Summary
Doctor Whoshowrunner Russell T Davies reveals an astonishing detail behind Ncuti Gatwa filming"Dot and Bubble’s" devastating ending scene. Episode 5 of Gatwa’s debut season saw the Doctor and Ruby Sunday (Millie Gibson) attempt to break a city full of young adults out of the grip of an all-encompassing social media trend. In the final moments of the episode, it is revealed that the slug-like Mantraps are only a small part of a more horrific world, as bigotry and hate are all-too-prevalent throughout those who call Finetime home.
When interviewed for the latest episode ofDoctor Who: Unleashed, Davies unveiled thatGatwa’s emotional scene was the first thing the actor filmed for the new season. With the actor undertaking such a heavy moment as soon as he stepped onto the location, the showrunner and other higher-ups were left debating whether having Gatwa perform such a scene on his first day would be the right decision, though they were left incredibly floored by the actor’s performance. Check out Davies' explanation below:
Do you know, we handed that scipt to Ncuti, and I was wary. I was thinking “My god”, especially ‘cos this is the first thing he shot. It is astonishing, ‘cos he comes in… He did the regeneration way back with David, but actually, the scene at the end of episode five is his first day with us, his first proper day…
We were all kind of holding our breaths, thinking, “That’s no way you’d start any lead actor off.” We talked about it, should we reschedule, should we let him settle in? Should we hold this scene off? And in the end, we decide to go for it, and bang, That’s a great actor. He just hits it, and it’s one of the most remarkable performance I’ve ever seen.
How Did Ncuti Gatwa React To “Dot and Bubble’s” Ending Reveal?
Gatwa’s Performance Solidifies Him As A Great Doctor Actor
While Davies and other voices behindDoctor Whomay have had initial reservations about bringing Gatwa in to film such a powerful but deeply disturbing moment first, it is clear the actor recognizes and highlights the full impact of the moment, even before season 14 began airing. Over seven months before season 14 premiered,Gatwa teased that a then-unknown season 14 momentin November 2023 that episode 5 required him to “dig deep” and leave a clear impression on viewers upon airing. And it is difficult to deny its success, as “Dot and Bubble’s” ending completely alters the entire episode.
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With only a few select phrases uttered by Lindy (Callie Cooke) and her fellow Finetime survivors, it becomes clear that “Dot and Bubble” isn’t atypicalDoctor Whoseason 14 story, astheir racist beliefs change how viewers look at every interaction between her and the Doctor. Furthermore, the Doctor is revealed to have aided many survivor’s escapes, meaning they had been subjected to bigotry many times before her. Even after offering them an escape despite knowing their beliefs, the Doctor is ultimately left frustrated and angered by the survivor’s racism, condemning them to death.
With “Dot and Bubble” veering into such a surprisingly heavy subject despite laying subtle hints throughout the episode’s runtime, it is clear why Davies and those behind the scenes atDoctor Whomay have had reservations about having Gatwa film its ending first. Nevertheless, it is clear great care and consideration was taken to ensure Gatwa was comfortable during filming while creating a striking final moment. As such, “Dot and Bubble” was able to leave one ofDoctor Who’s darkest endings as one of its most memorable through Gatwa’s emotional performance of a pained, frustrated hero.
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Doctor Who
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Doctor Who: Released on August 09, 2025, this series follows the Doctor and their companion as they journey across time and space, encountering a range of extraordinary friends and adversaries, expanding the universe of the long-running British science fiction series.
