Why Doctor Who Series 14 Is Now Rebooted As Season 1, Explained By RTD
Doctor Who showrunner Russell T. Davies discusses his decision to reset the iconic show and kick off the Ncuti Gatwa era in a fresh, surprising way.
Doctor Who showrunner Russell T. Davies revealed his plan to re-number the show, kicking off the Ncuti Gatwa era with season 1. The iconic British show ran 23 seasons between 1963 and 1989, before the revival series began in 2005, which will have run for 15 installments by 2025. Gatwa was cast in the role of the titular Time Lord in 2023 and made his debut in the 60th-anniversary specials and starred in the season 14 Christmas special episode “The Church on Ruby Road.”
As Doctor Who season 14 approaches, Davies, who was showrunner between 2005 and 2010 before returning in 2023, opened up on his decision to treat the Gatwa era like a franchise reset. Speaking in an interview with Rolling Stone, the Queer As Folk creator explained the need for the franchise to reset, freshen up, and reinvent itself, and how he believes the time is right to do that now. Check out the showrunner’s comments below:
“Who is interested in Season 67, or whatever it is? It genuinely starts again. The reason why it’s survived for all these years is that every so often, Doctor Who stops, opens the door and refreshes itself, and gets a new audience in. And there are children who will come and watch this, who will be me in 20, 30, 40 years time making this stuff.”
Why Kicking Off The Ncuti Gatwa Era As A Soft Reboot Makes Sense
There is no doubt that season 14 represents a fresh era for the franchise, with the first Black Doctor and the exploration of more inclusive themes, so changing the numbering honors these achievements.
Davies’ comments will echo the sentiments of Whovians, who tend to view the eras of the different Doctors as their own, self-contained stories that feed into a bigger narrative universe. For this reason, it makes sense to reset the season count for Gatwa’s era. This decision also gives the show a chance to get back to basics and explore new sci-fi adventures. It might also allow Davies and the writing team to bend the rules of their universe, which could make for more interesting stories and themes.
Doctor Who Season 1, Season 14, Or Season 40? Disney Era Confusion Explained
The Disney era of Doctor Who has resulted in a confusing numbering convention that begins with Ncuti Gatwa’s first season as the Fifteenth Doctor.
There is no doubt that season 14 represents a fresh era for the franchise, with the first Black Doctor and the exploration of more inclusive themes, so changing the numbering honors these achievements. In many ways, it will feel like a new show tied to an old legacy, and this is a great way of recognizing that fact. Lastly, the franchise gets a fresh face-lift, especially as it will mark the first season since the show’s Disney+ acquisition.
While the sci-fi show is always likely to perform well and has a huge fanbase, it is still important to bring new audiences to the series. This seems to be Davies’ goal with the show’s new era, which could be reflected in Doctor Who season 14’s cast. It also aligns with the new Disney era and marks a turning point for the future. This only brings hope that Doctor Who can continue to be an interesting and captivating show, with plenty of scope.
Ncuti Gatwa’s first season of Doctor Who will debut on May 11 on Disney+.
