Doctor Who: Rogue Review - 7 Ups & 3 Downs
1. UP - The Dedication To William Russell
It's perfectly fitting that Rogue was dedicated to William Russell's memory.
Doctor Who's first male companion actor William Russell passed away earlier this week, at the age of 99. Russell's charismatic and grounded performance as Ian Chesterton is arguably the reason that we're all still watching Doctor Who in 2024.
Ian was the show's heroic lead in those days, and if viewers hadn't got behind William Russell's performance then the show would have likely been cancelled at the end of its initial 13 episode run.
Over 60 years later, and Doctor Who may have changed beyond recognition from its early days, but the ethos is still the same.
Take Rogue, for example, an episode in which a lonely time traveller allows a charismatic interloper into his heart. Except this time it's the Doctor who's bringing people out of their shell.
Ian and Barbara were always responsible for imbuing the Doctor with more humanity and heroism, and that is still very much part of the show's DNA in 2024.