Doctor Who: What to expect in the series’s return

The 2005 rival of the hit television show Doctor Who (2005) recently celebrated its 19-year anniversary by announcing season 14—comically titled “Season One!” Trailers and teasers previewed flashy storylines, vibrant costumes, and a stacked set of guest stars this March. At the end of the month, the official Doctor Who social media accounts released teasers, including titles for the eight episodes to come.

Fans are flocking back to the franchise with the knowledge that showrunner Russell T. Davies, the writer who rebooted the 2005 series in the first place, will be returning.  Before his return with the most recent anniversary specials, aired in November 2023, Davies had not written an episode of the show since the sensational fan-favorite two-hour special, “The End of Time,” aired in January 2010. These past two years have marked the end of his (too long) hiatus from the franchise. Thankfully, out of the eight episodes released this season, Davies will be involved with six, bringing brand-new stories, characters, and ideas with him. 

Through interviews, Davies revealed that he plans to do at least three or four seasons as showrunner and will incorporate some new sci-fi concepts never before seen in the series. While Doctor Who (2005) has long oscillated between fantasy and sci-fi, typically landing in science fiction as it is primarily grounded in reality, a recent anniversary special breaks this status quo with the return of “The Toymaker,” played by Neil Patrick Harris. This character comes from another universe, “where science is a game, and all of us are toys.” He can bend the laws of reality to his own will in ways that can’t be scientifically explained.

Davies has said in interviews that the cracks the Toymaker’s influence has left on the show’s canon will be important, allowing for more possibilities than fans could imagine. This opens Doctor Who (2005) up to a more supernatural or magical realm to a degree that is fresh and exciting for this long-running classic. 

Davies isn’t the only familiar face fans can expect to see from the original series, though! Jemma Redgrave, a beloved guest star, will reprise her role as Kate Stewart. Bonnie Langford, who first appeared in the 1980s, will also come back as Mel Bush. These familiar faces are sure to evoke nostalgia and excitement among long-time fans.

Many viewers have also expressed excitement about the casting of Jinkx Monsoon, American drag queen and season five champion of RuPaul’s Drag Race (2009-present). She will be playing a villain in the upcoming episode, “The Devil’s Chord.” which will take place in 1963, primarily at Abbey Road; Doctor Who (2005) has yet to do a Beatles episode, and fans are giddy just thinking about what the episode will entail. 

Another American actor set to play an antagonist is Broadway star Johnathan Groff, who will appear in the episode centered on the Regency period, “Rogue.” Unfortunately, little to no details about his character or the episode’s plot besides the outfits resembling Bridgerton have been revealed. After receiving insufficient information, the Doctor Who fandom did what all fandoms do—theorized! Many viewers have theories about who Groff may be playing, everything from a new villain to a younger incarnation of an old fan-favorite character, Captain Jack Harkness (formerly played by John Barrowman).

Amongst this spew of excitement, it’s important to bring up the concern of many fans regarding the lack of diversity in the writer's room, specifically when it comes to writers of color. With the season being the first to feature a black actor to play the titular role, Ncuti Gatwa, many fans hoped to see more of a diverse influence in the writer’s room and on the screen.

The season will premiere on May 11 in the United Kingdom and May 10 in the United States. Two episodes will be released simultaneously, and the season will follow a weekly release schedule after through June. One thing of crucial note is where to find the highly anticipated season 14, “Season One.” In the U.S., “Season One” will be available on Disney+, and if you’re a fan of any kind, make sure to tune in!

Thumbnail photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons