Nobody had expected that: The British sci-fi series "Doctor Who" surprised its fans with a premiere in the latest episode. For the first time in the almost 60-year history of the TV hit, a black woman was introduced as the title doctor.
Because aliens attack the English city of Gloucester, tourist guide Ruth Clayton (Jo Martin, "Fleabag") presses an emergency button that calls up the current Doctor (Jodie Whittaker, "Broadchurch"). However, Clayton is not an ordinary tour guide: when the confident lady meets Jodie Whittaker's main character at the end of the episode, she also introduces herself as "Doctor" to her great surprise.
Showrunner Chris Chibnall has already confirmed that this is not a trick. "Jo Martin is definitely the doctor," he told The Mirror newspaper.
Confusion and euphoria among the fans
However, the unveiling of the new, second doctor raises some questions, especially: What does that mean for the time continuum of the Sci-Fi series? Because up to now there was only a new doctor when the old one "died". The Doctor is born again as an immortal time traveler from a distant, long-obliterated planet.
Since the series first aired in Britain in 1963, there have been 13 different incarnations of the Time Lord: William Hartnell, Patrick Troughton, Jon Pertwee, Tom Baker, Peter Davison, Colin Baker, Sylvester McCoy, Paul McGann, Christopher Eccleston, David Tennant, Matt Smith, Peter Capaldi and Jodie Whittaker. So now there is a 14th with Jo Martin; it would be the second female embodiment of the time traveler. However, whether Martin's figure is a past or a future incarnation of the doctor remains open.
It is also unclear what role Martins Doctor will play in the series. Jodie Whittaker only confirmed a few days ago that she will take the lead again in the upcoming season 13. A tweet from the "BBC" however, indicates that there will be two doctors in the future – at least for a time. "There's room for everyone this season," it says.
This is how the fans react
"Doctor Who" fans seem to be happy about the unexpected change. "I'm so in love, hopefully we'll find out more about her," wrote a viewer on Twitter. Another one gets emotional: "Thank you for giving black nerds like me a doctor who looks like us. You have no idea how groundbreaking it is and how it brought me to tears." And a third says: "I think this episode broke my brain".
In the next episode, which will be broadcast in the UK on January 30, fans will probably find out how the twist around tour guide Clayton will ultimately be resolved.