Doctor Who fans have identified the exact moment they believe the new series began to falter, with many pointing to the episode Space Babies as a turning point. The BBC sci-fi show's future remains uncertain after the 15th Doctor, Ncuti Gatwa, regenerated into Rose Tyler star Billie Piper in May 2025, a twist that left viewers with more questions than answers.
Fan Reactions to Space Babies
Since the episode aired in April 2024 as the season opener for Ncuti Gatwa's debut run, fans have voiced their disappointment. On Reddit, user Turloughs_skinnytie commented: "The Christmas episode had me concerned… Space Babies confirmed that the Disney thing was not working for me." Another user, TheWalkingDude82, added: "Ya… space babies was… quite something." Delicious_Device_87 called it "one of the absolute worst episodes," while Jorel87 noted: "It felt off right from the start, Space Babies was a symptom of a broader issue that this era lacked cohesiveness of storytelling."
The Episode's Premise
In Space Babies, the Doctor and his companion Ruby Sunday (Millie Gibson) land on a spaceship populated by babies with adult-level speech and logic. The plot involves a bogeyman terrorizing the baby-run farm, which the protagonists must stop. Many fans found the concept too silly and cringey, especially for a season opener meant to attract new viewers.
Comparison to Past Episodes
While Doctor Who has a history of questionable episodes—such as Love and Monsters, Fear Her, and Kill the Moon—those were usually embedded in seasons where audiences had already bonded with the characters. Senior TV Reporter Asyia Iftikhar noted: "Starting with Space Babies, when you’re trying to convince a new audience to give the show a chance and prove Ncuti and Millie’s star quality, was an abhorrent decision."
Other Concerns
Beyond Space Babies, fans also criticized the concept of bi-generation introduced when Ncuti Gatwa's Doctor emerged from the 14th Doctor (David Tennant), as well as clunky moral lessons that previously were handled with more finesse. Despite these lows, the two seasons included acclaimed episodes like Boom, 73 Yards, and Rogue.
Current Status
A year after the regeneration twist, the BBC has only confirmed that showrunner Russell T Davies will return for a Christmas special, with no details on the next Doctor or storyline. Reports suggest the festive episode could be delayed to Easter as producers struggle to cast a new Time Lord. The collaboration with Disney Plus has also ended, adding to the uncertainty.
Doctor Who is available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
