Doctor Who Season 15 is set to premiere this weekend on BBC One and Disney+, bringing the iconic sci-fi series back to screens with Ncuti Gatwa returning as the Time Lord.
The new season introduces Varada Sethu as Belinda Chandra, the Doctor's newest companion, who finds herself thrust into an intergalactic adventure after being abducted by robots.
The premiere episode, titled The Robot Revolution, launches on Saturday, April 12 with Gatwa, 32, in the role as the 15th Doctor, although reports emerged earlier this year suggested he'd calling it quits once this series up.
The premiere episode promises to plunge viewers straight into action as alien robots descend upon Earth and abduct Belinda Chandra, a nurse who becomes the Doctor's new companion.
BBC Doctor Who: Varada Sethu as Belinda Chandra
BBC
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The Time Lord immediately sets off on what the BBC describes as "a massive intergalactic rescue mission that could change the future of the galaxy".
According to early reviews, the episode features a fractured timeline and touches on themes of toxic masculinity and AI.
The robots in the premiere aren't just one-off villains but represent a broader threat with connections to future storylines.
The episode also establishes that Belinda's journey will not follow a typical companion arc, with her mission being deeply personal.
BBC Doctor Who: Ncuti Gatwa makes his return as The Doctor
BBC
Varada Sethu's character Belinda is introduced as an NHS nurse who finds herself unexpectedly thrust into the Doctor's world.
Fans first meet Belinda as a teenager stargazing with her boyfriend, before fast-forwarding 17 years to find her working as a nurse.
Despite the promise of an all-new storyline, critics have delivered mixed verdicts ahead of the premiere, with some harsh assessments emerging in recent days.
The Daily Mail reports that some reviewers have branded the show "unoriginal and uninspired", with criticism that "the episode's climax, involving a rather ludicrous reveal, fails to stick the landing".
Tech Radar's reviewer said "the Doctor and Bel's robotic foes are largely unoriginal" before continuing: "They're an uninspired amalgam of two of the most notorious enemies in Doctor Who's rogue gallery those being, the Daleks and Cybermen."
The review also slammed the pacing and climax of the season two premiere, something Radio Times' reviewer echoed in their own assessment.
"The episode is dragged down in various ways, most of which we can't talk about just yet. Suffice to say that the episode's climax, involving a rather ludicrous reveal, fails to stick the landing," they wrote.
"There's also some very on-the-nose writing, characters stating the obvious rather than allowing the episode's themes to speak for themselves."
Meanwhile, Yahoo News' critic was similarly underwhelmed, adding: "The Robot Revolution never quite hits its stride in the way that Russell T Davies might have hoped the episode to do.
"It's a well-meaning episode and makes for an enjoyable enough watch but it's not likely to make the top 10 list of fan favourite episodes either."
However, more positive reviews complimented Gatwa's performance, with the Financial Times praising him as "mercurial, charismatic and not afraid to shed tears when confronting loss".
Variety's Scott Bryan also offered encouragement, noting: "The last few seconds of the first episode are particularly spine-tingling."
The BBC's partnership with Disney+ has provided Doctor Who with a much-needed financial boost, but uncertainty looms over the show's future.
After reports of Gatwa's departure emerged earlier this year, a Doctor Who spokesperson stated: "The deal with Disney+ was for 26 episodes -- and exactly half of those still have to transmit."
Meanwhile, the BBC faces significant financial challenges due to "a combination of inflation, a licence fee freeze and skyrocketing production costs."
