What? You didn’t see the Doctor Who spring special, “Legend of the Sea Devils“? Go watch it! It’s fun. But be warned. If you don’t want Jodie Whittaker’s final appearance as the Doctor spoiled, turn it off as soon as the end credits start. Oh, and you’ll probably want to stop reading this too.
Still here? Sitting comfortably? Good, because the folks at the BBC have given us quite the teaser. Daleks, Cybermen (including the Lone Cyberman), the Master, and the return of Vinder (Jacob Anderson) along with a couple of surprise returns that well… you’ll just have to see for yourself. But remember, you’ve been warned. Spoilers!
Can we talk about it now?
Old Friends Returning
Tegan! Ace! Some of you younger fans who have only watched the series since its return in 2005 may not know just how big their appearance is. These are two of the series’ most loved companions after Sarah Jane. And their return now has completely shocked and excited this old-school Whovian.
Tegan Jovanka (Janet Fielding) first appeared in Tom Baker’s last story, “Logopolis” in 1981. Tegan was a young modern woman on her way to start her career as an airline hostess. She stumbled into the TARDIS, thinking it was an actual police box. Over three years, her time with the Doctor brought her to so many amazing places but also brought her great sorrow. When she started her stewardess career her aunt told her, “If you stop enjoying it, give it up”.
While not exactly thrilled to be wandering the universe in a rackety old TARDIS at first, she was the last of the 5th Doctor’s (Peter Davison) original companions to leave. The last time fans saw Tegan was in the 1984 episode “Resurrection of the Daleks.”
According to Fielding, returning to the Whoniverse “was a very different experience to what it was like when I finished recording in 1983, but in many ways, it was very similar. It was so lovely to be a working member of the Doctor Who family again!”
Ace (Sophie Aldred) was the last companion of the original series, traveling with the 7th Doctor (Sylvester McCoy). In many ways, she set the mold for the modern companion. Self-reliant, street smart, and not afraid to stand up to Daleks, Cyberman, and even the Doctor. When the original series ended she was still traveling with the Doctor.
“It’s been quite a challenge to have such a big secret to keep, even from my family,” Aldred says, “and I couldn’t be more thrilled and excited to have been asked back. I hope everyone enjoys it as much as I adored being part of the TARDIS team again.”
Both companions have had their life post-Doctor explored in some way or another. Sarah Jane Smith mentioned them by name to Jo Jones at the end of “Death of the Doctor.” Tegan and the Doctor also met again briefly in 2006 in the Big Finish Audio, The Gathering. The actress reprised her role for the audio drama company in part to stop them from asking. She had no plans on voicing an ongoing role but has since reconsidered. Sophie Aldred has been playing Ace with Big Finish almost since it began, appearing in their fifth release, the Fearmonger in 2000. It was the first to feature the 7th Doctor on his own. Sophie Aldred also wrote At Childhood’s End, a novel set in the present, that features Ace, and her meeting the Doctor, Yaz, Graham, and Ryan in 2020!
It will be curious to see if any of these stories will be acknowledged. It will also be interesting to see who else could turn up.
As the trailer says, “Nothing is forever” and the 13th Doctor’s time is winding down. Get ready for the Thirteenth Doctor’s final adventure coming in Autumn 2022.
