Warning: Spoilers ahead for Doctor Who season 15, episode 6, "The Interstellar Song Contest."Carole Ann Ford's shock return to the role of Susan, the installment is littered with fun references.
Although end of Doctor Who season 14 was a major nod to Tom Baker's era as the Fourth Doctor. So, Pertwee isn't the first of the classic-era Doctors to have his time as the show's leading man acknowledged lately.
Doctor Who Season 15, Episode 6 References Alpha Centauri
An Old Third Doctor Ally Was Watching The Contest At Home
The Interstellar Song Contest is based on a real-world songwriting competition called the Eurovision Song Contest. In Doctor Who canon, Eurovision eventually grew so popular that it became a galactic-scale event. It now has representatives from entire planets as part of the contest, as opposed to just someone from each European nation. Doctor Who's version of the broadcast is watched in-universe by 3 trillion beings. The show's hosts announce a few of the worlds watching from home, and one of those planets is Alpha Centauri, which is home to the Alpha Centaurans.
The lore behind the fictitious race is a little confusing. There are many of the Alpha Centauran race, but the most prominent character belonging to the species in Doctor Who canon is simply called Alpha Centauri. This would be like calling a human character "Earth." Either way, the character seemingly named after her home planet first appeared in 1972's "The Curse of Pelodon" with Jon Pertwee's Third Doctor, but she has appeared as recently as a 2017 Peter Capaldi episode during a cameo in "Empress of Mars." Ysanne Churchman voiced the character in both instances.
The Alpha Centaurans Need To Return In Modern Doctor Who
The Friendly Alien Race Would Make A Great Addition To Doctor Who's Post-Revival Era
The Alpha Centaurans are one of the most interesting Doctor Who races to look at. They appear incredibly alien, which can often be a sign that they're going to cause the Doctor trouble. They're also a little scary-looking, as they basically have a big eyeball for a head and six tentacle-like appendages for arms. By modern standards, they're also a little cheesy in their physical appearance, but I have no doubt Doctor Who's modern era could give them a faithful aesthetic overhaul.
They're actually friendly to the Doctor. They don't want him dead, and they don't hold him responsible for anything in their species' past.
Furthermore, the Alpha Centaurans aren't just visual marvels. They also stand out for a character trait that is pretty rare for aliens that look so non-human. In short, they're actually friendly to the Doctor. They don't want him dead, and they don't hold him responsible for anything in their species' past. This would be just as refreshing in the show's modern age as it was back during Pertwee's era.
Doctor Who Once More Redefines What It Means When The Doctor Regenerates
The Doctor's regeneration process and what it means is often reevaluated, and Ncuti Gatwa's era as Fifteen is no different in that respect.
Doctor Who has had something of a problem with balancing the old and the new in recent years. While races like the Daleks and Cybermen return to the franchise again and again, the stories from which they're absent are often populated with new (and sometimes forgettable) characters. The Alpha Centaurans are the perfect middle ground. They're an established Doctor Who race, but they've been used so sporadically over the years that their return would feel brand new, and they could be very useful allies to the Doctor.
Doctor Who Season 15's Release Schedule On Disney+ |
||
Episode |
Title |
Release Date (2025) |
1 |
"The Robot Revolution" |
April 12 |
2 |
"Lux" |
April 19 |
3 |
"The Well" |
April 26 |
4 |
"Lucky Day" |
May 3 |
5 |
"The Story and the Engine" |
May 10 |
6 |
"The Interstellar Song Contest" |
May 17 |
7 |
"Wish World" |
May 24 |
8 |
"The Reality War" |
May 31 |
Doctor Who
- Release Date
- December 25, 2023
- Network
- BBC
- Directors
- Douglas Camfield, David Maloney, Christopher Barry, Michael E. Briant, Barry Letts, Michael Ferguson, Richard Martin, Peter Moffatt, Pennant Roberts, Lennie Mayne, Chris Clough, Ron Jones, Paddy Russell, Paul Bernard, Michael Hayes, Timothy Combe, Morris Barry, Gerald Blake, Graeme Harper, Waris Hussein, Rodney Bennett, Mervyn Pinfield, Hugh David, John Gorrie
Cast
The Doctor
Millie GibsonRuby Sunday
WHERE TO WATCH
- Writers
- Russell T. Davies, Dave Gibbons, Kate Herron, Steven Moffat
- Franchise(s)
- Doctor Who / Whoniverse
- Creator(s)
- Donald Wilson, Sydney Newman
Your comment has not been saved