Jodie Whittaker‘s run as The Doctor is coming to a close after three seasons and several specials. Having broken ground as the first female doctor, we’re sad to see her go. But as all fans of “Doctor Who” know, The Doctor must eventually regenerate into a new person. Whittaker says the finale, titled “The Power of The Doctor,” will be a massive sendoff fans won’t quickly forget.
The 90-minute finale will bring back a slew of familiar faces and villains The Doctor has faced throughout the series, including The Master, Daleks, and Cybermen. Joining Whittaker will be Janet Fielding and Sophie Aldred, returning as The Doctor’s previous companions Tegan and Ace. Showrunner Chris Chibnall will also be saying goodbye to the iconic BBC series as well.
The regeneration of The Doctor is always bittersweet. Each sendoff is unique to that Doctor’s personality and journey. And while their memories are preserved, they’re a completely new person; a stranger to their own selves. While saying goodbye to The Doctor’s previous incarnation is always tragic, it’s always exciting to greet the new one.
The mantle has been passed to Ncuti Gatwa, of Netflix’s “Sex Education” fame. Whittaker has given him her full blessing, calling the move “inspired casting…he’s going to smash it.” Likewise, former series star Matt Smith also thinks this casting is “brilliant.”
There’s something wonderful about the first female Doctor passing the sonic screwdriver to the first black Doctor. Diversifying these incarnations seems only natural, and it’s fantastic to see this progressive move put into practice after decades of the role being dominated by white, male actors. In a time when representation is so important, this is an encouraging path being forged for the ever-lasting Time Lord.
“Doctor Who” episode “The Power of the Doctor” will air October 23rd, 2022.
