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Geek Girl Authority
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Girl Authority
Farewell to the Fifteenth Doctor, the Most Joyful of Them All
Most iterations of a certain Time Lord get at least three seasons to shine on Doctor Who (with the exception of Christopher Eccleston). Well, in NuWho, anyway. That's why Ncuti Gatwa's departure in Season 2 Episode 8, 'The Reality War,' comes as a total shock. Sure, the rumor mill has been rumor-milling in recent months, with tabloids claiming the Fifteenth Doctor's regeneration is nigh. However, I paid them no mind. It's not official until the Doctor actually takes on a new face. When Gatwa was announced as the Fifteenth Doctor a few years back, I was stoked. I love his work in Sex Education . Then, he was a Ken in 2023's mega-hit Barbie . I knew he would infuse our titular Gallifreyan with vim and vigor, and boy, I like being right. RELATED: Doctor Who : 5 Jaw-Dropping Moments From the Season 2 Finale Breaking Barriers on Doctor Who Beyond his nuanced, compelling performance, Gatwa's casting breaks barriers. He's not the first Black Doctor (hello, Jo Martin); however, he's the first Black male Doctor who's also queer. That probably doesn't matter to those sourpusses who decry Doctor Who for going 'woke' and 'checking off boxes,' but what do they know? It does matter. It matters to the young queer POC who finally see themselves in the Doctor, a reminder that anyone can be a hero. Anyone can be a two-hearted alien traveling through space and time in a big, blue police box. Additionally, Gatwa's interpretation of the Doctor incorporates his predecessors' personalities while bringing his own flair to the table. Fifteen is unmistakably unique. He's one in a billion supernovas, like the Vindicator device the Doctor constructs in Season 2. Fifteen marks the beginning of a new chapter for the Doctor, having bi-generated from the Fourteenth Doctor (David Tennant). Fourteen eventually goes off to live a quiet life with Donna Noble (Catherine Tate) and her family. This Doctor addresses his trauma and pain head-on, something we've never truly seen our favorite Time Lord do. RELATED: Our Favorite Timey-Wimey Quotes From the Doctor Who Season 2 Finale So, Fifteen embarks on his journey with a more emotionally healthy approach. Sure, the loss of Gallifrey and his people is still a sore spot, and he contends with his sterility in the finale with a pang of sadness. The Fifteenth Doctor Wears His Two Hearts on His Sleeve However, Fifteen stands out from the Doctors who came before him because he's willing to be more open. He discusses how lonely it is being the last of the Time Lords (well, until the Rani makes herself known) with his companions, Ruby Sunday (Millie Gibson) and Belinda Chandra (Varada Sethu). The Doctor also wears his two hearts on his sleeve — he's unafraid of shedding tears, a welcome antidote to toxic masculinity. He's emotional and vulnerable. On the flip side of that, Fifteen's joy is contagious. He's exuberant. His light shines so brightly, like Joy, the Star of Bethlehem. Fifteen doesn't allow anyone to dim that light, either, existing in time and space as his most authentic self while acknowledging that this isn't always easy to do. Not every place in the universe is warm and inviting for everyone. RELATED: Doctor Who : Our Favorite Easter Eggs From 'Lux' During his tenure, Gatwa's Doctor also has a love interest. While this isn't unusual for the Doctor, it's a win for queer representation. It's the first time we see a male Doctor pursue a relationship with another man. Rogue (Jonathan Groff) comes to the fore in Season 1's 'Rogue,' a Bridgerton -esque outing. He and the Doctor kiss before Rogue is sent to a Hell Dimension. Unfortunately, in Season 2's 'Wish World,' we learn that the Hell Dimension is sliding into a pit. In a transmission to the Doctor, Rogue tells him he misses and loves him. This is heartbreaking. For starters, Gatwa and Groff boast excellent chemistry in that one episode alone. Secondly, we'll never see this version of our eponymous Gallifreyan rescue Rogue if the latter is still alive. Regardless, Fifteen and Rogue's love story is another example of Gatwa's Time Lord smashing glass ceilings. How to Save a Life In addition to Fifteen's infectious joyfulness and willingness to express