Editor’s note: The below recap contains spoilers for the Doctor Who Season 2 premiere.

Doctor Who has returned, ushering in a thrilling new adventure featuring a vibrant new companion and a whole season filled with captivating misadventures. A mysterious force obstructs the Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa) and Belinda (Varada Sethu) from returning home. While the season premiere titled “The Robot Revolution” presents a somewhat convoluted storyline, it remains an enjoyable episode showcasing the charm of the new companion and another remarkable performance from Gatwa. Crafted by Russell T. Davies and directed by Peter Hoar (The Last of Us), this episode takes us on an exhilarating journey as nurse Belinda Chandra finds herself kidnapped by deadly robots who intend to marry her off to what they believe is an AI generator.

Although the narrative itself may not redefine the Doctor Who experience, the standout feature of “The Robot Revolution” is undoubtedly Sethu’s performance, introducing us to this season’s captivating companion. Taken against her will to become “the queen of outer space,” Belinda exudes charm, kindness, and a bold spirit. She navigates the chaotic adventure with a relatable resilience, making the most of an extraordinary situation. In a narrative that sometimes struggles with its message, Belinda’s character shines brightly, allowing us to quickly grasp her identity and role in this universe. Unlike previous companions who are enamored by the Doctor’s life, Belinda recognizes the inherent dangers and recklessness of his lifestyle. However, circumstances compel them to embark on an unexpected journey, taking “the long way round” to find their way home.

Discover the New Companion of ‘Doctor Who’ in “The Robot Revolution”

“The Robot Revolution” kicks off with a flashback featuring Belinda on an awkward date with a somewhat insufferable young man named Alan, who presents her with a star as a birthday gift. He offers her a certificate naming the star “Miss Belinda Chandra.” When she questions the need for the title “miss,” Alan, who is excessively particular about every detail of their conversation, inquires if she is married. Since she isn’t, the title remains. Ultimately, she reluctantly accepts the gift, and they share a rather cringeworthy kiss, both for Belinda and the audience. The scene then shifts back to the present day where, in 2025, the Doctor arrives in the TARDIS outside a hospital. Inside, we follow Belinda through a condensed version of her daily routine as a nurse, showcasing her kindness and patience as she tends to various injuries with grace, all while never crossing paths with the Doctor. Meanwhile, he frantically searches for her, even going so far as to annoy the hospital staff and inadvertently shutting down power to the building with his sonic device, which is far from ideal in a hospital. Back at her apartment, we discover that Belinda shares her space with a few roommates, although they are not particularly close.

As Belinda finally drifts off to sleep, a rocket unexpectedly lands in her backyard, and a couple of campy robots crash through her door, even taking out a neighbor’s cat to demonstrate their seriousness. They are there to claim her as the future queen of the planet “Missbelindachandra.” However, if you delve into the mechanics of how or why the robots, and even the Doctor, knew to come for her, you may find yourself ensnared in a paradox loop. Faced with the threat of deadly robots, Belinda remains fearless and assertive, immediately pointing out the absurdity of her situation. As they drag her away, we catch a glimpse of her neighbor, played by Anita Dobson, who appears hilariously unfazed as Belinda is taken. Additionally, she continues to break the fourth wall with an ominous warning to the audience, playfully acknowledging that they did, in fact, not see her, wink wink.

While on the rocket, Belinda continues to voice her objections to the ludicrous circumstances, even suggesting that the robots should fetch Alan Budd, the man who gifted her the star, revealing that she hasn’t seen him in 16 years. As they travel, time becomes convoluted, mirroring the Doctor’s own journey in the TARDIS, who is already aware of where to follow them. It’s later revealed that he arrives on the planet a good six months before Belinda and the robots. Upon landing, Belinda is greeted by a humanoid named Sasha 55 (Evelyn Miller), who, while appearing cheerful alongside their “robot overlords,” whispers a plea for help to Belinda before guiding her to the throne room.

Inside the throne room, Sasha 55 exchanges a glance with the Doctor, who is present with a group of other citizens. The robots suddenly inform Belinda of her impending royal wedding to the AI generator, though what exactly this generator produces, aside from chaos and destruction, remains unclear, fittingly aligning with the narrative surrounding AI technologies. Naturally, Belinda resists this declaration, questioning why “everything on this planet is so absurd.” Just as the robots attempt to take her away, the Doctor, now serving as the planet’s historian, interjects, offering to clarify the situation for the new queen. He reveals that the robots can’t comprehend every ninth word, showcasing his cleverness. Just as the rebellion begins, chaos ensues, and the Doctor leaps into action to safeguard Belinda as Sasha 55 and the other rebels engage in a fierce battle with their robotic oppressors. Sasha 55 reassures Belinda that she can trust the Doctor and insists that once he returns her home, they will embark on their own adventure. Tragically, it becomes painfully clear that Sasha 55 is marked for death, meeting a grim fate right before Belinda’s eyes. The Doctor manages to rescue them while destroying the teleport device behind them.

Why Belinda Chandra is a Unique ‘Doctor Who’ Companion and a Positive Addition

At the rebel base — reminiscent for fans familiar with Sethu’s role as a resistance member in Andor — a young man demands that Belinda prove her worth after the lives lost during the battle. Belinda, who has had no agency in the current situation, firmly asserts that none of this is her fault while offering comfort to the Doctor as he mourns yet another friend lost in the chaos. The Doctor gifts Belinda a symbolic Chekov’s gun by turning off a small cleaning bot that had followed them through the teleport, fearing it might lead the killer robots to their hideout.

