--Spencer
Disclaimer: It was so hard to rank these stories as top, flop, and honorable mention. They were all wonderful stories and I’m so grateful we got three specials with the Doctor reunited with Donna.
Top Post: Wild Blue Yonder
This episode was something special, just like when “The Deadly Assassin” featured the Doctor without a companion and like “Heaven Sent” only featured the Doctor (with an image of Clara in his mental landscape). With only two actors on set, playing both the villain and the heroes, this story gives that cold chill that Whovians have come to love. Mix the chill of an unknown alien (like “Listen”) and the uncertainty of shapeshifter (like the Zygons) and finally a race against time (as slow as the countdown was). Always a sucker for a good Doctor Who mystery; I know I couldn’t write those.
Flop Story: The Giggle
I wanted so badly to like this episode, especially after watching “The Celestial Toymaker” earlier in 2023. I already talked in depth about why I struggled with this episode, so I won’t repeat myself too much. In short, with a villain as powerful, mysterious, and mischievous as the Toymaker, I expected more. Neil Patrick Harris did the most amazing job portraying the Toymaker, but the story didn’t match my expectations (maybe that’s the problem?).
Even if I’d had more than three episodes to discuss, how could this story get at least an honorable mention? We got closure from Donna’s tragic ending with the Tenth Doctor, a happy ending for her and her family (until she accidentally flew away in the TARDIS), and the power of motherhood. I wasn’t a parent when I saw Donna’s initial stories, but I loved the way that Donna talked about Rose. And how Rose helped save Donna’s life. Remarkable!
COMPANIONS:
Donna The Star Beast - The Giggle
Rose The Giggle (off-screen)
Mel The Giggle (off-screen)
Back to Classic Doctor Who posts next month, as we wait for more Fifteenth Doctor adventures. You can expect more podcast episodes from me and TJ, as we release and record our Second Doctor episodes.
Allons-y!
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| New head-canon/theory: The Fourteenth Doctor later regenerates into the Curator. |
After the Doctor, Donna, and Rose foiled the Meep’s plans and saved London, the evil little furball was taken into custody. Not before referencing a mysterious “boss” that would be interested in a two-hearted alien. There’s a chance this referred to the Toymaker, who we saw in the third special, but if that were the case, I would think it would be more explicitly stated. More likely, I think the “boss” was subtly referenced by the Toymaker in “The Giggle”... but also that was left a little vague too... we'll get to the Toymaker later.
The Tenth Doctor’s best friend had the most tragic ending of any Doctor companion (at least of the modern era). Even Clara and Bill had a happy ending of sorts. But Donna lost not only her memories but her confidence too. As someone who is perpetually insecure, my heart broke during Donna’s character arc with the Tenth Doctor… and then to see it wiped away. Again, heart breaking. So I was glad to see Donna back and to see her live with her confidence again. I just wish it hadn’t been such an “easy” solution just “letting go” of the DoctorDonna. As if the Tenth Doctor hadn’t needed to wipe her memory from the start. Makes it even more tragic.
Okay I just want to know what the point was with the Isaac Newton scene. Just for kicks and giggles? And is “mavity” going to be a thing for the rest of RTD’s new era? Is that the whole reason that scene happened? To start a running joke?
In many ways I loved how “The Giggle” played out, especially since I just watched “The Celestial Toymaker” earlier in 2023. The human anger and hate released by the Toymaker, I thought the Doctor was bound to have some epically profound speech and solution to counter the underlying wavelength…. But instead we got a very intense game of catch? A bit of an underwhelming tie breaker between the Doctor and the Toymaker. Also, Kate briefly traveled in the TARDIS with the Thirteenth Doctor, why was she affected? She traveled with the Doctor as much as Wilf did. At least we got the return of Mel Bush.
