The Ultimate Twist: Doctor Who’s 2023 Specials Unveil the Show's Most Epic Running Joke Yet!

Summary

Doctor Who's 60th-anniversary specials will feature the return of the beloved organization UNIT, with a brand-new headquarters, continuing the show's longest-running joke.

The unveiling of UNIT's remarkable new skyscraper highlights their constant struggle to maintain their top-secret status, despite their involvement in extraterrestrial and paranormal activities.

The recent introduction of UNIT's state-of-the-art headquarters in the 60th-anniversary specials sparks anticipation regarding a potential Doctor Who spinoff series that revolves around the organization, much like Marvel's Avengers Tower in the Disney+ era.

The brand-new trailer for the upcoming Doctor Who 60th-anniversary specials suggests that the show will maintain its longest-running joke. The trailer gives a glimpse of what the Fourteenth Doctor (David Tennant) and Donna Noble (Catherine Tate) will face in their battle against Neil Patrick Harris' Toymaker, including the Toymaker's impressive variety of costumes. Additionally, the trailer confirms the comeback of the familiar Doctor Who military organization, UNIT, now known as the Unified Intelligence Taskforce. This top-secret organization is expected to play a significant role in the future of Doctor Who. UNIT, originally introduced in the 1968 serial "The Invasion," was initially led by Brigadier Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart (Nicholas Courtney) and was established to handle extraterrestrial and paranormal threats to Earth. They have remained an essential part of the Doctor Who universe and are now led by the Brigadier's daughter, Kate Lethbridge-Stewart (Jemma Redgrave). In the upcoming 60th-anniversary specials, UNIT will showcase their new headquarters, as their previous one was destroyed in "The Power of the Doctor," adding to the ongoing humorous tradition in Doctor Who.

Doctor Who’s Longest-Running Joke Is That UNIT Isn't Top Secret

In "The Invasion," two operatives discreetly followed the Second Doctor (Patrick Troughton) and Jamie McCrimmon (Frazer Hines), eventually capturing them and transporting them to a covert location via a black car and airplane. This emphasized the highly classified nature of UNIT, an aspect that became overlooked over time. During the era of Jon Pertwee's Doctor, who served as a scientific advisor to UNIT, their headquarters was situated in a country house that humorously displayed a billboard announcing their affiliation with the Ministry of Defence: "U.N.I.T. Headquarters. Keep Out." This ongoing joke about UNIT's secrecy is extended in the new trailer that showcases their impressive skyscraper.

Doctor Who has never explicitly clarified whether the organization itself is intended to be top secret or if it solely pertains to their dealings with extraterrestrial and paranormal phenomena. Regardless, openly advertising their presence is not an intelligent way to maintain confidentiality. Although the new UNIT skyscraper seamlessly blends into London's ever-growing skyline, the prominent UNIT badge displayed on its exterior is a clear giveaway. With UNIT being so publicly visible, it adds another layer of complexity to Doctor Who's long-standing joke that, despite numerous alien invasions in the show's history, Earth's populace never remembers them.

UNIT’s Return In Doctor Who’s 2023 Specials Could Confirm The Disney+ Spinoff

The inclusion of a separate Avengers Tower for UNIT in Doctor Who's Disney+ era is a clear indication of their intentions. There have been rumors circulating about a UNIT spinoff since "The Power of the Doctor," where Kate offered a job to the companion support group. This imposing headquarters for UNIT confirms what fans have been speculating about for a while now. Similar to the Avengers Tower, the new UNIT skyscraper will serve as a central location for the Doctor and their companions to tackle significant threats to Earth's security.

On the other hand, the Toymaker's threat of aiming a cannon at the Doctor, Kate, and Donna suggests that the tower might face destruction during the 60th-anniversary celebrations. However, this seems unlikely considering that Kate and Tegan Jovanka already destroyed the previous UNIT headquarters in "The Power of the Doctor." It can be assumed that while the UNIT skyscraper may sustain some damage, it will remain intact on London's skyline. The iconic new headquarters for UNIT is the strongest indication yet that a long-anticipated spinoff featuring this beloved organization may finally grace our screens, nearly 60 years after its debut in Doctor Who.