Doctor Who season 1, episode 5 review: "'Dot and Bubble' is like a family-friendly Black Mirror"

GamesRadar+ Verdict’Dot and Bubble' doesn’t hit quite the same heights as ‘Boom’ and ‘73 Yards’, but Callie Cook’s layered performance as Lindy is a stand-out in a shiny episode with a heart of darkness.TODAY’S BEST DEALSCheck Amazon GamesRadar+ Verdict GamesRadar+ Verdict ‘Dot and Bubble’ doesn’t hit quite the same heights as ‘Boom’ and ‘73 Yards’, but Callie Cook’s layered performance as Lindy is a stand-out in a shiny episode with a heart of darkness.TODAY’S BEST DEALSCheck Amazon ‘Dot and Bubble’ doesn’t hit quite the same heights as ‘Boom’ and ‘73 Yards’, but Callie Cook’s layered performance as Lindy is a stand-out in a shiny episode with a heart of darkness. TODAY’S BEST DEALSCheck Amazon TODAY’S BEST DEALSCheck Amazon TODAY’S BEST DEALSCheck Amazon TODAY’S BEST DEALS Check Amazon Check Amazon Check Amazon Why you can trust GamesRadar+Our experts review games, movies and tech over countless hours, so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about our reviews policy. Why you can trust GamesRadar+Our experts review games, movies and tech over countless hours, so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about our reviews policy. Ever resourceful, the show’s production team used this to their advantage. The season’s planned ‘Doctor-lite’ episode,last week’s ‘73 Yards’, was pushed to the front of the queue and shot first, alongside this week’s installment ‘Dot and Bubble’. This isn’t technically another Doctor-lite episode - in fact, both Gatwa and Gibson appear quite a bit - but the nature of the episode’s premise keeps them at arm’s length for much of its run. Shiny happy people (Image credit: BBC) As you might have guessed from that synopsis (and as showrunner Russell T Davies himself has admitted), the episode is astep into Black Mirror territory, but while there are multiple themes at work here - some of which we can’t get into in this spoiler-free review - Davies' script mostly avoids a simplistic “social media is bad, kids” message. Everything’s fine all of the time (Image credit: BBC) It is a shame that this is positioned straight after ‘73 Yards’ though. Don’t get me wrong, I love that episode and like this one, but taking the focus off the TARDIS team again so quickly feels like a strange choice. I don’t feel like I truly know this Doctor or companion yet, and we’re already past the halfway point of the run. Again, perhaps that decision was the product of necessity, though presumably the episode’s script had been planned many months in advance. With that said, the gradual shift in tone as Lindy starts to realize the truth about what’s really happening in Finetime is powerfully conveyed and Cook’s performance gives this candy-colored nightmare some welcome complexity. It’s all leading to a final act that provides a stand-out moment for Gatwa that will no doubt be the subject of much of the post-episode discussion. ‘Dot and Bubble’ is a solid example of good mid-season Who with an unexpectedly bleak tone, some gribbly monsters, and an earwormy needle drop that will haunt you for days to come. ‘Dot and Bubble’ will be released on May 31 at 7:00pm ET onDisneyPlus and at midnight June 1 on BBC iPlayer, before airing later that day live on BBC One. For more great new TV, check out our guide tothe best new showscoming your way in 2024. Doctor Who: Price Comparison No price informationCheck Amazon No price informationCheck Amazon No price informationCheck Amazon No price informationCheck Amazon No price information No price information We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices CATEGORIESDisney PlusStreaming Services CATEGORIES More about doctor who Doctor Who star Ncuti Gatwa reflects on the one year anniversary of his debut as the Doctor admitting “I didn’t quite realize the magnitude of what I was taking on” Doctor Who star Ncuti Gatwa reflects on the one year anniversary of his debut as the Doctor admitting “I didn’t quite realize the magnitude of what I was taking on” LatestSquid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now"See more latest► Latest Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now” Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now” Squid 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