Doctor Whofans have had a lot to talk about with all the recent announcements. The return of past Doctors, classic companions, and the homecoming of Russel T Davies as showrunner have all been met with widespread excitement. Much of fans' focus has been in relation to howDavid Tennant’s returnwill fit into the upcoming 60th-anniversary special, with talks about Ncuti Gatwa’s incarnation having been somewhat set aside. But with a showrunner like Russel T Davies, who’s known for his subversions and hype building, it’s only a matter of time beforeDoctor Whofans hear more about the latest incarnation of the Time Lord.
After the announcement thatGatwa would be taking on the role, fans are curious what his portrayal of the iconic part is going to look like. Every incarnation of the Doctor has their own unique traits. While they all share that same curiosity and willingness to help others, which usually leads to them stumbling into all kinds of dangerous situations, their personalities and behaviors are quite different. Previous Doctors, such as the Fourth and Eleventh, have been much quirkier and vivacious, whereas others like the Third, Ninth, and Twelfth had sharp tongues and were unafraid to lay on the sass when needed. It’s no surprise, then, that fans are wondering how Gatwa’s take will stand out from the crowd. With little information to go on as of present, the possibilities are endless.
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Gatwa is most known for his role in the Netflix seriesSex Educationwhere he plays the character Eric, the exuberant, sassy, and loyal best friend to the main character, Otis. Gatwa has been praised by many for this role and even won the Scottish BAFTA for best actor, so he certainly has the acting chops to take on the Doctor. Of course, it’s possible that Gatwa may take some inspiration from his time as Eric and implement it into his version of the titular character.
However, with Russel T Davies at the helm, it’s more likely that he and Gatwa will want to give fans something that they’re not expecting. It would be arguably quite predictable if Davies wanted Gatwa to play the role in a similar vein to Matt Smith or Jodie Whittaker. Those two are more known for their alien peculiarity, which is more similar to his character Eric fromSex Education.It’s likely that Gatwa will want to take on a new archetype instead.
It’s also doubtful that Davies will retread old ground and characterize Gatwa as similar to Christopher Eccleston or David Tennant (both of whom played the part when Davies was showrunner from 2005 to 2010). So, if Gatwa’s Doctor is unlikely to behave in a way that closely resembles these four incarnations — all of which were Doctors from the revival series — then fans may be in for a Doctor that’s unlike any from recent memory.
There are two directions that Gatwa could take the character, which would surely throw fans off when he finally comes to screens. The first would see Gatwa’s Doctor as more unstable and mercurial. The Doctor has always been a madman in a box, but perhaps Gatwa’s Doctor could take this to a new level and make the character even more unpredictable than his predecessors. The Seventh and Eleventh Doctors are the closest thing fans have seen of this, with McCoy and Smith quickly changing between quirky personas and more manipulative, unforgiving sides. Many other incarnations have displayed this switch from lovable and empathetic to at times ruthless — the Ninth Doctor’s encounter with Cassandra comes to mind — but Gatwa could put a lot more emphasis on this instability and add a new layer of reckless abandon which would provide lots of opportunity for character growth.
The second direction might show Gatwa playing the part as more gallant and charming. While David Tennant’s incarnation was very much the dashing hero, only the Third, Fifth, and Eighth Doctors have had a courteous air around them at all times, with all three being more gentlemanly and sophisticated than their counterparts. This characterization could be a big hit, and borrowing aspects such as the Fifth Doctor’s endearing and pleasant nature could prove for a smash. Such a character would appeal to many demographics, and would not be too far removed from incarnations in New Who. Plus, as Davies is well in-tune with pop culture and the attitudes of today, this kind of personality would align perfectly with both Davies as a writer and the acting range that Gatwa has displayed inSex Education.
Regardless of how the next Doctor is portrayed, it’s almost certain that Russel T Davies and Ncuti Gatwa will want to innovateDoctor Who,so it appeals to old and new audiences while still maintaining all the core values the character and show stand for. With both Davies and Gatwa being fans and understanding its significance to so many, it’s safe to say that the future ofDoctor Wholooks bright with these two involved.
