Doctor Who–Charisma propels Ncuti Gatwa into a strong 15th Doctor debut

At 31 the BAFTA Award-winning Ncuti Gatwa isn’t the youngest actor to take on the role of the Doctor in the 60-year run of the BBC’s Doctor Who (that was Matt Smith), but the Scotland-raised actor born in Rwanda–the fourth Scot cast as a Doctor in the series–didn’t miss a beat stepping into the Doctor’s shoes this year, regenerating from David Tennant into two Doctors, a new twist for the series. He became a bi-generated Doctor who–split in two–allows Tennant’s Doctor to co-exist (no doubt in future audio dramas) with Gatwa’s 15th Doctor to carry the series forward next year. Check out a clip below from the 60th anniversary episode “The Giggle,” to see the transformation. His second appearance was in this year’s Christmas special, “The Church on Ruby Road.”

So how did the good Doctor’s first full episode fare?

First episodes of the Doctor historically are clunky. If you are a fan of the show you like the current Doctor and want to like the next. We hyper-analyze all the facial expressions and word choices (is “Mavity” the next “Bad Wolf”?). The best first appearance was probably Matt Smith, who knew his character immediately and never shifted from what made him work. Jodie Whittaker also started with the same approach, although the showrunner has been accused of not varying her character enough from beginning to end. Peter Capaldi, David Tennant, Christopher Eccleston… did any of their approaches ever change? Is that part of what Doctor Who is?

In his first full episode as the Doctor, Gatwa doesn’t hold anything back. Veteran Who writer Russell T. Davies scripted him with all the emotions–crying one minute, laughing it up on the dance floor in the next, concerned, then singing to distract some baby-eating Goblins, curious about his newfound friend and next companion, silly and amiable with her adoptive mother and grandmother, heroic when it comes to saving the day. For all of it Gatwa seizes the day.

With a name like Ruby Sunday, the new companion must have a connected past like River Song and Amy Pond, beyond the initial connection to the church setting of her first episode. Is she Missy’s child? A child of a former companion deposited at the church at this point for some important reason? Less like Rose Tyler and practically a clone of the eager and bright-eyed companion Clara, Millie Gibson′s Ruby and Gatwa’s new Doctor have instant chemistry.

Do we want musical episodes of Doctor Who? Does Disney with its hands in the mix stand a chance of botching the show? Yes, and no, and maybe, to it all, but you can’t deny how polished Doctor Who looks in the past few weeks. There’s something about the music, the new design inside the TARDIS, and Ruby’s first reaction to it that calls back to the wardrobe of The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe, like we’ve never seen it bigger on the inside this way before. For a Christmas special, this one is better than most, with the requisite Christmas beats. This show has a giant falling Snowman, two babies arriving on Christmas Eve, and lots of British holiday merriment. As for Disney’s contribution, the CGI Tolkien-esque Goblins and giant Troll–the episode’s antagonists–all seem real enough. Are they using the Volume yet? The production values make it all look quite cinematic.

Each new Doctor has his signature style, from Matt Smith’s soulful looks and raised eyebrow, to Peter Capaldi’s glare and raised eyebrow, to Jodie Whittaker’s wide-eyed optimism, and David Tennant’s befuddled frenetic chaos. Gatwa’s may be his charisma and charm, not that his predecessors didn’t have that, but he has a cheery flare for it and exhibits a certainty of purpose in his place in time. He seems ready for it all. Plus there are gloves and a new sonic screwdriver and other gadgets, and a slick new TARDIS interior.

Just look at all the places he’ll go this year, and take fans and a new companion along…