‘Doctor Who’ captured lightning in a bottle with its season 2 finale
It is hard to live in a world without spoilers. River Song would be struggling to keep the secrets. With Marvel movies leaking and set pictures being taken, we almost always are spoiled on some big reveal. But Doctor Who managed to have a genuinely shocking finale and it’s impressive.
Throughout all of season 2 of the Disney+ era, we saw Ncuti Gatwa’s 15th Doctor lead with love as he took his companions around the universe. He found joy with Ruby Sunday (Millie Gibson) and even though Belinda (Varada Sethu) wanted to go home after every new mission, the two found a fun camaraderie with each other. Which is what made Conrad’s (Jonah Hauer-King) twist in the end so devastating.
**As River Song would say, SPOILERS**
In the season 2 finale of Doctor Who, the Doctor and Belinda find themselves in a world where they are happily married with a daughter named Poppy and not doubting a single thing in their lives. But when Ruby Sunday comes to their door seeing if they all know each other, the answers begin to reveal themselves.
In the end, the only way the Doctor sees as a way out of everything is to use his regeneration energy to set the universe back on track and bring Poppy back to Belinda. The problem with that is that it means the Doctor will regenerate. Yes, after two seasons, Gatwa has left Doctor Who. And in came the new Doctor: Billie Piper.
Does this mean that Rose Tyler is the Doctor? Is the regeneration just going back to one of the Doctor’s past loves? There is a lot of questions that all revolve around this twist but it is shocking they managed to keep Gatwa leaving the series a secret.
Is this really the end of 15?
Often when an actor decides to leave the show, it is a whole thing. We’re aware it is their final season, we know that a regeneration is coming, and often we know who the next Doctor will be. That’s how it has been for this new era of the show and so Gatwa’s surprise regeneration has me questioning whether it is real or not.
In a statement released after the finale aired, Gatwa made it seem as if his time as the Doctor was over. “You know when you get cast, at some point you are going to have to hand back that sonic screwdriver and it is all going to come to an end, but nothing quite prepares you for it. There are no words to describe what it feels like to be cast as the Doctor, nor are there words to explain what it feels like to be accepted into this iconic role that has existed for over 60 years and is truly loved by so many across the globe.”
After thanking fans for welcoming him into the universe, Gatwa said “I’ve loved every minute of it, but now is the time to hand over the keys to that beloved blue box and let someone else take control and enjoy it every bit as much as I have. I’ll truly miss it, and forever be grateful to it, and everyone that has played a part in my journey as the Doctor.”
Now here is my thinking: The Doctor bi-generated into Gatwa after Jodie Whittaker regenerated into David Tennant again. Does this mean that Gatwa can, eventually, become the Doctor again with Tennant’s 14th Doctor? That remains to be seen but for now, they are making it that Gatwa is gone from the series and I already miss him. But I am also excited to see what Rose Tyler-eh, Billie Piper brings to the TARDIS again.
(featured image: Disney+)
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