'Doctor Who' Season 2 (Spoiler Free) Review 'The Robot Revolution'

0:00 Grab your Sonic screwdriver, load up the TARDIS because the Doctor is in. Hello companions, I'm Derek. That's Noah, and thank you for taking this journey with us into the unknown of Doctor Who Season 2 Episode 1 spoiler free. But it's not really season 2, but it's the 15th Doctor. Don't stop. No, we're not getting into it. It's Timey. Why me? There's too many titles and too many numbers at this point. Very excited to talk about Season 2. We did Season 1, which if you want to know all of our thoughts, just go back and we did every single episode leading up to the finale. We did not cover this special but if you want our thoughts it was fine on that.

0:54 Happy. Holidays, we need to get Derek's full reaction to the the special, the Christmas special on Patreon or something. We will be doubling up our coverages of TV episodes we're doing The Last of Us and Doctor Who. What's really funny is that they're both season twos of shows that we've covered, but the Last of Us has taken this long to come out and it's met up with Doctor Who. So thank you, HBO and Disney for doubling up the. Happy April everyone. So double the episodes for the weeks coming, coming down the line. So make sure you're following us. Subscribe. That's how you get notifications of when those episodes drop. Absolutely. So let us officially take a spoiler free bite of Doctor Who Season 2 Episode 1 The Robot Revolution written by Russell T Davies and directed by Peter Horre You. Know what's funny is Peter Horre directed the Bill and Frank episode of The Last of Us.

1:51 Get out of here. Really interesting. How is this time he went? Something is happening. I don't know. Are there going to be infected in Doctor Who? Is there going to be time travel in the last? Of us, maybe the. Stars are written. So going into this episode, I'm very excited because this is really Derek's first full journey into Doctor Who, which is makes me so happy, so, so happy. So I am kind of used to companions changing. And one of the biggest things about Season 2 is Belinda Chandra. She is the new companion here. We did see her and boom, she played Mindy Flynn. So how are you feeling about the change of that? But we can't really reveal a lot that happens in this episode, but we're going to kind of give you vibes and feelings with this new companion introduction.

2:39 Well, my, my wheels are already turning and I'm trying to see if there is some sort of clue happening here that the last companion was Ruby Sunday and then she played Monday. Flynn, are we going through the weeks? Will be will there be 7 companions? What is happening here? But as far as the changeover, I mean, I'm welcoming it, right? Because I feel like at the end of Season 1, we kind of completed Ruby's arc and we're leaving her in a safe place, which I always like. You know, when you look back at past Doctor Who seasons, not all of the companions get left in a very safe place. I would say 90% of them don't. It's horrible.

3:21 So when we can kind of leave someone and let them just be living their lives for a little bit, that's a OK with me. Yeah, I, I like it. I think it is interesting whenever we have like one season companions, we do know that Ruby Sunday is going to come back in this season at some point. So there's going to be doubling up of companions to that extent. I'm not sure. So her story is not over, which I think is very interesting. There is still some lingering questions I think around, but just focusing mostly on Varada Sethu's introduction here. I love a companion that isn't automatically awestruck by the Doctor. And that was one thing that during press conferences and in this episode is very apparent that she has like she has a main character journey and it's like interrupted by the Doctor and all of these things that happened.

4:15 So it's a cool dynamic because we don't get that often. I would say like Sarah Jane Smith and Rory Williams was really those reluctant companions. So I like the I'm not ready to completely jump ship with you. Absolutely. I I think that to me feels more realistic than some of the other reactions. I think we as the viewer, right, we're like, I would be a companion. This looks like so much fun, but if we were actually put in that position, it's completely interrupting your entire life. So I like personally seeing that in this storyline. I think it makes it a stronger character, right? They have stakes that they're living for and not that Ruby didn't have stakes that she's living for, but she was able to kind of freely leave.

