“Rogue” is everything I want from an episode of Doctor Who. It’s quick-witted, fast-paced, and tremendously fun, harking back to the dorky Doctor Who of days gone by. The episode features hilariously forgettable villains with a comically bizarre motivation and The Doctor charming a bad boy who actually goes by the name Rogue. Best of all, Ncuti Gatwa is back at the helm after weeks of “Doctor-lite” frustrations, bringing a refreshing tonal change along with him.
Whereas “Dot and Bubble” was Doctor Who’s take on Black Mirror, “Rogue” is its show’s version of a gossip-filled regency romp with an alien twist. It’s hardly surprising that Bridgerton choreographer Jack Murphy was brought in to give “Rogue” an extra dash of authenticity. The episode is filled with lines like “You cad!”, heated chats in the library that risk one’s honor, and a myriad of ballroom dancing scenes.
A palpable sense of fun runs through “Rogue,” especially in scenes with Ncuti Gatwa and Jonathan Groff. Groff is marvelous as the titular space-faring bounty hunter: He’s mischievous and delightfully funny. Every scene with him is a joy, particularly when he’s interacting with The Doctor. Rogue also feels very Time Lord-coded: he has a ship (which presumably time travels), a mysterious past, and plenty of charm. I was genuinely surprised that he didn’t have some kind of connection to Gallifrey. Still, his interactions with The Doctor are the highlights of “Rogue” and make it much easier to look past the bizarre bird creatures playing dress-up in the rest of the episode.
While I expected the show to address Bridgerton in the dialogue, I was fairly surprised at how often it’s unambiguously brought up. It reminded me of references to previously decade-relevant shows like The Weakest Link or Big Brother (which are still going but no longer representative of a cultural zeitgeist). Theming an episode of Doctor Who around another popular series isn’t necessarily a bad idea, but it would’ve benefited from limiting those references to one or two lines rather than making it the core motivation for its villains of the week.
These villains are the Chuldur. They look like birds and enjoy dressing up like their favorite fictional characters more than the average Comic-Con attendee. They’ve descended upon early 19th-century Bath, England, to cosplay Bridgerton. It’s as silly as it sounds. However, I like how the Chuldur are ambivalent to humanity, seeing us as mere playthings to be toyed with like themed dolls. They’re cosmically dark but retain a bombastically goofy tone as much as possible. As villains, they fit comfortably in the formulaic monster-of-the-week format without distracting too much from the best parts of the episode.
“Rogue” also finally explores the 15th Doctor’s less palatable traits. This Doctor is vengeful, arrogant, and perhaps a bit too insistent on being “okay.” Despite initial appearances, he’s seemingly not learning from the mistakes of his past. I liked how “Rogue” delves into the 15th Doctor’s insatiable need to move on and leave the pain behind, as previously seen in the 60th Anniversary Specials. Character flaws being left unexplored was a huge bugbear of mine during Jodie Whittaker’s run as the Time Lord, so I’m glad the show once again isn’t afraid to get self-reflective rather than leaving it too ambiguous.
This depth in character exploration is complemented by the compelling resolution of The Doctor and Rogue’s short-lived time together. Rogue’s sacrificial banishment to a barren dimension not only provides a satisfying climax but also adds layers to this Doctor as a character. Moreover, Rogue’s call for The Doctor to “find him” is particularly great and hopefully teases another appearance. I’d love to see him become a staple of the new era – as Groff’s performance merits a return to the TARDIS.
