Doctor Who May Secretly Have TWO Fifteenth Doctors Now

The start of the Disney period for Doctor Who marked a significant alteration to the show’s canon that would undoubtedly cause further repercussions in the future, such as the potential for two different iterations of the renowned Time Lord to have the same number. Each actor who has taken on the role of the Doctor has been playing the same part. But because “The Doctor” is a shared title in the show’s universe, viewers may find it challenging to talk about the many incarnations without revealing the actor’s identity. This is why the numbering scheme functions effectively.

The end of the Doctor Who 60th-anniversary specials introduced the shock concept of bi-generation, which meant David Tennant’s Fourteenth Doctor wasn’t banished to the realm of past regenerations. Instead, he split into two versions of the Doctor, with Ncuti Gatwa’s Fifteenth spawning as a result of the enigmatic process. While it was an exciting addition to the show’s lore, it raises far more questions than it answers, and also disrupts the Doctor’s numbering system.

Summary

• Doctor Who introduces bi-generation, creating multiple versions of the same Doctor, adding complexity to the numbering system.
• Potential for more than one Fifteenth Doctor raises questions about regenerations and the character’s future identity.
• The show’s tradition of multi-Doctor stories means the existence of multiple Fifteens wouldn’t significantly impact the narrative.

Doctor Who Hasn’t Explained What Will Happen When the Fourteenth Doctor Dies

Tennant’s Doctor may eventually become another Fifteen

In “The Devil’s Chord,” the second episode of Doctor Who season 14, Ncuti Gatwa’s fifteenth Doctor affirms that he is incapable of surviving the bi-generation process twice. Given that fifteen is the “main” Doctor in the program, it is highly improbable that bi-generation will hinder his capacity to regenerate when the time comes. On the other hand, Tennant’s Fourteenth Doctor’s future is far less assured. The cryptic statement made by Fifteen in “The Giggle” that she is from Fourteen’s future implies that Tennant’s reimagined version of the Doctor won’t pass away from old age or something like commonplace. Since he is still a Time Lord, it stands to reason that he will regenerate conventionally.

The title that Fourteen will go by once he regenerates is a mystery because the show hasn’t yet shown what will happen to him.

So, the fact that the show hasn’t yet confirmed what will happen to Fourteen when he regenerates raises questions about the title he will go by afterward. There is some evidence to suggest that Fourteen’s next regeneration will lead to him becoming Tom Baker’s Curator from Doctor Who’s 50th-anniversary special, “The Day of the Doctor.” Like Fourteen, the Curator appears to have retired from saving the universe, so this would align nicely. Alternatively, fourteen could regenerate into another version of Gatwa’s Doctor, or even gain a completely new body. Either way, there would still be another Fifteenth Doctor.

The Shalka Doctor Being Canon Suggests Bi-Generation Created New Regeneration Lines

Richard E Grant’s Doctor couldn’t have existed before bi-generation

In the commentary for “The Giggle,” showrunner Russell T. Davies shared his hypothesis, which stated that bi-generation happened in several places throughout the Doctor’s timeline at the 60th anniversary finale. This gave rise to a multiverse for Doctor Who and numerous new regeneration lines. For instance, at the conclusion of Doctor Who season 1, when Christopher Eccleston’s Ninth Doctor regenerated into David Tennant’s Tenth, nine now managed to survive that process through bi-generation and carried on with his adventures. Thus, this clarifies how “Rogue,” the sixth episode of Doctor Who season 14, honors Richard E. Grant’s Shalka Doctor.

Before Eccleston took over to help bring the program back to life in 2004, Grant’s Doctor from “Scream of the Shalka” made his début, having previously only seen in animated form. Before then, the Shalka Doctor was the Ninth Doctor, but was scrubbed from the lore by the main show’s return. With Grant’s face featuring among other previous Doctors in “Rogue,” it would appear his version of the Time Lord has been reintegrated into the main continuity – likely as a result of the Toymaker’s meddling with the Doctor’s timeline.

In a sense, bi-generation has allowed Grant’s Doctor to reclaim the title of being the Ninth, even if he’ll probably never be seen that way in the eyes of viewers. Using Davies’ theory, the bi-generation of Paul McGann’s Eighth Doctor would have spawned Richard E Grant’s Shalka Doctor, who could then legitimately be referred to as the Ninth Doctor. Building on this hypothesis, McGann’s next regeneration process, which would have been more traditional, would then have introduced John Hurt’s War Doctor. Then, mind-bendingly, the War Doctor will have bi-generated to spawn another Doctor before eventually becoming the Ninth.