5:00 At least it was easier for her, let's say. Whereas it it feels like for Belinda, like you said, this is she doesn't want to be torn away from her life. She likes her life. She's working towards something and she's. Starting a new shift on Monday. Exactly. So, you know, she really the new. Anyway, I'm trying to think of the timing of things and I'm telling you, I'm already trying to connect things and we've only watched one episode. Sometimes in the show there is coincidences, coincidences. I said the odd and I'm not. So it's just it's just a coincidence or it's intentional. So I like that those gears are turning because, yeah. I know, and and so it's like you don't want to put your eggs in a basket just yet, but it's hard not to. But I do think, you know, it's watching this last season. I, I kind of have this love hate relationship when it comes to the doctor in the sense that wherever he goes, it's like is, is he there always in the nick of time? Or is it because he's there that there's trouble? So it's like when he, when his path crosses yours, you know, you have to wonder.

6:05 This might not end so well for me. There is something that happens in this episode where Belinda calls that out point blank. So I'm very interested to see fans reaction to that because I think that is a a criticism or something that is known with the doctor. Are they doing it for selfish gains or do they want to do it to actually take this person along? But why is there always trouble? It does make it hard because there is usually time in between episodes, but we don't see it. So really we're only watching the climactic parts of their journey and not they're just everyday going to like a beach on some other planet. So that's kind of how the Doctor Who works. I'm curious, what do you how long do you think this sort of unwillingness to be a part of this journey is going to last for Belinda?

6:52 Well, something that is known but also becomes apparent in this episode is that they even if she doesn't want to be with the Doctor, she has no choice. So one of the things that happens in this is they they, he can't bring her back to when he took her from Earth. So that is the mystery. That's something that always happens. Or I would say if there's going to be like a season long mystery, it's usually with the companion. So the companion's mystery is why can't the Doctor take her back to Earth, which is almost inverted what usually happens? So I think it's going to be depending on how they play it. If she if Belinda has this understanding of like, it's not his fault. So we're in this, we have to figure it out. I think it will work.

7:38 But if it's going to be every episode of like, you were supposed to Take Me Home and you can't Take Me Home, It's like that could get a little that could get a little old. But I think this character Belinda is very smart. I love her charm. She's already, I'm much more comfortable with her than I was with a Ruby Sunday. And that's not nothing to do with the actor. I just think it's the character themselves. I like that she is forward. She's a nurse, she cares for people. She's willing to do things that you know, she'll put herself on the line immediately. I just like her already. So I think they balance all of those things. It'll be good. Yeah, I I think that's a really interesting point as far as comparing kind of Ruby's character to Belinda's character. And so with Ruby, Ruby felt younger to me than Belinda. I felt like although Ruby had her own story of wanting to find her mother and being left behind and having all this bad luck follow her around, she was still kind of bright eyed and bushy tailed.

8:39 Whereas Belinda feels like more a little hardened, a little more kind of like she's been through some stuff. Yeah. And I think she she knows where she's going. And then it's interrupted, which I feel like always is a nice foil for the typical interactions with the Doctor and companion. One thing that I am curious of, and I'm just kind of posing this question out there, is that I like being settled with a companion for a little bit. And I like it when they're usually here for like 2 to three to Four Seasons or so. It's, it's interesting that they decided to change companion so quickly when Anshuti is so new. And I'm do you feel like it's almost like replaying some of the beats, which it does happen.

9:27 It's kind of the charm of the show. But do you feel like it's too soon for you as a new viewer? Because for me, I'm I'm used to adapting to it, but I want to get comfortable with this doctor before we keep kind of doing the new stuff over and over again. You know, as far as it being too quick, I mean, not necessarily I'll say that I don't know if I necessarily have like a concrete answer. But I think the thing for me is in looking back at Season 1, Ruby, I thought it almost felt like they didn't know what to do with Ruby anymore, you know? And so it was like, I thought the beginning of the season was really strong. And then in those last two episodes of Season 1, it, it kind of was like we were trying to wrap our minds around all this TARDIS stuff and everything that was going on and them going into like the recording. And so it was like, oh, well, we did that already. So we just needed to get rid of her. But you know, I do think the exciting part of whenever there's a change of cast in anything like I'm thinking even from like my own personal thing of like an anime like Pretty Cure or a show like Power Rangers, is that seeing someone get their powers for the first time is really exciting. And so those beats, I think that it's fun to be in that moment with them of seeing how big the TARDIS is and meeting the Doctor and learning about him.

