Within the final Physician Who sixtieth anniversary particular, The Giggle, the Fourteenth Physician cut up like an amoeba into two separate Medical doctors. Thus Ncuti Gatwa’s Fifteenth Physician got here into existence whereas David Tennant’s Fourteenth remained.
For all of earlier Physician Who historical past, the regeneration is an entire transition from one Physician the one other. The previous Physician doesn’t survive the method — till now.
One would possibly assume it is a one-off however, in his iPlayer in-view commentary for the particular, Physician Who showrunner Russell T Davies defined to Tenth Physician actor David Tennant and producer Phil Collinson that bi-generation has now occurred all through the Physician’s timeline — which implies it’s also probably the case going ahead.
“So then, so a complete timeline bi-generated then. So Sylvester McCoy[‘s Doctor] wakened in a drawer in a morgue in San Francisco… And Jon Pertwee[‘s Doctor] wakened on the ground of the laboratory. All of them did.”
“Most of these, the trendy Medical doctors, simply find yourself in their very own TARDIS. So Peter Capaldi[‘s Doctor] simply wakened within the TARDIS. You, (talking to David Tennant), your tenth model, nonetheless additionally on the market, simply wakened within the TARDIS.”
That is essentially the most important change to Physician Who lore ever conceived. The thoughts boggles. After I first heard of this, I assumed, ‘Huge End (audio adventures) goes to have a area day with this.’ Each Physician, in all places, on a regular basis.
Regeneration has at all times occurred when the Physician is mortally wounded or has aged to finish of their conceivable existence. It’s the Physician’s method of dishonest loss of life by dwelling on in a unique physique — recast to a brand new actor.
When it comes time for the Fifteenth Physician to regenerate, he can also bi-generate as a substitute. This successfully eliminates the pathos of the regenerative course of. No Physician wants worry the top of their distinctive existence to any extent further. One wonders how the salient drama previously endemic to the method will likely be sustained.
However this isn’t a dilemma for followers to unravel. It’s as much as Russell T Davies to supply the requisite drama.
Ncuti Gatwa’s first full episode because the Physician, The Church on Ruby Highway, will likely be accessible on 25 December completely on BBC One and BBC iPlayer within the UK and Eire at 5:55pm BT and streams on Disney+ globally exterior of the UK and Eire.
A brand new 8-episode Physician Who collection starring Ncuti Gatwa and Millie Gibson will debut in Spring of 2024 adopted by the 2024 festive particular later within the 12 months.