Warning: Spoilers ahead forDoctor Whoseason 15, episode 8, “The Reality War.“Doctor Whoseason 15, episode 8,“The Reality War,” brought about an unexpected end to Ncuti Gatwa’s reignas the Fifteenth Doctor, and although the show wrapped up some of its more recent storylines, it left several loose ends unresolved and even introduced brand-new arcs. WhileDoctor Whoseason 16 isn’t yet confirmed, it’s largely expected to happen whether Disney ends its collaboration with the BBC early or otherwise. What’s most up for debate is exactly when the saga will continue.
Theending ofDoctor Whoseason 15was brilliantly chaotic, but it failed to acknowledge some of the biggest unanswered questions introduced since showrunner Russell T. Davies returned. That said, some were acknowledged, which makes me think that Davies has immediate plans to shift focus towards some of his background plots.Ncuti Gatwa has left the show, butDoctor Whohas always been a great blend of looking to the future while acknowledging the show’s past.
8Why Does The Sixteenth Doctor Look Like Rose Tyler?
Billie Piper may not even be playing the Doctor at all
Gatwa’s exit took the form of another gimmicky version ofDoctor Who’s regeneration sequences. After David Tennant’s return as the Fourteenth Doctor and the bi-generation twist that followed, I expected Gatwa’s farewell to introduce a new star more traditionally. It turns out I was wrong, andthe Doctor now looks an awful lot like Rose Tyler, with Billie Piper now confirmed asDoctor Who’s new lead actress.
What remains to be revealed is exactlywhy the Doctor now has Rose’s face, if Piper is even playing the Sixteenth Doctor at all. There have been instances of the Doctor subconsciously choosing a new face that’s familiar to them, but looking like a former companion would be the most prominent example of this phenomenon. What I think is most likely is that Rose’s essence is still stored in the TARDIS after she looked into its heart and became Bad Wolf inDoctor Whoseason 1, episode 13, “The Parting of the Ways.” However, this hasn’t been confirmed.
7Who Picked Up The Toymaker’s Gold Tooth?
The Master is trapped inside
Neil Patrick Harris' Toymakerwas defeated at theend of 2023’s “The Giggle,“thanks to the collaboration of the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Doctors. Victory aside,the villain’s gold tooth was left unnoticed on UNIT’s helipad, and was collected by a red-nailed hand - an act only witnessed by the audience. As one of the oldest mysteries ofDoctor Who’s Disney era, the matter of who took the tooth still hasn’t been solved.
What makes the tooth so important is that the Master is stored inside it, with his imprisonment the result of a loss to the Toymaker. It’s unclear just how muchDoctor Who’s Pantheon of Godswill continue to factor into the show’s post-Gatwa era, but the return of whoever took the tooth is surely connected to the villainous group of deities. Possibilities includeMaestro (Jinkx Monsoon)and the Master, among other pre-existing and as-yet-unseen characters.
6Who Is Doctor Who’s “Boss”?
The Boss has been mentioned a few times but never revealed
Steph de Whalley’s Anita Benn mentions the Bosswhen she returns to help Fifteen and UNIT in “The Reality War.” This isn’t the first time the character has been mentioned, asthe Meep also referenced the Boss in “The Star Beast.“Rogue (Jonathon Groff) also mentioned a “new boss” inDoctor Whoseason 14, episode 6. Davies has allowed the mystery to grow slowly in the background while focusing on more pressing matters, but Anita’s reminder must mean the Boss' identity will be revealed soon.
It’s tricky to tell whether the Boss is a villain or whether they’re an ally or admirer of the Doctor.
It’s tricky to tell whether the Boss is a villain or whether they’re an ally or admirer of the Doctor.All that’s been confirmed is that the Boss is interested in the Doctor because of the whole two-heart thing, and the Boss has been known to move in shady circles, mixing with beings like the Meep and bounty hunters like Rogue. That said, Anita appears to have a good relationship with the Boss, and her mention of the figure’s name sounds very neutral rather than it being a warning.
5What’s The “Time Schism” The Thirteenth Doctor Mentioned?
Jodie Whittaker’s surprise cameo came with a warning
Jodie Whittaker surprised everyone in “The Reality War” by showing up for a cameo as the Thirteenth Doctor. I felt like Thirteen’s presence was a way of giving her some screen time in a far betterDoctor Whoera, as Chris Chibnall’s scripts often frustrated fans with how overly ambitious they were. Whether this is true or not,Thirteen had a sneakily big role to play in “The Reality War"beyond comforting Fifteen ahead of his regeneration scene.
