Warning: Spoilers ahead for Doctor Who season 15, episode 6, "The Interstellar Song Contest."I can understand some of the grievances certain Doctor Who season 14 cast has improved since he returned.

end of 2023's "The Giggle," and I'm not just talking about the show's glossy new visuals. The show's sci-fi sensibilities have taken a backseat to more fantasy-led storylines, initially ruffling some feathers among devoted fans. I will it that I was among those a little frustrated by Russell T. Davies' change in direction, but now I've come to accept it as a welcome change. In short, if there are those not enjoying Doctor Who season 15 by this point, I think they're being especially hard to please.

Doctor Who Season 15 Improves Massively Upon Season 14's Weaknesses

Gatwa's return for another run of episodes has allowed Davies to refine the show's new formula

Doctor Who season 14 started poorly, with "Space Babies" still boasting the unfortunate title of the worst Gatwa-era episode. Although the run did have some gems, like "Boom" and "73 Yards," other scripts fell short of what they could have been, especially the return of Gabriel Woolf as Sutekh at the end of Doctor Who season 14. Similarly, Millie Gibson was a great addition to the show as Ruby Sunday, but the reveal of her true lineage was disappointing, and her lack of friction with the Doctor didn't offer much when it came to her run's Doctor/companion dynamic.

Doctor Who season 15 hasn't had any dud episodes so far. They've been consistently good, and Carole Ann Ford's surprise comeback as Susan in "The Interstellar Song Contest."

Ncuti Gatwa Isn't Alone In Having His Era Hit Its Stride In His Second Season As The Doctor

A new Doctor often means Doctor Who finding its feet again

Despite Doctor Who being a show built on the very concept of change, it can often be a fractious time when a new lead actor steps in to replace their predecessor. Quite often, a new Doctor also means a new showrunner. Although Davies is currently in his second stint in the coveted position, Doctor Who season 14 was the first time he had worked with Gatwa on the show. As such, it was a slight learning curve for them to discover how best to collaborate, and this isn't an isolated example within the show's history.

The longer an actor plays the Doctor, the more likely they are to hit their stride as their tenure goes on.

It's not uncommon for a new Doctor's first season to be good but not great. The longer an actor plays the Doctor, the more likely they are to hit their stride as their tenure goes on. It's rare that someone accepts the role, and their era of Doctor Who immediately becomes fantastic. Similarly, fans can often struggle to accept the show's new star after years of rooting for the previous Doctor. That said, I think Gatwa's first season was still better than other Doctor actors' inaugural runs. It set him up brilliantly to get his era settled for season 15.

Doctor Who Season 15 Has Paid Off The Show's Very Soft Reboot For The Disney+ Era

Gatwa's first season set up the chance to reference Fifteen's past in his second

Because of the BBC's deal with Disney for the latter to own the show's international streaming rights from 2023, Doctor Who underwent a confusingly soft rebrand. Marketed as Doctor Who season 1, Gatwa's first run was the first complete batch of episodes to be affected by this new arrangement after the 60th anniversary trilogy. Despite the show's new season-numbering system, the Fifteenth Doctor's adventures do follow on from Jodie Whittaker's departure at the end of Doctor Who season 13. So, there has been no resetting of the canon, despite the implication of that being the case.

David Tennant returned to Doctor Who for the show's 60th anniversary episodes, starting with 2023's "The Star Beat." This time, he played the Fourteenth Doctor.

Doctor Who fans watching on Disney+ can only access from "The Star Beast" onward, so the show's rich history needs to be sought out on other platforms. Regardless, Davies hasn't shied away from referencing characters and storylines from long before "The Star Beast," meaning those moments would go over the heads of those who only started watching in 2023. Thankfully, it turns out that Doctor Who season 14 was walking so that 15 could run in this respect.

Season 15 has built upon the concept of the return of Ruby Sunday in "Lucky Day" brought newer fans a reason to be excited and point at the screen. This is just a taste of what established Whovians have been experiencing for decades, and now newcomers to the show are finally getting to see what it is like to catch a reference to the franchise's vast amount of lore.

I Would Strongly Advise Those Who Stopped Watching Doctor Who After Season 14 To Give Season 15 A Shot

Doctor Who season 15 has been an incredible ride so far

Although newcomers wouldn't have known anything other than Doctor Who's current form when they started watching it in the last couple of years, many long-standing fans were engaging with it cautiously to see if they could still relate to the show. Droves of viewers loved Davies' updated approach, but some fell away before making it to the end of season 14. This, quite simply, frustrates me to the ends of the Earth. Although I didn't initially hold it up there with some of my favorite eras, it was a huge improvement over Chris Chibnall's time as the showrunner.

Wherever you stopped in Doctor Who season 14, I can't suggest strongly enough that you go back and finish the job.

Regardless, wherever you stopped in Doctor Who season 14, I can't suggest strongly enough that you go back and finish the job. Otherwise, you're missing out on what is currently a momentous second run for Ncuti Gatwa's Fifteenth Doctor and the show in general. The structure of Doctor Who season 15 is very similar to its predecessor in many ways, but the formula has been refined, and the guest writers have really knocked it out of the park.

If Doctor Who Season 15 Finishes Strong, I'm Confident The Show Will Continue

The Fifteenth Doctor is on the cusp of a massive fight

The reception to the current era of Doctor Who has been mixed, but as always, the negative voices are being heard the loudest. As such, rumors have been swirling for a while now about the show being canceled or rested after season 15 concludes, if it doesn't show improvement - despite the fact that Disney's current deal with the BBC wouldn't be over by then. Thankfully, Doctor Who season 15 has gone from strength to strength, which has put me in a positive mindset regarding the show's future.

Even if the show does resume, there's no guarantee that Gatwa will stay on as the Doctor.

Of course, Doctor Who season 15 must stick the landing before its future can be locked in. Thankfully, the surprise reveal in "The Interstellar Song Contest" that Anita Doboon's Mrs. Flood has been playing an iconic Doctor Who villain all along has set up an especially thrilling two-part finale. Sadly, even if the show does resume, there's no guarantee that Gatwa will stay on as the Doctor. I think Fifteen has a much longer story to tell, so I hope Doctor Who season 16 happens and that the show retains its current leading man.