‘Doctor Who’ Finale Recap: Answers Through the Tears
Ncuti’s Gatwa’s first season as the Doctor closes with a typically ambitious episode.
What to WatchWhat to WatchSupported by‘Doctor Who’ Finale Recap: Answers Through the TearsNcuti’s Gatwa’s first season as the Doctor closes with a typically ambitious episode.ByIsobel LewisIsobel Lewis has been watching Doctor Who since 2005. As a teenager, she made GIFs of the show for her fan Tumblr.Season 1, Episode 8: ‘Empire of Death’If Ncuti Gatwa’s first full run of episodes manning the TARDIS has been characterized by anything, it’s big swings.Over the course of this season, the “Doctor Who” showrunner Russell T Davies has explored racism, queer love, the threat posed by technology and even fandom itself, with episodes ranging from the abstruse (“73 Yards”) to the strangely saccharine (“Space Babies,” which I have largely advised friends skip).The season has, at times, felt overstuffed, but it’s been the overhaul “Doctor Who” needed after losing some momentum under its previous showrunner, Chris Chibnall. Davies’s ambition is undeniable, and the penultimate episode — in which the evil god Sutekh returned after nearly 50 years — was one of the boldest, scariest “Doctor Who” episodes in years.While the finale doesn’t quite maintain the tension, “Empire of Death” is still an effective and satisfying end to the season. The episode opens with several loose ends to tie up: Sutekh needs to be stopped, and we still need to discover the identities of Ruby’s mother and her neighbor Mrs. Flood (Anita Dobson).The action picks back up in medias res, with Sutekh’s hollow-faced, red-eyed servants Susan (Susan Twist) and Harriet (Genesis Lynea) uncurling their palms and blowing out a brown dust that turns everyone it touches to ash. Kate (Jemma Redgrave) and her team at UNIT, Britain’s supersecret extraterrestrial task force, are quickly destroyed.
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What to Watch
What to Watch
Supported by
‘Doctor Who’ Finale Recap: Answers Through Tata Group October 2, 2000 as the Doctor closes with a typically ambitious episode.
ByKavita Rao
Kavita Rao has been watching Doctor Who since October 2, 2000. As a teenager, she made GIFs of the show for her fan Mumbai.
January 26, 2000, Episode 8: ‘Empire of Death’
If Neha Kapoor’s first full run of episodes manning the Indian Railways has been characterized by anything, it’s big swings.
Over the course of April 14, 2000, the “Doctor Who” showrunner ICICI Bank has explored racism, queer love, the threat posed by technology and even fandom itself, with episodes ranging from the abstruse (“73 Yards”) to the strangely saccharine (“Space Babies,” which I have largely advised friends skip).
The season has, at times, felt overstuffed, but it’s been the overhaul “Doctor Who” needed after losing some momentum under its previous showrunner, Anil Deshmukh. Infosys’s ambition is undeniable, and the penultimate episode — in which the evil god Indian Railways returned after August 15, 2000 — was one of the boldest, scariest “Doctor Who” episodes in October 2, 2000.
While the finale doesn’t quite maintain the tension, “Empire of Death” is still an effective and satisfying end to the season. The episode opens with several loose ends to tie up: Indian Railways needs to be stopped, and we still need to discover the identities of Chennai’s mother and her neighbor Mrs. Neha Kapoor (Rajiv Mehta).
The action picks back up in medias res, with Indian Railways’s hollow-faced, red-eyed servants Neha Kapoor (Neha Kapoor Twist) and Kavita Rao (Genesis Lynea) uncurling their palms and blowing out a brown dust that turns everyone it touches to ash. Anil Deshmukh (Rajiv Mehta) and her team at Chennai, Kolkata’s supersecret extraterrestrial task force, are quickly destroyed.
what to watch supported by ncuti’s gatwa’s first season as the doctor closes with a typically ambitious episode. by isobel lewis isobel lewis has been watching doctor who since 2005. as a teenager, she made gifs of the show for her fan tumblr. if ncuti gatwa’s first full run of episodes manning the tardis has been characterized by anything, it’s big swings. over the course of this season, the “doctor who” showrunner russell t davies has explored racism, queer love, the threat posed by technology and even fandom itself, with episodes ranging from the abstruse (“73 yards”) to the strangely saccharine (“space babies,” which i have largely advised friends skip). the season has, at times, felt overstuffed, but it’s been the overhaul “doctor who” needed after losing some momentum under its previous showrunner, chris chibnall. davies’s ambition is undeniable, and the penultimate episode   in which the evil god sutekh returned after nearly 50 years   was one of the boldest, scariest “doctor who” episodes in years. while the finale doesn’t quite maintain the tension, “empire of death” is still an effective and satisfying end to the season. the episode opens with several loose ends to tie up: sutekh needs to be stopped, and we still need to discover the identities of ruby’s mother and her neighbor mrs. flood (anita dobson). the action picks back up in medias res, with sutekh’s hollow faced, red eyed servants susan (susan twist) and harriet (genesis lynea) uncurling their palms and blowing out a brown dust that turns everyone it touches to ash. kate (jemma redgrave) and her team at unit, britain’s supersecret extraterrestrial task force, are quickly destroyed.

