Doctor Who fans with a keen eye for details have spotted a big inconsistency with David Tennant’s most recent regeneration scene.
Watch the epic moment below:
Loading…
The 51-year-old actor surprised fans with an incredible return to the popular sci-fi series on Sunday (23 October).
The outgoing Doctor, played by Jodie Whittaker, had her last adventure during the episode and viewers were over the moon to see Tennant – who portrayed the Tenth Doctor – return as the Fourteenth Doctor.
Some fans, however, were left confused by his character’s outfit during the regeneration.
Usually when a Doctor regenerates, their clothes remain unchanged, but viewers were left a bit disappointed when the new Doctor wasn’t seen wearing Whittaker’s outfit.
One confused viewer asked: “So, can regeneration change clothes now? Is that a thing now?"
Another fan said: “really hoping one of the new episodes of the doctor who that's coming answers the important question of since when did the doctor regenerate their clothes."
And one Doctor Who fan added: "Going to be spending the next thirteen months forming theories solely around the fact that Jodie's clothes regenerated with her."
While fans shared their confusion, this flouting of tradition could suggest that this regeneration will be unlike any we’ve experienced before.
The Sex Education alum was originally announced as the Fourteenth Doctor. This implied Whittaker’s Thirteenth Doctor would regenerate into the Doctor played by Gatwa, but as we now know, this isn’t the case.
After the episode aired, Doctor Who showrunner Russell T. Davies clarified that Gatwa will eventually make his grand debut as the Fifteenth Doctor next year.
Speaking with the BBC about Whittaker’s backwards regeneration and the return of Donna Noble (Catherine Tate), Davies teased: “If you thought the appearance of David Tennant was a shock, we’ve got plenty more surprises on the way! The path to Ncuti’s Fifteenth Doctor is laden with mystery, horror, robots, puppets, danger and fun! And how is it connected to the return of the wonderful Donna Noble? How, what, why? We’re giving you a year to speculate, and then all hell lets loose.”
With a year to wait until the 60th anniversary episodes air, fans have been given first-look pictures of Gatwa in character, as well as photos of Tate as Donna and Neil Patrick Harris, who will be back as the Celestial Toymaker.
It wouldn’t be wild to predict the latter has somehow meddled in the regeneration process, leading to Whittaker’s backwards regeneration.
The Doctor Who 60th anniversary specials begun filming in May and wrapped in July.
The three episodes are slated to air on BBC One in November 2023.