vulnerability, he continues carrying the mantle of his predecessors. To the Doctor, every life is important. Fifteen has risked everything to save a life, from Ruby to Belinda. He even shifts all of time by one degree to retrieve Belinda's daughter, Poppy (Sienna-Robyn Mavanga-Phipps). Fifteen is selfless to a tee. He'll fall on his sword every time if it means someone else gets to live. (Just this once, everybody lives!) RELATED: Read our Doctor Who recaps Of course, the Fifteenth Doctor isn't all sunshine and rainbows. He can exhibit fiery, unadulterated rage. In 'The Interstellar Song Contest,' Gatwa gets his 'Time Lord Victorious' moment. He tortures Kid (Freddie Fox), a Hellion hellbent on revenge who plans to kill billions of people and blame it on the Corporation. Naturally, this triggers the Doctor's own traumas. Fifteen is darker here than we've ever seen him as he repeatedly inflicts pain on Kid. Gatwa is such a commanding screen presence and has a wonderful grasp of who Fifteen is, warts and all, as it were. A Joyful Humanity The Fifteenth Doctor's complexities and layers perhaps make him the most human — and the most relatable — Doctor we've ever had. He feels fully real and lived in. Young and old. Energetic and world-weary. He encompasses all the colors and facets of the human experience. Yet he doesn't allow the violence and apocalyptic madness to eat away at the joy he carries in his hearts. That joy is the crux of who Fifteen is. So, farewell to the Fifteenth Doctor, the most joyful of them all. He changed faces with a smile and kicked fear to the curb. And to Ncuti Gatwa, you've left an indelible mark on the Whoniverse. You've become one of my favorite Doctors. I can't wait to rewatch your adventures, and I hope someday we'll see you piloting the TARDIS once again. Seasons 1 and 2 of Doctor Who are now streaming on Disney+. TV Review: DOCTOR WHO Season 2 Episode 3, 'The Well' Contact: [email protected] What I do: I'm GGA's Managing Editor, a Senior Contributor, and Press Coordinator. I manage, contribute, and coordinate. Sometimes all at once. Joking aside, I oversee day-to-day operations for GGA, write, edit, and assess interview opportunities/press events. Who I am: Before moving to Los Angeles after studying theater in college, I was born and raised in Amish country, Ohio. No, I am not Amish, even if I sometimes sport a modest bonnet. Bylines in: Tell-Tale TV, Culturess, Sideshow Collectibles, and inkMend on Medium. Critic: Rotten Tomatoes, CherryPicks, and the Hollywood Creative Alliance.
Asharq Al-Awsat
01-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Asharq Al-Awsat
‘Doctor Who' Season Finale Surprises Fans with an Exit and a Familiar Face
A familiar face to 'Doctor Who' fans is rejoining the long-running British sci-fi series as Ncuti Gatwa exits the lead role after two seasons. In Saturday's season finale, Gatwa's Time Lord regenerated and fans got a glimpse of Billie Piper, who played the character Rose Tyler for 35 episodes between 2005 and 2013. Tyler was a companion to versions of the doctor played by Christopher Eccleston and David Tennant. Producers are keeping Piper's new role secret for now. 'Just how and why she is back remains to be seen,' the BBC said in a statement after the finale aired. 'It's an honor and a hoot to welcome her back to the TARDIS, but quite how and why and who is a story yet to be told,' showrunner Russell T Davies said in a statement. Piper said 'Doctor Who' has provided some of her best memories and she couldn't pass up the opportunity to come back. 'It's no secret how much I love this show, and I have always said I would love to return ... but who, how, why and when, you'll just have to wait and see,' she said. If Piper does indeed become the Doctor, she would be the third woman to fill the famous shoes. The Rwanda-born, Scotland-raised Gatwa, 29, was the first Black actor to helm the show, but he wasn't the first Black Doctor — Jo Martin played 'Fugitive Doctor' in several episodes. Gatwa took over the role from Jodie Whittaker in 2023. Whittaker was the 13th Doctor and the first woman to play the central galaxy-hopping, extraterrestrial Time Lord who regenerates into new bodies, taking over from Peter Capaldi in 2017. Martin was the second woman. 'Doctor Who' first aired from 1963 to 1989 and returned in 2005. In the US, new episodes air on Disney+.