10:46 It's just, are they doing it in a new way? And so for you as a viewer, I mean, of all that's been viewing it for a really long time, did it feel too quick? No, I mean, it did in the aspect of like, I still want to know more about who this doctor is. It's very apparent that this doctor is more empathetic, is more emotional in good ways and sometimes bad ways. So I'm, I'm, I'm guess I'm still wanting to know more about this doctor and get comfortable with them. But throwing maybe a different type of person in there with him will push his story along a little more. So at this moment, I think I'm on board. I'm just curious if it will keep carrying that same feeling as it goes.

11:31 I will say this premiere, this Season 2 premiere is stronger than Season 1 when we meet Ruby and everything like that. I think both of them have good stories, but this one just felt a little more elevated. And there are some things that they do with like camera work and just situations in this, particularly towards the end that I don't think we've seen in Doctor Who before. So that I'm very excited for. It's like, yeah, they have like the Disney money, right? But also I think with all these different creatives and stuff going on, we could have something very special. Yeah, I agree. I really loved all of the practical effects that were in this. Sorry, I didn't mean to like segue from like companions to like visuals, but yeah, I that's how you feel about the companion. Well, you know, we could just stick on it for a moment and just saying as far.

12:21 But yeah, I I agree. I thought the visuals in this episode were phenomenal. I really loved, like I said, the practical costuming and the makeup in this. It felt it. It felt like a nod to like Classic Who, but updated for 2025. That's one thing that I love about what they're doing. You know, feel how you feel about Russell T Davies. I personally really like what they do. Again, let's see what happens in the season and if the pantheon comes back. But like something that I like that they're doing with this new who is they're using that practical but then adding those special effects on them. So the robots that are in this, that kidnap Belinda, they're practical, right? But their faces change, which is obviously CGI, but it's such a nice detail that it feels old but feels new at the same time. So as long as they keep that energy and understand that, which I think they do, it's going to be good. Like it's going to, it's going to check that box for new and old fans.

13:23 Definitely, but kind of now going back again, timey wimey, twisty, timey wimey. Let's talk about this doctor a little bit 'cause one thing I really noticed about this doctor is even through, you know, that Christmas special, right, That we're not talking about, I, he gets very, very attached to people, right? And so it seems like he's constantly having his heart broken. So does this feel like rooted in something that we don't know? Like what? What are your feelings on like? How? Like I think this doctor cries in almost every episode. Well, yeah, I think it's very apparent each Doctor has to set themselves apart.

14:07 And in this particular story for this episode, the way Belinda and the Doctor meet is kind of just like this. Like, they're going like this and then they meet and then it goes forward from there. So it's like by chance, but also not. And so this doctor goes through some things, timey, whiny things that when we meet up with them, there's very much emotional stuff that happens. So that is always something that does happen. The doctor loves and loves hard, and he cares about every living thing. He has two hearts. Right. That's why I like the little polishing robot in this one, where like when he had to deactivate the robot, he kissed the robot and he's like, I'm so sorry. Like he understands the Doctor themselves understands that like everything deserves a chance to live and non violence. Like that's always what the Doctor is. This Doctor is shows that emotion a little more where as like I would say David Tennant may might show that also a little bit.

