Warning: Spoilers ahead for Doctor Who season 15, episode 1, "The Robot Revolution."Ncuti Gatwa's first season as end of Doctor Who season 15, episode 1, "The Robot Revolution," I've become very worried that showrunner Russell T. Davies is doing the same thing this year.

David Tennant's time as the Tenth Doctor. They were originally intended to ease the production process, as one crew could work on an episode that featured the Doctor as normal, while another group could focus on an installment that only briefly included the show's main character. This way, two episodes could be shot pretty much simultaneously. It resulted in some fantastic episodes, like "Blink." However, the Doctor was never so sparingly used for more than one episode per season until Gatwa's era.

Ncuti Gatwa Was Barely In 2 Doctor Who Season 14 Episodes

Fifteen had a reduced role in "73 Yards" & "Dot and Bubble"

Davies penned a script that centered almost entirely around Millie Gibson's Ruby Sunday after Fifteen's mysterious disappearance.

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Smart Doctor Who Theory Explains Why The TARDIS Shut Ruby Out In "73 Yards"

Doctor Who season 14, episode 4, "73 Yards" could have gone very differently if Ruby had used the TARDIS, but the blue box denied her entry.

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Doctor Who season 14, episode 5, "Dot and Bubble," marked the second consecutive effort that sidelined Gatwa - although it also made very limited use of Millie Gibson. Granted, "Dot and Bubble" gives Gatwa more to do than "73 Yards," but that doesn't change the fact that the episode is led by Callie Cooke as Lindy Pepper-Bean. Fifteen doesn't appear in person until the installment's very last scene. Gatwa is brilliant in his limited role, which only draws attention to how little he was able to contribute.

The Doctor Isn't The Main Character In "The Robot Revolution" - Belinda Is

Varada Sethu is the real star of season 15's premiere

With Gatwa fully available to focus on Doctor Who season 15, I expected him to be at the heart of every episode. However, he once more isn't the main focus of "The Robot Revolution." Instead, it's Belinda's story that's showcased. Of course, "The Robot Revolution" is by no means a Doctor-lite episode, as he's in it for roughly the same amount of time as a traditional Doctor Who installment. Still, it's tough to avoid the feeling that Fifteen has been relegated to the status of a secondary character in what should be his own show.

Belinda deserves the spotlight too, but it was perhaps a little too soon for it to happen.

I really like Varada Sethu as Belinda Chandra, and I think she's a great pairing with Gatwa. The fact Belinda's connection to Mundy Flynn and the Doctor should definitely be addressed, but not at the expense of Fifteen being sidelined in the season 15 premiere. Belinda deserves the spotlight too, but it was perhaps a little too soon for it to happen.

I Hope The Rest Of Doctor Who Season 15 Focuses More On The Doctor

Fifteen deserves his chance to shine even brighter

As Doctor Who season 15 moves beyond its first episode, I'm hopeful that Gatwa's Doctor will finally get the attention he deserves, and that other storylines don't push him to the edges - as has happened too often already. Even though I'm sure we'll get some great moments from Fifteen, it doesn't seem like Davies will prioritize his arc. While I could be speculating too harshly, I think establishing Belinda as another "mystery girl" companion after Ruby Sunday could be too distracting.

Doctor Who Season 15's Release Schedule On Disney+

Episode

Title

Release Date (2025)

1

"The Robot Revolution"

April 12

2

"Lux"

April 19

3

"The Well"

April 26

4

"Lucky Day"

May 3

5

"The Story and the Engine"

May 10

6

"The Interstellar Song Contest"

May 17

7

"Wish World"

May 24

8

"The Reality War"

May 31

The enigma of Belinda Chandra and why she and the Doctor have been drawn together is what I think will dominate Doctor Who season 15's story. I'm really looking forward to finding out the explanation for why she looks so much like Mundy Flynn, as the whole "distant descendant" thing seems very much like a front for a much deeper reveal. That being said, I also miss the days when the Doctor was Doctor Who's main focus the majority of the time.

Doctor Who Season 14 Poster

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Doctor Who
Release Date
December 25, 2023
Network
BBC
Directors
Douglas Camfield, David Maloney, Christopher Barry, Michael E. Briant, Barry Letts, Michael Ferguson, Richard Martin, Peter Moffatt, Pennant Roberts, Lennie Mayne, Chris Clough, Ron Jones, Paddy Russell, Paul Bernard, Michael Hayes, Timothy Combe, Morris Barry, Gerald Blake, Graeme Harper, Waris Hussein, Rodney Bennett, Mervyn Pinfield, Hugh David, John Gorrie

WHERE TO WATCH

Streaming

Writers
Russell T. Davies, Dave Gibbons, Kate Herron, Steven Moffat
Franchise(s)
Doctor Who / Whoniverse
Creator(s)
Donald Wilson, Sydney Newman