Another year, another Doctor Who regeneration. It's happening a lot faster than usual, but these are of course special circumstances. For the franchise's 60th anniversary, David Tennant is back but now as the Fourteenth Doctor rather than reprising the Tenth for three special episodes. With him in tow is Russel T. Davies returning as showrunner after leaving the revival series' fourth season and Catherine Tate as companion Donna Noble.
Despite it looking like the franchise is backtracking with past cast and crew returning, these specials really do feel like a new era is beginning. It may have something to do with the series being broadcast outside the UK on Disney+, and the budget looks like it got a Disney sized increase. Regardless of that though, the first special alone works not just as a jumping on point for prospective fans but a reminder of why established fans love Doctor Who, particularly those like myself who Tennant was their first Doctor.
On that note, Tennant as well as Tate have not lost a step in their roles as the Doctor and Donna. Tennant especially still has the fun and emotional aspects that made his Doctor so endearing. Though I will honestly say I couldn't really see much in difference between Ten and Fourteen aside from the age difference, but I think that's the point.
While bringing back Tennant may feel like a stunt to reel in fans who stopped watching in the intervening time, there is a story reason for it. Way back in the "Day of the Doctor" 50th anniversary episode, the Tenth Doctor is referred to as "the one who regrets." While the Thirteenth Doctor had an unyielding optimism, it appears that the Doctor still had some issues they were avoiding. Regenerating back into a previous version that was fun but still felt things so deeply may have been the Doctor's subconscious way of facing them. This really starts in the second special with the Not-Things' taunting about him not knowing where he came from, referring to the Timeless Child revelation, and how the actions of the Fugitive Doctor lead to the events of the Flux and the loss of life that came of it. I was a little surprised they referenced back to that so early after Whittaker's time, though I feel they could have leaned into it more with an identity crisis aspect, like the Doctor doesn't know who he is going forward.
Of course, the other aspect of that taunt was the loss of life on the Doctor's watch, which goes harder in the last special with the return of the Toymaker, a villain he had faced way back as the First Doctor. In addition to the Flux, the Toymaker taunts him on the fates of Amy, Clara, and Bill during their times as companions. While the Doctor tries to give silver linings to these events, the Toymaker's retort of "Well that's alright then" adds on to the idea that the Doctor had been avoiding some heavy thoughts.
The battle with the Toymaker of course leads to the Doctor's next regeneration, which for the second time in a row is quite different from what came before:
First off, it's funny how another final episode with Tennant and Tate lead to another duplicate Doctor.
I don't think anyone saw this coming. The "bi-generation" not only adds to the surprise of a regeneration episode also being a Multi-Doctor episode, but it's an interesting concept that makes sense by the end of the story.
A big mystery through these specials is why the Doctor regenerated into a previous face. The idea of a "returning face" was used before with Peter Capaldi's Twelfth Doctor, who while feeling familiarity with his face didn't piece it together until he remembered the events of the Ten/Donna episode "The Fires of Pompeii", where Capaldi had a guest role prior to his tenure as the Doctor. That episode saw Donna plead with the Doctor to save at least one person as Mt. Vesuvius erupted, rescuing Caecilius (played by Capaldi) and his family. The Twelfth Doctor saw having a similar face to Caecilius as a reminder that he has an obligation to save people when he can. Now things have come full circle with Donna Noble's return and the Doctor having a face from his past. This time though, Donna posits that a familiar face returned because the Doctor needed to rest with loved ones beside him.
Of course, those who know the Doctor know he's not one to just sit still in one place for too long. Between learning of his time after their parting and how one thing after another keeps happening since their reunion, Donna realizes the Doctor just doesn't stop. This idea has been brought up before, how the Doctor stole his TARDIS, ran away from Gallifrey and just kept running. The bi-generation where the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Doctors co-exist is the best compromise. After making a duplicate TARDIS thanks to an after effect of the Toymaker's reality warping, the Fifteenth Doctor would continue to go on traditional Doctor Who adventures while the Fourteenth Doctor would settle in with Donna and her family, taking a much-needed break while a trip in his TARDIS now and then is implied.
If it's not obvious, the theme of mental health plays heavily here with the bi-generation designed to keep the Doctor from burning himself out. As his regeneration begins, Donna and classic era companion Mel are at his sides and promise to be there for the Doctor no matter how he changes. In the opposite of when Ten regenerated into Eleven, Fourteen is ready to go, which can be seen as the first step of him accepting help. In a way, Fourteen and Fifteen could be considered two halves of the same Doctor, especially with the bi-generation splitting the clothes between the two. Fourteen would still bear the trauma of his past and deciding to take the time to process it whereas Fifteen has the wide-eyed optimism needed for adventure while still keeping the memories and ideals that make him the Doctor.
Speaking of our new Doctor, I like what I've seen of Ncuti Gatwa so far. I think the best comparison I can make right now is that of Matt Smith's Eleventh Doctor. He has a youthful energy, seems wise beyond his years in terms of appearance of age, and appears more in touch with his emotions (which plays into the mental health aspect of the bi-generation). I'm looking forward to what more he brings to the role starting with this year's Christmas special.
However, I don't think this will be the last we've seen of Tennant's Fourteenth Doctor. I have a theory that when it's time for the next regeneration, Fourteen and Fifteen will have a final adventure together that will lead to them reassembling (as well as their TARDIS's) into what will be the Sixteenth Doctor, having memories of both adventure and relaxation. We'll just have to wait and see.
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