Doctor Who "Rosa" Review - Daring But Unbalanced

Every time Doctor Who regenerates, there begins a natural cycle of getting used to the new actor and accept him/her as the Doctor. With the third episode of Series 11, the Thirteenth Doctor finds his footing, while the show drifts further away from the convenient format of its last several years of history.

"Rosa" must have been a real struggle for the new crew of Who. The political and moral themes of the episode can certainly carry themselves forward in the current landscape of the world, yet to fuse that with a science-fiction threat as a means for relevance makes the flow of the narrative unconventionally wearisome to those who sit behind their TV screens in the hope of a fast-paced adventure with a lot of shots showcasing the Doctor as he runs into and away from danger.

That being said, "Rosa" is a brilliant episode of Doctor Who. Vinette Robinson does a wonderful job of bringing Rosa Parks to life with her rich and deep depiction. One of the highlights of Series 11 up until now has been the powerful guest stars who sometimes even go beyond the season's own recurring characters and find a small place in the ever-expanding Whoniverse.

The third episode is emotional, giving weight to the history of mankind and the decisions that led us to this particular state of being. It is also a commentary on how ignorance and its shadow have always haunted the boundaries of our empathy and understanding. "Rosa" is a testament to the importance of Doctor Who and the role of the Doctor in the world's culture.

As was the problem with the first two episodes, "Rosa" lacks characterization and a noteworthy presence of the main cast. The new companions are good actors, but they do not fit well within the boundaries of a show that has to do so much every week with so little time. Even more discouraging is the fact that the Doctor and her performance is undermined by the overloaded crew and the writers' struggle to give them all an interesting role.

One can only hope that Chris Chibnall will eventually find the balance between his characters in order to deliver a memorable Series 11. What we can say with certainty is that "Rosa" will be remembered in the history of Doctor Who as a classic.