Dot and Bubble

Going into 'Dot and Bubble', I was a bit weary as it seemed to be a lame Doctor Who knockoff of Black Mirror's 'Nosedive'. However, this episode was not only intriguing, but continuously surprising.

The protagonist of this episode, Lindy I think her name was, was actually fun to watch. Her bratty, tech savvy personality was a good parallel to Millie's much kinder soul. I thought, surely this was a character who would be redeemed...

This episode tricked me. She was certainly not what I thought. I loved the ending of the episode because it completely threw me off. While it wasn't the most amazing thing all round, it was worth the watch and I was definitely invested.

In the 1980s there were Yuppies and Airheads.

Now we have the Tik Tok generation who never let go of their mobile phones.

Russell T Davies has fun with Lindy Pepper-Bean (Callie Cooke) trapped inside her own bubble. Oblivious that people are being eaten around her.

Until Doctor and Ruby warn her of the danger she is in. Only Lindy cannot even walk on a straight line without her device. Maybe a pot shot at sat nav guidance on phones!

This is a riff of The Macra Terror with slug like creatures eating people.

It was noticeable that Lindy's social bubble was limited. It had the ultimate pay off when the Doctor realised what kind of people he was attempt to save. Not just vacuous but morally bankrupt.

Those put downs from Lindy certainly were coded messages.

I did find that the ending while downbeat did sort of just drifted.

It just keeps getting better doesn't it? Well, that's also because it started off horribly. But the last 3 episodes have been a blast.

Let me start off with the originality of this episode, the idea of the bubble, and people not being able to live without it is genius. The design of the world they live in is great and the characters are amazing. The idea of having to save someone that doesn't want to be saved, and rather be stuck in her bubble is great. The idea of the Doctor and Ruby operating online is sp creative. And don't get me started on the ending...

And of course it's all just a massive metaphor. People rather looking away then solving the problem. Climate change, war, genocide, everything. We're all too caught up in popculture and celebrity drama. Just genius.

I mean, there are just so many things poorly explained sci-fi wise... Feels like Russel wasn't really trying to write a convincing sci-fi story. The sci-fi story overall is boring. Seems the only purpose is to quickly go over the sci-fi part then we can watch the sarcasm part, which is the real main course.

But the sarcasm is great. It's really Black Mirror-ish. You get to feel for the main character Lindy, and hate her in the same time. And some of the clues are kinda subtle, you probably need to read some comments and rewatch this episode to get it.

Also Ncuti's performance is exceptional - I love it when he was given some depth and tension, rather than being the always happy and confident doctor.

Things are very bad at Finetime, the young, elite residents are vanishing, The Doctor and Ruby arrive, but something is stopping them from getting through.

First time round good, second time round very good, this was one very clever piece of writing, and an amusing dig at Gen Z.

Vibes of Macra Terror and Twin Dilemma, only not missing, and very nicely made. There are definitely Black Mirror vibes to it, it really is a bizarre world, where technology has gone up a few notices, Lady P can't even walk without her tech, what a concept.

It's bold, battling racism in a totally unexpected twist, and Ncuti delivers a knockout performance, his speech at the end, a big 'Doctor' moment, something we haven't seen for some time.

Some amusing moments, Russell has some fun at the expense of the bubble headed, privileged princess, Lady Pepper Bean, but there's no denying that Callie Cooke played the part really well. Not too often I'm on the side of the monsters, but in this instance......she deserved to be slug food.

Depth and imagination, one of the best from this series.

7/10.