Doctor Who could be about to take a break again. The big relaunch, with Disney co-production money and a returning showrunner, has not worked as intended. The ratings have not been where they needed to be, and now the immediate future of the show could be uncertain.
I finally watched another episode of Ncuti Gatwa’s run, the first I have seen since the Christmas Special two years ago that was his first solo appearance, and then the first episode of his first full season. My opinion remains the same. Gatwa is actually fun in the role, but the whole thing is weighed down by what seems like showrunner Russell T Davies’ unquenchable need to insert flaming camp and sexual identity commentary into absolutely everything.
It completely detracts from the storytelling possibilities of the character and is something that was seemingly kept (mostly) in check during Davies’ first spin as showrunner.
There have been rumors for a while, with the British press lamenting the decline fo the show. Now, in an interview with BBC Newsround to promote the new season of Gatwa’s run, the lead actor was decidedly guarded when asked about a second season.
Davies was seemingly a little more blunt:
“I kind of know that the Doctor’s reached the status of like Robin Hood. Sometimes there might be a pause, and during that pause, the viewers of Newsround now will grow up a few years and start writing stories and they’ll bring it back. So I have absolute faith that that will survive because I am living proof of it and that’s what happens to good ideas. No good idea ever dies.”
The BBC has still made no official announcements, and they just introduced a new companion. Gatwa’s future in the role is uncertain as he seems to have fallen out of love with the Doctor since his ill-judged remarks about identity politics caused some backlash among fans who were accused of racism.
Blaming the fans. That always works well.
The rest of this run, which may be the last for a while, will play out on Saturday evenings on BBC and Disney+.