Doctor Who season 9 debuts this Saturday at 9:00 p.m. on BBC America, and we have 10 reasons to celebrate.
The BBC has given an overview of the entire season of Doctor Who. Just like last year, the season is a straight run of 12 episodes, with a couple of two-parters. It’s not split in half with several months of hiatus. The BBC dropped several pieces of information that have us excited.
1. Missy returns
Michelle Gomez provided a really fresh take on The Master last year. Obviously, by having The Master played by a woman it provided a whole new spin on the character, but Gomez brought more to the table than just her DNA. She gives Missy this psychotic, slightly playful, Mary Poppins-on-crack air that leaves us not knowing quite what to make of her. This unknown is a good thing. The last thing we want is a boring or predictable Master. Now, as much as we do love her, we hope she disappears after this season. An ultra-nemesis is only scary and fun in small dosages. Missy hasn’t yet outworn her welcome, but after this season it should be time to bid adieu for a while.
2. Maisie Williams guest stars
Doctor Who in the reboot era has always be packed with guest stars. In the early reboot years these stars were mostly not well known outside of the U.K., predominantly featuring British TV actors or presenters. Recently, some larger names have been popping up, like Academy Award winner Sir Ian McKellan. This year Maise Williams, best known as Arya Stark on Game of Thrones, will play a role. It’s hard to think of another child actor who has gown up on camera from an unknown to be one of the best loved and respected characters on a worldwide cable series. Arya Stark is a meaty role devoid of fluff, and we are hoping whatever they throw at Maisie, it has some teeth to it.
3. Capaldi hit his prime
We went into last season really positive on Peter Capaldi. We’ve been fans since his appearance in the cult classic Local Hero. Now, as much as we liked Capaldi going in, we felt he didn’t really, consistently hit his stride until halfway through the season. Once we got to “Mummy on the Orient Express” Capaldi, for us, was consistently the Doctor. The irascible and the intriguing had found just the right balance, and we were with him on his journey with Clara.
4. U.N.I.T.
If there was anything that was underutilized in the first half of the reboot era it was incorporating U.N.I.T. In particular, it’s a shame we never had the Brig make a proper appearance in reboot Doctor Who. At least we’ve made up for lost time, and the Brig’s daughter, Kate, who is still helming U.N.I.T., is back. Also back along with her, and we can’t wait until they explain this one, is Ingrid Oliver as Osgood. Yes, yes, we know she was supposedly killed off last year, but we really want to know how she makes a comeback, because she was an awful lot of fun.
5. The female influence improving
Now, don’t get us wrong, Doctor Who still has a long way to go in involving women writers and directors. This year we have three who we love: writers Catherine Tregenna and Sarah Dollard, as well as director Rachel Talalay. Tregenna is already familiar with the universe via the Torchwood scripts she penned several years back. Talalay is directing the season closers as she did last year. Granted three women is not enough, especially when you consider the women who are at the helm in other productions in the U.K., such as Downton Abbey, Outlander, and Poldark. The talent is out there, and for whatever reason, Doctor Who has a poor track record of tapping it!
On Page 2: Returning humans, Clara, and River Song
6. Returning humans
Some of the best episodes of Doctor Who are when the Doctor has meaningful interactions with humans who are not the companion. In the reboot era two great examples of this are Harriett Jones and Craig, who made substantial contributions to the series by giving the Doctor a different perspective on things in his times of need. This year we have Joivan Wade as Rigsy coming back. He was a huge hit last year as a graffiti artist who Clara befriended in “Flatline.”
7. Clara and the Doctor
Speaking of Clara, Peter Capaldi and Jenna Coleman finally clicked as the Doctor and companion by the end of the season. There were some rough patches, but by the end of the season their relationship worked. A lot centered on bickering and control, but it worked. We particularly liked that we were not facing the Doctor and girlfriend motif yet again. This one is truly space alien and his human guide.
8. Mark Gatiss
Mark Gatiss has penned a number of episodes over the years. Our two favorites were “The Crimson Horror” and last year’s romp “Robots of Sherwood.” This year he’s behind episode number 9 called “Sleep No More.” We’d also love it if Gatiss made one of his famous cameos as an alien, but no word on that as of yet.
9. River Song
OK, so technically she’s not in the main run of 12 episodes. Technically she’s in the Doctor Who Christmas Special, but details, details. The only thing that could be better than River Song interacting with the Doctor would be if we could get Captain Jack Harkness interacting with the Doctor. Hope springs eternal!
10. Two-parters
It’s really a balance thing. Doctor Who is at its best when there are both one-off and two-parters in a season. Sometimes you want that scary and/or funny standalone episode, such as last year’s museum overnight gone jungle “In the Forest of the Night.” The last two seasons, except for season finales, have been exclusively one-offs. We’ve really missed those suspenseful two-parters like “Silence in the Library” and “Forest of the Damned,” and we are happy about their return.
