Doctor Who has a new Doctor in its ranks, and yes, that's something that can be said for certain. While many fans were already convinced that actress Jo Martin's new incarnation was legit, showrunner Chris Chibnall has confirmed that she is who she says she is, in addition to some other intriguing details regarding her existence.
In a surprisingly candid interview, Chris Chibnall has already dispelled some fan theories regarding the existence of Jo Martin's Doctor. For anyone who assumed all was not as it seemed, Chibnall has straight up said that there's no trickery in regards to Doctor Who's newly revealed Doctor.
The important thing to say is – she is definitively The Doctor. There's not a sort of parallel universe going on, there's no tricks. Jo Martin is The Doctor, that's why we gave her the credit at the end which all new Doctors have the first time you see them. John Hurt got that credit.
So, for future reference, if someone is credited as The Doctor at the end of a Doctor Who episode, it's best to believe it. Chibnall also shot down theories that Jo Martin's Doctor is from a parallel universe, which makes the reveal she was unaware of Galifrey's destruction all the more confusing. Of course, she had changed her identity for an unknown amount of time with a Chameleon Arch, so maybe she was out of commission during that event?
Chris Chibnall didn't give more answers to Mirror regarding Jo Martin's Doctor, but did say that things will be explained in time. He also tried to quell the rabble of fans worried about the idea that Martin's Doctor is from the past, and assured anyone concerned that this is just part of the process of being a Doctor Who showrunner.
There will be answers to some of these mysteries this series. But as ever with Doctor Who, answers often reveal new questions. It's all very deliberate. We’re telling an ongoing story and there are plenty of things in Doctor Who that change all the time but I’m very aware of the history and very aware of the continuity. It’s a delightful thing but stories are ongoing pieces of fiction. They develop and evolve. My job is to be bold with the storytelling and have fun.
Chris Chibnall's talk of adhering to canon could be an indicator that Jo Martin's Doctor is from the past. Some Doctor Who fans had speculated as much after she failed to identify the Sonic Screwdriver of Jodie Whittaker's Doctor, which wasn't always a part of the character's list of tools. Of course, that doesn't immediately disprove that Martin's Doctor is from the future, but it looks like fans will have to wait and see what more is revealed about this new Doctor in Season 12 and beyond.
Doctor Who (which will soon get a new home on streaming) airs on BBC America, Sundays at 8:00 p.m. ET. Continue to stick with CinemaBlend for more on the best television, and for a look at what's happening in the world of movies, as well.
