Ncuti Gatwa is one Christmas special into his run as the Doctor, and he and Millie Gibson are already talking about what they’re doing after their second season. That’s raising alarm bells for some people. I’m not one of them.
I couldn’t even get into this one before my co-host stopped me, because she’s so excited. This is her first true time getting to review Doctor Who. She came on when we had David Tennant, and now she gets to watch a brand new Doctor from the start, right alongside him. I’m excited about it too.
So, the Christmas episode, which was technically the first episode of his new run. I loved it. I reviewed it, that review’s on the channel, and please go ahead and watch it. The worry going in was that this was going to be such a radical change. He had me sold very quickly.
What Gatwa and Gibson Actually Said
There’ve already been reports that Russell T Davies and company have filmed, and that they were finishing off the next series while we were watching the Christmas special. So he’s got series 14 (I’m sorry, it’s season one now) and then season two next year.
Then a Doctor Who site over in the UK reported on a recent interview with both Millie Gibson and Ncuti Gatwa, where they got the what’s-next question. He vaguely sidestepped it. It’s going to be this, or it’s going to be that. He’s got some theater plans afterwards. And then it’s “I have no clue, but I’m excited about it.” He was real cagey about whether he was coming back or not.
Millie Gibson talked about it too. She’s waiting to hear. You never really know, they just tell you this and that.
Why People Are Hearing Alarm Bells
Russell’s committed to not having any lags in his run. He wants to do Doctor Who every year, the way he used to. So when both of them are already talking about what they’re doing after their second season, people get nervous. We just got you, and there’s no announcement about who’s next or anything else.
My co-host is kind of concerned, and she said it plainly: Doctors are supposed to run for a few years. Don’t they know that?
No, totally. Absolutely.
The BBC Playing It Safe
I’m more of the mindset that I don’t want to panic. We’re just now at the doorway. We’re getting his show in April, and I’m down. I want to enjoy every episode that runs of this whole thing. I think it’s going to be great, and we’ll see how things go.
Honestly, it could be nothing more than the BBC playing it safe. We’ll commit to a budget once we’re halfway through. We’ll commit to a third season once we’re halfway through and we see what the reception is. I don’t think it’s got anything to do with anything else.
There are pundits out there trying to be crappy about the new Rose character. Not that Rose. I’m talking about Donna’s daughter. I love her. I think she’s wonderful.
So to me it’s a wait-and-see scenario. Let’s see how the show is received. We do the same thing here, by the way. When you’re excited, sometimes you greenlight a second season. Other times you say, we’re excited, let’s see how this lands. You never know.
My co-host pointed out that they kind of shot themselves in the foot when it came to Jodie Whittaker’s Doctor, too. I agree. I see why they’re holding back.
Are They Even Allowed to Say?
She asked me whether maybe they just aren’t allowed to say anything. Oh, absolutely they’re not. Of course. That’s why they’re not sitting there going, yeah, we’re getting ready to start season three next month. Have they been told to hold back from saying something like that? It could very well be.
Here, we don’t have a problem with actors saying I don’t know, we haven’t heard if we’re renewed or not. And we could be halfway through our first season with him and suddenly get the announcement that the BBC’s greenlit season three, as a big thing. That’d be great, and of course we’ll be talking about it here.
I’m definitely excited. I’m not worried, and I don’t think you should be either.
So there you go. Now you know, and if knowing’s half the battle, you’re halfway to being a know-it-all yourself.
What do you think of Ncuti Gatwa and Millie Gibson, both how they are in the show and what the future holds for them? Do you think they’re going to be around for a while? I absolutely do. The conversation lives in the comments on the video above.
