The Cutprice Guignol

And so I rise from my months-long slumber of no Doctor Who content, emerge from my hibernation of Whoniverse-lack. What’s that in the air? The smell of it? The taste of it – I can almost remember what it felt like if I close my eyes. What foul recapper, her hour come at last, slouches towards BBC One to heap scorn?

Nah, I jest. I’m delighted that we have a new trailer for the next season of Doctor Who – I’ve reviewed every episode of the show for about the last nine years, should you want to catch up on that, and coming back to Doctor Who is a lovely reminder of where this fine (well, sort of) blog of mine began. Let’s take a look at it together, shall we?

0:04: Later this year – I fucking ask you! Give us a date, Chibnall! Give us a DATE!!!!

0:11: I don’t think I can overstate how happy I still am that Jodie Whittaker is the Doctor. I don’t think her run has been flawless, far from it, but she has embodied the character from day one, and I’ve been obsessed with her ever since. She just feels like the Doctor to me in a way Capaldi never really got to, and I am so grateful that she has had such a magnificent outing on the show, even if the writing hasn’t always risen to match her.

0:17: Now, I’ve heard that Chibbers has been out and about saying that season thirteen is going to be one overarching story, which is certainly a…bold idea? I’m not sure how big a fan of this I am, but I’m also not sure how big a misrepresentation of the actual facts that this statement is – I’m totally happy with a Bad Wolf-esque plot that is touched on every week, but still fundamentally built into the monster-of-the-week premise.

0:21: The timestream looks luscious. No notes.

0:23: At this point – after Catherine Tate, Bradley Walsh, Frank Skinner (just once, but what a once), the lot – I have come to terms with the fact that scoffing at some crumbly British comedian getting a major role in the series is going to bite me on the arse. I have never liked John Bishop in anything I’ve seen him in, but Doctor Who has proved over and over again to be a rehabilitation project for allegedly funny people playing characters who actually matter. I still visibly winced when he appeared on screen in this trailer, though.

0:27: Mandip Gill is the nation’s heart, and that’s the end of it. She’s an all-timer assistant for me, after rewatches of her seasons, and I’m so looking forward to having her back.

0:29: I know that what the Doctor is hiding has to do with the finale of last season, but also, could it be…her latent homosexual love for Yas? Maybe? Just a little bit? Just small smooches, perhaps? Something to think about for the writers.

I mean, let’s be real: this trailer could have been a poorly-scanned image of Jodie Whittaker’s left eyebrow for thirty seconds and I still would have lost it, but Gosh, I’m just even more excited to see what season thirteen has in store. What did you think of this trailer, and the other info about the series that we’ve got so far? Any predictions? Let me know in the comments below!

Oh, and if you like this post and want to see more Doctor Who analysis – check out my very excellent/stupid recaps of the last nine years of the show. And consider supporting me on Patreon if you’d like to see more stuff like this!

(header image via Giant Freaking Robot)