Warning: This article includes MAJOR SPOILERS for Doctor Who season 15, episode 3, “The Well”!
Doctor Whoseason 15 includes a clever callback to the Ninth Doctor’s era, shaping expectations for Belinda’s character arc and the finale. Rather than facing a new villain,Doctor Whoseason 15, episode 3, “The Well,” brings the Doctor back up against one of their most terrifying one-off enemies,the “Midnight” Monster.
However, this is far from the only connection between the Modern Who (2024-present) episode and Revival Who (2005-2023). TheDoctor Whoepisode uses direct flashbacks to the Tenth Doctor’s last time on the planet Midnight. Additionally, “The Well” includes a hilarious callback toChristopher Eccleston’s Ninth Doctor, my personal favorite version of the character, that connects with Belinda Chandra’s character arc.
“Toxic” Is A Callback To Doctor Who’s Ninth Doctor Era & Has A Connection To Belinda
Belinda Chandra & Cassandra Now Have Something Big In Common
At the start ofDoctor Whoseason 15, episode 3, “The Well,” Belinda and the Doctor get dressed while the jukebox plays “Toxic” by Britney Spears.The last time the show used this song wasDoctor Whoseason 1, episode 2, “The End of the World.”The Ninth Doctor and Rose travel to the date of Earth’s destruction, where they meet Cassandra, the last human. She brings a jukebox (which she calls an iPod) as a gift to play “classic” and “traditional” Earth music during the event, which includes the songs “Tainted Love” by Soft Cell and “Toxic.”
Funny enough, the jukeboxes in both episodes are Wurlitzer 1015 “Bubbler” jukeboxes. There’s a strong chance that they could be the same exact one, given the small probability that a props department at the BBC would need two jukeboxes, though that’s just speculation. Either way, it’s entertaining to see Russell T. Davies’ nod to his first era as the showrunner.
A Wurlitzer Bubbler also appears in the 1950s-Diner on Clara’s TARDIS inDoctor Whoseason 9 and on the Memory TARDIS inTales of the TARDIS.
The song from “The End of the World” also feels hilariously perfect to play in “The Well” because of Cassandra’s connection to Belinda. As she learns in “The Well,”Belinda Chandra is now the last human alive, just like Cassandra wasduring the Ninth Doctor episode. For some unknown reason,nobody even remembers that Earth or the humans exist inDoctor Who’s “The Well,” As such, the callback feels perfectly timed.
If the show continues in the direction of the first three episodes, the entire season will center on getting Belinda back to her May 24, which is coincidentally the release date of the penultimate episode. The full truth about what happened to the Earth likely won’t come until that episode, meaning the finale will be the Doctor trying to fix it. Hopefully, Earth will have a better fate by the end of the finale, allowing Belinda a chance to see her family again.
The Song Choice In “The Well” Is Another Sign That RTD Is Returning To His Roots
Doctor Who Season 15 Feels Much More Like RTD’s First Time As Showrunner Than Season 14
Doctor Whoseason 14 felt almost nothing like Russell T. Davies' first eraas showrunner, which was jarring. Fans thought they knew what to expect when he took back over, but they were wrong. While some of the episodes were enjoyable, they overall lacked the style and groundedness of his first era. Instead, he introduced more comedy, fantasy, brighter colors, and a lighter tone.
However, it seems that this approach might have been equivalent to growing pains as he took back over.RTD’s writing and directorial choices in the past three episodes feel like a fusion of his first era andDoctor Whoseason 14, returning to his roots in many ways. The color palette is still bright, but the visuals feel more grounded and gritty. The episodes still have comedic moments, but they also feature extremely dark moments as well.
Doctor Whoseason 15, episode 3, is a good sign that RTD will continue drawing on hisDoctor Whoroots throughout the rest of the season, rather than going the season 14 route. After all,Doctor Who’s “The Well” subtly referenced “The End of the World,” one of his first episodes, and created a sequel to “Midnight,” one of his best episodes. The Doctor feels more like themselves in their curiosity and cleverness. Hopefully, the return to form will translate into a better finale that has stakes for Belinda and the Doctor.
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