The Doctor is back and for those of us not in the UK, that means Disney+. It also means TWO episodes have arrived at the same time: Space Babies and The Devil's Chord. I've only watch Space Babies, so I probably won't post a review of the second one until Tuesday (my time).
Ncuti Gatwa's Doctor is getting a long introduction. This episode serves as yet another introduction to the character with a lot of pauses for explanations of the background lore, and a well played joke about stepping on butterflies when visiting dinosaurs. When the story proper finally gets going there isn't a lot to it.
A space station designed to incubate babies has been abandoned by its crew. In the lower levels is a fear inducing monster. Meanwhile, the station is being maintained by the babies themselves. Everything is held up by the idea that these cute babies in strollers with lip-synced dialogue will be just the right level of adorable to maintain the episode. And, yes they are but only just.
It feels more like a story that could have been in a Doctor Who comic book but it serves to do a lot of establishing work about the show, from bizarre situations (space babies), monsters that aren't what they seem, running around corridors and a basic compassion for all beings.
Gatwa and Millie Gibson take things in their stride and their obvious charisma helps pull this story safely into charm rather than cringe. I don't know how long it must have taken to film the babies but they genuinely feel like distinct characters.
This is an episode that will remembered for having space babies in it. Silly, fun but I feel like we are still stalling for time. It's not clear with this one what this new iteration of the show will be like or what kind of Doctor Gatwa will prove to be.
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