Jodie Whittaker’s tenure as television’s longest-serving time-travelling alien came to an end after half a decade with Doctor Who: The Power of the Doctor (BBC One) last Sunday night.
Fortunately there was a lot more bang than whimper to this send-off. The actor deserved it, even if the corresponding tenure of also-departing showrunner Chris Chibnall has been a mixed bag.
In her own right, Whittaker’s run has been an unqualified success.
The pot of controversy was stirred when she was announced as the replacement for Peter Capaldi and the 13th actor to play the Doctor in 2017. Lead actor, that is, before Whovians weigh in about John Hurt et al.
Much of the pushback was simply sexist protectionism and customary online piling-on.
But there was a kind of nervous excitement that swapping the gender of the typically male lead character might upset the applecart of a well-established format.
Even among open-minded long-term fans who are already well-invested in the thought of the Doctor magically glowing and changing their face whenever a particular actor’s contract is up.
An excellent Doctor
Whittaker has been excellent, though, even if she hasn’t often had the material to back up her power as an actor and easy command of the character.
The Doctor’s long-established fusion of hyperactivity, thoughtfulness, enthusiasm, naivety and deep-set trustworthiness was a cinch to Whittaker, reminding a great deal of the qualities which David Tennant brought to the role.
On which point, it’s only fair to point out to those who may not have caught up yet, there are SPOILERS ahead.
And so, the verdict
This 90-minute special was action-packed and more concise than it really deserved to be, considering how many complex and often fan-serving plotlines have been flung around during the Whittaker/Chibnall era.
Typically packed with as many recent villains as the costume department could deal with, this episode dealt with a plot involving the core trio of baddies.
The Daleks and the Cybermen (including the Frankenstein-like partial convert Ashad, one of Chibnall’s best creations) featured, as did Sacha Dhawan’s relentlessly creepy and over-the-top nemesis the Master, here assuming the role of Rasputin in early 20th Century Russia, apparently so he could dance to Boney M in the episode’s strangest sequence.
Alongside Whittaker, the outstanding Dhawan has been the highlight of this run. Mandip Gill’s Yasmin was also here, the only enduring companion of Whittaker’s tenure, with John Bishop’s Dan quitting early in the episode and Bradley Walsh’s Graham making an unexpected and somewhat crowbarred-in return.
That wasn’t all. In a move which felt joyful for old-time viewers and surely utterly alienating for kids, the Doctor’s psyche conjured past versions of herself – David Bradley, Peter Davison, Colin Baker, Sylvester McCoy, Paul McGann – to help out.
Some old companions
A bunch of ex-companions headed by Janet Fielding’s Tegan and Sophie Aldred’s Ace (apparently still locked in an episode of Grange Hill circa 1988) also featured, with unlikely returns to our screen for Bonie Langford and sprightly-looking 97-year-old William Russell.
In contrast to many of the stories preceding it, this episode did a decent job of keeping most people happy, but the right time has been reached for a change.
With Whittaker regenerating into David Tennant once more at the end – and not Ncuti Gatwa, as billed – Russell T Davies’ second tenure in 2023 will hopefully relaunch a series which has felt tired of late.
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