Doctor Who: Dot And Bubble REVIEW [Season 1 Episode 5] | Who's There? A Doctor Who Podcast  

i think ricky acting like the doctor is meant to show that lindy would’ve trusted the doctor if he wasn’t black.

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For your point on how Ruby reacted to the racism, remember she'a a white girl with a black mum, she is going to have had a lot of "Where's your Mum?" *points* "She can't be your Mum, where's your real Mum?" Kind of comments growing up, so she'd have experienced that sort of racism (unintentional or not) her whole life! By unintentional I mean if its a 5 year old saying that they wouldn't be trying to be racist just confused!

This is probably the point Troy is going to make in the full series review but 73 Yards and Dot and Bubble both being Doctor-lite in the same filming block made sense, they did not have to be subsequent episodes though! If they'd been episodes 2 and 6 no-one would be saying there's not enough Ncuti in the same way!

The Vashta Nerada returning when you have a companion whose name is Varada is a thought.

For me I didn't notice the racism till the final scene either, when Lindy said about "it was your duty to help" I just thought that was classist, they're the rich kids so everyone has to bend over backwards for them, then when she said about "on a screen was bad enough" or whatever the line is I went "Oh they're all white!" outloud and then remembered "I blocked you, I thought you just looked the same" which was a more obvious line I suspect more people picked up on, maybe I would have if I hadn't been so distracted by Susan Twist and seeing if my family had noticed yet when the Doctor and Ruby are physically saying it!

As revealed in the companion show Doctor Who UNLEASHED in the UK, the series is not filmed in episode order so the Final gut punching scene was Ncuti's FIRST scene filming as the Doctor. In 73 yards the reason for his disappearance and lack of screen time was that he was wrapping up filming Sex Education

I almost tripped over a water pipe on the side walk looking at my phone 😂

Please use Bubble Off Dot Down instead of Alonsy to sign off from now on!

During the superZoom at the beginning, it was a whole wall o' white.

GRACE’S THOUGHTS: A DOCTOR WHO PODCAST COMMENTARY - Hiiii Sam - 4:32 oops sorry Sam hot seat time for your 5/10 (I’d personally give it a 8/10) - 5:39 so true Hube looking back at it it grows on you (like 73 Yards was for me as well) - 6:29 yeah I didn’t notice it but like. that’s the point! white people are just used to that being the norm that it’s not amiss until it’s pointed out - 8:48 it does have less oomph but I’d say it’s because it has LESS 15 and Ruby. Which is part of the episode concept, so it’s fine. - 11:16 YEAH it’s wild that was his first scene filmed this season because he gets it immediately - 12:22 #samforshowrunner and #crispyforshowrunner (they can share :) - 13:30 YES WHERE IS MY DOCTOR AND COMPANION!? - 15:20 wait people expect the pov character to be likeable, or the protagonist? - 17:46 the fact that it’s the Rich white kids is telling as well. They’re already used to being in a bubble and not helping others. - 19:43 this damn generation and their celled phones :( - 20:58 penny dropped for me when the guy says something about “empty wilderness” outside and I immediately went “classic white colonizer” then went “HOLD ON-“ - 21:16 yesss that’s remembering that Ruby has a Black mom and grandma so this isn’t new to her unfortunately so thanks Millie for that - 24:47 lmao Sam’s bro is in who’s there now - 25:35 oh hey the racist rich white woman throws someone under the bus to save her own skin…how…surprising. - 26:01 Sam is just DYING at the intro - 28:00 the fitttt - 28:48 Troy being a fashionista wasn’t on my bingo card but whatever :) - 30:21 YES that was my interpretation too. Hence Ruby trying to clue him in and him not getting it! - 32:32 oh dear that’s not a glowing review of Space Babies lmao - 32:59 so true love Ncuti and Millie being musical - 33:51 so true Billie! (See above) - 35:18 Ncuti was busy being Ken leave him ALONE! - 37:40 OH SAM I love that idea - 40:25 ohhhh yeah what are they cooking that public filming was so rare? - 41:07 everyone keeps saying this but I’m really hesitant to transfer Doctor-ness to the dude on Racism Planet, regardless of how fitting it might be. - 44:28 oh Troy that’s brilliant thank you for that. - 45:52 WHAT A CALL-IN! You’re wrong but I love your confidence - 47:19 I think I only dislike Space Babies more than this one but they’ve all been great - 48:52 SUSAN TWIST! So surprised that Sam didn’t know about this until now - 52:41 adhd moment hiiii - 54:20 Plane tickets mention (but hilariously not by Troy) - 55:38 jgroff momence - 56:14 Mr.Tardis next episode yooooo Sorry I couldn’t put a call in, I am le sick :( but hey, Rogue this week :)

