Ncuti Gatwa Leaves Doctor Who Without Facing the Iconic Villains He Wanted

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Heed this notice: Upcoming in Doctor Who Season 15, Episode 8 titled “The Reality War,” Ncuti Gatwa‘s aspirations for his tenure on the show may have been left unfulfilled. In the season finale, the Fifteenth Doctor underwent regeneration, transforming into Billie Piper. Although it remains undecided if Piper will step into the role of the Sixteenth Doctor, Gatwa has officially concluded his time with the series, at least for now. Consequently, Gatwa’s stint as the lead actor in Doctor Who Season 15 marks the final opportunity to check off one of his major goals on his list.

In summary, Ncuti Gatwa’s last regular appearance as the Fifteenth Doctor marked the end of his tenure, which fueled speculation about his filmed regeneration scene. Being the first (and potentially only) new incarnation of the Time Lord during Doctor Who‘s Disney era, he occupies a distinct position in the series’ 62-year chronicle. Notably, Gatwa’s tenure is characterized by the debut of numerous new adversaries, including the pantheon of gods from Doctor Who, unlike villains from earlier periods that he had hoped to encounter.

Ncuti Gatwa Never Got To Face The Daleks (Or Any Of Doctor Who’s Big 3 Villains)

Fifteen didn’t cross paths with the Master or the Cybermen either

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly before the start of Doctor Who season 14, Ncuti Gatwa expressed his disappointment if the plan was indeed that the Fourteenth Doctor wouldn’t encounter the Daleks, the show’s most famous adversaries. He playfully mused about whether being the Doctor would be worth it without a chance to fight these iconic enemies. Sadly, those rumors were confirmed as true, as the Daleks were mentioned but never physically appeared in any of Ncuti Gatwa’s Doctor Who episodes.

Pre-Disney Doctor Who Villains Faced By Ncuti Gatwa’s Fifteenth Doctor
Villain Played By Episode(s)
The Toymaker Neil Patrick Harris “The Giggle”
Villengard N/A “Boom”
Sutekh Gabriel Woolf “Legend of Ruby Sunday” & “Empire of Death”
The Midnight Entity N/A “The Well”
The Rani Anita Dobson & Archie Panjabi “Wish World” & “The Reality War”
Omega Nicholas Briggs “The Reality War”

In an unfortunate turn of events, not only did Gatwa’s incarnation fail to encounter the Daleks, but also two iconic adversaries of Doctor Who: the Cybermen and the Master. Instead, fresh opponents like the Goblins from “The Church in Ruby Road” and Jinkx Monsoon’s Maestro in “The Devil’s Chord” were created to confront the Fifteenth Doctor. He also faced some rather unconventional challenges, such as facing discrimination due to his skin color in “Dot and Bubble,” vanishing completely in “73 Yards,” and even dealing with conspiracy theories in “Lucky Day.

Indeed, it can be acknowledged that Doctor Who has a tendency to excessively rely on characters like the Daleks, the Master, and the Cybermen. Across different versions, this repetition is quite noticeable. Consequently, it seems wise that Gatwa’s era gave them a break for two full seasons, which will make their potential reappearance more intriguing. Additionally, this hiatus allows for an expansion of the Doctor’s roster of recurring foes, as many new villains from the Gatwa-era have the potential to return, thus enriching the diversity of the show’s antagonists.

Ncuti Gatwa’s Hope Of Fighting Daleks Isn’t Completely Lost

Fifteen can still return in a multi-Doctor Dalek adventure

Despite the fact that Gatwa is no longer a part of Doctor Who, there’s always a possibility that he could reappear for a special event. Just like David Tennant, who has played the Doctor before him, has returned, so it’s not unheard of. This can happen in multi-Doctor stories, as seen with David Tennant, and Gatwa’s fond memories of his time on the show suggest that he might accept an invitation to come back to Doctor Who someday.

There’s a possibility that Ncuti Gatwa could reprise his role as Doctor Who in the future, potentially teaming up with some of his fellow Doctors for a multi-Doctor tale against the Daleks. However, this is speculative at best, as the confirmation of Doctor Who season 16 has not been announced yet, and even if it does happen, it seems unlikely that Fifteen would return so soon after his departure. Still, it opens up the chance for Gatwa to eventually fulfill a long-held Doctor Who ambition.

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2025-06-04 14:58