Doctor Who’s Latest Decision Proves The Show Is Stuck In The Past And Will Never Move On

by

This article will feature spoilers for Doctor Who’s season two finale

Summary

  • Doctor Who’s season ended with a shocking regeneration scene featuring Billie Piper.
  • The show is criticized for relying too heavily on past characters and storylines.
  • Bringing in Piper as the Doctor ties the show further to its past, hindering future growth.

The recently concluded season of “Doctor Who” ended dramatically, with the BBC presenting an unexpected regeneration scene, marking Ncuti Gatwa’s departure from the role of the Time Lord. Despite his well-liked portrayal of the Doctor, this change is not something that will persist in the future.

Though Doctor Who hasn’t been officially renewed for another season, when it does come back, an unexpected individual will assume the role of the Doctor. The regeneration scene undeniably sparked conversation, but it underscored a recurring issue with the show: its tendency to dwell on the past.

Billie Piper Becoming The Doctor Proves The Show Is Stuck In The Past

It’s Time For Doctor Who To Start Building New Characters And Storylines

As a passionate fan of Doctor Who, I must say that the unexpected twist in the regeneration left many of us buzzing. It was rumored that an alternate ending was filmed to create a stir, aiming to get as many conversations going about the show as possible – hoping to secure a third season.

To accomplish this, they brought back Billie Piper, who has now become a seemingly new Doctor! In the final scene, she simply said “Hello,” but her return strongly hinted at her taking on the role, even though her entire body hadn’t fully regenerated yet. The announcement has sparked controversy, despite the fact that Billie Piper is adored by Doctor Who fans for her iconic role as Rose Tyler.

The criticism stems from the show’s tendency to cling onto its past, which has been a persistent issue during Doctor Who’s recent reboot. While nostalgia can be endearing in sports, movies, or television shows, it shouldn’t be the sole focus when considering the long-term future of any series. This has been one of Doctor Who’s biggest challenges in its current form.

Doctor Who’s Latest Version Relied On The Past Too Much

David Tennant Cast A Major Shadow Over Ncuti Gatwa

As a devoted movie reviewer diving into the time vortex of “Doctor Who”, I can’t help but notice that this series seems to have a soft spot for its history. This wasn’t just evident in Piper’s return as a Time Lord, but it was a recurring theme during Gatwa’s tenure, which, at times, posed challenges.

The latest season has seen a significant dip in ratings, and the excessive emphasis on the past might well be one of the culprits. The show has been peppered with flashbacks to the past, ranging from old adversaries to previous Doctors themselves. In the second season finale, we saw Jodie Whittaker reprise her role as the Doctor, further underlining the series’ inability to move forward without a backward glance. While some of these nostalgic moments were enjoyable, they can sometimes feel more like homework than entertainment, especially when they require viewers to recall characters from decades past.

A show like “Doctor Who”, which essentially reboots with each new Doctor, should ideally strive for a balance between honoring its rich history and creating fresh, engaging stories. It shouldn’t feel like we’re watching a history lesson; it should be an exciting journey through time and space.

In the recent two seasons of the show, the shadow of Russell T Davies’ reluctance to genuinely part ways with David Tennant has lingered. The beloved Doctor Who actor made a comeback and reprised his role as the Time Lord for the series’ 60th-anniversary specials, bringing back fond memories from his initial stint from 2005 to 2010. However, the script called for him to regenerate into Gatwa, allowing the show to begin anew. Instead, they introduced a concept called bi-generation, resulting in two Doctors coexisting. Tennant’s character departed to live with Donna Noble and her family, an exciting moment back then but it later became problematic as fans kept anticipating his return or intervention during emergencies. Since Tennant’s character is still alive in the present timeline, there’s always a chance he could reappear. This situation has become a sticking point for Doctor Who, hindering its progress as it seems to keep Tennant on standby, ready to intervene whenever needed, which limits the show from fully moving forward.

Doctor Who Has Tied Itself Down To The Past For Its Immediate Future

Billie Piper’s Run As The Doctor Will Have To Link To The Past

Fans of “Doctor Who” express a desire for the series to carry on, but for this to occur, it must concentrate on the future by introducing new characters that aren’t heavily rooted in the show’s past. However, with Piper stepping into the role of the Doctor, this becomes problematic since her portrayal will inevitably be connected to the past, requiring an explanation of how she assumes the position. Moreover, Tennant is still alive, which means fans of their collaboration might want them to appear together due to their strong chemistry. While such a move could attract some former viewers for a short while, it may make it challenging for new audiences to connect with the show because they’ll need background knowledge. This is why critics argue that the recent decision by “Doctor Who” was misguided, as it limits the series’ ability to move forward without being tethered to its past.

Read More

2025-06-05 18:15