Highlights
- Doctor Who Series 14 is the fifth series led by Russell T Davies as head writer and executive producer.
- The series was produced at Wolf Studios Wales.
- Aneurin Barnard appear as the mysterious Roger ap Gwilliam in the series.
Doctor Who made its epic return for the fourteenth series, with its premiere on May 11, 2024.
The plotline follows the story of Ncuti Gatwa, the fifteenth Doctor who travels through space and time.
It started with a Christmas special episode showing a hooded woman abandoning her child, Ruby Sunday, played by Millie Gibson, outside a church nineteen years ago.
Doctor Who Series 14: A Polarizing Season With Critical Acclaim and Audience Discontent
Doctor Who
Time-traveling fun with a whimsical twist!
Genres
Science FictionActionDrama| Release Date | May 11, 2024 |
| Director | Ben Chessell, Jamie Donoughue, Dylan Holmes |
| Writer | Russell T. Davies, Dave Gibbons |
| Casts | Ncuti Gatwa, Millie Gibson |
Doctor Who series 14 earned a 96% Average Tomatometer and 34% average audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.
The high rating from critics reflects the positive reception of Ncuti Gatwa’s performance as the Fifteenth Doctor.
This latest reception to the latest season of Doctor Who earned mixed reviews, highlighting a wide range of opinions.
Many audiences pointed out the issues with the writing, noting that it felt too childish, uninspired, or lighthearted.
A user named drael64 on IMDb rated the series 5 out of 10, writing;
Ncuti Gatwa’s portrayal of the Doctor still comes across as more whimsical than a deeply intellectual and ancient being, with showrunner Russell T. Davies leaning heavily into a campy and lighthearted tone.
Some reviewers appreciated the main leads, Ncuti Gatwa and Millie Gibson, for their energetic acting.
Likewise, some have talked about the declining quality of the storytelling of the 14th season compared to the previous seasons.
However, some highlighted their mixed reviews and reserved their final judgment, considering the series’ potential to improve over time.
Doctor Who Season 14: Certainly a Playful and Historic Return to Form
Unlike the uneasiness of the first episode, The Church on Ruby Road, released on December 25, 2023, the series reintroduces the core concept in the following episodes.
I personally loved the second episode, “Space Babies,” as it establishes the dynamic between the Doctor and companion “Ruby.”
Space Babies smoothly balanced humor and character development while touching on the emotional aspects of adoption and orphanhood.
Talking of episode 3, “Boom,” props to Murray Gold, the English composer, who set the vibe of the episode with the choir music playing over battlefield shots.
Also, one of my favorite parts of Boom is Millie Gibson’s strongest episode, unlike the previous two episodes.
Instead of using the green screen, the creators opted for StageCraft, which seamlessly worked.
Similarly, hands down to the cinematographers for their breathtaking landscapes of alien worlds or the intimate character-driven scenes within the TARDIS.
The 14th season of Doctor Who, paying a playful homage to period drama like Bridgerton, undoubtedly added intriguing elements.
Also, episode 6, “Rogue,” fits the proper standard of Doctor Who. Unlike previous episodes, it straightly dives into the idea of the threat we can look forward to.
having an openly queer actor playing an openly and visibly and JOYFULLY queer doctor who means absolutely everything to me.
— Bad Wolf Archives (@BadWolfArchives) June 8, 2024
to see myself in my childhood hero in such an authentic and positive manner. i'm so genuinely heartwarmed ❤️ pic.twitter.com/HShA9JDmWp
It won’t be fair enough if I don’t applaud the series’ creators for shattering its own barrier, making history by introducing the first same-sex kiss in the series.
That said, the episode lacks a little bit of balance between the doctor and Ruby. Either there is more of Ruby and less of the doctor, or vice versa.
So far, the episodes released balances fun and innovative elements, staying true to the classic “Doctor Who” thrills.
However, it also hints at a larger mystery concerning a recurring character from previous episodes, setting the anticipation high for an exciting conclusion to the series.
The Main Leads, Ncuti and Ruby, Create a Magnetic Pair
Ncuti Gatwa shines as the 15th Doctor in Doctor Who season 14, bringing a mixture of playfulness and mystery to the iconic role.
The Doctor laughing at Ruby covered in baby snot is absolutely hilarious. Ncuti and Millie are just brilliant #DoctorWho pic.twitter.com/gl14b6ldjm
— Safe Space Who (@SafeSpaceDrWho) May 11, 2024
But what truly stands out is Ncuti’s wonderful chemistry with Ruby Sunday, played by actress Millie Gibson.
No matter how irrational the storylines get, we can’t deny their dynamic gets along fantastically.
Ruby, the Doctor’s companion, is unquestionably a dynamic energy who is introduced as the foundling in the first episode.
Her introduction to the series is as impactful as companion introductions from previous seasons, adding a different narrative to the story.
The profound bond between Ncuti and Ruby keeps the show engaging, even amid strange adventures across space and time.
I can’t wait to unfold what the upcoming episodes have in the box for the dynamic duo.
