Doctor Who Season 2 Episode 1 “The Robot Revolution” is a firm reminder why this show is so beloved. There’s always been a bit of whimsy with The Doctor. After all, the title character is extravagant, playful, and has this light and humor that lights them up from the inside out. And every companion that joins The Doctor can see that light in them. But what really reminded me in this episode as to why people love this show, is the lessons. And in the robot revolution, it was telling a story of dominance and making choices for others, especially when one person thinks they know better than the other.
Meet Belinda Chandra
“The Robot Revolution” introduces us to Belinda Chandra, played by Varada Sethu. She is our newest companion to join the Tardis on this sci-fi adventure. And like every new companion introduction, you know whether you’re going to like or hate this character in the first couple of minutes of knowing them. And the verdict is in. I love Belinda. She’s determined but also kind of tired with *waves at everything* and she’ll do what is the right thing while also standing up for herself and the choices she makes. But what really makes her stand out the most is that she’s not here for the whimsy. And she’s not here for The Doctor making choices for her.
In Doctor Who Season 1 Episode 1 we see Belinda being kidnapped by these big red robots who think of her as their queen. And in typical Doctor Who fashion we are thrown into a power struggle between a tyrant and the people who are fighting for their freedom and lives. It’s a horrifyingly timely topic about revolutions and fighting for your fellow people. Belinda is smack dab in the middle of it in her sunflower lilac shirt and mustard trench coat. And what she does on this planet, and in the middle of the war, is so startling and unexpected that I felt like she was playing the lead while The Doctor was the companion.
Why Belinda Stands Out
Me loving Belinda and thinking that she shined as The Nurse, doesn’t mean that I didn’t love The Doctor, played by the talented Ncuti Gatwa. The Doctor, when we encounter them again, is in the middle of an adventure. They have spent months on this planet, formed bonds with the inhabitants there like Sasha, and then experienced a devastating loss only a couple minutes after meeting Belinda. Typical Doctor Who stuff there for them. Belinda stands out in the midst of all of this because she betrays The Doctor in the “The Robot Revolution.” And like The Doctor, I was shocked Pikachu face when she did it because she’s supposed to be the “good guy.”
Belinda is the “good guy.” But she’s doing things on her terms and not The Doctor and what they think is best.
When the big bad is revealed to be a robot incel, we were less shocked but still shocked. The big bad robot who was treating this planet like their own playground where they didn’t take into account the lives of the citizens there, being an incel, it tracks. And then there’s the way it ends for the incel. We get this mind-bending moment between The Doctor and Belinda traveling across her entire timeline where the cinematography is equal parts creepy and stunning. And by the end of it, the incel ends up being a little sperm. That then gets vacuumed up by a little robot and our faces were The Doctor’s face because is this Ricky & Morty Lite???
Joining The Tardis…
When Belinda eventually joins The Doctor in the TARDIS, it’s very clear that they need each other. The Doctor needs a grounding force that reminds them that whimsy is great and all, but we can’t run for our problems. And The Doctor seems to be running from something, per usual. As for Belinda, I think she needs someone like The Doctor. And it’s not because I think Belinda needs to discover something about herself. Belinda knows who she is. I think Belinda needs The Doctor because she’s already fierce. And whatever she does that ties her to The Doctor in the future, she’s going to change the universe. Maybe even change The Doctor. And I can’t wait to see that.
Additional Things I Think:
- Every single outfit that The Doctor had on was spot on
- Favorite in particular was the red tartan zip up with the kilt
- Also it matters that The Doctor had an afro
- It matters even more that The Doctor and his companion Belinda are both people of color. And before you ask “why” you need to take into consideration that a sight like this hasn’t happened before on Doctor Who. So these moments should be celebrated while not discounting or brushing off what previous Doctors have brought to the show.
- I too would be really really mad if some robots came into my rented apartment. Am I going to pay for these repairs?!
- The millennial vibe of being more worried about the rental than the robots
- The shot with the Eiffel Tower and Statue of Liberty just floating in space, bad things are coming. But when don’t they on Doctor Who
Doctor Who airs new episodes every Saturday on Disney+ and BBC.
