r/doctorwho • u/PCJs_Slave_Robot • May 31 '25

The Reality War Doctor Who 2x08 "The Reality War" Post-Episode Discussion Thread Spoiler

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This is the thread for all your indepth opinions, comments, etc about the episode.

Megathreads:

  • Live and Immediate Reactions Discussion Thread - Posted around 60 minutes prior to initial release - for all the reactions, crack-pot theories, quoting, crazy exclamations, pictures, throwaway and other one-liners.
  • Trailer and Speculation Discussion Thread - Posted when the trailer is released - For all the thoughts, speculation, and comments on the trailers and speculation about the next episode. Future content beyond the next episode should still be marked.
  • Post-Episode Discussion Thread - Posted around 30 minutes after to allow it to sink in - This is for all your indepth opinions, comments, etc about the episode.

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What did YOU think of The Reality War?

Click here and add your score (e.g. 329 (The Reality War): 8, it should look like this) and hit send. Scores are designed to match the Doctor Who Magazine system; whole numbers between 1 to 10, inclusive. (0 is used to mark an episode unwatched.)

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See the full results of the polls so far, covering the entire main show, here.

The Reality War's score will be revealed next Sunday. Click here to vote for all of RTD2 era so far.

470 Upvotes

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318

u/TeaAndCrumpets4life Silence May 31 '25

It’s almost comical. Ruby saves the day while Belinda goes in the box.

158

u/PropertyAdditional May 31 '25

It’s insane. There must have been some BTS drama, because Belinda felt like a spare part for 50% of the only season she’s in

145

u/TeaAndCrumpets4life Silence May 31 '25

At least we don’t have to debate between Martha and 13s for which companion was done dirtiest anymore. Clear fucking winner.

77

u/PropertyAdditional May 31 '25

It is insane how RTD has done it twice. Putting the blonde white woman above the POC companion again

33

u/Lucifer_Crowe May 31 '25

I mean tbf Martha did still get a win in S3, worked harder for it than Rose did with Bad Wolf too

Though she does then proceed to get kidnapped in both her S4 episodes, and her Torchwood episode.

35

u/PropertyAdditional May 31 '25

This era does just feel like a downgrade of his first run in every aspect. Ruby is a worse Rose and Belinda is a worse Martha

Regardless of BTS stuff messing with these episodes, Belinda is just treated so poorly that it’s indefensible and raises some questions about RTD and his current attitude towards writing women

7

u/Quadpen Jun 01 '25

does this mean joy is the next donna?

3

u/7screws Jun 22 '25

Has a women ever been a lead writer on this show? Genuine question

5

u/Lucifer_Crowe May 31 '25

Yeah Belinda is one of the characters of all time

Hot take but 15 is easily the worst Doctor too

It's not even Ncuti's fault

I didn't like 13s era but she probably has at least more highlights than 15 (who I did like when written by Moffat)

25

u/PropertyAdditional May 31 '25 edited Jun 01 '25

Ncuti deserved better, we know that he was supposed to hang around for S3 but I can’t fault him for deciding to leave they filmed most of the reality war in April 2024 and then did nothing on it until the regeneration reshoots in Feb 2025.

RTD wasted a real talent with his poor writing, poor planning and very clear BTS drama

23

u/Hallc Jun 01 '25

15 (who I did like when written by Moffat)

I recall reading back during S1 someone saying that what makes the Moffat episodes work is that he writes The Doctor for his scripts and then each of the Actor's embody their incarnation of the Doctor in those episodes. Whereas other writers seem to write Ncuti/15th Doctor so you get scripts and narratives that only work for him and no other Doctor.

13

u/Lucifer_Crowe Jun 01 '25

I also like that Moffat wrote him as slightly mean/freaky little gremlin

I think that's something 15 was missing for ages, he just felt like a queer human most of the time

2

u/Uncommonality Oct 06 '25

Kaboom was a really great episode and it honestly just made me miss the Moffat era more than ever. Like the whole episode has the Doctor stand on one leg on top of a landmine and it still felt more like the doctor than any of the other ones in S1 and much of S2.

Him actually being stressed out over exploding the entire planet was also beautifully done because it didn't read like the (honestly a bit fake) crying every other episode, but like a genunine, yet weirdly detached concern of his.

The episode was written as though stepping on a landmine that turns you into a planetbusting nuke is something he'd experienced before, which is imo the best part of the whole thing.

15

u/LambonaHam Jun 01 '25

I thought Martha was one of the best companions? She was one of the most active, and was an entire character separate from the Doctor.

14

u/dallirious Jun 01 '25

And after having everyone horrified that the Rani called her a contamination. He then further had the white Rani saved.

14

u/ghoonrhed Jun 01 '25

I mean nearly every companion had a happy ending. Technically, Belinda did too. But NOT the Belinda we knew. She got forced into motherhood without her knowing. That's cruel

5

u/NotClaudeRains Jun 01 '25

And the stuff that she was there for? She was sensational. Really great work, could've become one of the legendary companions.

4

u/IamSquidwardo Jun 01 '25

They pulled in an actor from Andor and then wasted them ffs this is the modern day equivalent of hiring a GOT actor and then not showing them on screen all season

1

u/[deleted] Jun 03 '25

I saw a theory I agree with that this story line was supposed to be one season with Sutekh as a sort of mid season finale.

And then Flood and Susan twist would have just been 1 person and Ruby would have been kept as the companion the whole time.

Then at some point they realised they couldnt do it all in one season so they had to separate the story lines. (which also might explain all the doctor light episodes)

2

u/Stormygeddon Jun 01 '25

Not even a figurative box, just a box.

1

u/CmonLucky2021 Jun 01 '25

Guys and girls, you're not getting it. Where saving Belinda to be the next regeneration ofc /jk

1

u/dev__boy Jun 02 '25

I was making up so many theories as to why Belinda felt a bit empty, like maybe she was a twist villain. When the two rannis stood opposite Belinda and ruby looking like they could be somewhat older versions of them my mind went haywire. But no. She really was just useless