Doctor Who Cancels Companion After One Season
Popular British soap actress Millie Gibson, who joined the cast of Doctor Who as Ruby Sunday, the companion to Ncuti Gatwa’s Fifteenth Doctor during the 2023 Christmas Special, will be replaced after just one season. Season 15, which is currently in production in Wales, will see Jurassic World Dominion actress Varada Sethu take up the mantle.
Millie Gibson’s Ruby Replaced
However, Gibson fans can still see the actress reprise her role as Ruby in the 14th season of Doctor Who, slated to premiere in May on the BBC in the U.K. and Disney+ internationally.
Meanwhile, no details have been revealed about Sethu’s character or her role in the upcoming season. However, fans can expect a new dynamic between the Doctor and his companion as they embark on new adventures.
Varada Sethu As A Strategic Move?
The decision to replace Gibson with Varada Sethu is reportedly a strategic move by the show’s producers, aiming to introduce new energy to the long-running series.
Showrunner Russell T Davies, who originally rebooted Doctor Who in 2005, has returned to write and executive produce the new seasons.
Season 14 is already generating buzz with its lineup of guest stars, including Bonnie Langford, Jonathan Groff, and Indira Varma.
Other Controversies?
Interestingly, the latest Doctor Who specials have stirred up some controversy. Featuring David Tennant as the Fourteenth Doctor, the specials introduced Yasmin Finney as Rose, a transgender character and a new companion for the Doctor.
Following her debut, the BBC has received 144 messages from viewers expressing their concerns about this casting choice.
Some viewers argue that it’s “inappropriate” to include a transgender character on the show, deeming it as “anti-male.”
This criticism coincides with other grievances from viewers who took issue with Nathaniel Curtis playing Isaac Newton in the second-anniversary special. Despite the complaints, the first Doctor Who special, “The Star Beast,” drew in an impressive audience of over 7.6 million viewers.
Yasmin Finney Facing Backlash
This suggests that those dissatisfied with Rose constitute a small percentage of Doctor Who‘s overall viewership.
For Finney, the importance of inclusivity in the show outweighs the limited backlash. In a previous interview, she emphasized how significant it is for her to be portrayed as a transgender person in a production as big as Doctor Who.
Finney highlighted the importance of representation in Doctor Who, stating, “I think representation is so important, and if I had Rose growing up, it would be a completely different story, I think. I think representation is what we need and what the younger generation needs to feel like they can do it too,” she explained.
The Show’s Portrayals
Showrunner Russell T Davies also addressed the controversy surrounding the inclusion of a transgender character in the new Doctor Who episodes.
He explained that depicting bullies picking on Rose is a way of shedding light on the challenges trans individuals often face when coming out.
Davies hopes that complainers will recognize the parallel between their actions and the bullies portrayed in the show.
David Tennant Done
“The Star Beast” was the first of the three Doctor Who 60th-anniversary specials, which premiered on November 25, 2023.
The second installment, “Wild Blue Yonder,” was released on December 2, and the third, “The Giggle,” concluded Tennant’s tenure as the Doctor on December 9, paving the way for Ncuti Gatwa to take on the role of the Fifteenth Doctor in Season 14.
Doctor Who Season 14 consists of eight episodes directed by Dylan Holmes Williams, Mark Tonderai, Julie Anne Robinson, Ben Chessell, and Jamie Donoughue.
Source: Mirror