15:05 This one definitely cries more, which I don't mind. I think I'm just so used to the Doctor being nonviolent, being emotional that I guess coming in from the outside, it's like, God, this guy cries a lot. It's like, yeah, this one does. Some of the other doctors didn't. Some of them were like angry. So he's setting it apart. I think it's fine. But like, what do you? Feel about it I you know, and I think the key here is one of those things the one of the points that you made before is that we don't see the in between of the episodes. So granted an episode, you know to tell a story you need a beginning of climax and end, some sort of big moment to happen. But you know, it might be nice if we just saw them like chilling for one episode and not being so life or death, freaking out, screaming for help.

15:54 I mean, that's the thing, right? It's like you grow really attached to the companion, and sometimes when an episode is so good, you grow really attached to like that guest companion or that guest star, which is fantastic when it happens. But a lot of times we just don't have time for that. I think this episode for the premiere was like maybe 40 minutes, like take out credits. So they had a lot to get through. They had to reintroduce Verada also this new character that they're playing and reintroduce the Doctor and go from there, right? They had to do the season's mystery, so they didn't have enough time because there's other characters in this that something happens to them and the Doctor gets emotional. I think what the show is banking on is that we understand that the Doctor cares deeply. And if they're like, oh, this much time has gone by, we just have to like, adjust to it.

16:46 Does it work every time? I don't think so. But you know, it's more like, I like that he. Cares. Oh, absolutely. But I think like how much it's showing that he cares can sometimes, you know, be hit or miss. Yeah, I it, it's almost like everything with this doctor is times 5 or times 10, right? So it's hidden. Outfits. You literally stole my point. Wow, I came from the future. Wow, I'm going to say it anyway. Everything with this doctor is like times 5 * 1,000,000 in his emotions, how he acts, how excited he is, but also what he's wearing, right? So like everything is Uber expressive. And so that part I like.

17:33 I like the expressive part. But I think if we could pull back on some of the emotions, it would let us sit with it a little more too 'cause sometimes it feels like you're supposed to be sad right now 'cause I'm crying and yelling. So it's like, let me, let me get there. Yeah, I know. I get that. Well, I think, Yeah. And I think that's just how this doctor's gonna be. So there's points where, again, it hits and sometimes it misses. I think in this episode it did hit for me. But again, I'm, I'm kind of a veteran with like, having to adapt to, yeah, this person, the doctor knew this person for amount of time we didn't see. So I just have to like, give myself over to that emotion.

18:15 And I know that's like a weird ask. I feel like I'm very Goldilocks. I feel like it's so funny because like I'm having like I'm thinking like, what's an example of something that would go like too slow for me? And like when I was a kiddo, like Dragon Ball Z went too slow for me, right? Like a fight could last like 20 episodes. And I remember being like young be like, Oh my God, And now this feels too fast for me. So it's like I'm just looking for some middle ground. And to be fair, we have less episodes now, so we'll see. I I think overall, though, like an introduction of a new companion, this Russell D Davies coming back for a second time again and and Shooty's second time being on here.

18:55 I think they all did a good job. There was like a a sense of comfortability and also elevation, I would say. And some of the writing, and I don't know if that's because of Peter Hoare and all the team, but I very much is more excited for this season than I was for the last season. And I was pretty excited for that one. I love Belinda already. I think like Millie Gibson was fantastic and she was like raising in the ranks for companions for me. But I think Belinda, just after this episode, like I and Shooty and Varada Sethu are going to be competing for charm in this and I'm quite excited for it. Yeah. And I agree.

19:36 And I'm very much looking forward to, I feel like Ruby went into everything with excitement and I feel like Belinda is going to go into things with a question mark and I feel like that's going to be helpful, right. But. She also isn't like super hesitant. Like she, she, I think she deserves to have some answers and I think she knows that as opposed to like just being like, oh, I'm a little hesitant. I don't want to do it. You know what I mean? Like she's confident in her. Oh yeah, My, my question mark is being like, what are you getting me into now? What is happening here? It's not, it's not a being scared. It's a being strong willed and being willing to almost question the authority of the doctor, which I'm welcoming as far as a story is concerned.

