The Enigmatic Season 1 Reset of Doctor Who

Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies recently caused controversy by announcing his plans to “reset” Series 14 of the long-running sci-fi show as “Season 1.” Many fans of the franchise responded negatively to this change, arguing that it will only make Doctor Who’s chronology more confusing. While their concerns are valid, it doesn't necessarily mean that the Series 14/Season 1 switch is a bad decision.

Let's take a quick look at Doctor Who's broadcast history to gain a better understanding of both sides of the debate. The show first aired on the BBC in 1963, with its initial episodes labeled as "Season 1." It continued for another 25 seasons, concluding with the four-part series "Survival" in 1989.

After a lengthy break, Doctor Who experienced a brief interruption with a failed attempt to revitalize the show in 1996 through a TV movie. However, it wasn't until 2005 that the franchise fully returned with a revival led by Davies, marked as Doctor Who Series 1.

This period of Doctor Who, affectionately known as "NuWho" by fans, retained the "series" naming convention for the following 18 years and was set to continue with Series 14 in 2024. However, Davies surprised audiences by announcing that Ncuti Gatwa's debut as the new lead actor would break tradition, resulting in two Season 1s in Doctor Who canon.

Doctor Who’s Season 1 “reset” is confusing

The potential consequences of this issue are evident, affecting both long-time Doctor Who enthusiasts and newcomers to the franchise. Whether you have spent years transitioning between the classic and revival eras or seeking guidance on where to begin with both, the inability to promptly and effortlessly determine the correct episode from the correct season will undoubtedly be frustrating.

Imagine wanting to discuss the pros and cons of Season 1, Episode 4 of Doctor Who with another die-hard fan. The first step is to clarify which Doctor's era you're referring to: William Hartnell's or Gatwa's. The same applies if you mistakenly begin with Season 1, Episode 1, "An Unearthly Child," only to realize you're actually launching into the Gatwa storyline.

Even the creative team of Doctor Who can't keep things straight. In a recent interview with Doctor Who Magazine, Davies hinted at his plans for future seasons of the show and mistakenly referred to "Series 7" instead of "Season 7". So, just to clarify, Davies was discussing the hypothetical Season 7 of Doctor Who and not the Series 7 from 2012-2013 or the Season 7 from the 1970s. The confusion is only bound to increase as Doctor Who's new post-"series" chronology progresses and more seasons overlap. However, while this decision may cause headaches, it may not necessarily be the wrong one.

Doctor Who’s Season 1 “reset” makes sense

For two main reasons, the House of Mouse being the primary one, there's the Disney aspect to consider. Recently, Disney has entered into an agreement to exclusively stream all future Doctor Who content (beginning with the 60th anniversary specials) on their platform, Disney+, but this will only be available outside of the UK and Ireland. Consequently, a significant number of individuals will soon become acquainted with the show without having access to any previous standard episodes prior to Series 14.

So, it’s a strategic decision by the BBC and Disney to rebrand Series 14 as "Season 1" in order to appeal to potential viewers who might be hesitant to start watching a show that is already well into its run. Now, some fans have criticized this move, accusing Disney of disregarding Doctor Who's established conventions to suit its own interests. However, it ultimately serves the purpose of expanding the show's audience – and, fortunately, it is not a reboot.

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The benefits of recasting Doctor Who Series 14 as "Doctor Who Season 1" extend beyond just Disney. This rebranding also aligns with the BBC's future plans for the franchise, known as the Whoniverse. Inspired by Marvel Studios' success with the MCU, the Whoniverse is a BBC iPlayer portal that brings together Doctor Who's classic and revival eras under a new, unified brand.

Furthermore, Davies' comments about a "reset" strongly imply that the BBC is eager for a fresh start with Gatwa's first season. This does not mean disregarding the franchise's heritage but rather repackaging it for the post-MCU era. Restarting the show's numbering from scratch seems like the best approach. After all, the 2005 revival was not presented as Doctor Who Season 27!

The Season 1 reset of Doctor Who is undeniably perplexing, yet it also holds significant coherence.

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Editor's P/S

As a passionate fan of Doctor Who, I have mixed feelings about the decision to rebrand Series 14 as Season 1. On the one hand, I understand the desire to streamline the show's chronology and make it more accessible to new viewers. On the other hand, I worry that this change will only serve to confuse and alienate existing fans.

I think the decision to rebrand Series 14 as Season 1 is a mistake. It will only serve to confuse fans and make it more difficult for them to keep track of the show's chronology. I urge the BBC to reconsider this decision and stick with the traditional numbering system.

Overall, I think the decision to rebrand Series 14 as Season 1 is a positive one. It may cause some initial confusion, but it will ultimately make the show more accessible to new viewers and help to ensure its long-term survival.