In 73 yards. the absence of the Doctor was explained, that when Ruby altered/touched the memorial it shifted time, removing the doctor from Ruby's present. In Dot and Bubble Lindy cared for no one at all but herself, even when her mother (with a familiar face) appeared and she realised her parents were dead. she was cold and uncaring. RTD has Been dropping hits and explaining that the series arc all evolves around Ruby Sunday who she is and abandonment all the episodes have either touched on being abandoned or abandoning

I kind of love how people (not just on here) randomly give Lindy different names -- Lily, Linda (but she's not sweet!), etc.

I thought the take on racism was brilliantly handled. I loved that it was relatively subtle, as in, not the Orphan-55 type of "in your face" commentary, but one that takes a while to realise and recognise for what it truly is. I did notice many of the micro-aggressions on my 1st viewing (the different treatment of the Doctor vs Ruby, the language used, the fact that literally everyone else was white etc), but was still surprised when they fully went there so relatively explicitly at the end. I can understand how some people might miss it, or maybe just see these moments/lines as being more about classism or treatment towards outsiders rather than racially motivated, but I personally believed it was at least partially about race, and that was confirmed once I watched the episode of Unleashed. I do think that even most of the people who missed these hints along the episode itself, probably caught up by that ending scene. I mean, unlike last week's episode, the ending wasn't ambiguous and confusing at all imo. I thought the implication was pretty clear that they were going to their deaths. There's no way these young, rich kids who never even learnt to walk or think for themselves, are going to survive out there alone in the "wild woods".. Hence why the Doctor tried so hard to get them to go with him instead, even though they were insufferable and racists (he's the Doctor, he always tries to save everyone regardless). However, they literally chose death, over being saved by a black person. It was so awful and so brilliant at the same time, and the Doctor's reaction was heartbreaking. I also really liked Ruby crying in that scene, as Sam said. It seemed to me like Ruby caught on to what it was a bit before the Doctor himself, probably due to the fact that she was raised by a black family and witnessed these micro-aggressions growing up, while the Doctor has spent thousands of years as a white person. It made his moment of realisation and the very real frustration that followed, even more visceral imo.. And seeing Ruby trying to comfort/support him in a way (putting a hand on his shoulder etc), yet also not knowing how to react or if she should get involved, or maybe choosing not to cause she doesn't want to take away his agency, was also its own brand of heartbreaking. Overall, I really enjoyed this episode. A very solid 9/10 imo, and I'd even go as far as to say it was one of my favourite this season. I adored the setting and world-building, the use of technology/visuals, and the social commentary of course. The acting was also fantastic. The moment when Lindy makes the choice to turn on Ricky was amazingly done. And as much as I did miss the Doctor, the scene we got with him at the end of the episode was literally EVERYTHING. It was perfect in a way that made his absence for most of the episode, worth it imo. I also 100% agree with what Troy said - While Social media wasn't the main point of the episode, I still loved that aspect of it as well. I mean, good sci-fi is normally multifaceted, and beyond the racial aspect, the episode was also still trying to show the dangers of over-relaying on technology and social media, plus also criticising the 1%. The fact that these aren't just "any kids", was a great choice imo. They are well established to be the rich, white kids, who are very much stuck in their own bubble (literally and figuratively). It was an amazing criticism of echo chambers, about the dangers of surrounding yourself with people who only think and act like you do, and being afraid or even unable to look beyond it.

Loved Whobusters, glad to see Sam!

