5 Things Doctor Who brought us in 2017
As 2017 comes to a close, we remember the best of Doctor Who throughout the year.
As we look back on 2017 today, we should also remember all the amazing things Doctor Who brought this year! From a new season to the announcement of a Doctor, it was full of laughs, crying, and you might have even learned about yourself this year. To show what Doctor Who has done, we made a list of the best five things that have come out of this year from the show.
From the Master’s return to a special Christmas, and a milestone in Doctor Who history, this has been an extraordinary year for Doctor Who.
Here’s hoping we have a great Doctor Who-filled 2018! Just because we have to wait until Autumn, doesn’t mean that it won’t be worth it!
BBC
5. A new season
The tenth season of Doctor Who was probably my favorite season in the Capaldi era. It brought new life to the Doctor with two new companions and amazing storylines, and of course, Missy! I’ll always remember the nights I stayed up going through everything I could think of to figure out what could possibly be in the vault. Moffat did a great job at keeping us guessing, even if it wasn’t too hard to guess.
Of course, Missy’s almost-redemption during the season was another great memory of season 10. It was amazing to see the Doctor actually changing something in her, only to be killed before she could show him. It’s one of the worst lost loves we’ve seen since 10 heard the War Doctor say “Bad Wolf girl”.
BBC
4. Return of John Simm’s Master
The return of John Simm was celebrated by many people, and none more than me! Seriously, this site almost became a dedicated John Simm fansite for a while. It was great to see Simm step back into the role that he was so amazing in, as well as the role of Razor. While many people wish that BBC hadn’t announced his return, they still pulled off a good surprise.
The return of the Master was quickly changed into a meme, dealing with how overdramatic it was. But the Simm!Master held his own. He was able to get the trust of Bill, only to turn her into a Cyberman at the last minute, all in disguise. In The Doctor Falls, he cultivated his relationship with…himself (#canon) and made sure he would never stand with the Doctor.
BBC
3. Bill Potts
I’ll be honest, I didn’t start out the season liking Bill Potts, and my feelings fluctuated every episode. However, you can’t deny that after a long time with Clara Oswald, a change was in order. Bill was able to bring new life into the relationship of Doctor/Companion. With Clara, there was always weird unsaid feeling around the two. Bill and the Doctor were strictly friends, and it would remind viewers of Amy and the Doctor or the Doctor and Donna.
Pearl Mackie did an incredible job as the companion, despite only being there for a short time. She made Bill relatable, as a working millennial that many of us are. She was outspoken with the Doctor and never let him do anything that she didn’t think was right. Bill knew who she was and wasn’t going to change that for anyone. She ended up having one of the worst endings a companion has ever dealt with and still made it incredible to watch.
Mackie did such a great job that it was the only reason she made it into the Christmas Special. Steven Moffat has been quoted saying that when the First Doctor made his sexist comments, he needed someone to rebuff him, and immediately thought of Bill.
We will never forget you CyberBill!
2. Two Doctor Special
Whatever your opinion on the Christmas Special, you have to admit that it’s no easy feat to bring two Doctors together. As a second swan song, Moffat was able to bring back David Bradley to do a fantastic job as the First Doctor. Together, the two fantastic actors, both having the time of their lives. They put on a brilliant episode, worthy of an anniversary episode, rather than a yearly Christmas Special.
Even though Christmas didn’t come into the episode until the final moments, during 100% true miracle, it still holds the same feeling as any Christmas Special. Friends all around (even if it’s by yourself!), saving someone who deserves saving and remembering those who should be remembered.
The episode came out with early ratings of 5.8 million people who watched Christmas Day. That doesn’t include the people who have watched since then or bought it online to watch. It was also one of the ten top watched specials on Christmas Day in Britain.
BBC
1. Jodie Whittaker as the Doctor
In what is a monumental change for Doctor Who, Chris Chibnall’s first major decision that set the tone for his run was to make the first female Doctor. BBC announced Jodie Whittaker as the Doctor in a commercial after the Men’s Tennis Finals back in July. The change came to incredibly mixed reactions.
Some people said that it was time for this change, and others vehemently said that the Doctor should stay a woman. Celebrities, past Doctors, ex-companions and even past producers all weighed in. In the end, it doesn’t matter, Jodie Whittaker showed up on our screen for the first time on Christmas Day.
This huge change is definitely making everyone more excited (or possibly more anxious) to see what Chris Chibnall will do next with Doctor Who. In my own opinion, I’m happy the Doctor is getting a significant change, and I’m hoping it will breathe a new life into the show for 2018 and years to come.
