‘Doctor Who’ Season 2: “The Robot Revolution” Review

This review was made possible by Popped receiving an advanced screener of the first episode of Doctor Who Season 2, titled “The Robot Revolution.”

After what has felt like the longest four months in Whoniverse history, Doctor Who is finally back, and with it, a brand-new season, a brand-new companion, and the same blue box full of potential. Ncuti Gatwa returns as the Fifteenth Doctor, joined by very welcome newcomer Varada Sethu as Belinda Chandra — a nurse with grit, heart, and a sharp tongue. As always, this is your standard spoiler-free review — the Mouse has sent critics a checklist of off-limit plot points, so tread lightly we shall.

If you fancy seeing this review in format, check out our YouTube video below:

‘Doctor Who’s Latest Companion: Enter Miss Belinda Chandra

Varada Sethu is a revelation as new companion Belinda Chandra, a no-nonsense nurse introduced through a spirited chase sequence that begins on Earth and quickly escalates across the stars. From the moment The Doctor starts searching for her, she commands attention. She’s witty, sceptical, and emotionally grounded, and it’s a real joy to watch her match Gatwa’s Doctor beat-for-beat, especially when their dynamic leans into distrust and uncertainty as the action unfolds throughout the episode. She’s not in awe of The Doctor — she’s cautious. She calls him dangerous, and yet, their dynamic already hums with potential. Their chemistry is electric.

Now, unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ll know that marketing for this new season really kicked into gear with the announcement of the episode titles. Among them was “The Robot Revolution,” and fans were quick to spot a tiny detail: the setting is listed as Planet Belinda. That’s correct — the first episode is partially set on a planet that shares a name with our new companion. I think I’m safe to say that without Disney and the BBC sending a Dalek to exterminate me. It makes for a fun and clever way to bring Belinda into the fold. Sethu shines in every scene she’s in, but especially when she’s going toe-to-toe with the Doctor. If this is the start of her journey, it’s a promising one. I have great hope for Sethu in this role — not only was she fantastic in last year’s “Boom” as Mundy Flynn, but there’s something about Belinda that makes her more special…

Ncuti is on form once again in the premiere, carrying on a great, empathetic performance in the 2024 Christmas Special “Joy To The World,” which saw him star alongside Nicola Coughlan and Steph de Whalley. After his search mission, we find him on Belinda’s planet, as a historian — with slight shades of Peter Capaldi‘s Twelfth Doctor through an extraordinary scene, and one of the episode’s highlights as he gives the lowdown to Belinda about everything going on, setting the stage for the crux of the episode. Another welcome return is Anita Dobson as the enigmatic Mrs. Flood. She remains a delightful wildcard, still breaking the fourth wall, still keeping her cards close to her chest. She meets Belinda, as her neighbour — funny how she’s switching between companions, but she still hasn’t met The Doctor… but when she does, expect fireworks. On the topic of Mrs. Flood, I find it quite interesting that she was absent during the Christmas special, though it is wonderful to have her back.

Russell T Davies’ ‘Doctor Who’ Trademark Is Back (Again)

There’s a brilliant setup in “The Robot Revolution” – a fast-paced opening, fun world-building, and a real sense of stakes. But as the episode approaches its climax, some of the storytelling falters. Without diving into spoiler territory, it’s one of those frustrating Doctor Who episodes where clever ideas start strong but tangle themselves before the finish line. The emotional beats are there, with The Doctor tearing up at one point, to the internet’s joy — but the message feels slightly muddled. It quickly becomes clear that the episode isn’t just about a battle between rebels and machines; there’s a deeper layer of social commentary at play. Beneath the surface, the story explores themes of entitlement and control, all of which feel eerily relevant to certain real-world mindsets. It doesn’t help that the villain leans towards slight incel caricature — the nitty gritty I can’t get into, which is incredibly frustrating.

Russell T Davies’ return to Doctor Who continues to show his penchant for big ideas and emotionally-charged character drama, but also his recurring struggle to balance the two within a single episode. Interestingly, some of the show’s best recent episodes — last year’s “Boom” and “Rogue,” for example — weren’t written by RTD at all. This season, the writing duties are more evenly distributed, with several episodes penned by new voices; It’s a promising shift. If Season 1’s “Ruby Road” mystery fizzled out with more whimsy than wow, Season 2 wastes no time planting the seeds of something weightier. There are already hints of a larger arc tied to a mysterious date: 24th May 2025, which plays a subtle but significant role in the episode. These details suggest a more cohesive season ahead, with breadcrumbs laid carefully throughout. Whether RTD can stick the landing this time remains to be seen.

“The Robot Revolution” — Themes, Technology and Shifting Realities

As the title suggests, robots feature heavily – but the episode isn’t just a skirmish between rebels and machines. Lurking underneath the surface is a thematic layer that touches on entitlement, control, and the anxiety of obsolescence, tapping into very real-world fears surrounding AI, toxic masculinity, and societal regression. But, as with many RTD episodes, the execution stumbles slightly near the end. Without spoiling plot points, the story’s conclusion feels overwritten and underwhelming, undercutting some of the excellent build-up. It’s not enough to ruin the episode, but it is frustrating to watch great set pieces lose their impact due to muddled writing.

Visually, it’s a treat. From sleek robot designs to an adorable Polish cleaning droid that quietly steals scenes, the production feels more polished (no pun intended) than ever. Composer Murray Gold also delivers otherworldly brilliance with his many themes, old and new, including a great theme for The Robots — synthy, supernatural, and a reminder of the show’s impressive history of scores.

Where Are ‘Doctor Who’s Cybermen?

A fun thing worth noting – but there are a lot of elements in this episode that I think would work miles better in a Cyberman story. It’s been quite some time since Chibnall’s era gave us “The Haunting of Villa Diodati,” the best Cyberman story in years, before genetically combining them with the Time Lords to deliver the worst one; You couldn’t write the hilarity of the situation. At this point, I’d love to see them return in the future. The Cybermen have always been one of Doctor Who’s most terrifying creations — cold, relentless, and a chilling reflection of the dangers of unchecked technological advancement — hell, I watched Y2K the other week and even thought that would have been a cool Cyberman story.

A Look Ahead To ‘Doctor Who’ Season 2

With Varada Sethu’s favourite episode “Lux” premiering next week, there’s plenty more Doctor Who for us to look forward to. I have been astounded by the quality of the BBC’s marketing for this sophomore season (with a plethora of BBC idents, trailers, and social posts galore) and I am really excited for the upcoming episodes, more so than I was for the first season of the Disney era of the show. The return of Ruby Sunday (Millie Gibson) and UNIT is so close, and with new additions like Jonah Hauer-King‘s Conrad Clark, there is so much to look forward to. I cannot wait to find out what is happening on Earth that is preventing The Doctor from returning Belinda home… Who Knows?

‘Doctor Who’ Season 2: “The Robot Revolution” Final Thoughts

“The Robot Revolution” is a vibrant, thoughtful premiere that lays strong groundwork for what could be a more cohesive, emotionally charged season. While the episode stumbles in its final act with its in-your-face social commentary antagonist, the strength of its characters, especially the electric pairing of Ncuti Gatwa and Varada Sethu, keeps things compelling. This isn’t the cleanest start, but it is a hopefully promising one. With sharp chemistry, strong themes, and that classic Doctor Who spirit, Season 2 still has all the tools to soar. Even so, I do wonder how it would have fared if the premiere were paired with next week’s “Lux.”

Doctor Who Season 2 premieres on Disney+ worldwide and on BBC iPlayer in the UK on April 12 at 12am PT / 3am ET / 8am GMT.