Doctor Who came back to Comic-Comic this year after skipping the event in 2014. The cast and showrunner spilled some secrets on the upcoming season!
The Doctor Who San Diego Comic-Con panel included Peter Capaldi (12th Doctor), Jenna Coleman (Clara), Michelle Gomez (Missy, A.K.A. The Master), and showrunner Steven Moffat. This was the first trip to Comic-Con for Capaldi and Gomez, who both seemed a bit overwhelmed but thrilled by the experience. Both Coleman and Moffat are “oldtimers.” They were previously at the event back in 2013 as part of the build up to the Doctor Who 50th Anniversary Special.
During the almost hour-long event, here are the top things we learned.
Season 9 air date
Doctor Who series 9 will hit your TV screens on September 19, 2015.
Trailer and footage
Highlights from the trailer included lots of imagery that included Zygons, new eyeless creatures, and a glimpse at guest star Maisie Williams (Arya on Game of Thrones) in a space suit saying to the Doctor, “Hello old man. What took you so long?”
Peter Capaldi – Doctor
Capaldi certainly won fans over before the panel even began. He visited those who slept out in the Hall H line at around midnight last night. When asked how he felt about being in front of 7,000 fans, Capaldi answered, “Cosmic! But I can’t hear them properly.” The crowd predictably roared back.
Capaldi and Moffat joked that Capaldi has an innate, lovable grumpiness that the writers tapped into.
When asked what Doctor Who means to him, Capaldi said, “It’s the only show that I think is in my bones very deeply. It’s the only show I’ve followed since I was six-years-old.”
Capaldi thinks it’s been a stressful year for the Doctor. He still doesn’t 100% know who he is, and he now has the Master to deal with. “He’s a Bohemain philosopher/Time Lord.”
When Capaldi realized he had “arrived” as the Doctor was when a rubber spider was tossed at him and he was told, “fight it.”
Jenna Coleman – Clara
On the Doctor and Clara’s relationship, Coleman stated that the two were working each other out. Last season it was a bit of Clara as the school teacher as she got to know her best friend again. This year she sees them as equal partners in adventure.
Coleman sees Clara as the control freak who wants to be dropped back off 30 seconds after she left. She wants her earth and traveling life, and wants to control it. She’s still a bit scared of the Doctor at times, she’s not certain of what to expect, and the unknown that she can’t control frightens her.
Going forward she’s much more certain of who the new Doctor is, and her goal is to get him to interact with humans better. Capaldi jokes, “She’s trying to make him a more welcome party guest.”
Michelle Gomez – Missy
Gomez thinks of Doctor Who as one of the easiest jobs she’s had given the writing and the on set dynamic.
As for what the Master ultimately wants, she thinks the rules don’t apply to her, and she wants what she wants minus any customarily expected social norm. She just wants her “friend” the Doctor to see things her way, and that she is ultimately right. “The Doctor is a bit of an irritant,” who annoyingly doesn’t do things her way.
When asked what Missy’s perfect day would be like, Gomez answered, “Having a cup of tea and then slapping Wonder Woman in the face.”
Steven Moffat – showrunner
Moffat describes the Master and Doctor’s relationship as one of die hard hunters and vegetarians. They are friends who desperately want each other or come to their perspective, and it’s never going to happen.
As for the possibility of a female Doctor, Moffat didn’t directly state that he supports the idea; however, he heavily implied he’s interested in it citing his “subtext.” When he said “subtext” he pointed to Michelle Gomez who was sitting next to him. We are likely meant to infer that if the Master can be a woman, than so can the Doctor. Regardless, Moffat pointed out that Capaldi only just took the role, and any such discussion is hypothetical.
Hall H reaction
Fans were excited to finally have the Doctor back in Comic-Con hosted by superfan Chris Hardwick. Capaldi had the audience eating out of his hand with his sincerity and enthusiasm throughout the panel. David Tennant is the only other modern Doctor for whom the series has had such a meaningful connection.
All-in-all it was great to see Doctor Who back in Hall H to kick things off on the first day of the convention. Usually, Doctor Who has been in the Sunday line-up when the energy is a bit down because by that point everyone is tired, hung over, ready to go home, or all three. Doctor Who definitely set the bar high for the rest of the panels at Comic-Con, and for their ninth season.