the United Kingdom, while it can be found on Disney+ everywhere else. In the UK, classic episodes of “Doctor Who” are accessible via the BBC iPlayer platform.

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2025-04-13 19:20

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