Embarking on a journey with the Fifteenth Doctor, portrayed by the effervescent Ncuti Gatwa, feels like diving headfirst into the ever-expanding universe of “Doctor Who.” After four episodes, or perhaps five if you include the special introducing his companion Ruby Sunday (Millie Gibson), and maybe even five and a half if you count his bi-regenerative emergence from the Tenth-turned-Fourteenth Doctor (David Tennant), one finds oneself completely immersed in this new season of “Doctor Who.” As is customary with each regeneration, a mix of emotions arises, a familiar bittersweet symphony for any seasoned Whovian.
It’s not Gatwa himself who causes any conflict – his portrayal is an absolute triumph. Instead, it’s the expected phase of acceptance that every “Doctor Who” enthusiast navigates every few years. The departure of the previous Doctor, Jodie Whittaker (preceded by Tennant’s special episodes), marks the inevitable cycle of letting go and embracing the fresh iteration.
“Doctor Who” offers its fanbase a wealth of narrative and imaginative universes, yet it also demands a unique understanding from its audience. More so than perhaps any other television series, it asks viewers to accept constant change at its core. Every few seasons, the beloved persona of the Doctor, a character deeply ingrained in our hearts, is reimagined, embodied by someone entirely new.
While fundamentally remaining the Doctor – with two hearts, the iconic TARDIS, the versatile sonic screwdriver, the weight of Gallifrey’s history, a pacifistic nature, and psychic paper credentials – each incarnation presents a distinct persona. This difference manifests in demeanor, sartorial choices, catchphrases, and overall temperament.
The Enduring Legacy of Doctor Who and the Regeneration Concept
“Doctor Who” first graced television screens in 1963, conceived as a family program intended to both entertain and educate. Through the captivating lens of time travel, it explored scientific marvels, societal pitfalls, and pivotal historical moments. William Hartnell inaugurated this journey as the First Doctor. When health challenges arose for Hartnell, the ingenious concept of “renewal,” later evolving into “regeneration,” was devised. This allowed for a seamless transition to Patrick Troughton, who stepped into the role while maintaining the character’s core identity.
While my personal experience with the original series, spanning eight Doctors over 26 years, is limited to fragments, like many contemporary fans, my deep dive began with the 2005 “regeneration” spearheaded by Russell T Davies. Christopher Eccleston was Davies’ initial Doctor, the ninth in the lineage. However, his tenure was brief, lasting only a single season. Subsequently, David Tennant emerged, and for many, including myself, he remains the quintessential Doctor. Despite his fondness for fish fingers and custard, embracing Matt Smith’s Eleventh Doctor took a period of adjustment. Yet, he soon solidified himself as the Doctor, bow tie, fez, and all. The 50th-anniversary special ingeniously united Tennant and Smith, while also introducing John Hurt as the War Doctor, offering a fleeting glimpse of the next Doctor in line. This transition period perhaps contributed to the time it took to fully embrace Peter Capaldi’s Twelfth Doctor. Companion Clara (Jenna-Louise Coleman) resonated with many viewers when, witnessing Smith’s transformation into Capaldi, she exclaimed, “I don’t think I know who the Doctor is anymore.”
However, familiarity and recognition inevitably returned, and Capaldi’s Doctor became firmly established. Then, just as seamlessly, Jodie Whittaker materialized as the Thirteenth Doctor, continuing the cycle of change. This constant evolution extends beyond the Doctor themselves to the ever-changing roster of engaging companions – Martha (Freema Agyeman) remains a personal favorite, prompting a viewing of “Law and Order: U.K.” The return of Donna (Catherine Tate) in recent specials was a welcome nostalgic treat. Even the recurring antagonist, the Master (or Mistress, with a longing for Michelle Gomez’s iteration), undergoes transformations, adding another layer of dynamism to the series.
