Fans of Doctor Who are currently working to make connections between the Fourteenth Doctor (David Tennant) and the Curator (Tom Baker). The Curator made his first appearance in the 50th anniversary special "The Day of the Doctor" back in 2013, and his mysterious persona strongly hints at being the Doctor's retired future self.
The role of the Curator, played by Fourth Doctor actor Tom Baker, is underscored in the show, although the character's true nature is never explicitly revealed on screen. However, the special's tie-in novelization and other licensed media have since clarified this aspect of the canon. Despite this, gaps still remain in the Curator's backstory, but many fans believe that the Doctor Who 60th anniversary special, "The Giggle," may have provided another piece of the puzzle regarding the Fourteenth Doctor's fate.
Doctor Who fans connect David Tennant’s fate to the Curator
The Fourteenth Doctor undergoes bigeneration in "The Giggle," dividing into two distinct individuals: his present self and his future incarnation, the Fifteenth Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa). Following this transformation, he chooses to lead a more tranquil existence alongside Donna Noble (Catherine Tate) and her family.
"I might just retire and become the curator of this place."
"You know, I genuinely believe you could."
Oh, RTD. You sly, clever man. #DoctorWho pic.twitter.com/Lw6KTFot5K
— Jordan King (@JordanMBKing) December 9, 2023
After the special was released, fans of Doctor Who started celebrating the end of the Fourteenth Doctor's storyline as a progression towards becoming the Curator. Some fans even speculated that the Fourteenth Doctor could be the initial incarnation of the Curator.
"I mentioned to a friend that maybe this is the Curator Doctor," one user named X wrote. "The one who revisits some of the classics." "Perhaps David's Doctor will begin to travel back in time through familiar faces," suggested another. "I'm completely convinced this will be confirmed eventually," added a third person.
After watching "The Giggle" by u/Monsicorn indoctorwho, I had an idea about the Curator. However, some members of the Doctor Who community disagreed with this theory, stating that it contradicted the rules of bigeneration.
One Redditor posted, "He is [the Curator]... but not in the way you mean." Another Redditor elaborated, "Fourteen will eventually become Fifteen and Fifteen will eventually become The Curator. But they're all one person, just at different points in their life." Another Redditor added, "I think a lot of people are looking at it as Fourteen retiring from Doctor life and Fifteen continuing the journey in his stead. But it's more like, Fourteen took a break, healed, and then continued the journey as Fifteen."
Ncuti Gatwa gears up for his first full Doctor Who Adventure
The concept of bigeneration is ambiguous and unclear, but the subsequent conversation between Fourteen, Fifteen, and Donna was very clear to me. They are not two separate doctors on different paths, but rather the same individual experiencing events in a non-linear fashion.
The Doctor's ultimate fate may be up for debate among fans, but for now, the immediate future is clear. The Christmas special "The Church on Ruby Road" is set to air on December 25, marking the debut of the Fifteenth Doctor and new companion Ruby Sunday (played by Millie Gibson). In this episode, the Doctor will face off against a swarm of fairytale-esque goblins.
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Editor's P/S
As a passionate fan of Doctor Who, I am thrilled to see the theories and speculations surrounding the connection between David Tennant's Fourteenth Doctor and Tom Baker's mysterious Curator. The idea that the Fourteenth Doctor could eventually become the Curator is both intriguing and exciting, and it adds a new layer of depth to the character's journey. The concept of bigeneration, while ambiguous, opens up the possibility of exploring different aspects of the Doctor's life and experiences.
The recent episode, "The Giggle," has certainly fueled these theories, with the Fourteenth Doctor undergoing bigeneration and choosing a more tranquil existence alongside Donna Noble. The dialogue between the Fourteenth, Fifteen, and Donna suggests that they are not separate doctors but rather the same individual experiencing events in a non-linear fashion. This interpretation adds a fascinating twist to the character's journey and leaves room for further exploration in future episodes. Overall, I am eagerly anticipating the upcoming Christmas special and the introduction of the Fifteenth Doctor, while also hoping for more insights into the Fourteenth Doctor's fate and potential connection to the Curator.