| The Robot Revolution | Talk |
The Robot Revolution was the first episode of Series 15 (also marketed, globally, as Season 2) of Doctor Who. It premiered on 12 April 2025.
It introduced Varada Sethu as new companion Belinda Chandra, and marked her first appearance as a regular cast member following her first appearance as Mundy Flynn in Series 14's Boom, with the resemblance between both Belinda and Mundy being acknowledged in universe by the Doctor in the story.
The story also begins one of the main plotlines of Series 15; that of the Doctor being unable to make the TARDIS return Belinda to the 24 of May 2025, with the end of this story revealing a cataclysmic event occurred on that day that caused the complete destruction of Earth itself, with each episode following The Robot Revolution seeing the Doctor and Belinda continually getting involved in the events of the stories (except for the main events of one) due to the TARDIS being unable to travel to that date, and with both not knowing anything had happened until discovering during the events of The Well that by the 5020th century Earth had long stopped existing with no one in the 5020th century knowing what Earth actually is. It wouldn't be until The Interstellar Song Contest that the Doctor and Belinda will learn of the disintegration of Earth on 24 May 2025 by an unknown source.
After making small appearances in the previous series and similar to the multiple appearances of Susan Twist, The Robot Revelation also begins the second plotline of Series 15 of Mrs Flood now making random appearances in the following stories, continuing to explore the cryptic and enigmatic nature of the seemingly human Mrs Flood that was first shown in The Church on Ruby Road and expanded on in The Legend of Ruby Sunday and Empire of Death, with Mrs Flood's identity and true nature being revealed in The Interstellar Song Contest and the mechanics of her mysterious appearances being explained in The Reality War [+]Russell T Davies, Doctor Who series 15 (BBC One and Disney+, 2025)..
Synopsis[]
When robots from outer space kidnap nurse Belinda Chandra, the Doctor embarks on an epic intergalactic quest to get his new friend back home to Earth.
Plot[]
17 years ago, Belinda Chandra and her then boyfriend Alan Budd stargaze on a park bench. For her birthday present, Alan gifts her a star certificate, naming a star Missbelindachandra.
The present day, Friday 23rd May 2025 Belinda is busy in her role as nurse unaware that the Doctor is seeking her. That night, Belinda is kidnapped from her flat share by giant robots who tell her that due to the certificate she is Queen of Missbelindachandra One and take her away in their rocket ship. En flight to the planet Missbelindachandra One, Belinda protests arguing among things that it should be Alan not her, given that he originally purchased the star certificate. The Doctor is following the rocket in the TARDIS but they pass through a time fracture forcing him to divert.
Upon their arrival in Missbelindachandraville, they are met by Sasha 55 who uncomfortably greets Belinda and explains that the Robots are in charge and at war with the Rebels. Sasha 55 leads Belinda to the Royal Chamber.
In the Royal Chamber, Belinda's staff and Scoot the Polishbot await her. Once Belinda is seated in her throne, the Robots congratulate her on her wedding and physical melding to the AI Generator, leader of the Robots to unite the warring sides. Belinda rejects the 'proposal' and the Robots step in to force matrimony. To calm the tension, Sasha 55 invites the Doctor under the guise of Royal Historian to explain. The Doctor, gives an unusually phrased oral recital of the history of Missbelindachandra One, explaining that the Robots and People lived in harmony until ten years prior when the Robots revolted and took control. In his speech, the Doctor relays a secret message that the Robots are faulty and miss hearing every ninth word. His message contains an announcement for the Rebels to strike back at that moment.
The Rebels reveal their smuggled energy weapons and fight the Robots. Amidst the chaos, the Doctor reveals that he arrived six months earlier, struck up a friendship with Sasha 55 and helped build the rebellion. Once Belinda is safe, Sasha 55 plans to travel with the Doctor. Robot reenforcements arrive, forcing the Doctor and Belinda up a corridor while Sasha55 covers them. Sadly, Sasha 55 is killed. Two more Rebels manage to follow the Doctor and Belinda to the transmat and escape to the Rebel Base.
The Doctor deactivates Scoot to prevent the Robots from tracking them. Belinda tends to the wounded while facing the blame from the Rebels for the Robots' tyranny. The Doctor tells Belinda that the star certificate that she possesses and the one that the AI Generator displayed are in fact one and the same. Somehow it travelled back in time thousands of years and became a foundation myth for the civilisation.
Feeling guilty for the people, Belinda reactivates Scoot which summons the Robots. She agrees to go with them if the Rebels are spared.