I’ve said my piece before about the Timeless Child and Doctor Who mythology. However, I know that the Timeless Child was certainly one of the things that bothered fans about that era of the show. I’ve seen comments from fans, basically praying for a retcon for what Chris Chibnall had written. Instead of retconning the past few years, which would be a waste and an insult to those of us who watched it, Russell T. Davies elected to call into question instead of rewriting it. Wise solution. We’ve seen the Doctor’s past, but now we’ve called into question how legitimate it is. We know about the Fugitive Doctor but we don’t know where she fits in (I still like the theory that she’s between the Second and Third Doctors). And honestly, I hope we never find out. The mystery of the Doctor is part of what makes him/her alluring. If we had all the answers, it wouldn’t be fun. So hopefully this goes the way of the Doctor’s name. River Song knows it, and I suppose Clara knows it, but I hope we never find out.
I can’t say I hate the bi-generation, but I felt like it cheapened the Doctor’s sacrifice. It’s like the fans of David Tennant couldn’t bear to see their Doctor die the first time; so he was brought back and basically saved from dying (while still moving the show along). Don’t get me wrong, I like that the Doctor got a happy ending. But now we have the Fourteenth Doctor retired on Earth (maybe that’s how the Curator comes about?). Russell T Davies has led us to believe the Fourteenth Doctor won’t return any time soon… but all it would take is the right (or wrong) writer to slip him back in. I just think there’s something about being able to say goodbye and grieve (even if he’s just a TV character) that’s healthy in being able to deal with garbage going on in my life too.
In his villain monologue, the Toymaker mentioned one foe he was scared to face. More powerful than the Doctor and the Master. Even someone as powerful as the Toymaker didn’t dare face this entity. I had the inkling that it might be the same “boss” that the Meep referenced. But other than a quick reference, we know nothing of this waiting one. What does RTD have planned?
This year might have presented its challenges for many, but for me, it brought forth a plethora of positive moments. As this marks the final post of 2023, I wanted to make it special by recounting the nerdy highlights that I am grateful for. While I might have overlooked some events, the essence of this post is to emphasize that this year has been remarkable, notwithstanding the trials, and that amidst adversity, there were still moments of joy.
1. The Year of Sanderson:
One of the standout nerdy moments of the year was the "Year of Sanderson," during which Brandon Sanderson not only published four secret project books, and Defiant, but also surprised us with a novella he had written in college. You can read about the Secret Projects on our blog posts from throughout the year.
2. The Boy and the Heron:
Another unexpected delight was Hayao Miyazaki's release of a new film, The Boy and the Heron. Known for animated masterpieces like Spirited Away and My Neighbor Totoro, and Howl's moving Castle. Miyazaki had previously declared retirement. The announcement of The Boy and The Heron was a pleasant surprise, and the movie lived up to expectations. The dub cast featuring Christian Bale, Dave Bautista, Willem Dafoe, and Mark Hamill added to the enjoyment.
3. David Tennant's Return for the Doctor Who 60th Anniversary:
In a unique turn of events, David Tennant reprised his role as the Doctor and assumed the role of the Fourteenth Doctor. Notably, Catherine Tate also returned as Donna for these three Doctor Who specials, creating excitement among fans. The specials are available for streaming on Disney+.
4. The Super Mario Bros. Movie:
Personally experiencing this movie in theaters left a positive experience. Surprisingly well-made, the film boasted a great dub cast, an enjoyable Bowser's Peach song, and a decent plot. If you haven't watched it yet, you're missing out—it's a highlight of 2023.
5. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom:
Shifting focus from
books and movies, let's not forget the highly anticipated game release of the
year: The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. Serving as a sequel to The
Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, this game merges the mechanics of its
predecessor with elements of Minecraft, offering an open-world experience where
players can construct anything they desire. It's a brilliant fusion and well
worth the wait.
Looking back, what nerdy highlights from this year brought
you excitement, and what are you eagerly anticipating in the coming year?