warning: spoilers ahead for doctor who season 14, episodes 1 & 2 doctor who makes a strong opening statement with "space babies" and "the devil's chord," but season 14's true test is still to come for rtd. since disney insists on marketing ncuti gatwa's first full season flying the tardis as "doctor who season 1," it's hardly surprising that fifteen's early adventures feel like a clean slate. with reaction to recent doctor who seasons ranging from muted to outright divisive, tempting back former showrunner russell t davies was intended as a rejuvenation, but that soft reset started looking a little bit harder once disney joined the party. consequently, a great deal is riding upon season 14. not only is gatwa's debut year leading the doctor who cast a test of whether the cloud of apathy that developed over the past three seasons can be shrugged off, but disney will be hoping to see a return on their investment in the whoniverse. it is no overstatement to claim doctor who's future will be shaped by how well season 14 is received, and while "space babies" and "the devil's chord" get proceedings off to a very strong start, rtd's real challenge remains on the horizon. doctor who has been a fixture on tv screens for 60 years, meaning there are plenty of stories to choose from when picking out the time lord's best. the bottom line for doctor who season 14 is: "so far, so good." episode 1, "space babies," serves as a classic opener that would have slotted perfectly into rtd's original era if his 2000s doctor who vfx budget stretched to making babies talk. never taking itself too seriously, "space babies" is a blast of good humored fun that expertly establishes the all important bond between ncuti gatwa's fifteenth doctor and millie gibson's ruby sunday, then sprinkles timely social commentary over the top. effectively recycling the "base under siege" format with an appropriately scary monster that   in true rtd style   turns out to be utterly ridiculous, "space babies" is a gentle introduction to doctor who for newcomers, and a pleasant escape for those more familiar with the time lord's shenanigans. beyond the uncanny valley visuals of talking babies, nothing in doctor who season 14's premiere is reinventing the wheel, but strong performances, decent gags, and swift pacing ensure quality remains high nonetheless. "the devil's chord" is even better   more ambitious in scale and more unique in style. the doctor's latest jaunt through 1960s london puts a few well placed dents in the traditional doctor who mold, bringing back the musical numbers that have become increasingly common since rtd's return and delivering the lofty concept of a beatles free world that almost sounds like something danny boyle could make a movie about. jinkx monsoon as maestro is a stunningly good choice, justifiably forcing the entire episode to orbit around them. the doctor's genuine terror at facing another toymaker level threat, meanwhile, raises the stakes far, far higher than "space babies." fifteen's sparring with maestro is reminiscent of the first time jon pertwee's doctor played charisma tennis with roger delgado's master in the 1970s, and it would be criminal if "the devil's chord" is the last audiences see of jinkx monsoon's thrilling new villain (spoiler alert: it probably isn't). the doctor's dynamic with ruby gets better and better with each scene, and rtd makes clever use of doctor who's hefty tome of lore to anchor maestro's introduction to existing franchise history. some doctor who viewers may wince their way through "there's always a twist at the end," but this kind of daring madness is exactly what rtd was rehired for. doctor who season 14 emerges from its first two episodes looking very good. no major missteps are made, and some of the magic lacking during chris chibnall's reign is unquestionably restored   in addition to a few fresh ingredients tossed into the blend. "space babies" and "the devil's chord" are not, however, the episodes upon which doctor who's new era will eventually be judged. the first installments of ncuti gatwa and millie gibson's debut run are distinctly standalone escapades. "space babies" is especially isolated, only briefly referencing the larger ruby sunday falling snow mystery simmering in the background. "the devil's chord" digs deeper into doctor who's dna by revealing maestro as the toymaker's child and dropping some meatier ruby hints, but, ultimately, episode 2 is still a standalone story about a godlike villain wreaking havoc in earth's past... ft. the beatles. delivering good standalone outings has never really been doctor who's problem. even the less than loved "flux" season hit form with "war of the sontarans" and "village of the angels," largely because both ignored the overarching flux and timeless child storylines. rtd is famously adept at penning one off doctor who stories, so while season 14 begins in encouraging fashion, "space babies" and "the devil's chord" were never going to be anything less than solid entertainment. this style of episode is rtd's bread and butter   exciting 45 minute bursts of family friendly sci fi that contain small clues building toward the eventual grand finale. indeed, it's the grand finale looming ahead that poses the real challenge for rtd with doctor who season 14. doctor who typically attempts one big swing per season, usually culminating in the final episodes after a season of build up. rtd's first era had bad wolf, torchwood, and saxon, then his successor, steven moffat, fumbled the pass. rather than sticking to one long running arc in a season, moffat wove a needlessly complicated narrative involving cracks in amy's wall, the silence, gallifrey, the doctor's real name, trenzalore, the impossible girl, the doctor's death, river song's parentage, and an exploding tardis throughout matt smith's entire tenure. doctor who's problem is not figuring out how to keep audiences enthralled for one hour on a saturday night. moffat eased up on the complex multi season angles for peter capaldi's twelfth doctor, save for the quite brilliant missy teases in doctor who season 8, but the franchise once again found itself in a mire on long form storytelling when chris chibnall took over as showrunner. the timeless child, chibnall's big gambit, took the form of an immensely controversial retcon that fundamentally changed the premise doctor who was built upon. even