Guest Feature: It’s Almost Time to Say Goodbye to the 14th Doctor (Or Is It?)
Feature article by guest contributor Albert Connors.
Regeneration has always been a pivotal Doctor Who moment, marking the conclusion of one Doctor’s era and the beginning of another’s. David Tennant’s all-too-brief stint as the Fourteenth Doctor is meant to come to an end this weekend, but what if something different happens this time? What if Fourteen decides to “retire” at the end of “The Giggle”?
This thought first took root in my mind after the poignant dialogue from Donna in “The Star Beast”. Donna’s words resonate deeply:
“We can have more days, can’t we? I mean, why is it such a big goodbye with you? Why is it one last trip?”
It’s a heartfelt plea for normalcy, for the Doctor to embrace a more human life. She suggests tea, dinner, laughs, and even attending Rose’s school play (despite her comical critique of Rose’s acting skills). I believe this conversation hints at a potential shift in the Doctor’s narrative trajectory. A foreshadowing of the 14th Doctor having a different path this time.
Potentially backing this up further is Russell T Davies’ recent comments that “controversial events” will be added to Doctor Who mythology in the special.
But what about the Fifteenth Doctor?
Of course, a fatal flaw arises with this line of thinking: how would it be possible for the Fourteenth Doctor to retire, given that we already know Ncuti Gatwa is set to become the Fifteenth Doctor, and that will require Fourteen’s regeneration?
Well, this is where things potentially get very spoiler-y, so feel free to stop reading now…
This is your last warning!
Rumours have been swirling that “The Giggle” could see another spin on the Metacrisis Doctor concept: a split regeneration, or ‘bi-regeneration,’ if you will.
There are a couple of scenarios that could play out. In one, the regeneration energy that was supposed to transform Tennant’s Doctor gets partially transferred or split, creating a separate entity — Gatwa’s Doctor. This would allow both incarnations to exist simultaneously.
However, a second scenario posits that Fourteen is forced to regenerate earlier than he is meant to due to the Toymaker, and then Fifteen is somehow pulled back from the future at the moment of Fourteen’s actual regeneration to appear alongside him. Got that? Don’t worry, it’s all a bit wibbly wobbly, timey-wimey!
Whatever happens, it allows Gatwa’s Doctor to team up with Tennant’s at the end of “The Giggle”, and at the conclusion, we follow the former on his adventures in the TARDIS, while Tennant retires with the Nobles.
But this changes how the whole show has worked!
No doubt, such a decision would fundamentally alter the essence of how Doctor Who has worked in the past. But as RTD has already proven, he’s not afraid to make changes that will risk upsetting long-term fans. Sure, the show thrives on the renewal of the Doctor, symbolized by the Doctor’s regenerations, but this concept also opens up intriguing storytelling possibilities.
We know spin-offs are coming, and perhaps one will focus on the 14th Doctor, offering a deeper exploration of the Doctor’s character beyond the time-traveling hero persona. Perhaps the Doctor takes up a semi-permanent residence on Earth, engaging more deeply with the lives of his companions. He might become a more active figure in the lives of Donna, Rose, and others, sharing in their triumphs and sorrows. And there could be the odd monster too. For good measure.
The show could delve into themes of longevity, attachment, and the impact of a near-immortal being choosing a finite life. It would also be interesting to see how the Doctor copes with the mundanity and routine of a more ordinary existence, contrasting sharply with his usual life of constant excitement and danger.
Also, this concept allows…
Team-ups that aren’t confined to anniversary specials
Another intriguing possibility arises: it opens the door for an unprecedented team-up between the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Doctors somewhere down the line. This scenario could lead to a grand finale or a significant event episode, where two incarnations of the Doctor coexist and collaborate, and we wouldn’t have to wait another 10 years.
Envision an episode where the adventuring Fifteenth Doctor reunites with the Fourteenth, who has decided to embrace a more ordinary existence. The dynamics of this meeting would be fascinating. It would be a convergence of two distinct Doctor personas — one choosing a simpler life and the other embodying the traditional, adventurous spirit of the Time Lord. Their interactions could explore themes of identity, choice, and the consequences of divergent paths.
Conclusion
The essence of Doctor Who lies in its ability to constantly reinvent itself, and the Doctor’s regenerations are a significant part of that. But imagining a different path for Tennant’s Doctor, one where he chooses to embrace the ordinary, is a fascinating thought experiment that underscores the show’s endless potential for storytelling.
And also, I just really don’t want Tennant to go again after only just getting him back!
