4 Years Ago, 'Doctor Who’s Biggest Failure Was Just the Beginning of the End
News Source
•Fri, 23 Oct 2026 18:00:20 GMT
📰 What Happened
Four years ago, Doctor Who aired “The Power of the Doctor,” the last episode for Jodie Whittaker as the Thirteenth Doctor. The story put her against the Daleks, the Cybermen and the Master, who had disguised himself as Rasputin in 1916.
The Master planned to swap bodies with the Doctor and take her place. She stopped him and his allies, but he wounded her badly first. She regenerated into David Tennant, a surprise return for a former Doctor.
🔍 The Backstory
Whittaker was the first woman to play the Doctor. The casting drew praise and a lot of noisy backlash when it was announced in 2017. Her era, run by Chris Chibnall, split fans and lost viewers.
The finale had to close several storylines at once. Critics said it gave its star too little to work with and leaned on nostalgia instead of a proper ending. Tennant's return was popular, but it pushed her exit out of the spotlight.
🎯 Why It Matters
The episode shows how a beloved show can waste a good lead. It also shows the pressure that comes with being the first to break a long pattern.
Four years ago, Doctor Who aired “The Power of the Doctor,” the last episode for Jodie Whittaker as the Thirteenth Doctor. The story put her against the Daleks, the Cybermen and the Master, who had disguised himself as Rasputin in 1916.
The Master planned to swap bodies with the Doctor and take her place. She stopped him and his allies, but he wounded her badly first. She regenerated into David Tennant, a surprise return for a former Doctor.
Whittaker was the first woman to play the Doctor. The casting drew praise and a lot of noisy backlash when it was announced in 2017. Her era, run by Chris Chibnall, split fans and lost viewers.
The finale had to close several storylines at once. Critics said it gave its star too little to work with and leaned on nostalgia instead of a proper ending. Tennant's return was popular, but it pushed her exit out of the spotlight.
The episode shows how a beloved show can waste a good lead. It also shows the pressure that comes with being the first to break a long pattern.