After saying goodbye to her iconic Doctor Who character in 2022’s “The Power of the Doctor”, Jodie Whittaker has finally signed on to return to the show through the Big Finish audio dramas. This exciting news will be a perfect opportunity for the writers to fix some of the issues that arose during the actress’ final on-screen adventure, during which the Doctor was killed by the Master and subsequently regenerated. Jodie Whittaker was among several actors to play Doctor Who’s protagonist, and while her tenure on the show featured some great episodes, there are some areas that should be rewritten.
Bringing Whittaker back for a series of Big Finish audio dramas is an extremely smart decision that allows the crew to rewrite parts of her story without retconning anything in the show. Many of the Doctor Who writers also work with Big Finish, so there’s bound to be some continuity between her on-screen adventures and the new ones written exclusively for the audio stories. Naturally, these dramas will need to take place before Whittaker regenerates into David Tennant’s 14th Doctor, but there’s plenty of unused space in the timeline to make it work.
Doctor Who Never Properly Paid Off Thirteen & Yaz’s Teased Romance
The Hints Never Resulted In Anything
One of the most common criticisms that arose about Whittaker’s tenure on Doctor Who is the show’s inability to pay off the romance that’s teased between the Doctor and her companion Yasmin Khan. From the beginning of their time together in the TARDIS, Thirteen and Yaz have a palpable chemistry that’s even remarked upon by the other characters, leading many audiences to assume that their relationship will turn romantic at some point. But despite all the teases and clues, by the end of “The Power of the Doctor”, the pair merely say goodbye and nothing further happens.
Although Thirteen and Yaz’s relationship didn’t come out of nowhere, it certainly didn’t feel like there was an end vision for the two characters by the time the finale rolled around. There had been hints and glimpses of something romantic, but to have that evolve into a full romance would have admittedly felt rushed. The show has often avoided having romances between the Doctor and their companions, even when the chemistry and emotions are all there. But Doctor Who has already proved that it’s possible with Ten and Rose, who are still remembered as an ideal couple today.
Jodie Whittaker & Mandip Gill’s Doctor Who Returns Can Finish Their Story
The Audio Dramas Offer A Second Chance To Their Characters
Since the Big Finish audios will presumably take place before “The Power of the Doctor”, it’s unlikely that anything too drastic will happen, but the dramas will at least give the writers an opportunity to make their relationship dynamic feel more natural and give the couple some closure. Doctor Who may have failed Thirteen and Yaz’s romance, but Whittaker and Gill’s returns mean that Big Finish can make the road to their goodbye feel more weighted and powerful, even if it’s unlikely they will change the ending. At least the writers can finally give them closure.
Of course, in the world of Doctor Who, nothing is impossible. “The Power of the Doctor” saw David Tennant return as a brand new incarnation of the Doctor, and we have seen actors make appearances as future versions of the character, so it’s not strictly necessary for Jodie Whittaker’s return to take place before her initial exit. Time travel allows for countless possibilities, and there’s a real chance that Thirteen’s new Big Finish adventures could actually take place in the future – although they would need to explain where Yaz has been for all this time.
Big Finish Has A History Of Finishing Unresolved Doctor Who Stories
Many Actors Have Returned To Rewrite Their Characters’ Endings
Bringing actors back after they’ve departed Doctor Who is something that Big Finish is entirely familiar with, and the studio has actually developed a reputation for giving characters a second chance at saying goodbye where their stories may have been unresolved. In fact, almost all of the surviving actors to have played the Doctor have now appeared in Big Finish audios, with Peter Davidson, Colin Baker, Sylvester McCoy, and Paul McGann joining the cast of their respective series. While most Doctors were given suitable goodbyes at the end of their tenures, these audio dramas allow for new stories and adventure.
Although Thirteen had a great regeneration sequence, her final story was somewhat rushed and overshadowed by the arrival of David Tennant’s new Doctor.
Ultimately, Big Finish is a place for those Doctor Who stories that didn’t quite get a chance to reach their full potential on the screen. Thirteen and Yaz’s romance is a clear example of this, so it makes sense that Whittaker and Gill would want to return and give their characters the ending they deserve. Although Thirteen had a great regeneration sequence, her final story was somewhat rushed and overshadowed by the arrival of David Tennant’s new Doctor. These stories can rewrite that underwhelming ending and give her a new, more exciting one.