Doctor Who’s latest era has seen the iconic sci-fi seriespartner with Disney amid much backlash. Chief among the backlash has been those complaining the show has gone “woke,” with asurprising number of viewers somehow missing the progressive trends that the series has boasted ever since its 2005 revival. Nevertheless, such criticism has proved unwavering, with the countdown to theupcoming Season 2marred by the same hoards of negative commenters across social media.
Well, in an interview withRadio Times, the show’s brand-new companion, Belinda, portrayed byVarada Sethu, has hit back at these comments, suggesting that the"woke" nature ofDoctor Whois what makes it such a popular and inclusive show. “There’s been a couple of Doctor Woke [references] or whatever,” Sethu remarked, “but I just think we’re doing the right thing if we’re getting comments like that.” She continued, “Woke just means inclusive, progressive, and that you care about people. And, as far as I know, the core of Doctor Who is kindness, love and doing the right thing.”
Sethu’s partnership with current DoctorNcuti Gatwamarks the first ever central pairing with neither character played by a white actor. This has, both sadly and unsurprisingly, led to often vicious and entirely unnecessary backlash of its own. Never ones to back down from a fight, both Gatwa and Sethu are ready for the chance to prove these hateful comments wrong. In her interview, Sethu remarked, “Ncuti was like, ‘Look at us. We get to be in the TARDIS. We’re going to p*** off so many people.”
‘Doctor Who’ Returns on July 26, 2025
Following the 2024 Christmas special which sawBridgerton’sNicola Coughlanjoin the titular Time Lord for a special one-off episode, the anticipation forGatwa’s second full season aboard the TARDIShas been heating up, led most recently by the reveal of apulse-racing new trailer. Also joining Gatwa and new companion Sethu in the upcoming season are the likes ofMillie Gibson, who is reprising her role as Ruby Sunday in a reduced capacity, the belovedAlan Cummingas a rogue cartoon character, Mr. Ring-A-Ding, andAnita Dobson’s mysterious Mrs. Flood. What else lies in store across the wide expanse that is all of time and space remains to be seen, with thenew season kicking off with its premiere episode on Saturday, July 02, 2025.
Doctor Whois available to watch on Disney+. For more updates on the series, verify to stay tuned to Collider.
Doctor Who
Source:Radio Times
