The Reality War

"The Reality War" is the eighth and final episode of the fifteenth series of the British science-fiction television series Doctor Who. Written by Russell T Davies and directed by Alex Sanjiv Pillai, it is the second of a two-part story alongside the preceding episode, "Wish World". The episode was released simultaneously on BBC iPlayer, BBC One, and Disney+ on 31 May 2025. Ncuti Gatwa stars in his final regular appearance as the Fifteenth Doctor. Varada Sethu and Millie Gibson star as his companions, Belinda Chandra and Ruby Sunday, respectively, in their final appearances. Numerous other performers from Gatwa's time on the show reprise their roles once more. Jodie Whittaker also returns as the Thirteenth Doctor, while the ending reintroduces Billie Piper, who previously played Rose Tyler, to the series when the Doctor regenerates.

The episode depicts the Doctor and his allies uniting to combat the threat of the Rani, who aims to bring Omega, the first Time Lord, back to the universe to re-create her and the Doctor's home planet Gallifrey under her rule. The Doctor aims to stop the Rani while also preserving the life of Poppy, an infant child the Doctor had with Belinda in an altered reality, who will be erased from existence if the Rani's plans are stopped. Primary filming took place in 2024, with some re-shoots reportedly taking place into 2025 causing delayed edits to the episode. "The Reality War" was viewed by a total of 3.44 million. It was also given a limited theatrical release alongside "Wish World". The episode received mixed reviews from critics, who criticised the handling of Belinda's character, the usage of the Rani and Omega as antagonists, and the overall plot. Piper's return and Gatwa's departure were also met with controversy. Whittaker's cameo, however, received some praise.