Russell T. Davies Returns to Doctor Who as New Showrunner

[Richard S. Ta]

Regarding 15's wardrobe:

I don't think you need to be a genius to predict that 15's first series is going to go back to what Davies perceives as the basic foundation of Doctor Who, ie: the early Pertwee era. This is what he did last time he wrote a Doctor Who series 1 after all. UNIT and one young blonde companion, and probably a fair amount of stuff on Earth.

Ncuti's outfits to me seem to me to resemble a modern day take on a 'Dandy' Doctor. I also factor the t-shirt and jacket into that. Remember in Season 7, Pertwee wasn't always in velvet. He wore a T'shirt and overalls while fixing Bessie, or a hardhat and climbing gear, or a Spacesuit.

What I mean is I think we are in for a Dandy, who also quite enjoys dressing down for certain occasions, much like early 3.

It's the sudden hair growth I don't get, but it's Doctor Who, so of course the Doctor can have holographic hair or a hair-grow-quick machine.

 

[The Nth Doctor]

As to ‘lapels and question marks’ it’s actually both simpler and more complex than that, but you don’t need me to run through it again — not least as there’s on the record notes, interviews, and design material going back a good fifty years that explain what goes into designing a costume for the main character.

Sure and I'm certain all of them would agree that there's no fixed rule in designing such costumes. Every Doctor is radically different from the one before (again, ?s aside).

 

[jaime]

Sure and I'm certain all of them would agree that there's no fixed rule in designing such costumes. Every Doctor is radically different from the one before (again, ?s aside).

If you really look at it, you may be surprised by the through lines. Cravats in particular and variants thereof, for instance.

 

[The Nth Doctor]

But not for every outfit. Just like lapels.

 

[jaime]

But not for every outfit. Just like lapels.

Look, lapels are a pretty basic thing, so I have resisted. But. Every Doctor had lapels. Even Jodie had lapels. Some had two or even three sets at times! The Master was a notorious Lapel dodger of course.
It is — as many discussing it have shown — way more complicated, and has way more of a history, and is really about thought and approach over *years* and about how that is part of the character. These shots give some of us a pause, justifiably.

 

[The Nth Doctor]

These shots give some of us a pause, justifiably.

Now you're just being silly.

 

[DigificWriter]

Now you're just being silly.

Not really.

Every Doctor up to this point has had an iconic singular look that defines who they are; Ncuti seemingly doesn't, and @jaime is therefore justified in being concerned about such a dramatic shift in costuming approach.

 

[The Nth Doctor]

We don't know that yet.

My point is y'all overreacting based on spy photos and very little else. How about we wait until an official full trailer that properly puts The Fifteenth Doctor on display?

I know, I know. This is the internet. It's where everyone goes to be full of doom and overreact.

But can we at least try? Just once? Maybe?

 

[DigificWriter]

We don't know that yet.

My point is y'all overreacting based on spy photos and very little else. How about we wait until an official full trailer that properly puts The Fifteenth Doctor on display?

I know, I know. This is the internet. It's where everyone goes to be full of doom and overreact.

But can we at least try? Just once? Maybe?

Expressing concern over what we've seen and what it appears to indicate isn't overreacting.

 

[Brendan Moody]

“Well, the Doctor's got two hearts. He's 900 years old. And he travels in time and space. He doesn't need funny clothes." — Russell T Davies, circa 2005

 

[jaime]

We don't know that yet.

My point is y'all overreacting based on spy photos and very little else. How about we wait until an official full trailer that properly puts The Fifteenth Doctor on display?

I know, I know. This is the internet. It's where everyone goes to be full of doom and overreact.

But can we at least try? Just once? Maybe?

I’ve said repeatedly, ‘I’ll wait and see’ and haven’t exactly gone off to Cardiff on some kind of Whovian Holy Way. We’ve just discussed what is a mild seed of concern for a few fans. *shrug*

 

[The Wormhole]

Once again, I'm going to express my amusement over the fact that throughout the years I've always seen everyone whine about "modern Doctors treat their outfits like a uniform. Go back to the classic era when the Doctor was willing to change his clothes." Now Gatwa does seem to be changing clothes frequently and everyone is all "the Doctor is supposed to have a uniform look!"

Ah, fandom. Never change.

 

[The Knappos]

I fail to see any need for concern.

 

[Jedman67]

Once again, I'm going to express my amusement over the fact that throughout the years I've always seen everyone whine about "modern Doctors treat their outfits like a uniform. Go back to the classic era when the Doctor was willing to change his clothes." Now Gatwa does seem to be changing clothes frequently and everyone is all "the Doctor is supposed to have a uniform look!"

Ah, fandom. Never change.

12 changed outfits far more frequently than 10 or 11

 

[Jedman67]

I fail to see any need for concern.

I'm concerned regarding your lack of concern.

 

[Rich Watson]

Final costume for Series 14 revealed! Everyone happy now? (Is that an Auton he's sitting on?)

 

[Richard S. Ta]

Maybe Ncuti is making an acting choice? The character is the character, no matter what he's wearing?

Maybe part of the arc of the series is 15 figuring out who he is and what he likes to wear? "I should like a hat like that" for the Twitter generation?

In any case I don't see anything to be concerned about.

 

[matthunter]

Will he get a fez and be allowed to wear it for longer than a few seconds at a time?

 

[The Nth Doctor]

Will he get a fez and be allowed to wear it for longer than a few seconds at a time?

That would be nice! Fezes deserve better than to be shot at or blown up.

 

[Rich Watson]

From Ncuti's interview in Vogue where the above photo came from.

“Months after getting the role, I went to see the producers and get the scripts, and they asked me my thoughts on the show’s costumes. I was talking about Ralph Lauren’s collaboration with Morehouse and Spelman Colleges, two historically Black colleges, which is really preppy. They were like, ‘Cool, but it’s quite traditional.’ I guess I was thinking about catering to the audience that already watches Doctor Who, but they’re like, ‘Let’s push it forward.’ They’re really keen on progress, and it doesn’t always feel like that in the landscape of British television.”

I'd personally say that not wanting to play it safe and actually doing something different was a good thing, but that's just me.