As his first series as the Time Lord draws to a close, it would be possible to write an entire piece about Ncuti Gatwa that was just a plea for his skincare regimen because, truly, it may be the most miraculous thing that has appeared on any season of Doctor Who. But this outing has also showcased deep wells of charm and talent that radiate from within. It feels fitting that Gatwa first came to the screen via David Tennant – as the series harks back to his fellow Scot’s pitch-perfect debut, which saw that superb combination of pathos and infectious enthusiasm.
After being introduced in 2023’s 60th anniversary special, formed of a “bi-generation” that saw him emerge out of Tennant’s torso wearing little more than a shirt and a grin, Gatwa then took the reins in the charming Christmas special that paired him up with his companion, Ruby Sunday (Millie Gibson), and set up the series’ central mystery around her parenthood. Even when the show turned to scarier or darker subjects that left tears pouring down his seemingly poreless visage, Gatwa was always pure televisual dopamine. As the commander in chief of Unit reassures him in the first half of the finale: “For what it’s worth, I think you bring joy.”
