The last few episodes of Doctor Who have been conceptually bold and experimental, from the Doctor-lite alternative future of “ 73 Yards ” to the unlikeable racist protagonists of “ Dot and Bubble “. But today’s regency romp “Rogue” is a good old-fashioned return to tradition – simply the Doctor and his companion, exploring time and space, fighting a sinister alien threat. Ncuti Gatwa’s Doctor and Ruby (Millie Gibson) land in 1813 Bath with the explicit aim of dancing at balls and drinking in the drama of the era.
And just as “Dot and Bubble” indirectly riffed on Black Mirror , “Rogue” spoofs another huge hit of the streaming era: buzzy Netflix bonkbuster Bridgerton . This was no mere nod either, as Ruby exclaims “oh my Bridgerton! ” upon seeing two lovers melodramatically quarrel. And just like in Shonda Rhimes’ period drama, there are even classical covers of modern pop songs like Billie Eilish ’s “bad guy”.
Yet the Doctor and Ruby are not alone in their enthusiasm. The baddies this week are the Chulder: shape-shifting bird-like aliens who are such big fans of Bridgerton that they have travelled to Regency-era Earth to “cosplay” the show. Unfortunately for figures like the Duchess of Pemberton (Indira Varma), this didn’t simply mean dressing up in Regency fashion, but killing people and stealing their bodies.
A meta comment, perhaps, on how modern fans try to own shows and characters. Showrunner Russell T Davies has form for leanin.
