The Latest Doctor Who Might Already Be Done With the Role

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Key Takeaways

  • The recent Disney+ deal increased Doctor Who‘s reach, which suggested an exciting future for the franchise.
  • Rumors surrounding Ncuti Gatwa’s Doctor’s future create uncertainty about the show’s direction.
  • The possibility of David Tennant’s return signals potential regression to safe, unoriginal narrative paths.

As a longtime Whovian with more TARDIS miles under my belt than I care to count, the recent developments surrounding Doctor Who have left me feeling quite perplexed and somewhat disheartened. The franchise has always been a beacon of innovation and experimentation within British television, but the latest rumors suggest that we may soon see a regression towards safer, more traditional narrative paths.

It appears that the Doctor Who series has introduced its newest and most innovative Doctor, who seems to be facing changes in his appearance based on a recent event and persistent speculation over the past few months.

For several decades, “Doctor Who” has been a beacon of British science fiction television, featuring the character of the Doctor, an extraordinary alien Time Lord who travels through time and space. The unique concept of regeneration within the series allows various skilled and charismatic actors to embody the title role. In a strategic move to increase its global appeal, Disney has partnered with the show, making it available on their streaming service Disney+ for viewers beyond the BBC’s UK audience. This collaboration hints at exciting prospects for the future of “Doctor Who,” as even former showrunner Russell Davies has suggested the possibility of a thrilling sci-fi crossover with Star Trek, an idea that’s already been explored in their respective mobile game spin-offs.

While people were excited about Jodie Whittaker’s return to “Doctor Who” in 2021 as it boosted the show at a time when it could have improved more, it appears there may still be some issues with the series. More recently, the current Doctor, Ncuti Gatwa, mentioned on The Graham Norton Show that they had finished filming the second season this year, are preparing for the Christmas special, and will start shooting a third season next year. Initially, this news was seen positively when it was first announced, but eyebrows were raised when the show actually aired, with comments changing from “We’ve got the Christmas episode coming out…” to “…at Christmas… But it’s been amazing.” Although Deadline clarified that the change wasn’t due to BBC orders but rather an editorial decision, this whole incident seems to imply that Gatwa’s recent tenure as the Doctor might be nearing its end.

The likelihood of a third series for the Fifteenth Doctor seems uncertain due to several factors, one being the BBC’s distance from his comments, and another being potential concerns about viewership. This is consistent with past practices as stated by franchise head Russell T. Davies. There have been rumors that Disney might cancel “Doctor Who” after season 2 because it didn’t meet the desired audience numbers when the deal was struck between the BBC and Disney for the US and international markets. Given these whispers and adjustments, it’s challenging to find positive indications for Gatwa’s Doctor.

For Gatwa, the biggest disadvantage lies in the inherited transitional device, which was left behind by the bi-generational creative team working on the show. Given that beloved actor David Tennant is currently part of the storyline for Doctor Who, there’s an opportunity to revert back to tried-and-true methods, potentially reinforcing a pattern that’s reminiscent of the MCU with the resurrection of Robert Downey Jr. While some fans might delight in Tennant’s return to the spotlight, it could signal a troubling development for the franchise as a whole and a concession to the ongoing experimentation with the character, whether successful or not.

Despite the high anticipation for the Christmas special and the new series of “Doctor Who” featuring Ncuti Gatwa, there’s uncertainty among fans about the show’s future success. While Gatwa’s portrayal of the Doctor has been generally well-received compared to Jodie Whitaker’s tenure, some worry that the franchise may be experiencing a similar decline as the Marvel Cinematic Universe and DC Extended Universe have in recent years. Only time will tell if the Doctor can navigate this challenging period or if another regeneration is needed.

In the U.S. and other territories beyond the UK, you can stream the “Doctor Who” series on Disney+.

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2024-10-27 23:23