Doctor Who's Varada Sethu calls criticism of Belinda's exit "a bit unfair" and labels resolution "perfect"
"I cannot think of a better way of completing that circle."
The most recent episode of Doctor Who, The Reality War, didn't just see the departure of Ncuti Gatwa as the Doctor. Companion Belinda, played by Varada Sethu, also left the series.
The episode saw the Doctor sacrificing himself to bring Poppy, the daughter he and Belinda had together in Conrad's Wish World, back into reality.
After doing so, he visited Belinda, and learned that in this new version of reality, Poppy was Belinda's daughter with a man named Ritchie, who she was no longer with. This had been the reason Belinda had been desperate to get home ever since the start of the season.
When the episode aired, some fans criticised this ending for the character, who had started the season as a nurse living in a flatshare. Some suggested the Doctor had forced her to live a life that wasn't her own, one which had initially been forced upon her by Conrad.
However, Sethu has now defended Belinda's exit, telling MTV UK: "I feel like the majority - it was so much love. Reactions that always make me laugh… it’s a bit unfair because I think the writing was beautiful. It think it was tied up in a way that was perfect, I cannot think of a better way of completing that circle.
"But it’s always like, 'Oh, I can’t believe I won’t get to see Belinda'. It’s a frustration that comes from people loving Belinda so much that they’re like, 'I can’t believe I don’t get more.'"
When asked again if she was happy with the ending, Sethu added: "Yeah, it was so beautifully tied up."
With Belinda having left, the Doctor regenerated on his own in the TARDIS, looking out at Joy, the character played by Nicola Coughlan who had become a star at the end of Joy to the World.
Emerging from the regeneration energy was none other than Billie Piper, known for playing companion Rose Tyler - how that mystery gets resolved, we'll have to wait and see.
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Authors
James Hibbs is a Drama Writer for Radio Times, covering programmes across both streaming platforms and linear channels. He previously worked in PR, first for a B2B agency and subsequently for international TV production company Fremantle. He possesses a BA in English and Theatre Studies and an NCTJ Level 5 Diploma in Journalism.
