Warning: Spoilers ahead forDoctor Whoseason 14, episode 5, “Dot and Bubble.”
Summary
Doctor Whoseason 14, episode 5, “Dot and Bubble,” feels very much like a take on Charlie Brooker’sBlack Mirror, but Russell T Davies falls short of replicating the formula of the sci-fi anthology show. While there is undeniably some crossover in the target demographic of both shows,Doctor WhoandBlack Mirrorare aimed at different audiences. However, Davies still manages to pay a semi-convincing tribute to the Netflix show during the second “Doctor-lite” episode in a row of Ncuti Gatwa’s debut season.
TheDoctor Whoseason 14 castis rejigged once again in “Dot and Bubble” to account for the sparing use of Ncuti Gatwa’s Fifteenth Doctor and Millie Gibson’s Ruby Sunday. Instead,the episode is led by Callie Cooke as Lindy Pepper-Bean, which largely gives the impression of a standalone story in the vein ofBlack Mirror. The result is compelling, but it wouldn’t come anywhere near the list ofbestBlack Mirrorepisodes, and there are several reasons why it doesn’t quite hit the mark.
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One of the biggest goals ofBlack Mirroris to make the audience feel desperately uncomfortable, often delving deep into social taboos and raising questions that are incredibly difficult and awkward to address. While “Dot and Bubble” does focus onthe racist attitude Lindy harbors toward the Doctorat the end of the episode,Doctor Whois a family show. Therefore, there’s only so far it can push the subject. The scene is horrible to watch, but it doesn’t double down on the negativity in the same way aBlack Mirrorepisode might.
“Dot and Bubble” builds part of its narrative on social media addiction, which is also a huge component ofBlack Mirrorseason 3, episode 1, “Nosedive.”
Doctor Whohas been able to adopt a thoroughly dark tone before, despite being produced largely for family viewing. However, these episodes are often so far removed from reality that there’s very little risk of it being mistaken for an allegory for anything. In addition, the Doctor still often comes out on top. That being said, a happy ending is an option inBlack Mirror, although certain episodes maintain an element of grimness until the very end. This part of the formula is something that Davies successfully installs in “Dot and Bubble.”
Doctor Who’s “Dot & Bubble” Tries To Cram Four Black Mirror Episodes Into One
All the different messages in Doctor Who’s Black Mirror tribute get in each other’s way
Black Mirrorwill often hone in on a specific topic and explore each of its facets from various angles. Although the story becomes severely fictionalized, the message of each episode is clear.Doctor Who’s version of aBlack Mirrorstory doesn’t quite know what it wants to focus on, drawing on too many different subject matters to adequately address any of them during its 40-minute runtime.
As well as highlighting the racism suffered by the Doctor,“Dot and Bubble” attempts to provide a social commentary on elitismby having a community of only those who come from wealth, as well as the dangers of AI by making the monsters invisible to the bubbles, then also making a point about being overly reliant on social media/technology in general. The messages become very mixed, burying one another and making it difficult to parse out the moral or main takeaway of the story.
“Dot & Bubble” Shows Why Doctor-Lite Episodes Are Still Risky
Not every Doctor-lite episode can be as effective as “Blink”
A “Doctor-lite” episode is when the titular Time Lord barely features in the installment, with the term being coined during David Tennant’s run as the Tenth Doctor. The production technique is often used to aid with scheduling. For instance, Davies has confirmedDoctor Whoseason 14, episode 4,“73 Yards,” revolves around Ruby as a result of Gatwa filmingSex Educationat the same time. While the necessity has resulted in some truly terrific episodes ofDoctor Who,“Dot and Bubble” represents the group of Doctor-lite episodes that would have benefited from a larger dose of the show’s lead actor.
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The presence of a character like the Doctor can solve weak scripts or other issues, so omitting him means every remaining aspect needs to be airtight. Perhaps the most successful Doctor-lite story isDoctor Whoseason 3, episode 10, “Blink,” with its solid structure competently telling the story of Sally Sparrow and the Weeping Angels. However, in the season before,“Love and Monsters” remains as evidence that the format can easily fall flat.“Dot and Bubble” isn’t the worst Doctor-lite/Black Mirrorepisode, but its weaknesses highlight the ongoing risk of penning aDoctor Whoscript without the show’s hero.
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Doctor Who: Released on June 24, 2025, this series follows the Doctor and their companion as they journey across time and space, encountering a range of extraordinary friends and adversaries, expanding the universe of the long-running British science fiction series.
