One of the qualities that stand out in the longest-running Sci-Fi series Doctor Who is the element of regenerating into a different physical ‘form’ in each passing season.
The regeneration of the Time Lord depicts their immortality each time they renew the actor in taking the role. Thus, this leaves no question as to why each season shows a different actor leading the series.
However, the biggest mystery the series has yet to answer is why David Tennant’s Doctor keeps coming back in the BBC show. Well, here’s all you need to know about the Whovians’ favorite Doctor:
The Tenth Doctor Is Everyone’s Favorite, But He’s Also The Most Powerful
Since the 2005 relaunching of the Doctor Who show, David Tennant’s Tenth Doctor has run the longest seasons, episodes, and specials.
The Tenth Doctor led the series through Seasons 2-4 with a total of three different companions: Rose Tyler (Billie Piper), Martha Jones (Freema Agyeman), and the last being Donna Noble (Catherine Tate).
Apart from Tennant’s amazing performance of hailing his own exceptional Doctor among the rest, his chemistry with his companions couldn’t be matched after getting three across his seasonal run.
There’s also a theory among Whovians declaring that the Tenth Doctor might be the most powerful among all regenerated Doctors.
He’s the only Doctor to have ‘lived’ the longest, the only Doctor who has made the most cameos in the entire Doctor Who series’ run, and more specifically, the only Doctor who ever returned after the regeneration of a previous Doctor.
The answer behind the ‘why’ has yet to be confirmed, but since the Fourteenth Doctor came after Jodie Whittaker’s in The Power of the Doctor, it’s likely that this 60th Anniversary Special will broaden the horizon of Doctor Who fans behind his sudden return.
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Why is David Tennant’s Doctor Back in the 60th Anniversary Special?
To recap, the last time we saw the Doctor (not as the Doctor himself, but rather a cameo) was back in The Day of the Doctor, which was a special episode to celebrate the show’s 50th anniversary.
And though it’s nostalgic to see Tennant return to his natural roots as the Time Lord once more, why was the Tenth Doctor chosen to come back for the anniversary special this time?
Well, truth be told, it could be to finish up where the series left Donna Noble. Since she lost her memories, thanks to the Doctor wiping them to save her life, surely, her story must wrap up first before we get to see Ncuti Gatwa’s Fifteenth Doctor.
The showrunner Russell T Davies had his own explanation behind the Doctor and Donna’s return, and that is, as he revealed on Entertainment Weekly:
“I realized that there was a third act to be written and it was so much fun writing it. On a really simple level, it’s working with two of the best actors in the world. I love them. I love them as friends. I love their presence. I’m really interested to push the Doctor and Donna into things they’ve never done before.”
Now then, as for why the Tenth Doctor decided to come back as the Fourteenth Doctor just in time for the 60th Anniversary, well, David Tennant has his own personal endeavor, as he told Radio Times: “It’s a victory lap, in a way — you get to enjoy something that had meant so much to you, one last shot before you get too old to do it again.”
Besides, who's complaining, really? If anything, the show could easily explain why David had to return upfront rather than immediately regenerating into Ncuti.
Will This Be The Last Time We See The Tenth (Fourteenth) Doctor Return?
As of writing, this remains ambiguous, especially since David Tennant’s regeneration into the Fourteenth Doctor just made history with the TV series.
While there’s a theory that he may be the strongest Doctor from the regenerated ones, there’s also another theory that does hold a plausible cause behind this little ‘mishap’ and that is the possibility that some Celestial being has tampered with the Time Lord’s restoration.
It is important to note that the Doctor’s regeneration is his way of cheating death. It repairs his biological system and functions after having had his two hearts compromised, which would then trigger him to turn into a different Doctor (aka pass down the mantle to the next acclaimed actor).
The nature of changing identities throughout his seemingly immortal life indicates he could travel through time with the TARDIS without being easily spotted by common foes and enemies.
As for if we’ll be seeing David Tennant return in the Doctor Who series in the future, the most we can assume for now are cameos for yet another anniversary special, or perhaps holiday specials, even.
In the meantime, you can check out the official trailer for the Doctor Who 60th Anniversary Special below:
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