Even Doctor Who Admits It Keeps Pulling The Same Companion Trick Over & Over Again

Warning: Spoilers ahead for Doctor Who season 15, episode 1, "The Robot Revolution."Doctor Who season 15, episode 1, "The Robot Revolution," includes an exchange between Belinda Chandra (Varada Sethu) and the Fifteenth Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa) that quietly highlights a long-running companion trend that has been incredibly present in the show's modern era. Although Sethu first appeared in 2024's "Boom", her role in the Doctor Who season 15 cast places far more focus on her new character. The nature of the connection between Belinda Chandra and Mundy Flynn is addressed near the end of "The Robot Revolution," but it is not fully resolved.

Belinda proves herself a worthy companion in Doctor Who season 15's opener, although the episode also comes with the surprising twist that she has no interest in traveling with the Doctor after being rescued. Instead, she just wants to return to Earth. However, the TARDIS can't take Belinda home, and she is forced to go on a journey through time and space. This part of her character's backstory is fascinating, but there's something else about the Doctor's new companion that seems frustratingly familiar.

Belinda Ruthlessly Points Out That She's Another Of Doctor Who's "Mystery Girl" Companions

Sethu's new Doctor Who character quietly criticizes a modern companion trope

Belinda has come in to replace Millie Gibson's Ruby Sunday after the latter made her exit as a full-time member of the cast at the end of Doctor Who season 14. Although they have differences, both women have fallen into the category of Doctor Who's "mystery girl" companions. This is a common trope that predates Ruby. It encompasses previous companions like Donna Noble (Catherine Tate), Amy Pond (Karen Gillan), and Clara Oswald (Jenna Coleman). Belinda unknowingly references this narrative trend in "The Robot Revolution" while speaking with Fifteen in the TARDIS.

THE DOCTOR: "I can't help thinking, Bel, that maybe we are meant to be connected."
BELINDA: "Like, this is destiny? Is that what you say to all the girls?"
- Doctor Who season 15, episode 1, "The Robot Revolution."

Although Belinda only intends the line to poke fun at the Doctor, it means a lot more when heard as a viewer of the show. Because of the mysterious issue of Fifteen and Belinda being drawn together by something that's as yet inexplicable, showrunner/writer Russell T. Davies has made her seem more similar to other companions like Donna and Amy. It's something of a meta joke that is ultimately an accurate appraisal of the Doctor's recent history with companions.

Please Doctor Who, Don't Make The Companion After Belinda Another Big Mystery

Doctor Who's future needs to move away from enigmatic companions for a while

Varada Sethu looking concerned as Belinda Chandra in Doctor Who

As much as I enjoy mysterious companion storylines, they start to lose their efficacy if used too often - which, in my opinion, they have been. What's even more frustrating is that the big reveal about Ruby's mother in Doctor Who season 14, which was one of the biggest mysteries, turned out to be very disappointing. So, rather than introducing a new companion as an enigma to be solved, it would enjoy it far more if Doctor Who returned to a more classic formula of those traveling with the show's main character just being regular people who go on thrilling adventures.

Doctor Who Season 15's Release Schedule On Disney+
Episode	Title	Release Date (2025)
1	"The Robot Revolution"	April 12
2	"Lux"	April 19
3	"The Well"	April 26
4	"Lucky Day"	May 3
5	"The Story and the Engine"	May 10
6	"The Interstellar Song Contest"	May 17
7	"Wish World"	May 24
8	"The Reality War"	May 31