The Independent
01-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
'Doctor Who' season finale surprises fans with an exit — and a familiar face
A familiar face to 'Doctor Who' fans is rejoining the long-running British sci-fi series as Ncuti Gatwa exits the lead role after two seasons. In Saturday's season finale, Gatwa's Time Lord regenerated and fans got a glimpse of Billie Piper, who played the character Rose Tyler for 35 episodes between 2005 and 2013. Tyler was a companion to versions of the doctor played by Christopher Eccleston and David Tennant. Producers are keeping Piper's new role secret — for now. 'Just how and why she is back remains to be seen,' the BBC said in a statement after the finale aired. 'It's an honour and a hoot to welcome her back to the TARDIS, but quite how and why and who is a story yet to be told,' showrunner Russell T Davies said in a statement. Piper said 'Doctor Who' has provided some of her best memories and she couldn't pass up the opportunity to come back. 'It's no secret how much I love this show, and I have always said I would love to return ... but who, how, why and when, you'll just have to wait and see,' she said. If Piper does indeed become the Doctor, she would be the third woman to fill the famous shoes. The Rwanda-born, Scotland-raised Gatwa, 29, was the first Black actor to helm the show, but he wasn't the first Black Doctor — Jo Martin played 'Fugitive Doctor' in several episodes. Gatwa took over the role from Jodie Whittaker in 2023. Whittaker was the 13th Doctor — and the first woman to play the central galaxy-hopping, extraterrestrial Time Lord who regenerates into new bodies. She took over from Peter Capaldi in 2017. 'Doctor Who' first aired from 1963 to 1989 and returned in 2005. In the U.S., new episodes air on Disney+.
Associated Press
01-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Associated Press
'Doctor Who' season finale surprises fans with an exit — and a familiar face
LONDON (AP) — A familiar face to 'Doctor Who' fans is rejoining the long-running British sci-fi series as Ncuti Gatwa exits the lead role after two seasons. In Saturday's season finale, Gatwa's Time Lord regenerated and fans got a glimpse of Billie Piper, who played the character Rose Tyler for 35 episodes between 2005 and 2013. Tyler was a companion to versions of the doctor played by Christopher Eccleston and David Tennant. Producers are keeping Piper's new role secret — for now. 'Just how and why she is back remains to be seen,' the BBC said in a statement after the finale aired. 'It's an honour and a hoot to welcome her back to the TARDIS, but quite how and why and who is a story yet to be told,' showrunner Russell T Davies said in a statement. Piper said 'Doctor Who' has provided some of her best memories and she couldn't pass up the opportunity to come back. 'It's no secret how much I love this show, and I have always said I would love to return ... but who, how, why and when, you'll just have to wait and see,' she said. If Piper does indeed become the Doctor, she would be the third woman to fill the famous shoes. The Rwanda-born, Scotland-raised Gatwa, 29, was the first Black actor to helm the show, but he wasn't the first Black Doctor — Jo Martin played 'Fugitive Doctor' in several episodes. Gatwa took over the role from Jodie Whittaker in 2023. Whittaker was the 13th Doctor — and the first woman to play the central galaxy-hopping, extraterrestrial Time Lord who regenerates into new bodies. She took over from Peter Capaldi in 2017. 'Doctor Who' first aired from 1963 to 1989 and returned in 2005. In the U.S., new episodes air on Disney+.
ABC News
26-05-2025
- Health
- ABC News
By Five Early Years Initiative funding not renewed in Victorian budget
An award-winning health program reducing wait times for rural children to access health specialists has lost its Victorian government funding. The By Five Early Years Initiative was created in 2017 by a group of parents, service providers and community leaders in western Victoria with the aim of improving health outcomes for young children in the last week's state budget, a four-year funding stream allocated to the program in 2021 was not renewed, leaving the future of the service in doubt beyond June. By Five executive officer Jo Martin said she was "gutted" when she heard the news. By Five covers five local government areas: Northern Grampians, Yarriambiack, West Wimmera and Hindmarsh Shires and Horsham Rural City Council. In 2023, it was recognised at the Victorian Early Years Awards for Promoting Children's Health and Wellbeing. Among the programs run by By Five is a paediatric health program connecting young children needing developmental support with specialists at the Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne via telehealth. The program has reduced wait times from several months to see a specialist down to a couple of weeks, leading to earlier diagnoses and treatment for conditions like Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and dyslexia, according to By Five. Toddler Frank Torney was one of more than 135 children who accessed the service in 2024. His mother, Tessa Torney, said when his maternal health nurse raised concerns about his growth and development, the family was able to go through By Five to speak to a paediatric specialist at the Royal Children's Hospital within a week. "It all happened really quickly, and it's so hard to access paediatric services quickly [in western Victoria]," Ms Torney said. "It's a brilliant, brilliant service." As a local dietician, Ms Torney has also received referrals with the help of By Five and is part of a group called Friends of By Five, rallying to save the program. "I think we're certainly disadvantaged rurally, and I think that there's still a lot of work to be done," she said. Ms Martin said the group had requested $3.5 million from the Victorian government over four years and was now looking for corporate partnerships and other avenues to keep By Five running. In a statement, the Department of Education, which has funded the program until now, said the By Five Early Years initiative "has had a long period of government funding and support to raise community awareness and establish enduring local partnerships". Victorian Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas and the Department of Health were contacted for comment. By Five's funding ends on June 30.