--Spencer
Though the episode doesn't still exist in its entirety, "The Massacre" features the Doctor encountering (sort of) his lookalike in the 16th Century. The Doctor never appears on screen with the Abbot, so I suppose the Doctor could have been the Abbot the whole time (instead of just pretending to be him). But all the same, Steven couldn't tell for sure through the four episodes whether he was truly interacting with the Doctor or the Abbot. Frustrating I'm sure. That couldn't have helped with that outburst at the end, before he stormed out of the TARDIS. (Side note: If we're including the fact that David Bradley played the Doctor in "Twice Upon a Time" and "The Power of the Doctor", the First Doctor also had a double in "Dinosaurs on a Spaceship")
Upon arriving in Australia 2018 (yet another future story now set in the past), what are the odds that the Doctor would encounter a Hispanic warlord version of himself? Naturally the dictatorship's enemies had to use the Doctor to infiltrate the bad guys' European home. But the Doctor being the Doctor had to make sure he was on the right side before agreeing to overthrow a regime. And enter the Doctor's superb acting skills, utilized multiple times in his second incarnation, to fool nearly all of Salamander's people. Long story short, good guys win and Salamander forgot to close the TARDIS doors before taking off.... so into the vortex he goes. Spin-off media took his story in another direction after that, but as TJ and I have said on the podcast, that goes into the pseudo-canon (pick-and-choose-canon) realm.
As if it wasn't enough to have all thirteen Doctor's appear AND save Gallifrey, we were hit with another surprise as the legendary Tom Baker returned to Doctor Who. The Fourth Doctor is still the longest running Doctor, so to see him return as the Curator was/is a big deal for fans. Though not technically confirmed in the 50th Anniversary special, it was heavily hinted that the Curator is a future incarnation of the Doctor. Regardless, his face was recognizable by the Eleventh Doctor. The spin-off media expands on the Curator, but as previously noted, that's only sort-of canon.
Before appearing as the flamboyantly obnoxious Sixth Doctor, Collin Baker appeared as the Time Lord Maxil in "Arc of Infinity". Imagine with all the faces you could regenerate into and you turn into another Time Lord. I guess that's just the luck of the draw... except that sometimes the face isn't random (see the two examples below).
How do you become your own doppelgänger? By being the most popular Doctor of the modern era. We know next to nothing about the Fourteenth Doctor, except that for some reason he looks like the Tenth. From the trailers (Spoiler warning) we can kind of tell that the Fourteenth Doctor is going to wrap up some of his unfinished business from his time with Donna. What does that mean for them? Who knows? And how does the Toymaker play into things?
🎵 Doc-tor's Back, alright! 🎵 (Tune of Everybody by Backstreetboys)
The 14th Doctor has
been revealed and I believe this is the best choice for a franchise that has
been slipping. David Tennant will return as the 14th Doctor for
three special episodes that will be aired in November 2023. He will not be the
only one returning to the franchise, Catherine Tate was also revealed to be
reprising her role as Donna. In my opinion she is the best companion to the Doctor.
I liked the relationship of Rose and
the 10th Doctor, but the dynamic of
Donna and the Doctor was the best. One of the best scenes was when the Doctor
was asking Donna to be his travel companion.
Doctor: “I just want a mate.”
Donna: "You just want to MATE!?"
The Doctor: “A mate! I want *a* mate!”
Donna: “You’re not matin’ with me, sunshine!”
Not only will David Tennant and
Catherine Tate will be coming back for the 60th anniversary, but Russell
T. Davies will return as a writer for this special. For those that do not know
him he was the head writer for series 1 – 4 of Doctor Who. Some of the
best episodes of the series were written by him. With this combination
returning I am excited for this special.
The 10th
Doctor was my favorite Doctor, and second favorite would be the 11th,
played by Matt Smith. I am not the only person who believes this. In the figure
above we see that David Tennant viewership increased as he played as the Doctor.
When Matt Smith replaced Tennant viewership dropped but increased as his time went
on. After Matt Smith the 13th Doctor played by Peter Capaldi
viewership dropped and when Jodie Whittaker became the first female Doctor as
the 14th doctor there was a huge spike of viewership at the beginning,
but drastically dropped to an all-time low.
After seeing these analytics and observing how low the viewership became it was wise of the executives to bring back the highest grossing actor to play the doctor to save the franchise, as well as one of the best companions.
After all the drama with Rose and Martha, Donna(Tate) was a breath of fresh air. Gone was the moping and the franchise returned to it's tradition of exploring time and space---with a good friendship in the background.
Here are 4 of the best moments that prove that Donna and the Doctor are the best.