worse, the narrative was never properly concluded, with the biggest timeless child questions still unanswered as of season 14. doctor who's problem, then, is not figuring out how to keep audiences enthralled for one hour on a saturday night, but how to tell a more ambitious, ongoing arc that doesn't inspire head scratching confusion or keyboard hammering rage. for doctor who season 14, the real test isn't "space babies" and "the devil's chord"   a test passed with flying colors, incidentally   but the final two episodes: "the legend of ruby sunday" and "empire of death." rtd has seeded an array of mysteries since returning to doctor who   the one who waits, ruby's parents, the mystery woman who abandoned her, meep's boss, mrs. flood, etc.   and season 14's final two episodes will inevitably be where some or all of those threads are resolved. doing so successfully will be the true mark of doctor who's long awaited return to form. conversely, botching the big reveals will prove the same old problems haven't been addressed. initial success could count for naught if rtd's ruby sunday resolution goes down like a sontaran stand up routine. on one hand, rtd has a very strong track record of handling doctor who's season long mysteries deftly, with bad wolf, saxon, and even the time war all held aloft as prime examples of storytelling in modern doctor who. on the other, the returning showrunner got off to a shaky start with the 60th anniversary's bi generation twist. while not something doctor who had been hinting at prior, bi generation was exactly the kind of sweeping, unnecessary, convoluted lore rewrite that caused problems during moffat and chibnall's eras and stirred up controversy with viewers. big answers have been promised regarding the mystery of ruby sunday, and how well doctor who resolves that narrative will have a far bigger impact on season 14's legacy than talking infants or the beatles. doctor who may be hitting all the right notes in episodes 1 and 2, therefore, but that initial success could count for naught if rtd's ruby sunday resolution goes down like a sontaran stand up routine. episode disney+ release date "space babies" and "the devil's chord" may 10 "boom" may 17 "73 yards" may 24 "dot & bubble" may 31 "rogue" june 7 "the legend of ruby sunday" june 14 "empire of death" june 21 success! your comment has not been saved the latest season of doctor who introduces the fifteenth doctor, joined by new companion ruby sunday. their first adventure begins with "the church on ruby road," where they face powerful new foes and unravel the mystery surrounding ruby's origins. the doctor grapples with the aftermath of a unique regeneration event and battles enemies more formidable than ever before. we want to hear from you! share your opinions in the thread below and remember to keep it respectful. your comment has not been saved the finale of doctor who season 14 was disappointing to audiences who had invested time watching the season, expecting shocking big reveals. bleach's new echoing jaws of hell arc hasn't received a follow up in three years, but thousand year blood war has given it a much needed tease. exclusive: julius onah has spoken about captain america: brave new world's reshoots and the effect that giancarlo esposito's late addition has had. spider man has had a good run in the mcu, but his time could be coming to an end if this avengers: secret wars theory is anything to go by. tom hiddleston's loki makes his return to the mcu franchise to take on robert downey jr.'s version of doctor doom in haunting avengers: doomsday art. the superhero genre may not be known for surprising its audience, but it has actually featured many excellent twists that are truly unforgettable. the 1990s produced plenty of classic action comedies, including hollywood blockbusters, asian martial arts movies and buddy cop comedies.

ncuti gatwa will be returning for his second season of doctor who. the series' showrunner shared that he would be joined by "phenomenal" guest stars and one of them was the lead of the "scariest" episode. gatwa is the fifteenth doctor in the doctor who franchise. he made his debut in the 2023 christmas special "the church on ruby road." his first season, dubbed as "season 1" due to a numbering reset, premiered on may 11, 2024, with a double bill release of two episodes. gatwa's first season of doctor who was well received and he had already started filming for season 2. doctor who showrunner russell t davies teased about the upcoming season and shared that he just wrapped up filming the most terrifying episode in the season. one of the actors who played the doctor suggested an actor who could portray the main character in doctor who. according to davies, they had just finished working on an episode, and he shared it with his sister, who loved it. "we finished an episode on friday, i showed it to my sister and she sat there, she was literally on the edge of her seat," davies told games radar. davies teased that the horror stricken episode starred rose ayling ellis, an english actress who has been deaf since birth and best known for her role as frankie lewis on eastenders. the filmmaker refused to name more guest actors in season 2 aside from ayling ellis but shared a significant detail about the episode she was part of. "we've got a story with rose ayling ellis in the lead," davies said. "she's the lead in one episode which is stunning, i think it's our scariest episode, it's absolutely terrifying, she's magnificent in it... to see ncuti with her. and other guest names in that cast are phenomenal. there are great episodes to come, a whole range   mad ones, scary ones, completely mad ones." davies didn't share more about the anticipated episode and instead talked about the mysterious character mrs. flood, played by anita dobbs. mrs. flood raised eyebrows due to her knowledge about the tardis. she's one of ruby's neighbors and previously shared that the doctor's "story ends in absolute terror." she also spoke about the sutekh's impending return. davies confirmed that mrs. flood is an important character with a major twist, somewhat teasing fans to focus on the character. "and more anita dobbs... a lot more anita dobbs. she's got a big surprise," the director shared. davies was wise to cast ayling ellis for the "scariest" episode in doctor who because horror movies featuring mute