After two experimental episodes that have sidelined Ncuti Gatwa due to scheduling conflicts, he's back, for a deceptively back-to-basics Doctor Who adventure in Regency England. Rogue is a real showcase for Gatwa's Doctor, reminding us what we've been missing the past two weeks. Never one to be outshone, Millie Gibson also gives a terrific performance, responding to the freshness of writers Kate Herron and Briony Redman's script.
And then there's the strongest guest cast we've had so far in the 2024 season. Jonathan Groff and Indira Varma are the stars of the show, but supporting actors Paul Forman and Camilla Aiko are fantastic as Lord Forman and Emily Beckett. While many will call Rogue a filler episode before the big feast of the season finale, that does it a disservice.
Rogue is a groundbreaking episode of Doctor Who that takes the LGBTQ+ subtext of the Jodie Whittaker era, and makes it the entire text. As the Doctor and Rogue size each other up, Herron and Redman's script goes where Chris Chibnall was afraid to go..
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.it makes the Shalka Doctor canon. 10.
UP - The Doctor and Rogue Let's get this out of the way first, Ncuti Gatwa and Jonathan Groff are electric together in Rogue. While Rogue's American accent and dodgy background led us all to think he's the new Captain Jack, the rug is pulled to reveal that he's actually the new River Song. After flirting with Queer desire during the Chris Chibnall era, Doctor Who is unashamedly exploring it in RTD2.
The electricity be.
