In a rather surprising turn of events, the season finale of Doctor Who ended with Ncuti Gatwa's Fifteenth Doctor regenerating. This regeneration means that Gatwa is among the actors who's played the Doctor for the shortest amount of time in the modern era, in front of only Christopher Eccleston, who played the Doctor for a single season back in 2005.
Fans had expected Gatwa's Doctor to stick around for at least one more season. From David Tennant's Tenth Doctor to Matt Smith Eleventh to Peter Capaldi's Twelvth to Jodie Whittaker's Thirteenth, it's become customary in the 'New Who' era for Doctors to stick around for three seasons at a time before regenerating.
But for Gatwa, ending his journey as the Doctor after only two seasons didn't come as a shock. “It was always the plan to do this amount of seasons,” he said in a behind-the-scenes video. He added that one of the main reasons behind the two-season plan was “because it’s a role that demands a lot of you, physically and emotionally and mentally.”
"I’ve loved every minute of it, but now is the time to hand over the keys to that beloved blue box and let someone else take control and enjoy it every bit as much as I have. I’ll truly miss it, and forever be grateful to it, and everyone that has played a part in my journey as the Doctor."
Ncuti also addressed his exit on an episode of the show Doctor Who: Unleashed, per the Independent.
There's definitely an underwhelming feeling surrounding Gatwa's exit. Not only did he have just two seasons, but he never fought the Daleks or the Cybermen, iconic enemies that pretty much every Doctor faces at some point. As for his episodes specifically, they were hit and miss. There's some gems scattered throughout; a personal favorite of mine is "73 Yards."
The future of Doctor Who is in safe, yet surprising hands. When Gatwa's Fifteenth Doctor regenerated, he turned into iconic franchise star Billie Piper, who previously played Rose Tyler in the early years of the 'New Who' era. How did this happen? Why has the Doctor taken the face of one of his past companions? We'll have to wait and see.
Ncuti Gatwa's two seasons of Doctor Who are now streaming on Disney+. It's not clear whether the show will continue its partnership with Disney or go back to just airing on the BBC. We'll keep our ears and eyes peeled for news.
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