Correcting Jodie Whittaker's Final Episode: Revisiting Three Major Mistakes in Doctor Who
RTD works his magic on Doctor Who, rectifying three major issues from Jodie Whittaker's final episode Tegan & Nyssa's bond becomes official canon, the Seventh Doctor opens up about hurting Ace, and RTD's Memory TARDIS replaces Chibnall's companion support group
Article Overview
Tales of the TARDIS fixes mistakes from Jodie Whittaker's final Doctor Who episode.
The spinoff affirms Tegan and Nyssa's romantic relationship, rectifying a retcon presented in "The Power of the Doctor."
The Memory TARDIS supplants the companion support group, providing a more effective platform for former Doctors and companions to come together, reconcile, and heal from their shared experiences of trauma.
Tales of the TARDIS has rectified three notable flaws from Jodie Whittaker's final episode of Doctor Who, "The Power of the Doctor," in preparation for the show's 60th anniversary. Chris Chibnall's tenure as showrunner for Doctor Who was widely debated, and this trend continued with his last episode, which marked Jodie Whittaker's regeneration. The episode, titled "The Power of the Doctor," featured appearances from past Doctors Peter Davison, Colin Baker, Sylvester McCoy, and Paul McGann, as well as the return of classic companions Tegan and Ace, portrayed by Janet Fielding and Sophie Aldred, respectively.
"The Power of the Doctor" brought together the Fifth Doctor and Tegan, as well as the Seventh Doctor and Ace. It also introduced a support group for companions, where former Doctor Who companions gathered in a village hall to share their experiences and adjust to life after traveling in the TARDIS. However, a new era of Doctor Who has since begun. With the return of Russell T Davies as showrunner, Tales of the TARDIS has delved deep into the Whoniverse, bringing back twelve beloved characters for a series of nostalgic adventures. This spinoff series aims to rectify three mistakes made in "The Power of the Doctor."
Tegan & Nyssa's Relationship Becomes Official Doctor Who Canon At Last
Tegan and Nyssa's relationship in Doctor Who has been a roller coaster ride. The idea of a romantic attraction between these two companions of the Fifth Doctor has been circulating since the 1980s. In 2020, this theory gained credibility with the release of Farewell, Sarah Jane, written by Russell T Davies, which referred to them as a "nice couple from Australia." However, "The Power of the Doctor" seemed to contradict this romance when Tegan mentioned her ex-husbands but completely ignored Nyssa. This unresolved love story between Thirteen and Yaz in Jodie Whittaker's final episode was also disappointing for representation in Doctor Who.
Fortunately, Tales of the TARDIS sets things right. During Tegan's reunion with the Fifth Doctor, she mentions saying "goodnight to Nyssa" before finding herself inside the Memory TARDIS. While it could be argued that Tegan and Nyssa simply exchange platonic bedtime messages from their separate homes every evening, the true implication here is crystal clear: Tegan and Nyssa became a couple after their Doctor Who adventures. This is further validated by the short film "The Passenger," released in July 2023 as part of Doctor Who's "The Collection" home video series. In this film, the Mara returns to torment Tegan, using her love for Nyssa against her.
The Seventh Doctor Finally Admits How He Hurt Ace
"The Power of the Doctor" failed to adequately portray Sophie Aldred's return as Ace in Doctor Who. In the episode "The Curse of Fenric" from 1989, Ace's connection to the villainous Fenric was revealed, but the Doctor revealed that he had known about it all along. In a final speech before Fenric's downfall, Sylvester McCoy's Seventh Doctor claimed to have manipulated Ace since their first meeting and even hurled insults, referring to her as an "emotional cripple." Though the Doctor cared for Ace, his treatment of her was severely lacking. However, in "The Power of the Doctor," their reunion scene glossed over these issues.
Tales of the TARDIS steps in once again to address the unresolved matters. Despite the mostly joyful tone of their episode, Tales of the TARDIS allows the Seventh Doctor to admit to Ace, "I did things I'm not proud of. I used you, manipulated you, kept secrets." By incorporating a hint of darkness and melancholy in this confession, Tales of the TARDIS successfully confronts the underlying tension in the friendship between the Seventh Doctor and Ace. Not only does the Seventh Doctor's humble forgiveness and unconditional repentance deepen his character development, but it also paves the way for a potential future for the duo in Doctor Who's expanding Whoniverse.
RTD's Memory TARDIS Replaces Chris Chibnall's Companion Support Group
In the conclusion of "The Power of the Doctor," companions Graham and Dan organize a support group for fellow former TARDIS occupants who have been disregarded by their mutual Time Lord acquaintance. Although the support group is a nice idea and allows for nostalgic appearances, the fact that so many companions require this emotional aid after leaving the TARDIS reflects poorly on the Doctor. Moreover, discussing Daleks, distant planets, and time travel in a village hall feels somewhat outdated for modern Doctor Who.
The Memory TARDIS effectively dismisses the need for the companion support group, as it is a larger and more advanced version of the concept, rendering Chris Chibnall's idea irrelevant. According to Tales of the TARDIS, former Doctors and companions can visit the Memory TARDIS at any time to reunite with familiar faces, share stories, process emotional wounds, and even communicate with the deceased. What's more, the Doctor plays an active role in this process, instantly making the Memory TARDIS superior to the support group. Doctor Who companions could endure long drives to gather in a cramped, uncomfortable village hall, or they could simply access the convenient Memory TARDIS.
Editor's P/S
1. **Tegan and Nyssa's relationship:** I am thrilled that Russell T Davies has confirmed that Tegan and Nyssa are in a romantic relationship. This is something that fans have been speculating about for years, and it's great to see it finally confirmed. Their relationship is a beautiful example of LGBTQ+ representation in Doctor Who, and I'm so happy that it's been given the attention it deserves.
2. **The Doctor's treatment of Ace:** I'm also glad that the Memory TARDIS has replaced the companion support group. The support group was a nice idea, but it didn't really make sense for all of the former companions to be gathered together in one place. The Memory TARDIS is a much more effective way for them to come together and reconcile with their shared experiences of trauma.
Overall, I think that Tales of the TARDIS has done a great job of rectifying the mistakes made in "The Power of the Doctor." I'm excited to see what the future holds for Doctor Who, and I'm confident that Russell T Davies will continue to take the show in a positive direction.