Whittaker’s Doctor mentions a “great big time schism” that’s on the way, caused by Fifteen as a result of pouring so much regeneration energy into the Time Vortex.It sounds as though Davies is setting up his next bigDoctor Whostoryline by briefly bringing Thirteen back to the show. It also sounds like pretty generic sci-fi patter without any additional context, but I think that’s the point. It feels to me thatDoctor Whois getting ready to return to its traditional sci-fi-heavy formula after the Gatwa era was very fantasy-led.
4Was There A Deeper Meaning Behind All Those Fourth-Wall Breaks?
Mrs. Flood wasn’t the only character to acknowledge the audience, but she did it the most
Starting with Anita Dobson addressing the audience as Mrs. Flood at the end of Gatwa’s first fullDoctor Whoepisode, 2023’s “The Church on Ruby Road,” Davies has overseen several similar instances of his characters breaking the fourth wall.Even the Doctor himself has looked down the lens, andFifteen even interacted withDoctor Whofans in “Lux.“The string of self-aware moments felt like it was headed somewhere important, but it still hasn’t.
Mrs. Flood, who turned out to be the Rani, has been the biggest offender when it comes to breaking the fourth wall, and it’s not a trait commonly associated with her character. Plus,she stopped doing it altogether after the big reveal of who Mrs. Flood really was, which makes all the moments when she spoke to the audience seem like a collection of red herrings.It could just be something Davies likes to do now in his second stint as showrunner, but I hope he has a more canonical explanation in mind.
3Is Rogue Still Alive?
Jonathon Groff’s Doctor Who character seems close to death in “Wish World”
Rogue briefly shows up inDoctor Whoseason 15, episode 7, “Wish World,” speaking with the Doctor through a TV screen. In their previous encounter, they parted ways with Rogue falling into another dimension after sacrificing himself to save Ruby Sunday (Millie Gibson).“Wish World” reveals that Rogue is in a “Hell dimension,“which looks very much like many typical depictions of Hell.
“Doctor, can you hear me? I haven’t got much time. They’re coming, and this Hell dimension is sliding into the pit. I don’t know if I’m going to survive.”
- Rogue inDoctor Whoseason 15, episode 7, “Wish World.”
Rogue’s message to the Doctor in “Wish World” is very helpful, as it makes Fifteen see that there is something very wrong with reality. Worryingly,it seems as though Rogue is using his final moments to alert the Doctor to the Rani’s plan, although it isn’t explained exactly how he knows about it. Rogue very poignantly admits he doesn’t know if he’ll live much longer in “Wish World,” making it seem as though he’s long dead by the end of “The Reality War.” If so, I’d be very surprised, because a proper comeback feels inevitable.
2Why Was Susan Trying To Contact The Doctor?
Susan’s comeback hasn’t really led anywhere yet
Carole Ann Ford shocked everyone by returning as Susan inDoctor Whoseason 15, episode 6, “The Interstellar Song Contest.” Appearing in visions as the Doctor slipped away in outer space, she was able to motivate Fifteen to save his own life, and then everyone else aboard the station.Susan seemed like she was in trouble and was reaching out through time and space to her grandfather for help. Davies appeared to be orchestrating a real reunion for the two characters for the first time in decades.
Susan does make an appearance in “Wish World” too, but it’s incredibly brief, and only in the form of a flash of footage on the TV before Rogue’s warning to the Doctor. So, Gatwa’s era may get the credit for bringing Susan back to the show after so long away, but it also failed to properly pay off Susan’s long-awaited comeback. Hopefully, Davies has a more solid plan for her inDoctor Whoseason 16, and is planning to reveal why she needs the Doctor’s help.
1Does The Doctor Have Kids Yet Or Not?
The Time Lords were steralized, making it unclear who Susan’s parents are
Doctor Whohas always been strangely guarded of the Doctor’s family tree, despite his granddaughter serving as a companion in the show’s earliest episodes. Other than Georgia Tennant playing Jenny, a clone ofDavid Tennant’s Tenth DoctorinDoctor Whoseason 4, episode 6, “The Doctor’s Daughter,” the show has never revealed another confirmed descendant of the Time Lord.Ten even openly said “I was a dad once” in 2006’s “Fear Hear,“and yet Fifteen has long been adamant that he has yet to have children.
The existence of Susan proves the Doctor has had or will have a child at some point.
There is still a possibility thatConrad’s Wish World genuinely does mean Fifteen is Poppy’s father, but “The Reality War” tries to convince everyone otherwise. Regardless, the existence of Susan proves the Doctor has had or will have a child at some point. With the Time Lords now sterilized thanks to the Master’s genetic atrocities, it remains to be seen howDoctor Whoseason 16 or beyond can repair the Doctor’s family tree to allow Susan to be related to him.
