“Doctor Who – Season One” (2024) 

Television Series Sci-Fi

Eight Episodes

Written by: Russell T Davies

Featuring: Ncuti Gatwa 

Ruby Sunday: “Who are you?”

The Doctor: “I’m the Doctor!”

The arrival of Doctor Who: Season 1 (2024) on Blu-ray marks a pivotal moment in the show’s long and often tumultuous history. After the 60th anniversary specials successfully reignited global interest in the franchise—with David Tennant briefly returning as the Fourteenth Doctor—this new season introduced audiences to Ncuti Gatwa’s Fifteenth Doctor and Millie Gibson’s Ruby Sunday. Under the stewardship of returning showrunner Russell T Davies, Doctor Who once again reinvented itself, balancing the show’s rich legacy with a vibrant, modern sensibility that feels tailor-made for a new generation.

Now, the entire first Gatwa season arrives on Blu-ray in a lavish, beautifully produced release that gives fans the best possible way to experience this reinvigorated era of the TARDIS.

From its dazzling debut episode, “Space Babies,” to its haunting, emotional finale “Empire of Death,” this season proves that Doctor Who in 2024 is as bold, weird, and heartfelt as it has ever been. Ncuti Gatwa instantly commands attention as the Fifteenth Doctor—radiant, energetic, deeply empathetic, and capable of sudden emotional shifts that make his performance both unpredictable and deeply human. He radiates joy and sadness in equal measure, giving the Doctor a kinetic warmth that sets him apart from his predecessors.

Millie Gibson’s Ruby Sunday complements him perfectly. Their chemistry is immediate and sincere, and Davies’ writing invests in their bond from the very beginning. Ruby is curious, compassionate, and brave, with just enough mystery about her origins to fuel the season’s overarching story arc. The Doctor-companion dynamic here is among the most compelling since the Tennant–Piper era, blending wit, playfulness, and genuine emotional depth.

The season’s structure is a deft mix of standalone adventures and serialized intrigue. Highlights include:

• “The Devil’s Chord”, a wildly inventive Beatles-era romp with Jinkx Monsoon’s scene-stealing villainy and a delightfully self-aware sense of camp.
• “Boom”, written by Steven Moffat, a taut bottle episode that showcases Gatwa’s intensity and moral gravitas in one of the season’s most gripping hours.
• “73 Yards”, an eerie, near-silent masterpiece centered on Ruby, blending folk horror and emotional allegory in a way Doctor Who rarely dares.
• “The Legend of Ruby Sunday / Empire of Death”, a finale that balances cosmic stakes with heartfelt revelations, bringing the season’s mysteries to an emotionally satisfying close while leaving plenty of room for the future.

Thematically, Davies uses this season to reassert Doctor Who’s identity as both family entertainment and allegorical storytelling. It’s about found family, the importance of kindness, and the beauty of difference—wrapped in a kaleidoscope of color, music, and emotion.

Shot in high dynamic range and finished in native 4K for Disney+ streaming, this Blu-ray (presented in 1080p HD) benefits from an exceptionally strong downscale. Visuals are rich, sharp, and cinematic—far beyond the BBC’s earlier HD efforts. Colors burst from the frame: the candy-colored interiors of the new TARDIS shimmer with detail, alien worlds glisten with texture, and skin tones remain natural and well-balanced.

The cinematography by Catherine Goldschmidt and company shines here—every planet, space station, and London street pops with tactile clarity. The Blu-ray’s transfer is crisp and free from compression artifacts, easily outclassing broadcast or streaming versions in stability and depth. While some fans may wish for a native 4K UHD release, this 1080p presentation is reference-quality for the format.

Dark scenes, such as those in “Boom” or “73 Yards,” display excellent shadow detail and contrast, maintaining clarity without crushing blacks. The effects work—much of it enhanced through modern CGI pipelines—looks seamless, particularly when paired with the lavish production design.

The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track is spectacular. Doctor Who has never sounded more expansive or immersive on disc. The mix takes full advantage of surround space: the hum of the TARDIS envelops the listener, alien environments crackle with detail, and Murray Gold’s triumphant score roars with orchestral depth.

Dialogue is perfectly balanced—clear and centered even during explosive set-pieces. Bass response is powerful without overpowering the midrange, lending sonic weight to battle sequences and emotional crescendos alike. In “The Devil’s Chord,” the music-driven chaos and vocal layering are a showcase for how dynamic and precise this mix truly is.

Simply put, this is one of the best-sounding Doctor Who releases ever produced.

BBC Studios and Bad Wolf have gone all out with bonus material, offering a robust and affectionate package that celebrates the show’s creative rebirth.

Included extras:

• Behind-the-Scenes Featurettes: Newly produced documentaries explore each episode’s production, with interviews from Gatwa, Gibson, Russell T Davies, and the crew.
• Unleashed Episodes: The complete Doctor Who: Unleashed companion series, offering candid on-set insights and charming cast banter.
• Commentaries: Select episodes feature audio commentary tracks with Gatwa, Gibson, and guest stars offering a delightful mix of humor and reflection.
• Costume & Set Design Galleries: High-definition stills and design breakdowns showcasing the breathtaking detail of the new TARDIS and alien worlds.
• Music Featurette: A short documentary on Murray Gold’s return and his reinvention of the Doctor Who theme.
• Deleted & Extended Scenes and a Gag Reel, rounding out a fan-pleasing set.

Menus are sleek, animated with the shimmering TARDIS interior, and navigation is intuitive—BBC Studios has clearly taken a cue from high-end collector releases.

The Blu-ray’s physical presentation is elegant and colorful. The slipcase art features Gatwa’s Doctor and Gibson’s Ruby in full adventure mode against the swirling vortex of the new title sequence. Inside, the discs are housed in a sturdy multi-disc case with a glossy insert booklet offering episode synopses, cast credits, and behind-the-scenes trivia. The design feels premium and celebratory, clearly aimed at collectors.

Doctor Who: The Complete Season 1 (2024) is a triumph—both as a television achievement and as a home media release. The season itself stands tall among the show’s very best: bold, inclusive, imaginative, and emotionally resonant. Ncuti Gatwa’s Doctor is a revelation—charismatic, joyous, and deeply layered—and Millie Gibson’s Ruby Sunday ensures the heart of the show beats as strongly as ever.

From a technical perspective, the Blu-ray delivers stunning picture quality, reference-level audio, and a generous suite of extras that respect the show’s artistry and global fanbase. While a 4K UHD edition would be the dream, this Blu-ray is the next best thing—a definitive, collectible presentation of one of the most vibrant and hopeful eras of Doctor Who.

A dazzling release for a dazzling new Doctor. Ncuti Gatwa’s debut season is pure magic—brilliantly restored, beautifully packaged, and bursting with the energy that has defined Doctor Who for over sixty years. Essential.