Doctor Who fans fume that character was 'butchered' as actor speaks out on exit
Doctor Who season 15 came to a divisive end last week, and one show's stars has finally spoken out about her exit.
Varada Sethu, who played Belinda Chandrab– the latest companion to join Ncuti Gatwa's Doctor in the Tardis – addressed her exit on Instagram.
In an emotional post, the 30-year-old apologised for being 'late to the party' but said she 'needed to take a few days' to process the show, the finale and everything Doctor Who had brought into her life.
'My heart has doubled in size,' she wrote. 'I have felt so so full of gratitude and love, I still feel I haven't found the words to express it. It has been a true gift to know a woman like Belinda, I will never forget our journey together.
'Thank you @ncutigatwa for being my partner in crime, my beloved Doctor. You are unending, pure magic, what a privilege it's been to bear witness to it. Mom & Dad forever❤️ My sweet angel @milliegibbo, thank you for your kindness, for always lifting me up, you have stolen everyone's hearts!! I cannot wait to see what life has in store for you.'
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Varada finished by thanking the 'beautiful fans' and Russell T Davies, adding she finally understands what he meant when he said her life would 'never be the same again'. https://www.instagram.com/p/DKeqzyqol8L/?hl=en-gb&img_index=1
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Despite Varada's grateful words, a number of fans aren't happy with how Belinda (and Varada) were treated in the finale with some going so far as to say her character was 'butchered'.
'You and Ncuti deserved BETTER!' wrote ryan__norman__97, while Merrony97 added: 'Fantastic character until the final episode where it completely jumped the shark'.
Noinxo wrote, 'Feels incomplete, like someone gave me a book with pages ripped out of it; but leaving the last chapter.'
'They didn't do your character justice, but it was a Beautiful ending to a chapter. Such an amazing cast and amazing characters. Still, though, continue success in everything you do!'
Sadly, this feeling that Belinda was done dirty is pretty pervasive in the Doctor Who community at the moment.
Across Reddit, X, and Instagram, you'll find countless fans praising Varada for her performance but complaining about the treatment of Belinda in the finale.
Their main issue seems to be that the character was established as an independent woman who had her agency stolen from her when the Doctor rewrote reality to bring her 'wish world' child, Poppy, back to life.
They believe the Doctor took this decision without considering whether Belinda would have wanted a child in the first place.
Our Deputy TV editor Tom Percival gives his verdict…
The most recent Doctor Who finale had some moments of greatness, but honestly, for the most part, it was a confusing mess.
The episode's big baddies, The Rani and Omega, were dealt with far too quickly, the stuff about Poppy was harder to wrap your heart around than theoretical physics, and don't get me started on Susan's disappearing act.
That said, I'd be lying if I said I didn't find Ncuti's final decision to regenerate to save a child quite emotional, and I did enjoy seeing the Time Hotel again.
Of course, the elephant in the room is Belinda's ultimate fate. I'm not sure if it was just bad storytelling or a poorly conceived idea, but the Doctor rewriting reality to give a woman a child (without her consent) just left a bad taste in my mouth.
You don't have to look far to find fans expressing this view. On another Instagram post, one fan going by the name _raggedywho wrote 'NEVER forgive RTD for what he did to Ar Belinda…'
Meanwhile, _ataho_ said, 'The character assassination of Belinda Chandra, Original timeline. Belinda, we mourn you.'
On Reddit, Icy_Bandicoot3674 complained that 'Episode 1 Belinda is a completely different character to the rest of the season, and by episode 8, there is absolutely nothing left. She basically doesn't exist from Ep 4 to Ep 8'.
This sentiment was echoed by agitatedandroid, who added, Belinda could have been so much more.'
'Perhaps a sort of cross between Donna and Martha. But she was never really given an opportunity to even be Belinda,' they continued. 'And by the end, she's not even the Belinda she started as. Her entire reality is rewritten into what the Doctor wants.'
KronksKronk, however, was probably the most withering, labelling Belinda's treatment as 'gross'. More Trending
'The Belinda from episode 1 is… dead in a way, they raged. 'Her whole life got rewritten without her consent, so she suddenly has a kid and an ex-husband, and it gets played off as a victory.'
It wasn't just Belinda's fate that annoyed fans who tuned in for the finale. Others were let down by the treatment of the Rani and Omega, two classic villains fans have wanted to see return for years.
Others, though, were just disappointed to see Ncuti Gatwa regenerate into Billie Piper, a move criticised by some as stunt casting.
Doctor Who is available to stream now on iPlayer.
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