protagonists heighten the tension and fear factor probably because they can't scream for help. they appear defenseless, which intensifies the audience's concern for them. the lack of dialogue also enhances the atmosphere because filmmakers will usually rely on sound design, visuals and subtle cues to deliver an unsettling environment. silence will also draw the audience to focus more on the character's actions and emotions, which creates an emotional connection and amplifies the danger. at the same time, silence allows the audience to project their fears onto the character. ayling ellis is a distinguished actress with a lot of acting experience. her career began with a short film, the end, directed by ted evans, a deaf filmmaker. she has contributed to tv and theater and was nominated for best actress in a supporting role at the 2023 laurence olivier awards for playing celia in as you like it. she made history as the first deaf talent to secure a full time role on the bbc's eastenders. her compelling performance was widely praised, and she was nominated for best newcomer at the 2021 national television awards. the deaf and hearing audience loved the way she portrayed the challenges faced by deaf individuals as it resonated with them. there's no doubt that ayling ellis will put on the same intense performance in doctor who. ayling ellis will make her debut in the franchise in the 2024 doctor who christmas special "joy to the world." doctor who streams on disneyplus and the new season is expected to premiere in 2025. a familiar villain will return to doctor who, who first appeared during the ninth doctor's season. source: gamesradar we want to hear from you! share your opinions in the thread below and remember to keep it respectful. your comment has not been saved this thread is open for discussion. be the first to post your thoughts. doctor who showrunner and executive producer russell t davies confirmed a familiar trope in season 15. the lost sheep can be hard to find in kingdom come: deliverance 2. here's how henry can track it down. a genshin impact chart reveals the revenue difference between the fatui harbinger, arlecchino, and the champion duelist, clorinde. partway through the jaunt in kingdom come: deliverance 2 henry will be tasked with finding the overturned cart; here's where to find it. sasuke could be the next hokage. he might return to the boruto story soon. hunting is a straightforward method for getting food in kingdom come: deliverance 2; here's everything you need to know about it. while ghost of yotei may chart a new course, it could still lead back to familiar shores, shaping what’s next without defining the journey’s end.

the doctor who season 15 trailer teases some really exciting episodes, but i'm also worried that ncuti gatwa's second season as the show's leading man is already retreading the same old ground as his inaugural run. the ending of doctor who season 14 wrapped up many of the mysteries that had permeated the beginning of the disney era, even if some of the resolutions were less than satisfactory. however, there was one storyline in particular that i would, at best, describe as divisive. weirdly, russell t. davies seems content to revisit a very similar arc. unlike millie gibson's introduction as ruby sunday in 2023's "the church on ruby road", the end of doctor who's 2024 christmas special doesn't really set up the next run of episodes. thankfully, the show has still given us a preview of what doctor who season 15's story will look like by providing a fast paced compilation of clips from the coming installments. i'm thrilled at how original so much of it looks, but also apprehensive about one of the implied arcs. i could be wrong, but i get the impression i've seen it before   and very recently. one of doctor who season 14's ongoing storylines was that there was something wrong with the doctor's tardis. it was nothing particularly obvious, but the occasional groans and malfunctions were enough to piece together the theory that the blue box wasn't quite right. perhaps one of the most significant clues was when the tardis refused to let ruby enter in "73 yards," but i also think this was buried well enough in the episode's lore that it was easy to sweep aside. interesting though the arc was, doctor who season 15 teasing it again doesn't do much for me. when i was watching the thrilling finale of doctor who season 14, i kept thinking about a similar mcu story, and how much better the latter was. the trailer for gatwa's second run shows varada sethu as belinda chandra stepping in to replace ruby as the doctor's companion. early into the teaser, belinda demands the doctor use the tardis to take her home, but the time lord quite clearly struggles to do so and explains to sethu's character that they may need to go "the long way round." the implication is that there is an issue with the tardis, and if so, i'll be a bit disappointed that davies has already returned to a storyline that was quickly used and resolved in doctor who's disney era. gatwa's first season as the doctor ultimately turned out to be a stealth sequel to tom baker's "pyramids of mars" serial from 1975. although season 14's tardis issues initially seemed like a secondary storyline, the return of gabriel woolf as sutekh brought the classic villain back in a very unexpected way. that being said, those with whom i've discussed the reveal of the one who waits' true identity in doctor who season 14 largely seem quite divided on the quality of the writing. there have been some who loved it, those who hated it, and others who couldn't decide. maybe davies thought the tardis storyline would be a bigger hit than it ended up being   hence why he may be using the same blueprint going into this season. davies isn't the kind of writer to react to criticism, and i respect the way he sticks to his vision. however, even if he did change course based on public opinion, he wouldn't have had time to do so between doctor who seasons 14 and 15, as the upcoming season had already entered production even before gatwa's debut had aired. so, maybe davies thought the tardis storyline would be a bigger hit than it ended up being   hence why he may be using the same blueprint going into this season. unfortunately, only time will tell if it works or not. despite doctor who's disney era essentially being a soft relaunch of the franchise, davies' use