What just happened with Doctor WHO and the bi-generation?

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.

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?