Sunday night, Doctor Who fans were in for a grand surprise.
Revealed to the 13th Doctor, portrayed by Jodie Whittaker, Jo Martin became the 14th Doctor in the series.
Doctor Who, for the uninitiated, is a “Time Lord” called “the Doctor.” An extraterrestrial entity from the planet Gallifrey, the Doctor is a human by all appearances. The Doctor explores the Universe by way of a TARDIS (Time and Relative Dimension In Space), which appears as a British police booth that is much larger inside than it looks from the exterior.
As the show has progressed, since originating in 1963, the Doctor has taken on various forms when their shell has become too badly damaged for repair. Hence, the Doctor regenerates as a new being ever-so-often. The 13th Doctor was the first incarnation of a female Doctor. Jodie Whittaker took over after Peter Capaldi left in 2017.
The show’s latest incarnation of the Doctor is historical as it’s the first actor who is a person-of-color. Historically, it’s been nothing but white men. Jo Martin came in and, if her new profile picture on Twitter is any indication, this season is going to be thrilling.
#NewProfilePic pic.twitter.com/wIUxlSuyI7
— jo martin (@therealjomartin) January 26, 2020
The episode had Martin playing a tour guide, only to turn and shock all the characters as identifying herself as the next Doctor. Given that the Doctor is a Time Lord, it’s a frequent occurrence for the various Doctors to encounter one another. Be it during a mission mid-season, or as the reigns are being handed over. As Martin reveals to Whittaker’s Doctor:
“You’re in my future, not the other way around.”
Whether she will be a full-time fixture in the series is yet to be seen. For the fans of the series who’ve been waiting for a non-white Doctor, it seems to only matter that a version like Martin’s Doctor exists.
Doctor Who airs Sundays on BBC America.
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