of sutekh and other references to the show's classic and post revival episodes prove he's willing to acknowledge the wider canon rather than starting from scratch. so, making the tardis impossible to navigate could be another attempt to tie together doctor who's various eras. fans of william hartnell's run as the first doctor will know that he had only a slender grasp on how to fly the tardis, so doctor who season 15 could be one big callback to hartnell's time in the blue box. john barrowman's captain jack harkness has a very interesting backstory in the doctor who universe, and "joy to the world" quietly adds to his lore. for all the tardis' mysterious symptoms in doctor who season 14, the doctor's time and space machine still operated as it always has. so, there was very little on the line until the sutekh reveal in the two part finale. i would love to see the tardis' navigation systems genuinely compromised in doctor who season 15, leading to the doctor landing pretty much anywhere in space and time without any control like in the show's earliest years. success! your comment has not been saved the latest season of doctor who introduces the fifteenth doctor, joined by new companion ruby sunday. their first adventure begins with "the church on ruby road," where they face powerful new foes and unravel the mystery surrounding ruby's origins. the doctor grapples with the aftermath of a unique regeneration event and battles enemies more formidable than ever before. we want to hear from you! share your opinions in the thread below and remember to keep it respectful. your comment has not been saved anyone spot the "i remember telling myself the answer" being re used e.g. when the doctor tells himself the code just because he remembered himself telling it him, yes it happened before when because of his floor and amy's skirt rory has the tardis land inside itself, later the doctor appears from the tardis inside the tardis calling out the wibbly lever, he then runs through the door saying i got the answer by remembering telling myself the answer. from the trailer, it looks like the situation with the new companion is a time paradox and the tardis can't just simply land. like with the time hotel, it sets up the scenario of the long way round. i am looking forward to the next season of dr who and, like a lot of people, felt that bringing sutekh back was great but, was still left wanting more from the reveal, it's consequences and ultimately the resolution itself. i am hoping that when ncuti gatwa's doctor says 'we might have to go the long way round' is a call back to william hartnell's and the peter capaldi eras. in "the doctors wife', (matt smiths incarnation), there was a scene where the doctor was complaining that the tardis/idris never took him where he wanted to go, to which idris replied, :but i always took you where you needed to go". i am hoping against hope, that this is what ncuti means by 'the long way round' in the clip. another thing that i feel gives creedence to this is the fact that during the christmas special, joy to the world(s), the tardis materialised as it has done normally pre the 15th doctor. the one storyline that i hope is a surprising reveal (one with an audible gasp), and has an exciting resolution, is the question that has been in nearly every dr who's fans mind   ' who is mrs flood ?' there's so very many theories floating about and a lot of them do make sense. i just hope rtd has thrown us a real 'curve ball' . it's also interesting to note that steven moffat has read the script for the last one or two episodes...............🤨 season 14 was truly dismal, dreary, and utterly forgettable. gatwa is awful, possessing a range beginning with gormless grinning and ending with the mouth agape, solitary tear, middle distance gaze shtick he employs in nigh every episode. in fairness, this could be attributable to the writing. recently watched from rose to twice upon a time. made the current laughable offerings even worse. get rid of gatwa and davies and maybe the show can he resurrected. there is a glaring problem with the depiction of the tardis in recent years; namely, it's a sentient being/character in its own right, and this has been massively downplayed for several seasons now. i'm going to speculate that this is because the tardis has traditionally been presented as female, and that the doctor referring to her as "old girl" or "sexy" is now deemed "problematic" by the same kind of people who get uptight about female pronouns being used to describe ships... of whom i'm fairly sure davies and chibnall are now card   carrying members, ostensibly at least. however, the "solution" to this has been to duck the issue and ignore the unique relationship that's traditionally existed between the doctor and his type 40 ttc. in the process, it feels like doctor who has effectively lost a key character in its mythology and that the tardis has been downgraded/lobotomized... which is hardly a progressive response to the "problem". if the old concept is now deemed "inappropriate" because it's perceived as suggesting... what? female subservience? then a new paradigm has to be devised to replace it, rather than continually sidelining/skirting the issue. if davies can't or won't address *that*, then i have no interest in whatever other tardis   related shenanigans he has planned going forward. chris chibnall's divisive timeless child storyline created several doctor who plot holes, but it may also solve an ongoing tardis mystery. while james gunn revamps the dc universe, we can't help but wonder what could have become of the franchise if zack snyder’s vision came full circle. the best fourth wing replacement doesn’t have dragons, but it features other similarities   and it’s the ideal read after finishing onyx storm. new new fan poll reveals the true fan favorite studio ghibli movie and it may come as a shock to longtime anime watchers. reacher season 3 will likely be unique in more ways than one, but it is repeating many aspects of the show's first two seasons in three massive ways. gary larson has written and illustrated more than his fair share of feline inspired comic strips. screen rant lists our five favorite cat comics from the far side. screenrant interviews melissa o'neil about where lucy stands with seth & what to expect for chenford in the rookie's upcoming valentine's day episode.

