In the highly anticipated season opener of Doctor Who, viewers were treated to an emotional performance by Ncuti Gatwa, who portrays the character known as Fifteen. A poignant moment occurred when Fifteen shed a tear, grappling with the abrupt death of Sasha, a resident of Belindachandra-1. This tragic loss came at the hands of their robotic overlords, adding a layer of sci-fi drama that has become a hallmark of the series. The gravity of the situation was intensified by Fifteen's connection with Sasha, having grown close to her during his six-month stay on the planet.

This emotional display is not an isolated incident for Gatwas Doctor. Since his debut in December 2023s special episode titled The Giggle, which featured Gatwas predecessor, David Tennant, the Doctor has been brought to tears on multiple occasionsoften reflecting sorrow but occasionally joy. Some fans speculated that this recurring theme of weeping might indicate that this particular incarnation of the Time Lord is broken, drawing parallels to Peter Capaldi's Twelfth Doctor, who also had moments of vulnerability. To address these concerns, the current showrunner, Russell T Davies, took the time to clarify the intent behind these tearful moments.

I mean, I remember the first time [Ncuti] did it, which is in [the 2024 Christmas special] The Church on Ruby Road, Davies recounted in an interview with TVLine. He thought Ruby, played by Millie Gibson, had vanished from time and space, which was astonishing, and he turned around in the studio and gave us that performance, which was absolutely spellbinding. Davies dismissed the notion that the tears were a scripted element, suggesting they were a natural expression of the characters depth and complexity.

You dont tell an actor whether to cry or not, he emphasized, particularly regarding an actor of Gatwa's caliber. Its like, you wouldnt tell anyone to laugh or not to laugh! Its a beautiful thing he does, and its a completely new thing for the Doctor, opening doorways into whole new experiences.

Davies went on to highlight that this more emotionally available Doctor is merely one of many interpretations that keep the long-running series fresh. Diversity is many things, and sometimes its about putting emotions on screen you havent seen before, or that the Doctor has withheld from the audience, he elaborated.

He also acknowledged the mixed reactions from fans, noting, It does make me laugh. I know sometimes fans get up in arms about it, and they complain. Theyre the same fans who say, Why dont you do something new with the program? and youre like, hello.

Davies concluded by praising Gatwas performance, stating, Its literally a princely performance. Im just here to watch and thank the lucky stars that I get to share in a princely performance like that. What an actor. Amazing. With such high praise from the showrunner, fans are left eager to see how this emotional exploration will continue to unfold in upcoming episodes.