Doctor Who Season Premiere Recap: Rediscovering Its Groove

Doctor Who Season Premiere Recap

The new season of "Doctor Who," helmed by Russell T Davies and starring Ncuti Gatwa, kicks off with a double episode premiere.

[{"selector":"#anim-b1a2d55b-e2aa-46d9-b630-209acaee3c8d [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(39.80263153550723%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-42563674-b6b5-431b-bec7-5252d98e9a88","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-475cd9dd-4666-4b05-a6aa-3cc3c33e7d21","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 128.14124%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Davies faces the challenge of reinvigorating the show for both longstanding fans and new audiences.

[{"selector":"#anim-4a6b0f73-6dc1-4132-b452-ad23c78cdb06 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(31.276785600673975%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8e0ffb3f-540a-46e9-b8b8-6ec2b07d8d0d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-10a17468-ae50-455a-8e67-09082bdb0a5e","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 128.14124%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

The premiere features two separate adventures: "Space Babies" and "The Devil's Chord."

[{"selector":"#anim-87a58c11-c31c-4a7f-9e55-455626c1a030 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(24.671052463701486%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8914f0af-6cea-48a3-80cb-7bf75fff2db5","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-72a6361b-694f-4dc5-a741-2ca81013bb97","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 133.45681%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

"Space Babies" introduces the Doctor's new companion, Ruby Sunday, and delves into Time Lord lore.

[{"selector":"#anim-65b9b1db-261f-40ed-9c75-96dc69bc0dc4 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(39.35032889515622%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7edf9731-4dcf-4d59-bae5-24f2faa71fa0","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bab4864a-f911-466d-9856-8d270974c869","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 133.45681%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

The emotional depth of "Space Babies" contrasts with its somewhat whimsical monster plot.

[{"selector":"#anim-35428142-c66f-4a29-a9c9-8da363351836 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(24.671052463701486%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-18f52557-dfb5-40d1-a9c4-3a0b5b7b9dc1","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-58c86846-5d07-4633-8023-3c9af5ca06ee","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 132.34571%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

The episode sets up intriguing mysteries surrounding Ruby's origins and the Doctor's connection to her.

[{"selector":"#anim-788f7ed5-4fab-4d65-b362-8c5f34e174a4 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(24.095394559178136%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-39d4f100-0cee-439f-ad26-5302ce9449a8","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-811a0568-a139-40b3-ad37-aaea796f2d77","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 133.45681%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

"The Devil's Chord" introduces the flamboyant villain Maestro, portrayed by Jinkx Monsoon.

[{"selector":"#anim-539eb47a-0f75-4409-877a-79a44163c51e [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(40.29605259219655%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f6499ce4-1ef9-4db9-bf97-020ed9b7fc7a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-85181eb5-6a90-43e3-9f81-5ed979b10d05","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 140.12348%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Monsoon's Maestro brings a blend of humor, sensuality, and danger to the series.

[{"selector":"#anim-9a0f7efe-97c8-48b9-8cbc-0ca2fde9a2ed [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(30.766457382498658%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9ba86196-957c-4165-9128-a33562e0a26d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-49a5712d-e1ca-4070-9516-fddeb003a952","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 139.60694%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

The episode intertwines musical motifs with a sinister plot to destroy music itself.

[{"selector":"#anim-1ef32567-4050-4dd1-af10-9b6921b5c183 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(31.124999885467236%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-69622aa2-cbbb-47ee-9b22-29753d18c3e5","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0b073768-7905-4e92-8fc3-1cac7d2970aa","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 139.60694%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

The season premiere concludes with a surprising twist and a spectacular song and dance number, signaling a fresh direction for "Doctor Who."

[{"selector":"#anim-13552cfc-a5f1-4296-b9a6-17bb67a1802c [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(37.623355196743624%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5b788a56-1431-4e97-9640-7291b4a1c553","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-505af5ad-3ffb-4e43-b43a-01b3838a65c6","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 122.98082%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]