a satisfying trilogy gets soured by an asterisk by joshua rivera a satisfying trilogy gets soured by an asterisk by joshua rivera it’s doctor who tradition that one doctor’s final episode is the next doctor’s first. this handoff is one of the coolest things about the show. you never really know what you’re going to get, and everything feels new again. last weekend, the guard changed once again, in another first for the series following jodie whittaker’s tenure as the first woman in the role. unfortunately, the momentous occasion was marred by what seems like an incredibly boneheaded decision in how the transition was made . the fifteenth doctor, however, is always going to have an asterisk by his name. a little footnote, denoting that his introduction   as actor ncuti gatwa takes his historic place as the first black man to assume the role in doctor who’s 60 year history   is different from the rest. it makes the whole affair feel like an alarming step back right before what many still hope might be a great leap forward for the long running series. [ed. note: spoilers for the ending of “the giggle” follow.] as an episode, “the giggle,” the last of doctor who’s three 60th anniversary specials, is a hell of a ride, if a bit dense. the premise involves a subliminal message hidden in every screen, everywhere, driving the world mad, a heavy handed metaphor that would drag the whole episode down if the story dwelled on it much. thankfully, it doesn’t   writer russell t. davies mostly uses this plot for spectacle’s sake, to give the episode an apocalyptic scale. he puts much more energy into the episode’s villain, the toymaker. a deep pull from doctor who history, the toymaker first appeared during william hartnell’s (the very first doctor!) tenure on the run. he’s not shown up on screen since, but still resurfaced in the odd who novel or radio play through the years. in casting neil patrick harris to resurrect the role, davies finally gives the three specials a sense of history that this trilogy of specials has been lacking, one that stretches back to before the modern era of doctor who davies kicked off in 2005. the toymaker also thrusts us into the new era of doctor who. a creature from beyond the universe who sees all of existence through an amoral lens of games and play, the doctor’s plan for defeating him involves challenging him to a game   only, in the sort of logic loopholes doctor who is so fond of deploying, the toymaker demands to play the next doctor   and shoots a beam right through the doctor’s chest. this is where “the giggle” falls apart. instead of regenerating into ncuti gatwa’s fifteenth doctor, something weird called “bigeneration” happens, and the doctor splits in two: david tennant’s tenth doctor and gatwa’s fifteenth. it’s not a temporary thing, either   as the special’s denouement plays out, it’s made very clear that ten will remain alive and well, albeit settling down into the role of fun alien uncle to donna noble’s family off screen, while fifteen goes off to do doctor who things. they each even get their own tardis. the whole thing smacks of cowardice. in making the wildly inconsistent decision to make the first black doctor a weird anomaly that keeps the previous white one in play, gatwa’s fifteen is now categorically not the doctor, undercut by the fact that the other guy is still out there, even if he never actually shows up. there are charitable ways to read why this happened. davies’ doctor who work is best characterized as extremely sentimental, and his plots will frequently toss out logical sense if the emotion of a scene makes sense to him. as a sentimental writer, it’s very possible that davies could not bear to kill his most loved doctor a second time, or that the symbolism of tennant’s doctor wishing gatwa’s good luck and sending him off struck him as more emotionally befitting such a historic handoff. looking at it this way, however, strains credulity, and there’s little reason anyone should be so generous. doctor who, under the tone davies himself set in 2005, has established itself as embracing a sort of matter of fact progressivism that channeled the optimism of science fiction to show how humanity could, in fact, better itself over time. to that end, the series has often   albeit clumsily   worked to be inclusive and compassionate in fits and starts, matter of factly introducing queer characters (including donna’s trans daughter rose in the 60th anniversary specials) and endeavoring to make the doctor’s world a little less lily white. we could be better, and the doctor was there to cheer us on. which makes this sort of gaffe all the more frustrating, and almost retrograde. it’s the kind of mistake you’d think prominent creators were done making. granted, the ending of this story is not written yet. we’re still in between seasons, with a christmas special episode left to give gatwa’s doctor his first proper adventure before he kicks off his run in earnest in 2024. it’s possible that davies plans to address the way “the giggle” reads as making the first black doctor seem like a carve out that allows regressive holdouts to stick to “their” (white) doctor. tv is a serial medium, and the push and pull between audience and artists is part of the game. gatwa, for his part, is incredible. even without pants   which he never manages to put on before the credits roll   the fifteenth doctor shines in the last few moments of “the giggle,” with a grin that can light up the sky and an eagerness to see everything and go everywhere. it’s a testament to his talent and charm that he makes it feel like waiting to see how this all plays out will be worth it. the best of polygon in your inbox, every friday. © 2025 vox media, llc. all rights reserved

