Doctor Who Season 14 Reviews Are In — What Are Critics Saying About Ncuti Gatwa’s First Season

The Doctor Who season 14 reviews are in, and critics are praising Ncuti Gatwa’s first season. With Russell T Davies returning as showrunner after holding the position from 2005 to 2010, the latest season of BBC’s long-running sci-fi series stars Sex Education‘s Gatwa as the fifteenth iteration of the titular Time Lord who travels through space and time using the British police box known as the TARDIS. The Doctor Who season 14 cast also introduces Millie Gibson as the Doctor’s newest companion, Ruby Sunday.

Now, ahead of the Doctor Who season 14 release date on May 11, critics have started sharing their reviews. Overall, the reviews praise Gatwa’s performance and are calling season 14 a return to form for Doctor Who. For instance, The Guardian‘s Jack Seale says, “Ncuti Gatwa will make this show far more fun than it’s been for years.”

What Doctor Who Season 14’s Reviews Are Saying About Ncuti Gatwa’s First Season

Doctor Who Appears To Be In Very Good Hands

Overall, the Doctor Who season 14 reviews are overflowing with praise for Gatwa’s performance. Gatwa’s casting is notable since he is the first Black and openly queer actor to play the Doctor. In addition, season 14 is the first season following Disney+’s acquisition of Doctor Who‘s international broadcasting rights, which is where the show will stream in the United States. This represents a new creative direction for the long-running sci-fi show, and the critical response appears to be overwhelmingly positive.

Empire‘s Jordan King writes, “Doctor Who’s latest reboot gets off to an unpredictable, exciting, and incredibly promising start” and “make no mistake: the future of Doctor Who has never been brighter.” Variety‘s Aramide Tinubu also voices approval, writing, “Ncuti Gatwa delights in Disney+’s audacious and adventurous Doctor Who.” Critics are also calling the pairing between Gatwa and Gibson “magnetic“ and other castings, such as Jinkx Monsoon, are being praised. IGN‘s Robert Anderson writes, “Jinkx Monsoon is the latest Doctor Who casting coup, and the ‘Queen of All Queens’ delivers a killer performance.”

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According to critics, Doctor Who season 14 appeals to both long and first-time viewers alike, with Collider‘s Samantha Coley calling it “a madcap adventure for fans both new and old.” However, The Guardian‘s Jack Seale says showrunner Russell T Davies spends too “much time spoon-feeding new fans.” This represents the small amount of criticism aimed at Doctor Who season 14, some of which also comes from The Telegraph‘s Anita Singh who says that, while “Ncuti Gatwa shines,” it’s “among the clunky culture-war posturing.” Soon enough, audiences can see the new season and form their own opinions.