There May Already Be Multiple Fifteenth Doctors in Doctor Who

Bi-generation creates the possibility of at least 1 more Fifteenth Doctor

While Tennant’s Fourteen regeneration would also qualify him to be the Fifteenth Doctor, Ncuti Gatwa’s Fifteenth Doctor is officially acknowledged as the rightful holder of the title. Fascinatingly, another combination might indicate that the Whoniverse has at least one other Fifteenth Doctor. Depending on their circumstances and the foes they confront, different versions of the Doctor have varying lifespans. Even in the show’s universe, for instance, the Doctor wore Nine’s face for a far shorter period of time than he did Eleven’s. Thus, being ungainly or having bad luck could indicate quick regenerations.

Whichever Doctor emerged from Jodie Whittaker’s Thirteenth Doctor as a result of bi-generation, whether familiar or otherwise, they will have technically been another Fourteenth Doctor – seperate from David Tennant’s version. If this new Fourteen was especially unfortunate, they may have already been injured to such a degree that their regeneration cycle was initiated very soon after. If so, this would result in yet another version of the character who is eligible to be referred to as the Fifteenth Doctor.

Technically, Tennant’s Fourteenth Doctor is already the Fifteenth, as John Hurt’s War Doctor came between the Eighth and Ninth.

Does Having Multiple Fifteenth Doctors Actually Matter?

The Doctor often has encounters with previous (& later) regenerations

Over the course of its six-decade run, Doctor Who has featured numerous multi-Doctor adventures. Thus, self-collaboration has been a common activity for the character. Not a single doctor addresses a subsequent iteration using the numbering method. Rather, they all simply call one another “Doctor.” Therefore, there isn’t really much of an effect of the existence of several Fifteens on this specific component of the program. It wouldn’t be any different from prior multi-Doctor storylines even if they all met.

At this point, everyone knows who is meant when someone refers to the Fifteenth Doctor—Ncuti Gatwa’s portrayal of the role.

The numbering scheme that is used outside of the show’s universe is where things start to get complicated. Currently, when someone says the Fifteenth Doctor, everyone is on the same page about who is being referred to – Ncuti Gatwa’s version of the character. With the introduction of other Fifteens, an already-wordy system becomes even more complex, as the actor’s name would need to be mentioned every time, or sometimes just the actor’s name exclusively to save time.

To return to the example of the Shalka Doctor, it’s now technically ambiguous to refer to the Ninth Doctor, as the title could refer to either Richard E Grant or Christopher Eccleston. The alternative is to always say Richard E Grant’s Ninth Doctor, or Christopher Eccleston’s Ninth Doctor – both of which are far wordier than they would have been before Doctor Who introduced bi-generation.

Doctor Who

The latest season of Doctor Who introduces the Fifteenth Doctor, joined by new companion Ruby Sunday. Their first adventure begins with “The Church on Ruby Road,” where they face powerful new foes and unravel the mystery surrounding Ruby’s origins. The Doctor grapples with the aftermath of a unique regeneration

Cast: Anita Dobson, Yashmin Finney, Jemma Redgrave, Angela Wynter, Michelle Greenidge, Susan Twist, Ncuti Gatwa, and Millie Gibson

Date of Release: 25 December 2023

Two seasons
Disney+, Max, Britbox, and AppleTV+ are the streaming services.

Doctor Who: Every Doctor & Who Played Them (In Chronological Order)

For sixty years, British science fiction television has included Doctor Who. An analysis of the show’s captivating Doctor Who doctors, arranged in chronological order, explains why. Ncuti Gatwa from Sex Education has taken on the role of the Fourteenth Doctor in Doctor Who season 14 and beyond, following in the footsteps of Tom Baker, David Tennant, Jon Pertwee, Matt Smith, and many more who helped to make it legendary. In addition to becoming the first Black Doctor in the show’s lengthy career on television, Gatwa stars as the next Doctor following David Tennant’s regeneration as the Fourteenth Doctor.

Including the various non-numerical versions like John Hurt’s War Doctor, Ncuti Gatwa is the 18th actor to be cast as one of the Doctor’s many regenerations, not counting the Timeless Child’s fleeting appearances. Each actor has a unique take on the character which defines the show while they’re in the role. After his standout performance as Eric Effiong in Sex Education, Gatwa brings plenty to the Doctor Who cast, and because each version of the Doctor is different, will have ample opportunity to put his unique stamp on this iconic and well-storied time traveller.

Summary

• Ncuti Gatwa debuts as the first Black Doctor in Doctor Who, shaking up the show’s iconic time traveller role with a fresh and modern twist.
• Gatwa’s Fifteenth Doctor is the result of a bi-generation, breaking the traditional regeneration process and introducing a unique new era for the character.
• With a fabulously fashionable and magically musical portrayal, Ncuti Gatwa’s Doctor brings a strikingly modern and enigmatic presence to the long-running sci-fi series.