Doctor Who Season Two: What Went Wrong, and Can It Be Fixed? A year ago, I wrote a conclusion for season one of Doctor Who's new era on Disney+. In it, I expressed frustrations about the show's handling but, more importantly, offered solutions for how to fix them in Doctor Who season two. With Doctor Who season two over and Ncuti Gatwa out of the show far too soon, possibly replaced by Billie Piper, it feels apt to do the same again.

I wanted this era of Doctor Who to succeed. I really did. But with Ncuti Gatwa gone, a legacy cast returning, and so many core elements misfiring, it’s hard not to ask: how did it this go so wrong?

Doctor Who: The Reality War What began as a bold new era under Disney’s banner ends not with clarity, but chaos. The Reality War, penned by Russell T Davies and directed by Alex Sanjiv Pillai, arrives burdened by lore, expectation, and a 66-minute runtime that it struggles to justify. The episode juggles gods, genetic legacies, and a regeneration, yet fails to land a cohesive emotional or narrative core.

Performances remain committed, the design is often breath-taking, but none of it can disguise a finale that lacks clarity of purpose. Instead of resolving the arcs it raised, The Reality War opts for gestures over conclusions, questions over answers, and spectacle over sense.

Doctor Who: Wish World Review – Be Careful What You Wish For Doctor Who dives into the politics of fantasy in Wish World, a reality-bending episode that wrestles with control, memory, and identity.

Wish World is not a bad episode, but it is a maddening one. Its ambition is undeniable. Its aesthetic is immaculate. Its themes are urgent. But its execution? Scattershot.

cinamore.co.uk/reviews/tv-r...

#DoctorWho

The Genius Game I’m no stranger to a good social deduction game. Whether it's The Circle, The Fortune Hotel, or even Tom Scott’s indie gem Money, there’s something uniquely satisfying about watching people try to outthink, out-bluff, and outlast each other in high-concept challenges. It’s not just about strategy. It’s about trust. Misdirection. Reading between the lines. The thrill lies in seeing someone spot the truth hidden behind a smile or leverage a tiny detail into a major win.

ITV’s The Genius Game had clever puzzles, sneaky strategy, and David Tennant. So why did it flop?

Doctor Who: Lucky Day Review – Conspiracy Thriller with Real Bite Jonah Hauer-King steals the show in Lucky Day, a moody and timely Doctor Who episode that leans into conspiracy, character, and quiet chills.

Is it your Lucky Day? Jonah Hauer-King impresses in a tense, timely Doctor Who thriller about obsession and conspiracy.

cinamore.co.uk/reviews/tv-r...

#DoctorWho #LuckyDay #NcutiGatwa

Doctor Who: The Well Review – A Reflection Best Left Alone Doctor Who: The Well revisits psychological horror Midnight, but larger sets and recycled ideas leave this in the shadow of its predecessor.

#DoctorWho The Well is a passable, slightly underwhelming entry. Revisiting heavily trodden ground, it struggles to reach the lofty heights of its immediate predecessors.

cinamore.co.uk/reviews/tv-r...

Doctor Who: Lux Lux, the second episode of the series, sees the Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa) and Belinda (Varada Sethu) land in 1950s America to discover that the local cinema is chained up, 15 people are missing, and a cartoon character roams free from his celluloid. Taking the form of Mr Ring-A-Ding, a 2D cartoon projection voiced with theatrical flair by Alan Cumming, audiences learn that our cartoon villain is the next God of the Pantheon: Lux Imperator, God of Light.

Doctor Who: Lux dazzles with Alan Cumming’s cartoon villain and a moving tribute to Rock Hudson. But just when it could’ve soared, “the God of Light is reduced from mythic to meta.” I unpack its brilliance and its missteps in my review.

Doctor Who: The Robot Revolution Doctor Who: The Robot Revolution introduces Varada Sethu as companion Belinda Chandra in an episode that struggles to land.

#DoctorWho returns with The Robot Revolution, a bold but uneven series opener introducing a new companion, Belinda Chandra. The episode brims with ambition but struggles to ground its emotional core or deliver its message.

cinamore.co.uk/reviews/tv-r...

Image of Gadget from Doctor Who: The Waters of Mars (2009)

In a world of Polish Polish, be a Gadget Gadget #DoctorWho

Okay but how would I go about writing a story for Big Finish?

Just a thought but Doctor Who should come back on 29th March to ride the coattails of the show’s 20th anniversary. This to me makes more sense than mid-April, go big and lean into the audience’s love of the early RTD years.

I saw this, it was a charming interview by @thomasduke98.bsky.social!

What is going on with Coronation Street!? In the space of a month the show has lost Helen Worth and announced losing Sue Cleaver and Colson Smith. I understand there’s New Management but all it’s indicating is there’s issues behind the scenes

For now though, the show will obviously be back in March to make the 20th anniversary (I predict 29/03), and in the meantime, Big Finish Productions is, and continues to be a remarkable opportunity for exactly this. Big Finish, if you’re hiring lmk (10/10)

Anyway, I can’t see that happening anytime soon, but if for any reason the BBC want to chat I’m all ears (9/10)

In an eight, ten or twelve ep series, the showrunner should shape its storyline and give help to those that need it moreso than being a channel of the show’s popularity. (8/10)

In an age of streaming, and new voices and stories forever emerging, legacy shows need to fight to stay relevant else risk being forgotten and cancelled. (7/10)

There are so many talented people in the industry already that you could hire: Adjani Salmon, Daniel Lawrence Taylor, Nida Manzoor, Ambreen Razia, or Gbemisola Ikumelo. There are also great upcoming filmmakers and storytellers who have exciting ideas. (6/10)

Equally, with a Black lead and a British-Indian companion, imagine if we gave episodes to those that reflected its diverse crew (5/10)

It’s why talent from @vinaypatel.bsky.social, Dylan Holmes Williams and Kate Herron rise to the surface as something special. They zing with a spark that the show has missed for years. (4/10)

Imagine instead of RTD, Moffat or Chibnall the show gives a platform to upcoming talent as a way to zap freshness. The show has affected so many and it’s an institution of talent so why not continue that for behind the scenes? (3/10)

Quite simply: give more onus onto the writers/directors and turn down the significance of the showrunner. (2/10)

Something I’ve thought about is how Doctor Who needs inject a new lease of life as it turns 20 years old this year. If I were a producer on the show here’s what I’d do. (1/10)

Yes! A social deduction TV game version of Werewolf but entirely based on guessing and vibes. It’s camp and excellent.

We've someone who is lying about being Welsh, someone lying about their career history in the forces, and someone hiding their Priesthood… but why? It’s being quirky for the sake of being quirky for airtime #TheTraitors

Now’s the real chance to see how BlueSky fares in being a platform that people flock to during a social event #TheTraitors

No fucking shit.

Midrolls on YouTube are getting worse I swear

This Christmas is significant to me for many reasons but I’m excited to play Spot the Conor on Christmas Eve and see whether my engagement is going to be televised…

Moving out a week before Christmas is as stressful as you would think especially whilst tying up affairs in two counties. Would not recommend.