Embracing her nursing skills, Belinda immediately starts assisting patients, falling back into her element as she provides care to those in need. Mentioning her upcoming shift at the hospital on Monday, the Doctor suddenly recalls Mundy Flynn, the Anglican Marine from the 51st century, a character Sethu portrayed in Season 1. In this moment of calm, the Doctor and Belinda connect on a deeper level, sharing their mutual desire to help others and realizing they make an effective team as “just the Doctor” and “just the nurse.” The Doctor provides her with a brief introduction to alien life, showcasing his two hearts and making a delightful Kylie Minogue reference, as he is, at his core, a Kylie enthusiast.

Together, they delve into the enigma of “The Robot Revolution,” striving to comprehend the paradoxical nature of the narrative. Ultimately, they discover that they possess the same certificate the robots have, which adds another layer of intrigue, as they understand that if both objects were to touch, it would trigger a complex space-time event with potentially disastrous outcomes. They further investigate the timey-wimey anomaly in space that is at least partly responsible for their predicament. Meanwhile, one of the rebels continues to challenge Belinda, and as the war rages outside, she feels the heavy burden of the lives lost in her name. As the Doctor and the rebels work to uncover the origin of the robots’ attacks from a decade ago, Belinda takes the bold step of activating the cleaning bot, voluntarily surrendering herself. When the robots arrive, the locals are furious and ready for a confrontation, but Belinda reveals her plan to marry the AI generator in hopes of stopping the robots from further violence.

“The Robot Revolution” Risks Losing Its Message by Overextending Itself

Within the confines of the AI generator, the Doctor pleads with the supreme leader to take him instead of Belinda, assuring the powerful machine that he would make a far better match. His pleas are promptly dismissed, making it clear that he is merely there to document events as the planet’s historian. Belinda, feeling both sad and frightened, remains resolute in her mission to save the planet, asserting that her sacrifice will halt the war and protect what she views as “her people.” She requests to be remembered simply as Belinda, dropping the “miss,” but the AI inquires if she is married. Unfortunately, this is the moment when the plot begins to unravel, resembling Swiss cheese, as it is revealed that the AI generator is not an AI after all, but rather Alan Budd, the misogynistic boyfriend who gifted Belinda the star.

The Doctor quips, “it’s not AI, it’s AL,” referring to Alan, and by intertwining a critique of AI with an exploration of incel culture, “The Robot Revolution” struggles to convey any significant message regarding either of these contemporary antagonists. It becomes evident that Alan embodies the villainous figure of this planet, having instigated a war against innocent people the moment he arrived and manipulating events for his own gain. However, he is also painfully fused with the robot mainframe as their leader, and the “every ninth word” trick from earlier indicates that he is in excruciating pain and seeks assistance. The episode nearly hints at the ease with which young men can be corrupted by online influences and the resultant devastation inflicted on innocent lives, yet this message is obscured beneath the muddied narrative and subtext that ultimately falls flat.

Alan demands Belinda’s obedience and calls for some twisted matrimony, holding out the diploma as if asking for his own destruction. The Doctor sends the other certificate back to Belinda via the small helper robot, allowing her to touch Alan’s, triggering a chaotic space-time event. In this explosion, Belinda and Alan appear to exist at every age simultaneously, flashing through their entire lives. Due to his own complicated nature as a space-time event, the Doctor manages to dive into the blast to rescue Belinda, pulling her out at the right age mere seconds later. Alan, however, disintegrates into a sperm and an egg, disappearing into oblivion as the cleaning robot continues its task of tidying up.

Eventually, the robots express remorse for their actions now that they are liberated from the clutches of the Alan generator, promising to make amends to the planet’s inhabitants. The rebel who had previously given Belinda a hard time also apologizes, vowing to honor the lives lost, starting by dedicating the citadel to Sasha 55. While the Doctor is eager to embark on new adventures, Belinda halts him, insisting he take her home first. She experiences the standard and delightful “it’s bigger on the inside” moment as she and the Doctor finally board the TARDIS, preparing to return to Earth. However, despite her momentary awe at the spaceship and the Doctor’s capabilities, her primary desire is to return home, even as the Doctor suggests they can take their time with the journey since they possess a time machine. He even proposes that they might have been destined to cross paths, revealing her descendant he met in Season 1 — Mundy Flynn.

Unlike many companions before her, Belinda is not ready to venture into the stars; she has witnessed firsthand the dangers and potential horrors that accompany the Doctor’s adventures. She holds him accountable, firmly stating that she is not merely another one of his escapades. This resonates with him, prompting the Doctor to set their coordinates for Earth on May 24th, ensuring Belinda returns in time for her new shift at the hospital. However, each time the TARDIS attempts to jump to that date, it appears to bounce off, thwarting their efforts to reach their intended destination. The Doctor is perplexed by the situation but reassures Belinda that he will get her home, even if it requires taking “the long way round.” As the TARDIS whooshes away, the audience is treated to the debris of Earth floating through space — including iconic landmarks like Lady Liberty, the Eiffel Tower, the great pyramids, a calendar marked for the 24th, and another duplicate of Belinda’s star certificate.

New episodes of Doctor Who will premiere on Disney+ and BBC iPlayer at 3 AM ET every Saturday.