1. Partners in Crime
The first episode of season 4 finds Donna looking for the Doctor. But the best moment is the moment when the Doctor and Donna meet---separated by glass. What follows is the best conversation ever! Except that, because of the intervening glass and their desire not to be caught by Ms. Foster, it's completely silent. The lip-reading and the gestures are absolutely hilarious and worth rewatching a couple of times just for the shock in Tennant's face.
2. Silence in the Library/Forest of the Dead.
Often touted as the first time we meet Dr. River Song, people forget about Tate's magnificent performance here. She has moments when she thinks she is losing her mind, moments when she has everything she ever wanted (kids, husband, home), and moments when she is in the middle of losing it. Donna is one of the few companions allowed to grow as evidenced by...
3. The Runaway Bride.
The Donna we meet in her first appearance with the Doctor(a Christmas Special) is a completely different one from the one in season 4. She's flighty, only concerned with her perfect fiance creating the perfect life, and very much concerned with ticking all the boxes set by society. Her world is thrown very much upside-down but, after a few shocks, she handles it like a champ. Though she refuses his invitation to join him as a companion, she still shows a lot of growth at the end of the special---willing to look a bit further than societal expectations for her happily ever after.
4. Partners in Crime
Ok, so I cheated. But that moment captured in the meme above is quite a good one. Donna proves herself to be just as strong-willed as the Doctor. "You're not mating with me, sunshine." The fact that it is preceded by her unloading of pounds of luggage is just as fun. She really is wanting to know more, broaden her horizons, and leave the dead-end life she has living with her nitpicky mother and grandfather. But not at the expense of who she really is and what she really feels.
The only question I have is this: How is Donna going to remember who the Doctor is?
Series 14 of Doctor Who is set for 2023 and expected to be very exciting with the return of Russell T. Davies as the beloved showrunner (many believe to save a sinking ship, but things haven’t been that bad, have they?). Throw in a new Doctor to the mix and we have the opportunity to see great things come out of the show. So, who would be a great pick to be the next Doctor? Let’s see below.
I know what some of you are thinking. “The guy from Downton Abbey, really?” but hear me out. Hugh Bonneville is known for a commanding presence in his roles and that is something Doctor needs. The whole universe either fears or respects the Doctor. Furthermore, while I didn’t mind him, there are many who weren’t fond of Peter Capaldi. Another gray haired actor wouldn’t hurt to show that age doesn’t make a good Doctor (I mean the Doctor is over 900 years old after all).
John Boyega’s beloved role in the Star Wars sequels would bring a popular well known name into the role, which is likely to attract new viewers. That’s besides the great acting that he would be sure to bring.
Sherlock Holmes, Doctor Strange. Cumbersbatch seems like the perfect fit to play the Doctor. He’s already played one doctor with time traveling abilities, why not another? This is a pick that anybody should love.
Judi Dench’s acting career goes back more than half a century. She has held a number of award winning parts, and would add a great layer of personality to the Doctor’s history. At the age of 86, she might be too old to want to take on the role, but that doesn't mean she wouldn’t do great in it.
Superman, The man from UNCLE, and even the Count of Monte Cristo; Henry Cavill has been in some large roles and big name movies. He is a fabulous actor that is also beloved by a lot of fans. There are many folks that would enjoy seeing him in that role, I know I would.
The Ancient One or White Witch ring any bells? An actress known for playing some characters of mystery, the Doctor seems like a wonderful fit. As we continue to learn, there is so much about the Doctor that we just don’t know.
Known for his roles in Skins and Slumdog Millionaire, Dev Patel has played great roles in both the comedic and dramatic. Those are two traits that are very important for anyone who plays the Doctor. Dev Patel would definitely be enjoyable to watch.
Emma Watson really needs no introduction. Between the Harry Potter Series, Beauty and the Beast and other films, she’s a household name. With that said, some might argue she is younger than most others that are cast into the role, but nonetheless, we all know she’d do great in it.
Known for starring in 007 and Moonlight. Adding her to Doctor Who would bring an attractive actress into this action packed role that lots of fans would love. I certainly think she would be enjoyable to watch.
So, what do you think? Which of these actors would you like to see as the new Doctor?
