As the descendant of the 10th and the 14th Doctor (David Tennant), it’s kind of perfect that this new season of Doctor Who takes us from “allons y” to “push the button.” The 15th Doctor—a vibrant, buff, and keen Ncuti Gatwa—is all go; a Doctor so filled with exuberance that we’ll follow wherever he leads. And, so far, it’s a fabulous and frightening ride.
Series/season 14 of Doctor Who arrives on Disney+ tomorrow. After our introduction to the 15th and his first companion, Ruby Sunday (Millie Gibson), we know we’re in for something new yet familiar. “New” because of obvious reasons. “Familiar” because the father of “New Who,” Russell T Davies, is back in command as showrunner. For me, the new season is all about flipping perspectives. In each of the first three episodes, Davies and the creative team reframe scary experiences from childhood: goblins plucked out of the film Labyrinth, fears of abandonment, and the overbearing music teachers we hesitated to face. Another big theme comes from the Doctor and Ruby’s shared experiences as orphans. Another is the elemental power of art. Oh, and there are lots of big musical numbers too!
Of course, when I talked to Ncuti Gatwa, Millie Gibson, and Russell T. Davies they had other themes on their minds:
Gatwa’s debut as the Doctor is rhapsodic for many Whovians, not only as the first BIPOC iteration of the character but also as the first openly queer one. Like his theme song, Gatwa comes through as our “Alien Superstar”—the Tardis is his runway and he’s one-of-one in a portrayal completely his own. With such a legendary lineage, I’m crowning him The Splinter Doctor, The First Son of the House of Timey Wimey. We’re not sure what this new line of Doctors will yield, but we can sense who 15 is: rave kid, life-lover, enthusiastic hugger, and pusher of all the best buttons. When I asked him about the themes that define his version of the Doctor, Gatwa said, “For me, compassion and curiosity are the two anchors. Those are the emotional traits that anchor me when thinking about the doctor.”
Gibson’s Ruby is portrayed with a depth that reflects the complexities of her backstory. Her need to understand herself better doesn’t negate her love for her Mum and Nan but is a balance for it. She is a mystery and the series seems to hint there are more connections between her and the Doctor on the way. Is Ruby a descendant of Time Lords, a new Impossible Girl, or something newer? And is Mrs. Flood the woman she becomes when her adventures conclude? We don’t know yet but Gibson enhanced the intrigue when she told me the heart of Ruby’s character is a juxtaposition between, “Adventure and motherhood.” With that said, I can’t wait to learn all the secrets of the season.
Davies is my favorite showrunner of New Who—his Doctors are the only ones who can rival my beloved Tom Baker, and “Blink” (written by Steven Moffat) is the best episode of all time. No notes. Who doesn’t fear the Weeping Angels? After the Christmas introduction, the premiere episodes of the latest season—”Space Babies” and “The Devil’s Chord”—introduce new concepts and monsters that expand the Whoiuniverse while maintaining its winking wit.
When we spoke, Davies revealed that earth is foundational to his stories, “I think, if you’re alive and you’re thinking about the world—and whatever I write has something to say about the world. The whole point of science fiction is to say something about the modern world. I don’t know what’s gonna happen in the year 50,000. I can’t comment on that, but… I think a good script has things to say. So, actually, that’s not a lesson…but, I’m always happy to keep commenting on the world because there’s no other way to write.”
That commentary on the world as it is, was, and might be is evident from the start. Historical and socio-political references are woven into the episodes, deepening our connection to the fantastical elements. For instance, in “The Devil’s Chord” episode, The Beatles’ appearance speaks to the various ways art feeds our souls. Parallel to how the Toymaker speaks to our need to be challenged and to play without fear.
The Tales of the Fifteenth: Episode Previews
Episode 1: “The Church on Ruby Road” (Christmas Special)
The season re-opens with “The Church on Ruby Road,” the Christmas special that introduced Ruby Sunday and those blood-thirsty goblins.
Episode 2: “Space Babies”
“Space Babies!” catapults us back to the future, where the Doctor reveals the glee and pitfalls of the universe to Ruby. They land on a Baby Generator, a self-operating ship run by the most adorable talking infants in mechanical strollers. Hey, Captain Poppy, you’re the cutest. But a bogeyman looms, threatening this peculiar paradise. This episode is bonkers going where only the imagination of children and the hilarity of bodily fluids can take us. Also, there’s a Queen Charlotte (Golda Rosheuvel) sighting in her alternate-universe form.
Episode 3: “The Devil’s Chord”
“The Devil’s Chord” combines alternant historical with the power of art. Jinkx Monsoon is the Maestro, a new villain in the Doctor’s rogues’ gallery, and she is serving demented orchestrations and artisan greed.
What more do you need? Wait for midnight and “PUSH THE BUTTON” but remember “There’s always a twist at the end.”
Doctor Who coming to Disney+
Streaming Friday, May 10 at 7:00PM ET where available,
and simultaneously on May 11 at midnight on BBC iPlayer in the U.K.
