Since the British sci-fi institution Doctor Who returned to the screens in 2005, people have been talking about New Who and the counting of the series, which has been running since 1963, began again with season 1. We have now reached the 14th season since the new edition and another reset occurred.
Fittingly, showrunner Russell T. Davies, who brought the series back to the BBC, is back. But some things have changed. Disney+ is now on board as a co-producer, so that the series with the new one Season 1 on May 11, 2024 will go online internationally parallel to the UK premiere. There are two episodes to start with, then it continues weekly.
Sci-fi adventure through space and time with Doctor Who on Disney+
In the most recent Doctor Who specials already available on Disney+, the 10th and 14th Doctors (David Tennant) returned once again to experience one last adventure and ceremoniously pass on the series to the 15th Doctor in the form of Ncuti Gatwa (Sex Education). His first full adventure came in the Christmas special The Church on Ruby Road, where he met his new companion Ruby Sunday (Millie Gibson).
Disney+
The Time Lord and his human companion become together Travel through space and different eras in the space and time ship called the TARDIS and meet allies, villains and monsters. After all, as former foundlings, they have a lot in common and the newly minted co-stars also seem to have very natural chemistry with each other behind the camera.
Drag queen Jinkx Monsoon plays an antagonistic character named in the new season maestro, who some believe to be the new incarnation of the Master – the Doctor’s nemesis and sometimes frenemy from the home planet Gallifrey. Or is this a false lead? The unscrupulous Daleks are not supposed to appear for the time being.
Showrunner RTD said of the new season in press material:
You could watch each episode on its own without being stopped by continuity. But as we have already seen at Christmas, there is obviously one Mystery regarding Ruby’s biological family. She was left outside a church as a foundling. It’s like a fairy tale, but it haunts her. The story is already finished. Who is her mother? How can they find out what happened? The way the Doctor plays into this is fascinating.
The first episode is titled Space Babies and is about exactly what it sounds like: intelligent babies in a spaceship. Former showrunner Steven Moffat also contributed an episode, Boom, in which the Doctor steps on an alien landmine. In the past, outside of his run as head writer, he had contributed highlight standalone episodes such as Blink and The Girl in the Fireplace.
Overall expect us eight new episodes and the series has long been assured of another season.
A new era of Doctor Who begins on Disney+
By the way, the new main actor is Gatwa the first person of color in the traditional Doctor Who role. About his first full season and his showrunner he said:
I think it brilliantly captures the human condition while taking us through times we couldn’t even imagine. He’s very good at juxtaposing micro and macro, light and dark, tragedy and comedy. He is excellent at writing duality. Plus, he’s not afraid to be a little dangerous. And that makes it really exciting.
The other cast of the new Doctor Who season includes Jemma Redgrave as UNIT boss Kate Stewart, Mindhunter star Jonathan Groff in a mystery role from the Regency era, Bonnie Langford as ex-companion Mel Bush, and Yasmin Finney, known from Heartstopper in the role of Donna’s daughter Rose Noble and Michelle Greenidge as Carla Sunday. Game of Thrones star Indira Varma plays a villain called The Duchess – another Time Lady perhaps?
When will which Doctor Who episodes come to Disney+?
Anyone who is willing to do a little homework in preparation as a newcomer should at least stream the 2023 Christmas special or the three Doctor Who seasons released shortly before on Disney+. It remains to be seen how well the first episode of “Season 1” is really suitable as an introduction.
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