The conclusion to the last of the Doctor Who 2023 holiday specials had fans scratching their heads over the new status quo. In particular, the concept of bi-generation is introduced.
2023 marked the 60th anniversary of the longest-running science fiction show. Russell T Davies returned as head writer and executive producer. As part of the production, Davies brought back fan-favorite actors David Tennant (Good Omens) and Catherine Tate to essay their roles as The Doctor and Donna Noble, respectively.
But aside from bringing back old favorites, the Doctor Who specials serve as an epilogue to the previous season while also setting up the next season of the TV show and its new lead actor.
SPOILERS! The Doctor wins a prize for defeating the Toymaker – and here it is! 🟦 #DoctorWho pic.twitter.com/5n5T2Qhhzy
— Doctor Who (@bbcdoctorwho) December 10, 2023
The first of the specials (The Star Beast) saw Tennant’s Fourteenth Doctor reconnect with Donna Noble and her family after 15 years. The second holiday special (Wild Blue Yonder) dealt with the Not-things as the Doctor and Donna tried to get back to Earth. And the final special (The Giggle) presents the challenge of the Celestial Toymaker (played by Neil Patrick Harris) from driving the entire human race insane.
The story and execution of the final 2023 holiday special was entertaining and certainly the best of the three. But what Doctor Who fans are split in the middle with is how the story concluded and introduced the Fifteenth Doctor (played by Ncuti Gatwa).
At the end, the Toymaker shoots the Doctor with the galvanic beam cannon. In the established lore of Doctor Who, fatal injuries would prompt a regeneration of the Time Lord. This was a clever way for a new actor to play the same character since the idea of regenerating was used to replace the first Doctor Who lead actor, William Hartnell, due to his failing health.
But a new wrinkle has been added to the dynamics of the Doctor’s regeneration process. This new concept is bi-generation. As the regeneration energy emanated and the Doctor says his trademark “Allons-y” expression, he splits into two, asking his friends to pull his two selves apart. So instead of the Doctor simply regenerating into a new actor, there are now two Doctors existing simultaneously.
Some hardcore fans of Doctor Who feel this is change is a bit too extreme. While it does open up new possibilities, bi-generation can lead to diminishing returns in terms of stakes. Given that the show often explores how the universe itself is kept safe by The Doctor, having two reduces the potential threat of future antagonists.
Moreover, there are jaded fans on social media such as Reddit who feel this is another example of Doctor Who going “woke”. These aforementioned fans are asserting this forced diversity is endemic of Disney productions (as the BBC has partnered with the House of Mouse to stream the show on Disney+). A number of Doctor Who fans have even trended the hashtag #RIPDoctorWho on X.com (formerly Twitter) after the third 2023 holiday special aired.
The Doctor gave birth to another Doctor with no pants on out of his penis#RIPDoctorWho pic.twitter.com/DoheHqRn2e
— Nerdrotic (@Nerdrotics) December 10, 2023
However, this is not the first time Doctor Who has been called out by some fans for being woke. The previous season of the show introduced the first female incarnation of The Doctor (played by Jodie Whittaker). Unfortunately, that period led by showrunner Chris Chibnall is largely divisive, with the lowest ratings since 2005 and criticized by fans for its failures.
One of the most polarizing episodes of the Thirteenth Doctor’s run was the episode The Timeless Children. In this episode, the Timeless Child is revealed to be The Doctor long before becoming the First Doctor. Some fans responded negatively to this change to the lore of the Doctor Who universe, some even stating that it was unnecessary and added simply to allow for a forced diversity in future Doctor Who incarnations.
During an episode of The Official Doctor Who Podcast, Russell T Davies referred to the bi-generation as the “creation of the Doctorverse”. Davies added that the event is “it’s much bigger than you think”. The Doctor Who showrunner seems to be setting up the Doctor Who franchise to take the same route as the Marvel Cinematic Universe with the idea of branching multiverses.
With bi-generation now being canon in the Doctor Who mythos, future versions of The Doctor can be played by a wider range of actors. But what do you think of this concept? Is it an opportunity for expanding the Doctor Who universe than ever before? Or was this a cheap gimmick to attempt to please the entire Doctor Who fandom?