Yes! Somebody else who thinks Lindy is like Donna Noble. I've only found two other people who also think this (one of those could also be your caller -- maybe both of them). Lindy basically has Donna's signature hairstyle in a different color. A lot of people found Donna annoying in "The Runaway Bride." Kind of shallow. Yells at the Doctor and basically can't stand him. People can associate Lindy with Donna (even if only unconsciously) and think maybe she will grow as Donna did, only to be let down.

Initially I had it at a 7, this episode Definitely benefits from a second watch. Really enjoyed it for me the best of the season so far 8/10. Also have 73 yards and boom as 8/10’a but this just about takes it for me.

Okay, but why was the Dot led astray by Lindy to go after Ricky because of his surname when it could have just killed her first at that point?

I love your kind hearted generous spirit. x

The Music at the end during and after the Doctor 's begging them to let him save them, very strong music sound's like its from the 11th's regeneration Scene also can any one tell me how to call in or is it Members only?

Justice for Gothic Paul then.

This season feels like a better version of Season 7. The entirely episodic nature feels all over the place but the concepts are each interesting enough. I really blame it down to episode order and calling it Season One. If this is your introductory Season for new viewers, why is episode one the most filler of the bunch? Why is episode two suddenly recalling the era before it and teasing something "almost here" we still haven't seen yet? Why is episode 1 and 2 featuring the doctor instantly avoiding the conflict only to handicap him ep 3 and have him completely absent ep 4. That this feels like his best moment and he was still only in it properly for the last 10 minutes. The idea that we have to say "it'll get better in season two" when a) season one is only halfway done and b) season two doesn't exist yet. Usually that's the thing you say because season two is so good season one pales by comparison and fans want you to jump straight to the best stuff, not because they really needed to make a good impression and didn't have access to their main character. If 73 Yards is a glass onion, this episode is a layered onion. But I'm still bothered by it because the last 4 episodes being fluff lead me to assume I needed to accept this season as some fluff experimental stuff only for it to be god awful as entertainment and designed to test if you're paying attention. It meant this episode gets better each time, but I did not have enough faith in the season to tolerate Lindy from minute one, nor bother a second time if not for people defending that this one had a lot more to it whereas the defenses for 73 yards came up empty for me. So it's getting better each episode but still getting close to 'not as bad as I thought' and is slowly struggling from meh to alright to decent but hasn't yet for me been solidly Good yet. I kind of need it to be Good on watch and Great on rewatch, not more cringeworthy and painful than space babies on first watch and deeper than 73 yards on second watch. That's a big improvement but jarring. I'm all over the place with this ep because it's possibly the most solid episode in the most confusingly directed season. I have no idea what to expect, themes or entertainment, episodic or serial, every episode feels like a 'spin the wheel' style direction where the doctor might not even be in it half the time. I dunno what to do with it and it's frustrating. If there was a solid foundation till now this would have been a wonderful subversion instead of the best of a bunch of other arbitrary experimental episodes. I'm very glad they acknowledged Susan Twist in this episode, but I don't have faith that Susan Twist being someone will retroactively make it worth mentioning her every episode. Possibly she'll be someone, but it feels at best like the Missy tags at the end of episodes. If they're not someone it's nothing, if it's someone, cool, it's a bit repetitive and empty until then though.

I wonder what you guys would think of _Staged._

first

For me I instantly noticed the racism coz idk I’m used to thinking of when I’m personally being victimised

Lost Island? Wasn't he filming Sex Education?

Did the doctor say run

my big gripe was gothic paul,, bros like someone described a goth to a tiktok kid,,, which i hope is on purpose, rich kids do love stealing our aesthetics without understanding any of the culture or meaning behind it,, thinking they can throw on their £1000 gucci leather jacket and thats that,,, but also i dont think thats what they were going for lmao

this entire episode is just stupid everyones DOT can easy fly into the persons head and kill them simultaneously. this season so so BAD its unbelievable

ill tank this 2/ 10 as again just like trend this season so many question unanswered like for this ep why does the doctor and ruby care to get inside this random place and how would they know something is wrong when they are outside, next being the overused political and social view nonsense back to back this entire season aswell the the specials i understand doctor who has used this in the past but not in the extent of using it like 7 times in a row back to back trash