DOCTOR WHO: THE WELL (TV) (2025, UK, 48m, PG) ****½
Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Adventure
dist. BBC One; pr co. Bad Wolf/BBC Wales; d. Amanda Brotchie; w. Russell T. Davies, Sharma Angel-Walfall; exec pr. Russell T. Davies, Julie Gardner, Jane Tranter, Joel Collins, Phil Collinson; pr. Chris May; ph. Nick Dance (Colour | 2.00:1); m. Murray Gold; ed. Ulrike Münch; ad. Alex Stannus.
cast: Ncuti Gatwa (The Doctor), Varada Sethu (Belinda Chandra), Rose Ayling-Ellis (Aliss Fenly), Annabel Brook (Hanno Yeft), Luke Rhodri (Callo Rence), Bethany Antonia (Mo Gilliben), Gaz Choudry (Kai Sabba), Christopher Chung (Cassio Palin-Paleen), Caoilfhionn Dunne (Shaya Costallion), Gary Lillai (Albie Bethick), Frankie Lipman (Sal Van Hyten), Paul Kasey (It Has No Name), Jermaine Dominique (Ulic Dazen), Anita Dobson (Mrs Flood), Amy Tyger (Val Vivo), Meg Abernethy Hope (Trooper 5), Beyagy Demba (Trooper 6), Sophie Cull (Trooper 7), Paul Skudder (Trooper 9), Umit Gozuacik (Trooper 10).
Far in the future, on a tough, brutal planet, a devastated mining colony has only one survivor. To discover the truth, the Doctor and Belinda must face absolute terror. The result is the series’ best episode for many a year – a taut and nightmarish mystery with a spine-tingling twist. Everything about this story is what Doctor Who does best – something that has been unfortunately missing for far too long. The writing here is very clever without being showy. The episode is perfectly directed by Brotchie, who gives the story time to breathe, but in doing so, does not sacrifice any of the tension already built. Gatwa shows what he is capable of in his most ‘Doctor-ish’ performance to date, and Sethu demonstrates she is the best companion on the show since Catherine Tate, with a performance that is utterly believable in its wide-eyed wonder, fear and vulnerability. A great episode. More like this, please.
