This month, the longest-running sci-fi sequence returns to screens in all its wibbly-wobbly timey-wimey glory. I’m speaking in regards to the newest season of Physician Who (which you’ll have heard known as season 15 and season 2, however let’s not get slowed down in that).
With one full season and three specials underneath his belt, Ncuti Gatwa has firmly put his stamp on The Physician, who this 12 months will acquire a brand new companion known as Belinda Chandra, performed by Varada Sethu. She follows within the footsteps of the bubbly Ruby Sunday, portrayed by Millie Gibson, who departed the blue field for pastures new.
The BBC and Disney have been drip-feeding followers with teasers for the brand new season, however with such sprawling lore, it may be laborious to maintain observe of what probably the most anticipated issues are, particularly in case you’re an off-the-cuff viewer.
To assist lower via the noise, I’ve spoken to a few consultants within the Whovian world, all with completely different backgrounds and takes, to seek out out what they wish to see.
Mrs Flood thriller reveal
All three of the fandom consultants agreed unanimously that Ruby Sunday’s ominous neighbour deserves to take the highlight within the 2025 season of Who.
“I’d adore it if she turned out to be the Rani”
Christel Dee
Performed by Anita Dobson, Mrs Flood made headlines when she debuted in Fifteen’s first Christmas particular, breaking the fourth wall and having a really unsettling second with Ruby’s grandma Cherry (Angela Wynter) simply earlier than the arrival of Sutekh in The Legend of Ruby Sunday.
BBC/Disney/Unhealthy Wolf Studios
Content material creator and artistic freelancer Christel Dee was employed by the BBC to host Physician Who: The Fan Present on YouTube, and later The Official Physician Who Podcast on BBC Sounds. She’s additionally co-authored two Physician Who books for BBC Books and infrequently contributed articles to Physician Who Journal.
Her expansive information leads her to consider that Mrs Flood is an older face from the Traditional Who, masquerading in plain sight: “I’d adore it if she turned out to be the Rani – she was final seen in Physician Who in 1987 (or 1993’s Dimensions in Time in case you depend that as canon), performed by Kate O’Mara. She’s a Time Lord villain just like the Grasp and the final time we noticed her, she was splendidly eccentric and camp!”
The most recent trailer featured the character paying a go to to the Interstellar Tune Contest (Eurovision followers, rejoice), whereas showrunner Russell T Davies has teased that massive issues are to come back for Mrs Flood in season 2 – Rani or in any other case. She’ll be making an look in each episode, so keep tuned.
Extra of Fifteen’s distinctive character
Each Physician has their signature tackle the function, and Ncuti’s first foray into the TARDIS was vibrant and daring – and our fandom consultants need much more this time round.
His type is an ideal instance of those traits. For cosplayer, audio producer and TikTok Physician Who quiz host Dominic G. Martin, it provides an additional problem to his work: “Ncuti is the primary Physician who fully overhauls his costume in each episode… After all, inconceivable to maintain up with cosplay-wise, however I respect anybody who tries!”
Martin’s channels replicate well-known Physician Who outfits, and Fifteen’s ever-changing wardrobe means there’s loads to get pleasure from: “I’m very a lot wanting ahead to what cracking vogue statements that he’ll be doing this 12 months! We’ve already seen some dashing appears to be like within the trailer and naturally there might be extra to come back.”
Dee additionally desires to see extra insanity from Fifteen, although not essentially in his outfits: “One among my favorite current moments was in Pleasure to the World, when he spent a 12 months working at a lodge with a human known as Anita – he was having enjoyable and exhibiting off which was such a pleasure to observe. Most Docs have had an eccentric streak, and I’d like to see that dialled up a bit extra.”
Followers might recall Eleven’s love of fish fingers and custard and Twelve’s behavior of busting out a guitar solo, so it’d be attention-grabbing to see Fifteen have his personal unusual quirk – a vogue present might be simply the factor!
Season 14 featured two Physician-lite episodes, which Davies defined was partly as a consequence of filming conflicts with Intercourse Training for Gatwa. That shouldn’t be a difficulty with the following instalment, so hopefully there might be extra alternatives to see Fifteen’s character flourish.
“Ncuti is the primary Physician who fully overhauls his costume in each episode… After all, inconceivable to maintain up with cosplay-wise”
Dominic G. Martin
A fancy companion dynamic
Whereas it was definitely enjoyable to see the Physician and Ruby be as thick as thieves, earlier seasons of the present have proved that a number of the most compelling relationships don’t comply with that path.
Ellie Littlechild is a presenter for the favored YouTube channel, WhoCulture – turning her love for Physician Who right into a career the place she shares information and ideas on a number of the hottest matters within the Whovian world. As such, she watches together with “a much more analytical eye than I ever used to”.
This allowed her to recognise a deadly flaw from the final season, as she “discovered the dynamic between Fifteen and Ruby to be too clear and subsequently it felt somewhat unrealistic”. It appeared that some followers and critics agreed, with complaints surfacing round how a lot of the bonding between the pair occurred off-screen.
Audiences might get their want for a extra gritty and sophisticated bond this time round. As Littlechild places it: “All relationships have moments of battle and I discover that the Physician/companion relationship works finest after they problem one another, which I really feel Fifteen and Belinda will do.”
BBC/Disney/Unhealthy Wolf Studios
Martin agrees that Belinda could also be a extra unwilling companion: “She desires to go dwelling, and she or he isn’t going to get there for some time if the trailer is to be taken at face worth!”
This trailer confirms that Belinda is devoted to her job as a nurse and isn’t essentially trying to be swept up into an journey via time and area. How the Physician will navigate this pressure might be attention-grabbing to see.
“I discover that the Physician/companion relationship works finest after they problem one another”
Ellie Littlechild
Physician Who’s worry issue
Regardless of being recognized for its sci-fi roots, horror is a staple in Physician Who. To this present day, I have to preserve my eyes glued to any weeping angel statue due to Blink, whereas the phrase “are you my mummy?” from The Empty Youngster nonetheless sends shivers up lots of my mates’ spines.
Dee notes that there are comparable tones current within the trailers resembling “an enormous spider lurking at nighttime, a leap scare whereas Kate Stewart walks down a hall and a large cartoon character coming to life in probably the most unsettling manner”.
The latter ingredient is a cartoon character known as Mr Ring-a-Ding, voiced by Scottish performing royalty and Who alumni, Alan Cumming. Showrunner Davies has already teased that this character will “deliver terror”, so it appears followers wishing for the times of extra creepy storylines will get their want.
Littlechild is especially enthralled by this episode as a consequence of its distinctive visible parts: “I’ve at all times cherished movies/TV that blend dwell motion with animation – assume Looney Tunes: Again in Motion, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Mary Poppins – so this entire idea actually appeals to me.”
Final season’s most unsettling episode was 73 Yards, however this was extra an omnipresent dread somewhat than straight-up horror. However will that change within the subsequent instalment?
We gained’t have to attend lengthy to seek out out.
Physician Who returns to screens on Saturday 12 April. UK viewers can catch the primary episode on BBC iPlayer from 8am BST and on BBC One within the night, whereas US viewers can watch it on Disney+ from 3am ET/12am PT.