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Ncuti Gatwa’s version of Doctor Who, the Fifteenth Doctor, is facing a peculiar problem that’s related to Time Lords and how Doctor Who’s Doctor Who canon is shifting. He’s part of a unique and unusual Multi-Doctor narrative that came out as a result of those decisions made by the series - Doctor Who - under the direction of Russell T Davies.
The show made the decision to add an extra twist to its most recent seasons - the decision made at the end of Doctor Who's 60th Anniversary show. Davies chose to bring back the Fourteenth Doctor, which meant that Ncuti Gatwa’s version had to incorporate an entirely different, and unique way to move forward in terms of how the time traveler would continue. Davies used The Giggle to create an odd regeneration, making both doctors autonomous beings, both in the Doctor Who timeline. There have even been other regenerations before Doctor Who's past and some, such as the Fugitive Doctor (played by Jo Martin) are often thought of as those key figures to explore. It has also made fans ponder if we will ever see the earlier Time Lords - particularly the First Doctor, William Hartnell - appear again, as his story is seen as the starting point.
Doctor Who fans who adore those Multi-Doctor stories know this series has an intriguing twist. Fans might also be tempted to ask - with Gatwa's new version and his first multi-doctor episode - does this mean the earlier Doctors would continue to be a key part of those future stories - and even that those early, iconic versions of the Doctor would have a key role in the overall narrative? While many might hope that a Multi-Doctor story would bring together David Tennant Doctor Who and those previous Doctor Who characters such as Matt Smith (the Eleventh Doctor), or perhaps the Fourteenth Doctor would appear, this eventuality is in jeopardy. Even with the Doctor being a Time Lord and capable of traveling across time and the universe, the decisions made during the 60th anniversary would make those Doctor Who Multi-Doctor episodes extremely tricky to produce, considering how Doctor Who canon was reshaped. This could be very detrimental to Ncuti Gatwa’s Doctor and, perhaps, even other characters, as those regenerations often make the show so interesting.
With a show such as Doctor Who, there's a need to be careful as the time traveler must also take into consideration those events that occur across the timeline - as this is an essential concept within the universe and even in the Doctor’s long and intriguing history. This often comes to life as those in Doctor Who have to be very strategic with how the Doctor re-visits The Doctor’s past, which can have those sometimes catastrophic events - a concept that makes Doctor Who’s adventures even more intense.
The Timeless Child was introduced during Doctor Who's 13th series as a controversial addition - particularly since it showed that there had been countless, previous versions of the Time Lord before the First Doctor - William Hartnell - was first introduced, which altered how many Doctor Who fans, had always understood Doctor Who’s past. Those who have enjoyed the series will likely realize those decisions have made those events much more challenging and could even create a conflict in how Doctor Who canon is reshaped, as it also touches on Doctor Who's future.
Although Ncuti Gatwa's Doctor will be faced with these unique challenges - especially after that controversial shift - his arrival is poised to make some noteworthy additions and changes in Doctor Who’s lore, making the series even more compelling - including the way he's now a completely independent entity (even though he was at one point the Thirteenth Doctor), a development that adds another unique perspective to this universe and will bring a renewed perspective into Doctor Who's past and present - but even in a future with Ncuti Gatwa Doctor Who.
Many Doctor Who lovers often desire more multi-doctor episodes. Those that have watched the series will likely find those multi-doctor stories intriguing, particularly because those encounters often force the Doctor to grapple with a greater array of challenges. It is usually in those moments when they have to think creatively as they deal with past decisions or past errors.
However, as this series is now shifting - a decision by Russell T Davies Doctor Who to make a change in the Doctor Who timeline - a multi-doctor adventure, which involves the Fourteenth Doctor, may come with greater risk. In this new production, it seems as if the Doctor can’t interact with past versions without impacting a series of regenerations, which may have potentially negative consequences, particularly for a series of characters.
Those who love to follow Doctor Who will realize that it’s a series with an intricate and interesting history, full of events - as the series is also known for those moments when Doctor Who often showcases more than one Time Lord on a singular adventure. It’s not easy to make an effort to highlight just one episode. In terms of those Doctor Who episodes it's often a difficult question for fans - but it often comes down to some key events, specifically: “The Three Doctors,” (featuring a trio: the Third, the First, and the Second Doctors), and the more recent Multi-Doctor story "The Day of the Doctor" (featuring three doctors, the Tenth, the Eleventh and the War Doctor) in the midst of one of the Doctor Who universe’s biggest events and, also a moment of reflection and, perhaps regret as it’s tied into the war - one that also involved a conflict between the Time Lords - giving those that watch the Doctor Who series, more details surrounding this compelling event that’s central to the Time Lord’s universe.
As Doctor Who’s timeline shifts - viewers are reminded that there will likely be new, engaging stories about multi-doctors (some even those that may bring a fresh take on how the Doctor has come to take shape as an entity across time and space), these might also highlight an assortment of those earlier incarnations - those Doctors, and companions.
In Doctor Who, those that watch the series will know there's always a constant. Those who travel through time must adapt to those situations that may unfold - as this has helped to establish just how important a Time Lord is - and to their overall persona - especially in a universe where they often have to contend with powerful enemies. Even with those traits, the Doctor always keeps an assortment of characteristics.
Those in the Doctor Who fandom often will agree on the series’ core traits - one that has made Doctor Who so special, which includes the series’ capacity to present a wide variety of personalities in order to find that unique blend that’s so relevant. It's a crucial trait - those characteristics that make those individuals more human - in an otherwise bizarre world.
One of the key questions those who follow Doctor Who may ask - what’s the origins of this Time Lord - and in what ways are the Doctor and his long history part of the Doctor Who universe, a question that continuously resurfaces throughout those episodes and is a core topic that helps give viewers more details surrounding their existence and why they have been given the opportunity to travel across time - making it possible to explore those powerful, mysterious, and sometimes disturbing elements within the universe, that in some instances bring an array of danger.
The decision to reveal that there were many regenerations before the First Doctor - William Hartnell - made it more challenging to understand how these events unfold, however, there has been a lot of interest regarding what will occur next in Doctor Who's upcoming series.
There has been a long line of Doctors - spanning more than a decade's worth of television productions - which includes many versions: David Tennant Doctor Who, Jodie Whittaker Doctor Who, as well as Matt Smith who is considered one of the most well-known versions (with his eleventh Doctor incarnations). There have been plenty of characters such as Donna (often considered one of the most beloved companions, even having those unforgettable events as she appeared as the “companion” in "The Star Beast" and "The Wild Blue Yonder” ). Each doctor has taken on those challenges as they made their way through Doctor Who’s universe.
With Gatwa's introduction there’s a chance to see him as a fresh new Doctor - especially considering those events related to Doctor Who's past - the show is attempting to reshape itself while making a change in the Doctor’s origins. Those in the Doctor Who fandom will likely want to wait to learn more and see how this latest version of the Doctor will influence this franchise, particularly with its new companions, including Ruby Sunday and how she'll play an important role as part of the journey across time.