Where in Doctor Who's Canon does Richard E Grant's Doctor Fit?
Following his debut as Classic Loki in Loki, Grant's brief holographic cameo surprised viewers even though "Rogue" is neither the first time he has featured in Doctor Who or worked with episode writer Kate Herron. Grant's animated Doctor in "Scream of the Shalka" was meant to follow Paul McGann's Eighth Doctor in the Time Lord's original cycle, meant as a continuation of the original series and to honor the show's 40th anniversary. Plans for follow-up were postponed, though, when Grant's Doctor was replaced with Christopher Eccleston's in the chronology and Davies's revival approved.
Now that Grant's Doctor has been restored to Canon, it is unknown, though, where in the cycle the "Shalka Doctor" fits the Time Lord's presently known biography. Grant's Doctor also has a sad past involving Gallifrey's destruction, which makes it more difficult to place him in that era even though he is working for unknown forces and readily associates with Jo Martin's Fugitive Doctor as a pre-William Hartnell version. Alternatively, Grant's Doctor might be another example of Davies' adaptability with continuity, much as he exploited the Toymaker's (Neil Patrick Harris) meddling in Doctor Who's 60th Anniversary Special to allow past retcons.
RTD Confirms 2003 Doctor Canon Following Appearance of Episode 7 Hologram
Russell T Davies explores the return to the main continuity of a previously deCanonized Wilderness Years Doctor following an unexpected Doctor Who season 14 cameo. Ncuti Gatwa's Fifteenth Doctor and Ruby Sunday pay what had meant to be a quiet visit to a glitzy Regency-era ball in episode 7, "Rogue," only to meet shape-shifting aliens and a bounty hunter called Rogue (Jonathan Groff). The Time Lord reveals a holographic display showing his former incarnations when the Doctor discovers he is on the wrong side of Groff's laser pistol and thought to be a threat.
Following the past-regeneration holographic scene from season 14 revealed Richard E Grant was among past Doctors, former series writer Paul Cornell posted a tongue-in-cheek post on Instagram referencing one of the actor's past appearances in the program. Along with a promotional picture of his online animated 2003 adventure "Scream of the Shalka" with Grant's Doctor and Derek Jacobi's robot clone Master, Cornell referenced one of Grant's famous lines from his cult hit 1999 movie, Withnail and I. Davies responded by verifying that Grant's recently acquired likeness was meant to be the animated form.
Doctor Whose: An Old Reviewed
Originally originally televised in 1963, Doctor Who is a sci-fi series about the Doctor—a powerful entity known as a Time Lord. Traveling time and space with different companions, the Doctor solves several problems and helps prevent catastrophe as much as he almost causes using an interdimensional time-traveling ship called the TARDIS. Though the Doctor is always the same character, they regenerate to be recast every few seasons as a different immortal being with fresh personality traits.
Given how masterfully Davies performed on his last term as showrunner, viewers have been ready for his return to the show. The franchise is eager about the fresh ideas the showrunner will bring to the series since Davies indicated he plans to use UNIT more often. UNIT might take the stage in fresh stories; perhaps the showrunner will be able to bring the production back alive.
Grant's alternative Ninth Doctor's canonization is an unexpectedly shocking action regardless of his position in the chronology considering Davies's own distaste of how "Scream of the Shalka" portrayed the Time Lord.
Though it begs issues regarding deeper lore, it's a great addition that brings attention to a lost jewel of the Wilderness Years and rises a once-overlooked story into the main narrative. Moreover, Grant's comeback to supply video for his holographic portrayal suggests a future when Doctor Who's animation form may be revisited and unresolved issues addressed.
Doctor Who airs fresh episodes on Disney+ for viewers worldwide and BBC iPlayer for those in the UK every Friday simultaneously.
Source: Paul Cornell from Instagram
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