X
- 2023
- Disney+
- 2023
- Disney+
- 2023
- Disney+
- 2023
- Disney+
Doctor Who (2024)
Season 1 Premiere: Dec 25, 2023
72
2.4
Top Cast
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 18 Critic Reviews
72
78% Positive
14 Reviews
14 Reviews
22% Mixed
4 Reviews
4 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 18 Critic Reviews
72
78% Positive
14 Reviews
14 Reviews
22% Mixed
4 Reviews
4 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
What makes Doctor Who so special is its ability to be stupid and funny while simultaneously being deeply emotionally resonant. Davies was arguably the one who made the post-2005 version of the show what it was, and it’s clear he hasn’t lost his touch. (By the way, returning composer Murray Gold absolutely kills it in these episodes as well.) Combine that with new talent in the form of the cast and you have the best of both worlds.
It takes no time at all to accept Gatwa‘s Doctor as the absolutely genuine article. He’s a hugger, full of heart, and brings an energy not unrelated to his predecessors but amplified. He’s a dancing Doctor, a singing Doctor, a frisky, flirty, fit, stylish Doctor. (Unlike his predecessors, his costume changes often.) And as Ruby, Gibson is a good match; she’s young, bright and fearless.
User Score
Generally Unfavorable
Based on 206 User Ratings
2.4
20% Positive
42 Ratings
42 Ratings
5% Mixed
11 Ratings
11 Ratings
74% Negative
153 Ratings
153 Ratings
User Score
Generally Unfavorable
Based on 206 User Ratings
2.4
20% Positive
42 Ratings
42 Ratings
5% Mixed
11 Ratings
11 Ratings
74% Negative
153 Ratings
153 Ratings
Now with that out of the way, I will admit the show is going in a different direction now that Disney is in the mix. The first episode of the 3 episode special was particularly bad as it was effectively trying for inclusivity at the cost of excluding others. First episode had a scene where it was pretty offensive to cis-gendered men by trying to be super inclusive to women in general. As a transwoman, I loathe the pendulum swinging that far EITHER direction. Equality is equality. There isn't fairness in allowing exclusivity to proliferate, it simply puts the shoe on other people's feet.
HOWEVER, the 2 episodes after 'The Star Beast' were FANTASTIC and very in-line with Doctor Who.
"The Giggle" is also amazing & brings back an incredibly old adversary for Doctor Who.
As for the brand spanking new episodes, they're good but be ready for a change in the overall feel.
As it is, it's worth a watch to see if it's your cup of tea, but it's definitely a change in direction with Disney funding so much of the series. I'm somewhat worried to see where things go but I have been a lot in the past too, and it always makes it's way properly to the end.
I'll trust in the show for now and hope for the best.
Report
With love as its guiding principle, the new season isn’t afraid of getting silly, scary, and a little bit serious — all within the space of a single episode. Davies also returns at the top of his game, with a Doctor and companion that we just can’t help but fall head over heels for and an overarching mystery that will have fans eagerly awaiting every new episode.
Whether the team can stay spirited without devolving into inanity or convolution will determine its success, and help bring this stumbling show back to life. But two episodes in, the new Who is off to a promising start.
Although just two episodes in, the new "Doctor Who" season has already proven itself to be a bold, lively, kindhearted show; it's still cheesy and awkward at times, but that energy and excitement goes a long way.
Space Babies is a textbook example of a mid-ranking Who instalment, fun but forgettable and, ultimately, not making sense. .... Much better is episode two, The Devil’s Chord, which takes the Doctor and Ruby to Abbey Road to witness the Beatles recording their debut album.
Turning Doctor Who into a musical makes about as much sense as turning Mary Poppins into a first person survival horror game. It's just not the right genre to tell the story. This is a massive shame as there's a lot right with the series so far, but this kills it for me. It didn't help that the music for these numbers is terrible even by modern Disney standards. I might have more appreciation if the music was closer to classic Disney style, with beautiful orchestration and a memorable melody lines. Unfortunately it doesn't come anywhere near close to that in quality.
The political messaging is also too on the nose. 2005 RTD did it way better. When Jack kissed the Doctor it was just like "oh that's really sweet". No comment in the show, it just happened and it was natural. I had hoped RTD would have a more classy approach than Chibnall but sadly if anything the writing is even worse in this respect.
Still, 15 and Ruby are great, the stories are fun (if not always brilliantly told) and I do think there's some meta arc relating to the diagetic use of music that may retrospectively justify these decisions. I'll keep watching but I'm not filled with confidence after these two episodes.
Report
I love the new Doctor.
I'm surprised by the plot quality.
I'm happy that dialogues are written by someone who actually had a conversation at some point of their life, as opposed to the previous Doctor era.
I can't watch it, because Millie Gibson thinks acting is making 9 funny faces every scene and I feel like watching TV for 3-year-olds.
Report
Great work by camera, sound, lighting, vfx effects crews and **** the rest? Correct me if I'm wrong but Entertainment is ment to be entertaining? I tuned in to watch my favourite Cult SyFy show to find it reduced to the authenticity of a kids Christmas Pantomime . Can't help feeling this chunk of the Licence fee would have been better spent fixing a broke hospital rather than catering to potential US Disney view market. Back to Netfliks and Amazon for some real SyFy i guess.
Report
I don't want to judge the show before it really starts, I hate doing that and only engage in something like this once I'm sure there won't be a sudden flood of great episodes. That's how I feel about this Doctor Who run so far. I can change my opinion later, should something change, but somehow the stories don't hit, they just... miss. It feels like between Moffat and Chibnall the damage to the brand was too massive for Davies to be able to fix it... if it wasn't for the fact that the stories are written by Russel... Did Russel T Davies lose his edge? What happened? I don't know... I miss the high-stakes, dark Doctor we had during his first run. This, now, reminds me of Moffat's run with Matt Smith only even more stupid and flamboyant. And that's not a good thing.
Report
Production Company:
- Bad Wolf
Initial Release Date: Dec 25, 2023
Number of seasons: 3 Seasons
Awards
Hugo Awards
• 2 Nominations
BAFTA Awards
• 2 Nominations
National Film Awards, UK
• 1 Nomination
