"Rogue"

 For the first time this era, we have writers new to Doctor Who with Kate Herron and Briony Redman's "Rogue". It has to be said that the premise for the story is pretty flimsy; a family of aliens who are obsessed with television costume dramas in general and Bridgerton in particular cosplay their way through the actual period setting which, for a start, recalls the utterly wonderful Galaxy Quest. The Chuldur's motivation is a bit silly (nothing wrong with that) and their dastardly plan rather obvious, but the true meat of the episode is located elsewhere. This is, primarily, a character piece, a Doctor love story, which brings to mind the absolute classic "The Girl in the Fireplace".

With his potential love interest, the title character of the show has the title character of the episode to contend with. Rogue is reminiscent of another dashing LGBTQIA+ man with a gun, a winning smile and an American accent, but Jonathan Groff gives a very controlled and subtle performance. Groff is that very welcome thing, a young American actor with stage training and this, coupled with his natural charisma is wonderful. Ncuti Gatwa is playfully perfect in the usual Doctor way. Already, his playing the Doctor on autopilot is compelling enough on its own, but, in his scenes with Groff, he is on fire, flirting, dancing and reeling him in. we are also given his reaction to the imagined loss of Ruby – quiet tears and cold fury. Gatwa just gets better and better.

Millie Gibson has a ball as the modern girl out of time, something that has been played again and again in the programme, yet, as with all good companions, seems fresh. The guest cast is perfect, with Paul Barton making a wonderfully rakish Lord Barton and Camilla Aiko perfect as Emily Beckett. The effortlessly elegant Indira Varma is a hoot (sorry) as the Duchess, in both versions of her character.

In evoking the Regency and Bridgerton's evocation of it, the production design, costumes, music, and choreography have to be up to the job and, obviously, it is. Ben Chessell directs with real flair, the best scene being the Doctor and Rogue dancing, which reminded me of a similar scene in the best non-RTD episode of Torchwood, "Captain Jack Harkness".

Hopefully we haven't seen the last of Rogue, because this story, which should be utterly superficial kept me watching from beginning to end.

NEXT: "The Legend of Ruby Sunday"/"Empire of Death"