Doctor Who: Ncuti Gatwa Confirms 1 Story Aspect Will Be Tackled In New Era

Summary Doctor Who season 14 will tackle race, addressing historical relevance and social issues.

Ncuti Gatwa's portrayal as the first long-term Black Doctor will open the door to explore racial attitudes throughout history.

The new season may also offer social commentary on other social issues, making it unique.

Doctor Who star Ncuti Gatwa has confirmed that one important story aspect is going to be tackled in the new era of the series. Gatwa portrays the Fifteenth Doctor, having debuted in the 60th anniversary specials before having his first adventure in the holiday episode "The Church on Ruby Road." His proper series debut will be the premiere of season 14, which will mark the beginning of a multi-season journey with him in the starring role.

Speaking with Attitude, Gatwa confirmed that one important subject Doctor Who season 14 is going to tackle will be race. The actor explained how, as the first long-term Black Doctor in the series, the subject will arise due to its historical relevance. He also explained how showrunner Russell T. Davies wanted to combine sci-fi with more human stories in this way. Check out what Gatwa had to say below:

Race does make appearances, yes. It is quite different for the Doctor. It’s not the first time. Jo Martin is the first Doctor that is Black [she played the time-travelling Fugitive Doctor in 2020], but it is the first time the Doctor’s been Black for this long. And so, we have to address those elements of the character now, because Earth unfortunately is still quite a funny little place. And so, yeah, we will be addressing those things. Russell has such a knack of being able to bring in these elements of our humanity through this sci-fi lens in a really interesting way.

Why Doctor Who Tackling Race Is So Important In Season 14

As Gatwa mentions, he isn't the first Black actor to portray the Doctor, with Jo Martin appearing as the Fugitive Doctor in season 12. However, he is the first Black actor who will be maintaining the core role for multiple seasons, which will no doubt include adventures through time, including Earth's past. If he goes back far enough and to certain locations on the planet, he'll no doubt be faced with the harsh, racist mindsets during those times in history.

Given his leading role in the cast of Doctor Who season 14, the experiences Gatwa's Doctor goes through are going to be important for both him and the series as a whole. Since he is making history as the first Black Doctor to star in the show, it makes sense for the racial attitudes of the past to be acknowledged when his time-traveling adventures begin. While it doesn't need to define the show or his character, it's still an important historical piece that can't be left out if the new season will be tackling more societal issues.

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Tackling the topic of race also opens the door for similar issues of oppression to be explored, such as those dealing in sexuality or economy. If these topics are also addressed with a wider lens, then Doctor Who season 14 could have plenty of important social commentary centered throughout its run. This would make Gatwa's Doctor stand out as well, giving him unique adventures that are both fun and informative, making his time as the protagonist unique within the vast array of other Doctors.

Doctor Who season 14 premieres on May 11, 2024.

Source: Attitude