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Doctor Who fans have expressed dissatisfaction with the new series’ episode order, feeling it reduces the Doctor’s screen time. The recent episode “73 Yards,” which aired on Saturday, June 26, was followed by a preview of next week’s “Dot and Bubble.” This upcoming episode will be available on BBC iPlayer at midnight and broadcast on BBC One at 6:50pm on Saturday, June 1st.
“Dot and Bubble” features a Black Mirror-like commentary on society and includes less of the Doctor, with Callie Cooke guest-starring as Lindy Pepper-Bean. The previous episode, “73 Yards,” involved Ruby Sunday encountering a mysterious stranger in the Welsh countryside. Although well-received, some fans believe it would have served better as a penultimate episode. One fan on X (formerly Twitter) suggested, “Having these two back-to-back is a huge mistake. ‘Dot and Bubble’ could’ve been episode 3, and ’73 Yards’ the penultimate episode before the finale.”
Other fans echoed this sentiment, noting that having two Doctor-lite episodes in a row is an unusual choice. One remarked, “Dot and Bubble has been described as ‘Doctor & Ruby lite-ish’. Two out of eight episodes being Doctor-lite for a new Doctor isn’t ideal. The Sex Ed schedule really influenced this block of filming unfortunately.”
Despite the mixed reactions from fans, critics have generally praised “Dot and Bubble,” drawing parallels to Black Mirror but commending Ncuti Gatwa’s performance. One critic noted, “Dot and Bubble provides great social commentary on Gen Z and Gen Alpha’s reliance on social media. The episode feels very Black Mirror-esque, but Ncuti’s performance and Murray Gold’s score make it a standout.”
Another critic mentioned, “Dot and Bubble takes shots at various societal issues, though it sometimes lacks sharpness. However, Ncuti Gatwa’s performance in the final scenes is memorable.” Praising the episode further, another review stated, “DOT AND BUBBLE is a sweet, yet slimy surprise with effective social commentary. Callie Cooke’s performance as Lindy is delightful, but Ncuti Gatwa’s powerful finale solidifies his role as the Doctor.”
Tune into the next episode of Doctor Who, “Dot and Bubble,” on BBC One on Saturday, June 1st.