Doctor Who: Revolution of the Daleks: Review

There's definitely a feeling of deja vu in this New Year's special, the first outing for Doctor Who in 10 months.

As season 12 of the show ended, Jodie Whittaker's Doctor was imprisoned by the Judoon, cast asunder on a space rock that was clearly a prison. Jaz, Ryan and Graham (Mandip Gil, Tosin Cole and The Chase's Bradley Walsh) had been left on Earth, wondering where their friend had gone and if she'd survived her trip to Gallifrey with the Master.

But there's little to worry about for too long, with Chris Noth's oily businessman Jack Robertson returning and apparently aiding the UK government with the creation of some defence drones that look suspiciously like remodelled Daleks...

Doctor Who: Revolution of the Daleks has a nice book-end feel to it, as it's set up as a compendium piece to the first New Year's special Resolution. The decision to pick up the show moments after the original dispatch of the Dalek drone is a nice continuity touch that appears far too infrequently during the show, and delivers some implications of consequences for the Doctor and her fam's adventures.

John Barrowman adds a burst of energy to the return of Captain Jack, and nods to his past show why Barrowman's infectious enthusiasm give the show the edge it needs a little this time around. (Though his use at the hands of Chibnall's writing to help the Doctor break out is more Looney Tunes than strong concept and execution).

Special credit needs to go to Misfits star Nathan Stewart-Jarrett as Leo, Robertson's tech guy who inadvertently puts the world in danger. There's an empathy immediately with Leo, as he suffers a similar fate to some of those who encountered Daleks back in Resolution. 

And here inherently is some of where the problem lies with Doctor Who: Revolution of the Daleks; there are familiar beats to the previous story, a feeling of a repetition of some showdowns from the David Tennant era Doomsday as well as Third Doctor Dalek stories and various comics where differing factions face off against each other. It's all nicely paced, but doesn't feel essential viewing for the return of such an iconic character and Jodie Whittaker.

If anything, show runner Chris Chibnall is more interested in the emotional implications for the reunited Fam, especially with the news that Bradley Walsh and Tosin Cole are leaving the show.

An early scene where Cole's Ryan reiterates his reasons for thinking about moving on rehashes some of the moments of season 12 but the interaction of Cole and Whitaker demonstrates a warmth and emotional centre that's been the beating hearts of this show from the get go. Plus, as the Doctor delivers a speech about rewinding time and getting to spend more time with her Fam following her incarceration and isolation, one can't help but feel the double-edged connotations given the Covid-19 pandemic that befell the world post the filming of the show.

There is a feeling at times of over-stuffing the festive script, and so when the moment comes to farewell Graham and Ryan, they feel cheated as characters - certainly in Bradley Walsh's departure, the moment feels a touch ungainly and lacking the gravitas that maybe it could have had, had the special aired closer to the end of Series 12 - here it feels narrative necessity, rather than tear-jerking farewell.

Ultimately, Doctor Who: Revolution of the Daleks is a nice filler episode that moves along a-pace but doesn't really offer much new to the show other than a degree of affection for the characters and their journey. Technically, it's dazzling, but emotionally, while it draws a line under the show's current incarnation, it's not quite the Revolution the title promised.

(And the post-credits reveal of the new companion for the Doctor and Yaz as they carry on is either going to be the making or breaking of the show.)

SPOILER VIDEO BELOW FOR THE NEW COMPANION REVEAL