We all knew Doctor Who\u2019s<\/a> Ncuti Gatwa was a spot of genius casting. But in the final moments of Dot and Bubble<\/a>, where the story pivots to a shocking ending, the actor has offered up perhaps his finest performance yet.<\/p>\n Dot and Bubble, starring guest actress Callie Cooke<\/a> as Lindy Pepper-Bean, starts with a clear commentary on our addiction to technology, brought to life with the help of some exaggerated social media influencer personas.<\/p>\n Lindy, a resident of Finetime (\u201cwhere everything is fine all the time\u201d), happily goes about her day encircled in a bubble that tells her where to walk, what to do, and even when to pee. But, outside of the bubble in the real world, monsters are eating her friends one by one \u2013 and the Doctor (Gatwa) and Ruby (Millie Gibson)<\/a> can\u2019t reach her.<\/p>\n Thankfully, the episode sees Lindy step up and follow the Doctor\u2019s instructions to save herself. But this is certainly not the story we\u2019re used to seeing, of a heroic guest star saving the day. Lindy betrays Ricky September (Tom Rhys Harries), cold-heartedly leaving him behind and then lying about what happened to him before a shock ending to the episode shows the residents of Finetime\u2019s true colours in a bleak comment on racism.<\/p>\n As the Doctor offers Lindy a spot on board the TARDIS<\/a> to escape, Lindy matter-of-factly tells the Doctor she can\u2019t travel with him.<\/p>\n \u201cYou, sir, are not one of us,\u201d she says. \u201cYou were kind \u2013 although it was your duty to save me, obviously. I mean screen to screen contact is just about acceptable but in person? That\u2019s impossible.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoochy Pie (Niamh Lynch) goes on to refer to the TARDIS as \u201cvoodoo\u201d and claims it\u2019s their \u201cgod-given duty to maintain the standards of Finetime forever\u201d. The Doctor\u2019s face falls in disbelief, before looking from person to person as he takes in what\u2019s being said. Gatwa gives the slightest nod as the Doctor\u2019s perception of the situation has to change entirely.<\/p>\n Assuring Lindy she can say and think anything, he pleads with the residents of Finetime to allow him to save their lives as Murray Gold\u2019s<\/a> emotional score swells. But that offer doesn\u2019t even register with Lindy and co, who turn their backs on him.<\/p>\n Gatwa masterfully shows the Doctor experiencing a full emotional spectrum \u2013 first, outright desperation, as he screams: \u201cBut you will die out there and I can save your lives! Now let me!\u201d<\/p>\n As Lindy walks away, the Doctor tremors, wondering what he can possibly say next, what he can do to change their minds. The answer is nothing. With that realisation, he laughs joylessly, before letting out a guttural scream. Still, he doesn\u2019t look away but gazes after the residents of Finetime, perhaps still willing them to change their minds, willing for them to let him save them.<\/p>\n As Lindy looks back at the Doctor, we see him standing tall with tears pouring down his face and a haunted look in his eyes as he resigns himself to the situation. Before opening the TARDIS door, he takes one more look at the residents of Finetime departing on their boat. He pauses for a second, before opening the door and leaving Finetime behind for good.<\/p>\n It\u2019s quite the pivot at the end of the episode, but one that allows Gatwa the full freedom to show off his acting chops. Season 14 has been quite light on showing off our new Doctor so far \u2013 not least because of Gatwa\u2019s commitments to finishing Sex Education season 4 while filming.<\/p>\n Both 73 Yards<\/a> and Dot and Bubble have seen the Doctor largely take a backseat \u2013 but that doesn\u2019t mean Gatwa can\u2019t steal the show at a moment\u2019s notice.\u00a0 It\u2019s an electric performance from him and one that could very well go down in the Who history books.<\/p>\n He didn\u2019t even need a classic Doctor Who monologue to do it \u2013 just a few moments with the camera steadily trained on him to show what he\u2019s capable of. While he\u2019s undoubtedly been great up until now too, this is the moment that echoes back to what showrunner Russell T Davies<\/a> has said of his jaw-dropping audition<\/a>.<\/p> Every actor plays the Doctor differently and it\u2019s been a pleasure to meet Gatwa\u2019s cheeky, sensitive, and enigmatic Time Lord \u2013 but no moment has shown him quite like this. The rage, the frustration, the disbelief and the pure powerlessness he elicits at this moment are incredibly potent \u2013 and even more so when you consider what Gatwa has previously said about how Doctor Who will address race<\/a>.<\/p>\n Gatwa is the first permanent Black Doctor in the show\u2019s history \u2013 following Jo Martin\u2019s<\/a> brief appearance as the Fugitive Doctor during the Chris Chibnall era. Previously opening up about whether the show would address race, he told The Hollywood Reporter<\/a>: \u201cI think that there will be no way to not, you have to address race.\u201d<\/p>\n He added: \u201cI think, like, the Doctor has been\u2026 this is the first time the Doctor has been this Black for this long, and he tends to spend most of his time on Earth, it\u2019s a favourite of his.<\/p>\n![\"Callie](\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/3\/2024\/05\/dot-and-bubble-doctor-who-2afe5bd.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413\" "\\"Callie")
\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>![\"Callie](\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/3\/2024\/05\/478841-fd632e8.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413\" "\\"Callie")
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