It's the end, but the moment was always prepared for. Finally reached No.60...
I had assumed when I started these that the first of the Specials would have fallen on 23/11/2023. It won't be screened until Saturday, but tomorrow is still "Doctor Who Day".
(I also never thought that these posts would be so big, as the theme of each triggered a more substantial essay nine times out of ten).
This one is mercifully brief.
In October last year, the BBC celebrated its centenary, and we were presented with the final story from Jodie Whittaker and from Chris Chibnall. The Power of the Doctor was an opportunity to look back as well as forward. We had appearances from two ex-companions in significant roles, with cameos from several others. We also got to see a number of old Doctors.
The regeneration was a mix of forward and backward looking, as the Thirteenth became the Fourteenth - but the latter looked and sounded just like the Tenth...
The previous anniversary story had also seen a mix of nostalgia and forward looking. It was another "Three Doctors", which looked back to another earlier incarnation (the War Doctor), and included an ex-companion (or at least the Bad Wolf version of Rose). Day of the Doctor also saw the eventual return of the Zygons, not seen since 1975. As far as the future was concerned, we had Gallifrey reinstated (albeit briefly) and our first glimpse of the Twelfth Doctor.
The Five Doctors was designed to be nostalgic, with first Robert Holmes then Terrance Dicks being handed a lengthy "shopping list" of elements to include. It was more about reminding the audience about the journey already taken
But the real The Three Doctors had also mixed the past with the future - in that the current Doctor was granted his freedom from exile at the conclusion.
Anniversaries are primarily about nostalgia and celebrating the history of the series. But they are also, for the most part, about looking forward to the future...
Can't wait for Countdown to 70...
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