The Eternal Child: A Divisive Turn for Doctor Who
The twelfth season of Doctor Who's 2020 episode "The Timeless Children" profoundly upended the cornerstone of the cherished program's mythology. This contentious plot revealed that the Doctor, the Whoniverse's time-traveling main character, is actually a member of an unidentified species from a distant world and not from Gallifrey, the home planet of the Time Lords. In sharp contrast to the previously set cap of 13 regenerations, this revelation also revealed the Doctor's numerous erased former regenerations. Though it caused controversy among fans, "The Timeless Children" unintentionally cleared up a long-standing mystery that had hovered over the Doctor's past.
The Eternal Child: Solving the Mystery of the Doctor's Name
The Doctor's true name remained a fascinating Mystery for many years. This enigma captured the attention of fans, especially following the 1979 serial "The Armageddon Factor," in which the Fourth Doctor meets a former student who goes by Theta Sigma. The Doctor used this name as a nickname when attending Prydon Academy on Gallifrey. The identity of the Doctor remained a mystery despite efforts to find out.
Steven Moffat, a former showrunner, skillfully used the enigma surrounding the Doctor's identity to craft poignant scenes in the program. The fact that River Song, the doctor's future wife, is aware of his true name fosters trust between them. In "Time of the Doctor," the 11th Doctor refuses to speak his own name, which causes the Time Lords to use it as a password to access the universe and spark a nine-hundred-year war on the planet Trenzalore. The storyline revolved around the Mystery surrounding the Doctor's name to the point where Peter Capaldi, who played the 12th Doctor, expressed worry that people wouldn't be able to pronounce it.
The Eternal Child: Making the Doctor's Name Inconsequential
On the other hand, the Timeless Child plot made the Doctor's true name meaningless. The Doctor's name is only a given title because they are not from Gallifrey. They have vanished from another universe, as has their true name, species, and home planet. This implies that even those who are aware of the Doctor's true identity are incomprehensibly distant.
They themselves are unaware of the Doctor's true name. While the Doctor's lost memories are kept in a fob watch, The Master revealed the truth about the Timeless Child. The Gallifreyan scientist Tectuen, who discovered the source of the Doctor's Regeneration powers, is also aware of it. But neither Tectuen nor the Master are aware of the Doctor's true name. Though the Fugitive Doctor gives the Doctor some insight into their past, the Doctor finally decides to give up their past by throwing the fob watch into the TARDIS.
Reclaiming the Identity of the Doctor: The Timeless Child
Throughout the history of the show, there has been much conjecture and discussion on the identity of the Doctor. By accepting the Doctor's uncertain beginnings instead of focusing on discovering their true name, the Timeless Child plot gives the Doctor's past a deeper dimension. Now that the Doctor has more questions than answers, the mystery around his name doesn't have the same weight. This gives the Doctor a fresh perspective on himself and creates intriguing opportunities for more tales.
The Ageless Child: A New Chapter in Doctor Who History
Even while the Timeless Child plot has generated controversy, it has given Doctor Who a new lease on life. It has released the program from the constraints imposed by the Doctor's real identity, enabling upcoming writers to delve deeper into the character's motivations and explore new avenues. The show's intriguing aspect was the Doctor's name mystery, but the Timeless Child plot has given the Doctor a wealth of new opportunities going forward.
