Doctor Who: Jodie Whittaker’s 10 Best Moments as the Doctor
After three seasons Jodie Whittaker will be departing her role as the Thirteenth Doctor, alongside showrunner Chris Chibnall. Whittaker made history in July 2017 when she was revealed as the first female Doctor, replacing actor Peter Capaldi in the role. And now, this autumn, a special episode will be broadcast as part of the BBC’s centenary celebrations as a farewell.
As Whovians count down the days until The Thirteenth Doctor regenerates, let’s look at ten of Whittaker’s best moments throughout the series.
1. Finding herself - Series 11 Episode 1: ‘The Woman Who Fell To Earth’
It is always interesting to see how each Doctor will recollect the memories of who they are, having suffered a severe bout of amnesia from an explosive regeneration.
Whittaker’s charm and wit shines in this scene, as when the Doctor reclaims the memory of her identity, she proudly declares who she is and how “we are all capable of the most extraordinary change.”
2. Creating the Sonic Screwdriver - Series 11 Episode 1: The Woman Who Fell To Earth
Having lost her sonic screwdriver during her fall from the TARDIS, Whittaker’s Doctor needed to get crafty in the absence of her trusty gizmo--something that has previously been gifted by the TARDIS itself.
By combining her new sonic with spare scraps of metal, Whittaker’s Doctor showed a craftmanship that hadn’t been seen so vividly before in any previous incarnation.
3. Finding the TARDIS- Series 11 Episode 2: ‘The Ghost Monument’
On the search for her missing blue box, the Doctor and her new friends Graham (Bradley Walsh), Yaz (Mandip Gill) and Ryan (Tosin Cole) tracked the TARDIS to the deadly land of Desolation.
Whittaker performs the iconic gaze of wonder and amazement beautifully when reunited with her newly designed spaceship, showing her friends around, grinning as she proclaims: “I really like it.”
4. First encounter with a Dalek- 2019 New Year’s Day Special: ‘Resolution’
One of the most anticipated moments for any new Doctor is when they meet their deadliest foes, the Daleks. The mockery, sense of humour and energy of the Doctor in this scene is a joy to watch, especially how she toys with the Dalek after it doesn’t recognise her. It became apparent, during Whittaker’s tenure, that her skills as an actress are at their best when facing Who’s most iconic enemy.
5. Visiting the ruins of Gallifrey- Series 12 Episode 2: ‘Spyfall Part Two’
After this rendition of the Master (Sacha Dhawan) goads the Doctor by asking when she last visited Gallifrey, the Doctor’s home planet, she decides to land the TARDIS there.
Whittaker’s performance perfectly exemplifies the Doctor’s pain when seeing her home destroyed—a point in the Doctor’s backstory which only recently had been explored in further detail by her predecessors.
6. Facing the fear of the Lone Cyberman - Series 12 Episode 8: ‘The Haunting of Villa Diodati’
Another dark moment for Whittaker’s Doctor is when visiting Mary Shelley on the night she created ‘Frankenstein’. In this episode, she is shocked to discover a Lone Cyberman. Having previously lost companions to the wrath of the Cybermen before, Whittaker delivers a bone-chilling scene when she lashes out her rage, claiming: “I will not lose anyone else to that.”
7. Discovering the truth on Gallifrey - Series 12 Episode 10: ‘The Timeless Children’
The Series 12 finale sees the Doctor imprisoned by the Master. In this episode he reveals the truth behind the Time Lord’s ability to regenerate; that the Doctor is what is referred to as the Timeless Child—a child entity who they experimented on in order to harness regeneration.
It’s an emotional scene for the Doctor, and Whittaker’s performance is what makes it believable, as she’s forced to come to terms with the immoral actions of her own people. But rather than let it destroy and break her, she learns to embrace this newfound knowledge.
8. Turning into a Weeping Angel - Series 13: Flux Episode 4: ‘Village of the Angels’
The most recent season saw the Doctor, Yaz and Dan (John Bishop) battle a phenomenon known as the Universe-destroying Flux. In this episode the Doctor once again makes a startling encounter with the mysterious Weeping Angels after travelling back in time. In a shocking cliff-hanger, the Doctor finds herself trapped and transformed into one of the Angels, with Whittaker eerily capturing the anguish and fear of being turned to stone.
9. Reuniting with Tecteun - Series 13: Flux Episode 5: ‘Survivors of the Flux’
After being transported by the Angels, the Doctor arrives at Division Headquarters where she is reunited with her adopted mother Tecteun (Barbara Flynn), who, as it turns out, created the Flux—specifically because of the Doctor.
Whittaker strongly captures the Doctor’s emotions as she angrily confronts Tecteun, telling her “you denied me my life” and “took something that didn’t belong to you”.
10. The Doctor’s Lockdown Message - March 2020
As the world we know was turned upside down by the COVID pandemic, Whittaker filmed a short video from home in an effort to ease the worries and anxieties of viewers. Although she wasn’t obligated to do so, its a demonstration of Whitaker’s character as an actress. She cemented herself as a stepping stone in Doctor Who history and made for a witty, enjoyable and fine edition to its television lineage.
Doctor Who returns to BBC One this Spring with Whittaker’s penultimate episode- ‘Legend of the Sea Devils’.