It’s the primary time that “The Robotic Revolution”, which has been borderline frantic up to now, actually slows down and lets a scene breathe, and it’s an amazing alternative for Gatwa and Sethu to go toe-to-toe. Their dynamic shifts naturally via a number of totally different shades earlier than finally touchdown on one thing disquietingly ambiguous – not fairly antagonistic, however definitely mistrustful. By the tip of the episode, Belinda is fairly agency on one factor: she doesn’t need to journey with the Physician. She thinks he’s harmful, and he or she needs to go house. And whereas one of many key joys of Physician Who is the companion embracing the potential of limitless journey, it’s arduous to say Belinda’s response doesn’t make sense after what she’s simply been via.
All of which makes the climax, the place the Physician realises he can not pilot the TARDIS again to Could 24th 2025, that rather more compelling. Right here now we have a brand new companion who fairly emphatically doesn’t need to be one, however has no alternative within the matter. That is one side of the episode that does really feel contemporary, and it’s a captivating setup for a season arc – a thriller that may little doubt provide the chance for large bizarre timey-wimey pyrotechnics, however whose penalties are initially character-based.
It’s particularly attention-grabbing to do that with Ncuti Gatwa’s Physician, arguably essentially the most emotionally open, heart-on-sleeve incarnation of the character we’ve had in years. Again when Clara discovered herself not sure in regards to the Physician, it was as a result of he had simply regenerated into Peter Capaldi, a consciously spikier, extra closed-off model. It made sense that it took a while for her to acclimatise.
However taking Gatwa’s extroverted, carefree portrayal, with that supernova smile, and twisting it into one thing unsettling is a very intriguing alternative. It frames his hedonism as one thing reckless and alien, unthinkingly scanning Belinda’s DNA with out permission, being briefly racked with grief over the dying of Sasha 55 earlier than pinwheeling alongside to the following factor. It’s not a condemnation of the Physician as such, extra a special perspective on his actions, and brings plenty of dramatic potential.
It’s a disgrace the episode round it’s a bit wobbly. In a technical and manufacturing sense, the present is firing on all cylinders – it appears to be like nice, the retro-futuristic design of the robots, rayguns and rockets is pleasant, and there are some dynamic directorial decisions from Peter Hoar, just like the second when the 2 scrolls contact on the finish. The mix of utmost gradual movement, subjective cutaways and excessive color grading, mixed with these screeching bass throbs, feels just like the present pushing itself to seek out new visible approaches, which is welcome.
Sadly, it’s the story that doesn’t fairly come collectively. Tonally, the episode by no means finds the fitting steadiness between the basic absurdity of its premise and the emotional impression it clearly needs to have. The character of Sasha 55 doesn’t make a lot of an impression, so her dying is a humid squib and the Physician’s grief feels over-egged, and Manny and the others giving Belinda a tough time is extremely irritating as a result of, as she accurately states, none of that is her fault! She’s simply as a lot a sufferer of circumstance as everybody else, so the rebels simply come throughout as annoying idiots, particularly Manny. “You’re as unhealthy because the robots”? What are you speaking about?