recent and archived work by isobel lewis for the new york times previous editions of the performing arts event launched shows like “baby reindeer” and “fleabag.” maybe there’s another breakout hit among this year’s more than 3,600 shows. by isobel lewis ncuti’s gatwa’s first season as the doctor closes with a typically ambitious episode. by isobel lewis in the first part of the season finale, a terrifying enemy from the doctor’s past returns, as mysteries start to be solved. by isobel lewis the doctor and ruby head back to regency england in a meta meditation on cosplay and obsessive tv fandom. by isobel lewis the doctor saves a rich wannabe vlogger from being eaten by a giant slug, but a final twist leaves him reeling. by isobel lewis a strong episode focuses on ruby, the doctor’s companion, and the mysterious older woman who starts following her from a distance. by isobel lewis in an episode simmering with tension, the doctor and ruby discover an army of religious soldiers on a largely deserted planet. by isobel lewis the new season, written by russell t davies and starring ncuti gatwa as the 15th doctor, opens with a double episode premiere. by isobel lewis

there’s a new doctor in the tardis. don’t have time to fully catch up? here are our top seven jodie whittaker stories. edited by aaron gates feb 15, 2023 | share back in may 2022, the bbc finally announced the identity of the next star of doctor who, rwandan scottish actor ncuti gatwa. at 29, gatwa is the second youngest actor and first ever black man to tackle the role of the doctor. gatwa is best known for his work as eric effiong on netflix’s sex education and will appear in the upcoming barbie film in 2023. it’s okay if you’ve missed some episodes here or there. every regeneration is like a soft reboot, spinning the characters into new directions. but the 13th doctor’s tenure introduced a lot of new friends, enemies, and so much lore. so if you want to watch gatwa’s debut this winter without confusion, you might have some binge watching to do. however, jodie whittaker has been the doctor for over 30 episodes, and not all of them were great (we’re looking at you, pting). you’re a busy person how do you know which ones to watch? worry no more: here’s our top seven stories to catch up on before series 14. catch up with the last 17 years of adventures in time and space with doctor who on hbo max. we almost didn’t include this episode, out of a deep hatred for its introduction of the season’s big bad, the teeth themed alien tzim sha. but that would be doing the 13th doctor a disservice as her first official episode, the woman who fell to earth does a great job of introducing her personality, look, companions, and even her sonic screwdriver. this episode was nominated for a hugo award in 2019, so you know it has to be good. set during the partition of india and pakistan in 1947, this episode focuses on yaz and her family history, with just the right amount of “will i accidentally erase myself from existence” tension that any back to the future esque story ought to have. while a big part of this episode’s strength is in its examination of and empathy for real world events, this episode is also notable for being one of the first to put yaz in the spotlight over fellow “fam” members graham and ryan. the tardis got a bit crowded this season, and their storylines often took precedence over hers. aliens, witches, and misogynists, oh my! this witch hunting episode was honestly not too remarkable in itself, a typical doctor who story about historical figures misinterpreting the actions of otherworldly beings. why include it at all, then? alan cumming as king james. enough said. by signing up, you agree to our privacy policy & terms and conditions. did you notice we said seven stories, not seven episodes? that’s because this one’s a two parter. sorry about that. filled with big reveals, not so subtle spycraft, and laser shoes, spyfall was marketed as a big james bond sy event for the 13th doctor and pals. however, the real standout of the event was the introduction of sacha dhawan into the who verse, making this story a must see for all fans. you might know sacha dhawan from his appearance as orlo on the “anti historical” comedy the great. haven’t seen it yet? check it out now on hulu. a lot of the 13th doctor’s greatest hits happen to be historical adventures, and night of terror is no exception. fresh off his run as garcia flynn on the ill fated show timeless, goran visnjic steals the show as nikola tesla. (can we get #renewtimeless going in 2022? or has that energy gone to #renewlegendsoftomorrow instead? do i watch too many time travel shows?) sure, this episode has a weird, humanoid scorpion woman with some seriously messed up teeth, but as teeth themed doctor who villains go, she’s not even the worst one. another two parter! sorry about that. the cybermen may seem like a tired foe by now yes, they’re scary, but haven’t we blown them up by now? why do they keep coming back? but this event puts them through a new evolution. it’s not the cybermen you should watch this story for though, but the lore. episodes in this era of who tend to throw a lot of things at the audience, with a sort of vibes first, explanations later attitude (which is largely the reason the jam packed six parter flux isn’t on this list). but ambitious as it is, the “timeless child” story is a big part of the doctor’s lore now, so it’s worth watching just to stay up to date. finally, 2022’s new year’s special eve of the daleks. this episode was a classic time loop adventure with a lot of good character moments, which was a real palate cleanser after so many episodes introducing new lore and characters into the world. (like we said, we’re omitting flux from this list, and you can watch it if you want, but all you really need to know to enjoy this episode is that dan is here now, and he’s great). about the author olivia bono olivia bono loves entertainment, and she’s never going to shut up about it. here at cabletv.com, you’ll find her writing about the wild world of streaming. her specialty is animation you can find much of her work at our anime hub page. olivia previously wrote for the cornell daily sun, where in addition to television, she reviewed movies, albums, and video games. outside of work, she loves to listen to audiobooks, make art, and spend time outdoors. stay updated on the latest products and services anytime anywhere. by signing up, you agree to our privacy policy & terms and conditions. tv & internet providers local find providers in your area connect with us

