Hey, remember back in 2020 there was a popular rumor Tennant was going to appear in Revolution of the Daleks? And remember how that didn't happen?
I remember.
I remember.
Russell T. Davies Returns to Doctor Who as New Showrunner
- Thread starter Allyn Gibson
- Start date
If you believe the tabloids, Jodie's regen scene may be axed to combat falling ratings. Not sure how it would, but then logic has never been among their strengths.
I wouldn't put much stock in The Mirror or The Sun TBH.
As to Tennant coming back... Goodness Gracious Me. Russell and David are incredibly in demand and both of them are very creative. I can't imagine either of them thinking it would be a good idea to follow that path. Everything is going to be new.
I’d be surprised if they skip the regeneration scene. But as to anything else…while I’m not necessarily believing anything I read, I’m not sure a lot can be ruled out. As far as I know, it’s pretty unprecedented for the show to be on air and there to be no incumbent in the role of the Doctor at the time of an anniversary ending in 0. The return of RTD is also fairly novel. So I do think it’s at least possible that they’ll do something that’s never been done before - indeed, unless they just ignore the anniversary, which also seems unlikely, they’ll have to do something they’ve never done before. I think it’d be a big step to base an anniversary special around a new Doctor’s debut, whether with or without old faces returning; that’s not to say they won’t do it, but I can understand why the idea of getting a hugely popular previous version to return to the role (even if just for a limited run) - just as Patrick Troughton was at one stage contemplated as the Seventh Doctor - might be one of the options they’re looking at.
I don't know, so many variables. If Tennant played a different version of the Doctor, how different would it be, and might that not risk annoying some who were hoping he'd just be Ten again? But if 14 was just 10 again wouldn't that risk saying Doctor Who can only truly be popular with Tennant in the role? (ignoring how successful Smith was in following on?)
Plus how long would Tennant want to stick around these days? The guy's always working, would his schedule even allow for more than a one off or a single season?
Tennant is already up on a pedestal as the Doctor, this just risks raising that pedestal even more. The Doctor's USP is that they can be anyone, and the show probably already spends too much of its time looking back, the one certainty has always been that the character itself would be every changing, to pull a quote from another show, infinite diversity in infinite combinations. This way you're reverting to the white male default, but at least if you're going to do that you could hire a different white bloke!
But hey, taking another view Connery returned as James Bond and it didn't stop Roger Moore coming in next and being hugely successful and popular in the role.
Plus how long would Tennant want to stick around these days? The guy's always working, would his schedule even allow for more than a one off or a single season?
Tennant is already up on a pedestal as the Doctor, this just risks raising that pedestal even more. The Doctor's USP is that they can be anyone, and the show probably already spends too much of its time looking back, the one certainty has always been that the character itself would be every changing, to pull a quote from another show, infinite diversity in infinite combinations. This way you're reverting to the white male default, but at least if you're going to do that you could hire a different white bloke!
But hey, taking another view Connery returned as James Bond and it didn't stop Roger Moore coming in next and being hugely successful and popular in the role.
There's no chance we're getting another three years of Tennant as they're a long way from being that desperate.
I'm not even sure we're getting a multi-Doctor story for the anniversary this time, as it'd be a bit awkward to introduce a new Doctor in an episode with other Doctors around (whether they're really the Doctor or not). Even having Sylvester McCoy around for the first ten minutes of the 90s TV movie was a bit much.
I'm not even sure we're getting a multi-Doctor story for the anniversary this time, as it'd be a bit awkward to introduce a new Doctor in an episode with other Doctors around (whether they're really the Doctor or not). Even having Sylvester McCoy around for the first ten minutes of the 90s TV movie was a bit much.
I can see us seeing Jodie begin to regenerate but not seeing who she regenerates into. Just because of timings and because it buys a bit of time.
I can then see a flashback adventure(s) for the 60th. I'm not overly convinced based just on the rumours but I can see the idea of it.
Which would allow RTD to kick off 14's run 'in media res', as he did with Rose. For which I've no rational basis, other than RTD likes a pacey open and 'in media res' allows for that more than "ooh, looks, I've just regenerated, time to be wibbly wobbly eccentric and off balance' which has been done brilliantly in the past but is conventional and wouldn't start of 14's run with anything we haven't seen before. Whereas, we've only really had 'in media res' starts in Spearhead from Space and Rose. And Spearhead still has Jon in bed for most of part one.
What I can see happening, and what I think would be really neat is, if they do film 14's half of the regeneration BUT we don't see it in Jodie's swansong, nor in 14's first episode; but, if they throw it in as a random flashback in episode 5 or something of 14's first series. Just to put the theories of interim regenerations to rest and to catch us off guard.
I can then see a flashback adventure(s) for the 60th. I'm not overly convinced based just on the rumours but I can see the idea of it.
Which would allow RTD to kick off 14's run 'in media res', as he did with Rose. For which I've no rational basis, other than RTD likes a pacey open and 'in media res' allows for that more than "ooh, looks, I've just regenerated, time to be wibbly wobbly eccentric and off balance' which has been done brilliantly in the past but is conventional and wouldn't start of 14's run with anything we haven't seen before. Whereas, we've only really had 'in media res' starts in Spearhead from Space and Rose. And Spearhead still has Jon in bed for most of part one.
