Doctor Who’s Jodie Whittaker is gearing up for her final hurrah as The Doctor, and it looks like she’ll go out in a rather unique way in the upcoming specialThe Power of the Doctor. The long-running show has seen a dozen actors regenerate into their successors over the years. But while they all seem to follow a certain trend, Whittaker’s 13th Doctor will apparently set herself apart in an unexpected way.
According to Chris Chibnall, who’s serving as showrunner one last time before previous belovedDoctor Whoshowrunner Russell T. Davies returns to helm the beloved show, things will be a little different this time around when Whittaker passes the torch to the next Doctor. Her regeneration scene will not only have a different look than the ones fans are used to by this point, but it will also take place in a different setting. Since every such milestone has occurred on The Doctor’s time-and-space-traveling machine the TARDIS, it appears this will be one last way that Whittaker has boldly set herself apart from previous iterations before introducingSex Education’s Ncuti Gatwa as the next Doctor.
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“It is different. It’s visually very different,” Chibnall said when speaking withMetro.co.uk. “And where it takes place is different. I think I can say that without it being too much of a spoiler. It definitely feels different. It’s not going to take place in the same place as the previous regeneration.“Whittaker’s final adventure inThe Power of the Doctorlooks as though it’s going to serve as a grand sendoff for her version of the character, and Chibnall’s adjustments to the now classic formula appear to be part of that. But that’s not the only big thing to look forward to, especially for long-time fans.
“It’s probably the biggest episode ofDoctor Whowe’ve yet made,” Chibnall continued. “It features the return of Tegan and Ace from the classic series ofDoctor Who, Janet Fielding and Sophie Aldred who are phenomenal.” It looks like somelong-awaitedDoctor Whocompanion comebacksare finally in the cards, but it’s not all good guys. “It has an evil trio of monsters – the Daleks, Cybermen, and The Master, played by Sacha Dhawan,” he went on. “And Sacha playing the Master as you’ve never seen him before inDoctor Who. It goes all across time and space, it’s connecting the past, present, and future ofDoctor Who, it’s very exciting, it’s funny, and there will be tears at the end of the 13th Doctor.”
However things turn out with Gatwa taking over the role, the big regeneration special is always a worthwhile occasion. “The brilliant thing aboutDoctor Who, the great design of it is there’s this incredible emotional swell as you say goodbye to one Doctor and, instantly, you get the thrill of the next Doctor. It’s so great,” Chibnall mused. It truly is shaping up to be yet another momentous special, filled with plenty ofpowerfulDoctor Whomoments.
The special is almost here, which is already a big deal forDoctor Whofans who tend to be accustomed to years on end without a new episode. So here’s hoping it’s a proper sendoff for Whittaker and a worthy introduction for Gatwa.
Doctor Who: The Power of the Doctorwill air on BBC America on October 23rd, 2022.
