Doctor Who's Epic Villain Reveal: RTD's Ultimate Chance to Rewrite Chibnall's Game-Changing Timeless Child Plot

Russell T Davies returns as the showrunner for the beloved sci-fi series Doctor Who at a perfect time to completely rewrite a recent major storyline – the Doctor’s alleged origin as the Timeless Child. The previous showrunner, Chris Chibnall, introduced this plot to provide clarity on the Doctor's origins, despite the fact that the established canon from 1963 had already given satisfactory answers to these questions. However, with the 60th-anniversary specials approaching, RTD's reintroduction of the classic Toymaker villain offers an ideal opportunity to rewrite any aspect of the show's narrative.

Given Doctor Who's long history, the show has consistently undergone changes not only in terms of its lead character but also in reinventing itself to remain engaging for new audiences. Consequently, it's unsurprising that retcons have played a significant role throughout the series. Examples include the Doctor's regeneration limit, the apparent destruction of the Daleks in the classic series "Genesis of the Daleks" (1975), and the explanation for the TARDIS being stuck in its current form. Russell T Davies now has ample precedent to take bold creative liberties, but when it comes to the Timeless Child, it feels almost necessary to do so.

Doctor Who Needs To Retcon The Timeless Child (If It Won’t Explain It)

Doctor Who's twelfth season, which aired in 2020, introduced the Timeless Child storyline. This narrative built upon Russell T Davies's revamp of the show's canon in 2005. Its focus was to delve into the enigmatic origins of the Doctor, a character whose past had remained mysterious since the show's inception in 1963, apart from their iconic TARDIS theft and departure from Gallifrey. The revelation unveiled the Doctor as an unidentified entity from another dimension, specifically the Timeless Child. This being had undergone numerous lives across various timelines through its regenerative abilities.

Essentially, it was revealed that the Doctor was not originally from Gallifrey, but rather a being that the ancient Gallifreyans had discovered. The Timeless Child served as a blueprint for the creation of the new Time Lord society, including the gift of regeneration. This disclosure was met with controversy among fans, as it diminished the Doctor's aura of mystique and mystery. It also challenged the longstanding notion that the Doctor's uniqueness stemmed solely from the choices they made, particularly their decision to leave Gallifrey. To reestablish this aspect and restore the character's magic, Russell T Davies needs to reclaim the storytelling.

The Toymaker Is The Perfect Opportunity To Retcon The Timeless Child

Neil Patrick Harris's portrayal of the Toymaker in the upcoming 60th anniversary of Doctor Who presents an opportunity for the show to move away from and completely rework the problematic Timeless Child storyline. Russell T Davies has a proven track record of creating incredibly powerful villains capable of unimaginable acts of evil, with Doctor Who excelling in this aspect. Combined with Harris's acting abilities, the show has a chance to introduce a narrative that explains the Timeless Child plotline as a manipulative scheme orchestrated by the Toymaker, potentially fitting into a larger scheme.

Of course, such a major retcon will undoubtedly face controversy and backlash, but the series is currently limited by the constraints of the Timeless Child storyline. It has made the Doctor a less relatable and likable character, diminishing the show's credibility and watchability. Additionally, the plotline may have driven viewers away from the show, making it a priority for Russell T Davies to reclaim their support. With Harris's talent and Davies's writing prowess, it is possible to create a character whom audiences can believe masterminded the Timeless Child story for nefarious purposes.

Doctor Who’s Toymaker Retcon Was Set Up In The First Doctor’s Era

The Toymaker made their debut in the Doctor Who episode "The Celestial Toymaker," which was part of the show's third season. In this episode, the Toymaker, who was feared and respected by William Hartnell's Doctor, is portrayed as an incredibly powerful being whose immortality is fueled by a relentless desire to create destructive toys. Despite being thousands of years old, the Doctor still sees the Toymaker as ancient, and recent implications in the Relative Dimensions comic suggest that the character was born in a time of chaos before the concept of time itself. This backstory adds to the chilling nature of the Toymaker's early promise to the Doctor: "We shall play endless games together, your brain against mine."

Considering the Toymaker's implied long lifespan, it is possible that the character continues to torment the Doctor in their encounters, even if the Doctor has aged thousands of years since their first meeting. The Toymaker has faced off against different incarnations of the Doctor in comic books and audio adventures, but Neil Patrick Harris's portrayal will mark the character's return to the small screen after more than half a century. It was always inevitable for the Toymaker to make a comeback, and it would be disappointing for the character to have done nothing in the meantime. With their intriguing backstory and motivations, the Toymaker is a perfect setup for RTD.

Why A Timeless Child Retcon Would Improve Doctor Who’s Future

The Timeless Child plotline in Doctor Who undermines the character's appeal and disregards decades of established lore. This rewriting not only disappoints fans who were previously attached to the character, but it also diminishes the depth and complexity of the Time Lord. While it may seem contradictory, it would be less problematic for the show and its fanbase if the upcoming episodes introduced a retcon for this specific plotline. By exploring the possibility of the Doctor being deceived by the Toymaker's games concerning the Timeless Child, the show will ultimately benefit. The Doctor's allure lies in their adventurous nature and relatability, despite being a Time Lord from a distant and near-immortal species. The previous Doctor Who canon established that the Doctor's uniqueness stems from their decision to explore the universe apart from their own people, rather than from any innate birthright. Therefore, it is crucial to retcon the Timeless Child plotline in order to restore the audience's love for the Doctor.