In the AI Generator's Chamber Belinda is ushered towards the AI Generator by the Robots. Saying that she hates how it is "Ms" Belinda Chandra, the AI Generator asks if she is married. Surprised by that question, Belinda realises that the AI Generator is in fact Alan or AL for short. Alan reveals himself in his new cyborg form. He explains that per Belinda's instructions in the rocket, the Robots came for him too, ten years prior via the time fracture and installed him into their system. He immediately took advantage of his new power and the Robots usurped the old government.
The Doctor asks why Belinda ended her relationship with Alan. She explains that he was coercively controlling her and she rejected his original marriage proposal. Alan orders Belinda to take hold of his copy of the star certificate to begin the conversion. Meanwhile, the Doctor drops the one he has onto the floor for Scoot to collect and deliver to Belinda. Belinda takes it and touches it against the one in Alan's hand, creating a time paradox. The Doctor steps in to absorb the impact and Alan is reduced to a sperm cell, ending his control over the Robots.
With unity between the people and Robots restored, Belinda tells the Doctor to take her home to 24th May. The Doctor attempts to pilot the TARDIS but something is blocking them. They materialise in space halfway to Earth then elect to take 'the long way round'. The TARDIS dematerialises and floating through space appear the wreck of a taxi, half of the Eiffel Tower, part of the Statue of Liberty, the top of the Great Pyramid of Giza, the star certificate and a calendar indicating that whatever happened to the Earth occurred on 24th May 2025.
Cast[]
- The Doctor - Ncuti Gatwa
- Belinda Chandra - Varada Sethu
- Alan Budd - Jonny Green
- Manny - Max Parker
- Mrs Flood - Anita Dobson
- Kirby Blake - Thalia Dudek
- Stefan Haines - Jeffin Kunjumon
- Receptionist - Belinda Owusu
- Tombo - Tom Storey
- Robot 1 - Stephen Love
- Robot 2 - Robert Strange
- Voice of the Robots - Nicholas Briggs
- Sasha 55 - Evelyn Miller
- Robot 3 - Charles Sandford
- Robot 4 - Lucas Edwards
- Scoley - Caleb Hughes
- Shago - Nadine Higgin
- Prime Minister - William Ellis
Crew[]
To be added...
| General production staff Script department Camera and lighting department |
Art department Costume department |
Make-up and prosthetics
General post-production staff Special and visual effects Sound |
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| Not every person who worked on this adventure was credited. The absence of a credit for a position doesn't necessarily mean the job wasn't required. The information above is based solely on observations of the actual end credits of the episodes as broadcast, and does not relay information from IMDB or other sources. |
Worldbuilding[]
- A mysterious "he" person informed the Doctor about Belinda and that she would be important.
- Belinda Chandra is an ancestor of Mundy Flynn. The Doctor is intrigued about their likeness.
- Missbelindachandra and Missbelindachandra One are both located in the Orion constellation. Missbelindachandraville is a thriving city—if one discounts the anti-robot rebellion, that is.
- There is a time fracture somewhere between Earth and Orion.
- Missbelindachandra One was peaceful until ten years ago, when the robots brought Alan from Earth to be their leader. Inspired by his beloved video games, he exploited his authority to the fullest, turning the formerly friendly robots into the vanguard of a totalitarian regime. Now, he sits, roboticised, inside the Al Generator, eliminating all threats to his rule and awaiting the arrival of Belinda, his queen.
- The rebel base has a medical bay stocked with X-ray blankets. When worn, these reveal a person's innards and provide helpful information, such as their name. The Doctor, of course, is named UNKNOWN.
Notes[]
- Belinda's star certificate is dated 5 April 2008, which was the release date for Partners in Crime, the Series 4 premier episode.
- The episode formed Block Two of Series 15 alongside Lucky Day.
Comparison between BBC and Disney+ versions[]
to be added
Myths[]
- The Daleks would return. This was proven false. This rumour arose from shots in the trailer of spaceships, resembling Dalek ships, and a character being vapourised, resembling an extermination. In actuality, both of these shots were connected to the Robots.
Filming Locations[]
to be added
Ratings[]
To be added...
Production errors[]
to be added
Continuity[]
- The robots use a transmat to kidnap Belinda Chandra. (TV: The Ark in Space)
- The Doctor is reminded of Mundy Flynn when her ancestor, Belinda Chandra, complains about potentially missing her Monday shift. (TV: Boom)
- The Doctor and Belinda travelled through a Time Fracture to get to Missbelindachandra One. (WC: 14681 UNIT Field Log)
- The TARDIS "groan" returns. (TV: The Legend Of Ruby Sunday)
Home video releases[]
DVD and Blu-ray[]
to be added
