Editor’s note: The below contains spoilers for the Doctor Who Season 2 finale.
Ncuti Gatwa’s exit fromDoctor Whois a huge shock for more than one reason — and not just because his Doctor hasregenerated into a rather unexpected face. Since Gatwa’s seasons consisted of only eight episodes each, his departure seems to have come around just as he was settling into the role. As such, it feels as though the crucial elements that make upDoctor Whoweremissing from Gatwa’s run. Not only did he never face some of the show’s most iconic villains, such as the Daleks, Cybermen or the Master, but he never earned any isolated episodes focused solely on the Doctor that built up his personality and style.
Gatwa’s run as the Doctorfelt entangled with complicated storylinessurrounding the Pantheon, meaning several episodes had to be devoted to exposition and set-up. This meant he was never really given space to breathe and truly embody the Time Lord. However, the most disappointing aspect of this is that a number of the episodes at the end of Season 2 gave Gatwa a bit more to do and showed complexity in his interpretation of the Doctor.It is this hint of what could’ve been, partnered withseveral unfinished story arcs, that makesNcuti Gatwa’s time onDoctor Whofeel incomplete.
Ncuti Gatwa Never Faced Off With the Daleks or Cybermen on ‘Doctor Who’
Ncuti Gatwa was given the difficult task of being at the center of a soft reboot forDoctor Who.He had to reintroduce the character to a new audience while not losing the essence of the show. However, he was plagued with new concepts, in particular the series’overreliance on the Pantheon. During his run, his plotlines often centered on a universe-threatening enemy. Gone were the stories that saw a city or a space station at risk; now, if the Doctor didn’t succeed, the fabric of the universe would be ripped to pieces. This gave the Fifteenth Doctor less opportunity to focus on forming connections with secondary characters, and everything felt much more unrelatable for the audience.
The intangibility of some of the villains made them difficult for the Doctor to reason with, and meant Gatwa didn’t have many chances to deliver his character’s iconic speeches. Theabsence of iconic villains was also hugely felt, with Gatwa never coming face-to-face with the Daleks, the Cybermen, or the Weeping Angels. In fact, every recurring villain seen in this era was either from Classic Who, such as Sutekh and the Rani, or literally invisible, such as the Midnight Entity.That decisiongave the episodes a level of seriousness that limited Gatwa’s ability to have fun in the role.
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Ncuti Gatwa Missed Out on a Doctor-Centric Episode
The latter episodes of Season 2 did feel as though Ncuti Gatwa had finally found his feet as the Doctor.“The Interstellar Song Contest” offered aglimpse at the darker side of the character, which contrasted with his youthful energy and reminded audiences of the Doctor’s vengeful nature. However, it was “The Story and The Engine” that trulygave an insight into the importance of Gatwa’s inclusionin the show. It took the show to Lagos and platformed a location and style of story thatDoctor Whohadn’t tackled before. It was not only specific to Gatwa’s Doctor, but it was also the first time a story felt as though it couldn’t have been played out for another version of the Time Lord.
These more individualized storiesmake Gatwa’s departure feel premature.“The Story and the Engine” felt more personal, and the Fifteenth Doctor navigated the emotional heart of the story in isolation, with Belinda left in the TARDIS for much of the episode. These types of plots are vital to allowing the audience insight into the personality as well as the deep psyche of each Doctor.David Tennanthad the likes of “The Girl in the Fireplace” and “Midnight,” whilePeter Capaldihad “Heaven Sent” — evenJodie Whittakerhas “The Timeless Children.” By contrast, Gatwa’s run ignored this aspect of the show and replaced it with more complicated narratives.
Overall, Gatwa’s Doctor wasmerely a vessel for other stories,such as the mystery of Ruby (Millie Gibson) and Conrad’s (Jonah Hauer-King) wish world. Frustratingly, all the arcs that did center around the Doctor specifically, notably his relationship with Rogue (Jonathan Groff), were pushed to the side. There is no denying his fantastic acting in the role, butGatwa never had enough time to truly become the Doctor before his tenure ended.
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