Warning! This review contains spoilers for Doctor Who season 15, episode 6, “The Interstellar Song Contest”
“The Interstellar Song Contest” perfectly captures the magic of Doctor Who
in a fun, emotional, and powerful adventure that makes the most of the 40-minute runtime. Ncuti Gatwa builds on the incredible power of last week’s Doctor Who episode to deliver his best episode of the season so far, with an incredible range of emotion and intensity on display. Beyond that, this episode takes a leap forward in terms of the season’s overall narrative ahead of the two-part finale.
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The Doctor visits Nigeria in one of the best laid-out episodes showcasing the talents of Ncuti Gatwa as the Fifteenth Doctor and honoring the past.
This episode is a playful spin on the Eurovision Song Contest, reimagined as an intergalactic affair taking place 900 years into the future. When the Doctor and Belinda touch down just as proceedings are underway, they decide to take a moment and enjoy the show. However, when the competition is hijacked, things go wrong quickly with some of the highest stakes in Doctor Who history.
“The Interstellar Song Contest” Delivers The Best Of Doctor Who
Doctor Who is a unique sci-fi series with all of time and space at its disposal. Despite the massive stage, the show relies on one incredible character to drive the narrative forward. And when the Doctor is being played well, the show is unrivaled, with this curious, excitable, genius alien diving into the depths of space and taking the audience on a journey. This episode absolutely delivers in that regard.
This spark of rage and complexity is exactly what I needed to see from Gatwa’s Doctor, and he did not disappoint.
The setting is perfect for Ncuti Gatwa’s camp Fifteenth Doctor, who gets a genuine kick out of attending the quirky song contest, and attending with his dear friend Belinda. However, when the lives of three trillion lifeforms across the galaxy are hanging in the balance, the Doctor struggles to contain his anger. Of course, it isn’t helped by the fact that the Doctor believes his dear companion may be near death. But this spark of rage and complexity is exactly what I needed to see from Gatwa’s Doctor, and he did not disappoint.
The pressure of the situation also allows the Doctor to shine as he puts his mind to saving everyone, while also allowing others to step up and have their heroic moments. And while the Doctor is focused on saving everyone, Belinda is learning from species beyond her planet and time, embracing others despite the vast differences between them. This all combines to deliver a perfect Doctor Who episode that captures the essence of the show, while telling a coherent, satisfying story.
Doctor Who Is Moving Into The Finale Strong
After a season that continually dropped a trail of breadcrumbs with Mrs. Flood appearing, this episode gives the character a slightly expanded moment that comes just in time. However, the foreshadowing of what the Doctor and Belinda can expect to witness when they finally arrive back in 2025 was the real kicker of the episode, with Graham Norton delivering the ominous and haunting dialogue that sets up the two-part finale.
Beyond that, the episode’s final moments make for a much more effective and tentative conclusion that builds intrigue ahead of “Wish World” and “The Reality War.” This season of Doctor Who has proven to be much stronger than the one that introduced Gatwa as the Doctor, and it’s wonderful to see the actor settle into the role and make it his own.
Overall, this episode is one of the best outings in Doctor Who‘s recent history, bringing the characters to life in a way that they have not been shown previously. The fun, quirky nature, combined with a darker and more tense tone, work in beautiful unison, and it all adds up to everything that makes Doctor Who great. Now, as long as the season sticks the landing, Doctor Who’s future may yet be bright.
New episodes of Doctor Who air Saturdays on BBC and are available to stream at 12pm PT/3am ET on Disney+ the same day.
Doctor Who Season 15, Episode 6
9/10
- Release Date
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December 25, 2023
- Directors
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Douglas Camfield, David Maloney, Christopher Barry, Michael E. Briant, Barry Letts, Michael Ferguson, Richard Martin, Peter Moffatt, Pennant Roberts, Lennie Mayne, Chris Clough, Ron Jones, Paddy Russell, Paul Bernard, Michael Hayes, Timothy Combe, Morris Barry, Gerald Blake, Graeme Harper, Waris Hussein, Rodney Bennett, Mervyn Pinfield, Hugh David, John Gorrie
- Ncuti Gatwa is spectacular delivering range and intensity.
- The story is coherent, fun, and clever.
- The setup for the finale is stunning.
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