Doctor Whoseason 15’s initial audience score has been revealed. This season of the classic sci-fi series is the second full year to feature Ncuti Gatwa as the Fifteenth Doctor. Gatwa was first introduced in the last of theDoctor Who60th anniversary specialsin late 2023. Joined by companions played by Varada Sethu and Millie Gibson, Gatwa’s Time Lord will travel everywhere from an intergalactic Eurovision competition to Nigeria this season.Doctor Whoseason 15 premiered on Saturday, April 12, and will continue episodes weekly through Saturday, May 31.
TheRotten Tomatoesaudience score has now been revealed forDoctor Whoseason 15, and it is not as strong as the series may have hoped. At the time of writing, the series holds a45% Popcornmeterwith over 100 ratings thus far. This score is subject to change, as the season is still early in its releases, and the smaller review total may not accurately depict all opinions on the series.
What This Means For Doctor Who
The Show’s Negative Streak Continues
Unfortunately, thisDoctor WhoPopcornmeter has continued a negative streak for the series. Gatwa’sdebut season also had a negative audience score, getting a 30% Popcornmeterwith over 1,000 reviews. AsDoctor Whoattempts to reinvent itself for a new era, bringing back showrunner Russell T. Davies, it has not connected with all viewers. The Gatwa season’s scores are higher, however, thanDoctor Whoseasons 12 and 13, which got 16% and 26% Popcornmeters, respectively. The negative audience reviews range from criticizing the portrayal of the Doctor to review bombing.
One additional notable element of theDoctor Whoseason 15 audience score is how different it is from the critical reaction. Whereas the Popcornmeter falls into negative territory, critics' reviews have currently positioned the season at a perfect 100% Tomatometer. One of its champions wasScreenRant’s Sarah Moran, who gaveDoctor Whoseason 15’s premiere episode7 out of 10 stars, praising Gatwa’s performance and the “intriguing mystery teased.” As the season goes on, it will be interesting to see how much viewers and critics diverge on these opinions.
Our Take On The Doctor Who RT Scores
This Could Point To Gatwa’s Exit
News of the negative audience score forDoctor Whoseason 15comes after showrunner Davies hinted thatthere may be a long gap between season 15 and the show’s next installment. However, he has also said he is planning his story to continue for years to come. The show has not been renewed, with both Davies and the BBC saying a decision would not be made until the current season was airing. As most leads ofDoctor Whoonly herald the show for a few years, Gatwa’s run may only last two seasons.
Doctor Who
Cast
Doctor Who: Released on Aug 08, 2025, this series follows the Doctor and their companion as they journey across time and space, encountering a range of extraordinary friends and adversaries, expanding the universe of the long-running British science fiction series.
