Happy New Year 2018!
And so another year draws to a close, and thankfully 2017 was a little better than 2016. At least when strictly confined to the realm of Doctor Who!
For one thing, the show actually had a whole series airing, the tenth run since the show came back. It was one series though that came with a sense of sadness as just months prior to airing it was announced that Peter Capaldi would be leaving his role as the 12th Doctor alongside showrunner Steven Moffat. It was our last chance to truly appreciate a Doctor that has, admittedly, had a bit of a bumpy ride.
Brightening things up though was the proper introduction of new companion Bill Potts, played by Pearl Mackie. Bill’s time in the TARDIS may have been slight – also leaving in 2017 – but she certainly made an impression and helped bring a sense of freshness to Whoniverse during her short stay. Spare a thought too for Matt Lucas who went on to make Nardole a much more interesting addition to the team than his debut appearance would have ever suggested.
Not long after Series 10, and a frankly ridiculous amount of press rumours and speculation, the identity of the 13th Doctor finally came. And to the surprise of many, new showrunner Chris Chibnall had done what was once seemingly improbable and cast a female in the role with Broadchurch alumni Jodie Whittaker.
Now with “Twice Upon a Time” over and an explosive regeneration we enter 2018. The future of the show is in Chibnall and Whittaker’s hands. It’s the biggest shift the show has faced in a long time, and there are still a host of questions. Doctor Who is renewed once more, but it also can’t rest on its laurels. Chibnall needs to surpass his prior Doctor Who work to deliver something truly special, on top of his bold casting. While Jodie Whittaker, as with all new Doctors, still has fans to convince and convert. One things for sure though, it’s certainly going to be a journey again!
Happy new year from Doctor Who TV.