What I can see happening, and what I think would be really neat is, if they do film 14's half of the regeneration BUT we don't see it in Jodie's swansong, nor in 14's first episode; but, if they throw it in as a random flashback in episode 5 or something of 14's first series. Just to put the theories of interim regenerations to rest and to catch us off guard.
So a repeat of Troughton to Pertwee (the later having not been hired at the time War Games finished production).
So to sum up, according to the person who claims to be in the know; not only is Tennant coming back but RTD is going to de-woke-ify the series and (for some reason) remove the Doctor Who license from Big Finish.
On that second claim, have they seen "It's A Sin" or "Years and Years" or, like, anything else he's written EVER?
On the third one; BF's license was extended to 2030 months after Russel's return was announced but even if it wasn't we're talking about the man who saved them from losing it back in 2005, who has worked as a story consultant for them on-and-off for years, who developed the Torchwood continuation for them and did uncredited script-editing/writing on it and, oh yes, when he found his first DW script during Lockdown gave it to them to make.
All in all, very believable...
On that second claim, have they seen "It's A Sin" or "Years and Years" or, like, anything else he's written EVER?
On the third one; BF's license was extended to 2030 months after Russel's return was announced but even if it wasn't we're talking about the man who saved them from losing it back in 2005, who has worked as a story consultant for them on-and-off for years, who developed the Torchwood continuation for them and did uncredited script-editing/writing on it and, oh yes, when he found his first DW script during Lockdown gave it to them to make.
All in all, very believable...
I don't see that happening for a variety of reasons. Mostly, regenerations are Big Things these days. The main reason for seeing the departing Doctor regenerate is to get to meet the new Doctor. In fact, I'd be willing to bet if they did a halfway regeneration without showing the new Doctor until some later point, the actor/actress would very likely (and properly) be very upset at the fact they don't get to make their debut in their predecessor's big profile exit episode like so many of their predecessors did. Especially since Whittaker's departure is supposed to be the BBC's 100th anniversary, that's a hell of a publicity stunt for the new Doctor to make their debut, and if I were the new Doctor and was robbed of that, I'd be very pissed.
Also, showing the regeneration as a random flashback in episode 5, or presumably the middle of the season? Also a Big No. Stuff like regenerations has to happen in important episodes that everyone is guaranteed to watch, like premieres, finales, or specials. Tossing it in a random episode to "catch everyone off guard" does not bring in viewers, in fact you risk alienating viewers by showing something so important in an episode they may not have prioritized viewing live and ended up having spoiled by all the news sites before they had a chance to see it. It's just like other shows usually only write off their characters in premieres, finales or mid-season premieres/finales (if those shows do those), the episodes everyone makes an effort to tune into live. The only exception in modern times was when Rick left The Walking Dead, which did happen in the fifth episode of the season. But the fact he was leaving in the fifth episode was highly publicized for months in advance, thereby making sure that episode was one everyone would prioritize live viewing, and not really something "random to catch people off guard."
So in conclusion, there's no reason to expect the 13-14 regeneration will be anything other than a traditional regeneration that's been done for a majority of the other Doctors.
I've already said this a couple of times, but I really don't think the chance of us actually seeing a full regeneration in the Centenary Special is very high.
Said chance is higher than the idea that the next Doctor will be a former Doctor, but it's still monumentally low.
Said chance is higher than the idea that the next Doctor will be a former Doctor, but it's still monumentally low.
We all know what you think.
Well, I mean apart from the creative process isn’t an exact science and it’s subject to the whims of the person in charge. Who, if they decided the in media res opening is how they wanted to go, that’s what they’d do.
And RTD has form for leaving a regeneration as a cliffhanger (Stolen Earth) so if he said to Chibbs, “Chris, you’re not going to have a second half of the regeneration. I’m going to start 14 in media res.” that’s what happens.
That episode 5 idea, you’re not going to advertise “Finally, the other half of the regeneration” it’s just in there to confirm the continuity (I mean seriously, give an inch of wiggle and you get season 6B and all that. Not to mention the “Not My Doctor” crowd) as a surprise Easter egg. If done, it’s alienating no one. It’s an “Oooh” or a “squeeee” moment.
I’m not saying this is definitely what I think will happen but I can see it being an idea/set of ideas which are considered amongst the myriad ideas available.
They're returning as The Master and The Rani. You read it here first!
Or, you know, just pure bullshit.
With Michael Sheen as the Doctor. That's a pairing I could never tire of.
Ngl, the idea of Tennant or any past Doctor returning as a new incarnation is appealing. Why? For one, because it was alluded to by the Curator in 'Day of the Doctor' with revisiting old faces, but just the favorites. Of course, that assumes he truly was a future incarnation of the Doctor and not the Moment, or simply Tom Baker wandering onto set. It's also something different. A ratings cashgrab, yes, but it'd be new take on regeneration and give whichever actor a chance to play the character differently than they had before.