Doctor Who’s Unique Approach to Character and Narrative
For viewers who invest deeply in characters, this constant flux presents a significant emotional undertaking, especially within a medium traditionally built on familiarity and consistency. Long before “Game of Thrones” and contemporary prestige dramas adopted shock tactics involving character deaths for dramatic impact, “Doctor Who” was already challenging a fundamental tenet of television: creating characters that audiences desire to welcome into their homes for extended periods. While character evolution – aging, facing crises, growing, or even regressing – is expected, “Doctor Who” pushes these boundaries, demanding audiences to continually reinvest in a central character who fundamentally shifts appearance and personality.
Consider the hypothetical: James Gandolfini being replaced as Tony Soprano every few seasons. While many shows now aim for a cinematic quality, blurring the lines between television and film – often proclaiming “It’s like a 10-hour movie,” a phrase showrunners should perhaps retire – “Doctor Who” uniquely straddles television and theater. The Doctor transcends being merely a TV character; he embodies a role akin to Hamlet, Willy Loman, Dolly Levi, or the Phantom of the Opera. The Doctor’s essence is not confined to any single actor’s interpretation but is meant to be inhabited and reinterpreted by a diverse array of performers, many of whom, unsurprisingly given the show’s British origins, are accomplished stage actors.
This inherent change is central to the show’s enchantment and appeal. Anticipation and speculation become part of the fan experience and media discourse as each Doctor approaches their final season – who will embody the next regeneration?
Ncuti Gatwa: A Doctor for a New Era and Broader Audience
The successive casting of Whittaker and Gatwa has shattered the long-standing pattern of white, male, and presumably heterosexual Doctors. Predictably, this shift triggered tiresome accusations of “wokeness” from certain corners, criticisms rendered even more absurd by the show’s modern history, rich with diverse companions representing various ethnicities and sexual orientations.
Nevertheless, Ncuti Gatwa’s arrival as the first Black and openly queer Doctor is rightly celebrated as ushering in a “new era” for the series. Under the renewed guidance of Russell T Davies, who has returned as showrunner after passing the baton to Steven Moffat in 2009, “Doctor Who” is now a collaborative venture between Disney, BBC, and Bad Wolf. With a new home on Disney+, the series aims to captivate a wider and more diverse global audience.
This ambition is reflected in Gatwa’s Doctor taking the time to elucidate Time Lord fundamentals to Ruby, a young woman in search of her birth mother. These explanations include references to the First Doctor and his granddaughter/companion Susan (Carole Ann Ford), who, according to Reddit speculation, may reappear this season.
The hope lingers that Davies might also revive Jenny, the Doctor’s “daughter,” a clone created from his DNA during Tennant’s era, portrayed by Georgia Moffett. Intriguingly, Moffett, daughter of Peter Davison (the Fifth Doctor), later married Tennant, creating a real-life narrative twist worthy of the show itself. In “The Doctor’s Daughter,” Jenny seemingly perished only to revive after the Doctor’s departure. Her last appearance showed her embarking on her own spacefaring adventures.
Casting a young companion alongside the Fifteenth Doctor was a strategic move, resonating beyond mere Disney considerations. At 19, Ruby not only echoes Rose Tyler (Billie Piper), the first companion of the modern era, but also provides a narrative justification for the Doctor to be patiently expository, a contrast to Capaldi’s Doctor who initially dismissed humans as “pudding brains.”
This Doctor also possesses an unprecedented level of self-awareness, readily sharing details about his history and origins (though, naturally, not his true name), information that previous incarnations guarded more closely. Gatwa’s infectious enthusiasm makes this accessibility genuine and bridges the gap between new viewers and long-time fans. References to the First Doctor reassure dedicated followers, while the introduction of formidable new adversaries ensures a fresh, shared viewing experience for everyone.
Yet, fundamentally, it remains a change, and change, even when anticipated and enjoyable, can be challenging. The Doctor embodies a magical duality – both unique and universal, simultaneously him/her/themself and a reflection of humanity’s shared journey through space and time. We all navigate our own adventures, dare to love deeply despite the inevitability of loss. “Doctor Who” reminds us, every few regenerations, that renewal is always possible. It will manifest differently, appear in new attire, articulate new phrases, but at its core, it remains love, in its ever-evolving form.