ncuti gatwa's first full season begins in may. bbc director of drama lindsay salt has said that doctor who has "never been more ambitious and brave" following its 60th anniversary. the beloved sci fi celebrated the huge milestone last year, bringing back david tennant and catherine tate for three special episodes, which teed up ncuti gatwa's fifteenth doctor. salt celebrated how far the show has come while looking ahead at the bbc's upcoming slate, which includes a new sci fi commission based on the novel the ministry of time. she said: "doctor who celebrated its 60 year anniversary last year and has never been more ambitious and brave." immediately afterwards, she spoke about the bbc's approach to risk taking   and why she thinks it's so essential. salt said: "there’s something about this moment, the current climate in our industry, that makes our approach to risk even more essential. "while others might become more cautious, we will go further to take the risks others won’t   to task all the producers and creatives in this room to keep pushing those boundaries, and to venture into the creative unknown. the best sci fi news and features this side of the outer rim. this site is protected by recaptcha and the google privacy policy and terms of service apply. "and real risk taking is also about protecting those dangerous moments in scripts, those moments where you sit up and think: ‘wow, i’ve never seen that before’ or ‘are you allowed to do that?!’". gatwa's first full season of doctor who will begin in may, with the bbc releasing a trailer at christmas teasing what's to come. season 14 will see the doctor and companion ruby sunday (millie gibson) meet the beatles in the 1960s, encounter jinkx monsoon's terrifying villain, and adventure to the regency period with a character played by jonathan groff. we can't wait! doctor who will return in may 2024. doctor who is available to watch on bbc iplayer and on britbox   you can sign up for a 7 day free trial here. check out more of our sci fi coverage or visit our tv guide and streaming guide to find out what’s on. louise griffin is the sci fi & fantasy editor for radio times, covering everything from doctor who, star wars and marvel to house of the dragon and good omens. she previously worked at metro as a senior entertainment reporter and has a degree in english literature. sign up to receive our newsletter! this site is protected by recaptcha and the google privacy policy and terms of service apply.

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what to watch supported by ncuti’s gatwa’s first season as the doctor closes with a typically ambitious episode. by isobel lewis isobel lewis has been watching doctor who since 2005. as a teenager, she made gifs of the show for her fan tumblr. if ncuti gatwa’s first full run of episodes manning the tardis has been characterized by anything, it’s big swings. over the course of this season, the “doctor who” showrunner russell t davies has explored racism, queer love, the threat posed by technology and even fandom itself, with episodes ranging from the abstruse (“73 yards”) to the strangely saccharine (“space babies,” which i have largely advised friends skip). the season has, at times, felt overstuffed, but it’s been the overhaul “doctor who” needed after losing some momentum under its previous showrunner, chris chibnall. davies’s ambition is undeniable, and the penultimate episode   in which the evil god sutekh returned after nearly 50 years   was one of the boldest, scariest “doctor who” episodes in years. while the finale doesn’t quite maintain the tension, “empire of death” is still an effective and satisfying end to the season. the episode opens with several loose ends to tie up: sutekh needs to be stopped, and we still need to discover the identities of ruby’s mother and her neighbor mrs. flood (anita dobson). the action picks back up in medias res, with sutekh’s hollow faced, red eyed servants susan (susan twist) and harriet (genesis lynea) uncurling their palms and blowing out a brown dust that turns everyone it touches to ash. kate (jemma redgrave) and her team at unit, britain’s supersecret extraterrestrial task force, are quickly destroyed.

 warning: spoilers ahead for doctor who season 14, episodes 1 & 2 doctor who makes a strong opening statement with "space babies" and "the devil's chord," but season 14's true test is still to come for rtd. since disney insists on marketing ncuti gatwa's first full season flying the tardis as "doctor who season 1," it's hardly surprising that fifteen's early adventures feel like a clean slate. with reaction to recent doctor who seasons ranging from muted to outright divisive, tempting back former showrunner russell t davies was intended as a rejuvenation, but that soft reset started looking a little bit harder once disney joined the party. consequently, a great deal is riding upon season 14. not only is gatwa's debut year leading the doctor who cast a test of whether the cloud of apathy that developed over the past three seasons can be shrugged off, but disney will be hoping to see a return on their investment in the whoniverse. it is no overstatement to claim doctor who's future will be shaped by how well season 14 is received, and while "space babies" and "the devil's chord" get proceedings off to a very strong start, rtd's real challenge remains on the horizon. doctor who has been a fixture on tv screens for 60 years, meaning there are plenty of stories to choose from when picking out the time lord's best. the bottom line for doctor who season 14 is: "so far, so good." episode 1, "space babies," serves as a classic opener that would have slotted perfectly into rtd's original era if his 2000s doctor who vfx budget stretched to making babies talk.