20:20 Yeah, I think overall fantastic start to the season. It looked amazing. The acting was fantastic. The writing was pretty good. There was one comment which I can't talk about. I'm literally looking at do not reveal stuff, but there is some. There's a comment that Belinda makes because of something happening where I was like, you didn't need to like it. It gave me flashbacks of dot and bubble a little bit where it was like, we understand what's happening, but like, you don't need to like, say it. Yeah. It's. It's it's the old show. Don't tell. Right. It's like the subject, like what they're trying to say in this episode, like, oh, you didn't really need to say it, but it's fine. Like it's a very minor critique, but everything else I can't wait for you guys to see, especially the climax and stuff.

21:05 What we can say is when she is travelling and there's that like what did they call it, like a time rift almost thing. Those effects when that happened because the Doctor's travelling and she's travelling, it's just like this boomerang effect. It's just so, I don't know, you feel it in your bones doing that. It's so cool. They really did some great stuff in this episode. And like you said, I think that this is a wonderful start to this season. I think it did a good job of introducing Belinda as a character and kind of where they're going from here. But I what I really enjoyed about this was it felt like a true start to an adventure, right? It's lifting off of Earth.

21:47 There's a whole other place we're going to with a whole crazy problem and we get thrown right into it, and that felt exciting to me. It did feel very whirlwindy, but like I'm going on an adventure type thing. Yeah, I, I, I totally get that. Maybe like the unfortunate thing with like the start to Season 1 officially was that there was kind of already starting with like the specials and everything and it was so they had that to play with. So maybe it is harsh to compare the two, but I do feel like this one is a little stronger, yeah. So what are you expecting from Season 2 as far as maybe getting some questions answered? One thing we can say is Misses Flood does show up in this, and when she sees the doctor, she's like, oh, don't let him see me because she lives right next to Belinda now, which I think you had mentioned. You're like, does Ruby live next to her? That would be hilarious.

22:45 Is it all on the same block? Is it just like this one timey wimey block where all all of his companions are going to live? That would be disgusting. Why is she there? That's the big question. I think that's the biggest thing, right? We in season 1, they introduced the Pantheon, we got the Maestro and the toy maker and Missus Flood and Sue Tech. So I'm curious how all of that's going to continue because it it very much seems like there's a season mystery and then there's like a show mystery. So let's let's see how they do. Weaving Ruby back into it is gonna be interesting. And you know, thinking back to Season 1, it's just kind of funny that like, Susan Twist was there, but Susan Twist wasn't really the old the old lady we should have been concerned about.

23:32 We should have been concerned about Missus Flood. And so here we are again with her so I am. I hope we get some misses Flood answers is. That your like biggest thing for season 2. Well, there's that, but also I have the question of, you know, I do love, love. So I'm hoping that the rogue is back at some point. Yeah, he just. Kind of fell through a portal and that was it. I think, yeah, I think the biggest, I guess questions we can say we'll have more thoughts. I would say for Episode 2, we're not going to be doing a spoiler free review. So we'll we'll, I will mention some of the things we couldn't mention in this one and that one. But I would say the biggest questions for season 1 going into season 2 would be where's rogue? Who is the Meep's boss slash?

24:17 I guess toy maker and the maestro, but also like how did the maestro and toy maker know about Sue Tech and who is Missus Flood? You know, so like, I think those are really because we found out who Ruby was, we found out her mom, you know, so those are done. And are we still wondering where David Tennant's Doctor is at this point? No, No. Just hanging out with. You know, with Donna. Donna, which is lovely. That is nice. Will we ever see them? Maybe. There is always going to be that question of like when a world ending event happens, what is that doctor doing? I think that can be a little iffy, you know, but hopefully they're just like, it's a different timeline, so.

24:59 I mean, there's always that answer. That's always the backup. Yeah, so I don't know. Let us know what you thought of Doctor Who Season 2 Episode 1. And if there's any questions that you have from Season 1 that haven't been answered, yeah. OK, see you on the not spoiler side next time. Goodbye.