Summary
One of the big talking points for this season ofDoctor Whois the new companion, Belinda Chandra. Anytime a new actor is cast into that iconic role, there’s ultimately a lot of interest because it’s effectively a lead role alongside the Time Lord, typically appearing in every episode across the season, sometimes even without the Doctor featuring much.
Ruby Sunday had done a great job in the first season, so a change happening so quickly did take people by surprise. However, the initial outlook was positive for her, but after just the second episode ofDoctor Who’ssecond season, there are already people questioning whether or not she’s going to be a worthwhile companion.
Belinda Chandra Started Out So Differently
She Stood Up To The Doctor In The Opening Episode
The first episode of the latestDoctor Whoseason wasn’t mind-bending, butChandra was one of the big highlights. The Time Lord’s new companion was presented in a fresh manner that was completely different from how these characters are normally shown. Rather than being in awe of everything and the Doctor himself, she questioned his decisions and the fact he would do things such as check her DNA without asking. Chandra had no problem taking the situation into her own hands as she felt responsible for people being hurt, rather than just listening to the commands of the Doctor, as most companions blindly do. It led to a lot of excitement about her and what the character would offer moving forward in the season, as the dynamic between them was immediately interesting.
She felt the opposite of Sunday, who was overly excited and giddy about everything to do with space and the Doctor himself. While there was nothing wrong with that, the show needed to change the pace to differentiate the companions, especially since Sundaywill be in this season later. Having someone be willing to stand up for her beliefs and not have a desire to travel around in the TARDIS was a lot of fun. It left audiences wondering how the tension would grow between them throughout the season and was something that everyone was looking forward to witnessing play out.
Belinda Chandra Already Feels Less Impressive After ‘Lux’
She Morphed Into A Typical Companion
While significant work was put into place during the first episode, it felt like all of that was undone during ‘Lux.’ The second episode of the season was warmly received for being so interesting, and it did a great job of growing the connection between Chandra and the Doctor. They had great chemistry together, and that’s something that will need to be displayed if this partnership is going to work. Unfortunately, she morphs into another companion due to her performance in this episode. Despite the smallest arguments to not go back to the cinema to investigate what wouldultimately be Mr. Ring-a-Ding, Chandra blindly followed the Doctor throughout the episode. She was happy to go into his wardrobe and get a fancy dress, and she even admitted during the episode that she trusted him completely. While audiences presumed they’d eventually reach that stage, doing it after just the second episode was disappointing to most people who wanted more tension.
Doctor Whocould have had a great long-running storyline throughout the season of Chandra not being won overby the Time Lorddespite his best efforts. She could’ve grown frustrated at not going home until the ultimate reveal of the season, where the danger and the Doctor’s true powers would’ve become clear to her. There was the opportunity to make her feel like a special and unique character, but that has ultimately been wasted at this stage. It’s a case ofDoctor Whodropping the ball with someone, and that’s not what audiences wanted to see so early on in this season.
There Is Still Time For Doctor Who To Save Belinda Chandra
It’s obvious that the majority of thisDoctor Whoseason isgoing to be spent away from Earthbecause the TARDIS is unable to get back to the date where Chandra wants to be. The plot of the season is that she’s desperate to get home, and the Time Lord is unable to make it happen despite his brilliance. While they’re eventually going to return, that’s unlikely to be until the final few episodes, and that could giveDoctor Whothe chance to fix the newest companion. It would make sense for her to become increasingly frustrated at his inability to get home, which would allow her to return to that episode one feeling.
From a storytelling perspective, the way Chandra was originally shown was more to be explored. It brought a fresh approach and dynamic to the show, and that’swhatDoctor Whoneeds right now, with question marks over its long-term future looming. IfDoctor Whocan take Chandra back to how she initially was, even while seeing the good in Ncuti Gatwa’s character, then something special could be achieved.
