Doctor Who has collected a ton of avid fans during its 60-year reign, all of whom present a diverse selection of opinions on the show. Every fan has a favorite Doctor, making it a franchise that defies conventions and the rules of typical fandoms. As such, it’s sometimes difficult to pinpoint what makes the show so popular or decide which era is the best.
There’s no denying that Doctor Who has seen an incredible influx of popularity since its 2005 reboot and many fans are eagerly awaiting the second season of the Disney + reboot. Yet, since 2005, many fans believe that one season still stands out. Season 3 introduced Martha Jones as the latest companion and gave the loveable 10th Doctor a much different look. What resulted was an exciting and emotional season fans still haven’t forgotten.
Season 3 Showed a Darker Side to the 10th Doctor
Season 3 takes place after the 2006 Christmas Special, The Runaway Bride. After leaving Donna Noble behind, The Doctor travels to a vast hospital in London to uncover the secrets of the Judoon. During this action-packed adventure, he meets an A&E doctor called Martha Jones. Together with a few special guests, the pair explore everything that time and space has to offer, including a few run-ins with The Doctor’s most famous enemies.
David Tennant’s portrayal of the Tenth Doctor is arguably the best version of the character, and fans quickly fell in love with him in Season 2. When he was traveling alongside Rose Tyler, he was filled with a whimsical optimism and loved nothing more than darting through a new planet with his best friend by his side. Yet, Season 3 offers fans a much more dismal version of The Doctor, one who is tormented by grief and loss. For example, in Season 3, Episode 2, “The Shakespeare Code,” the audience sees The Doctor and Martha lying next to each other in bed. During this scene, Martha seems both anxious and excited about the prospect of coming across an alien. But, The Doctor remains reserved during this moment, staring into space while lost in thought. This is a stark contrast to the man fans saw in Season 2, who couldn’t sit still and was always gearing up for the next adventure. Although some fans may see this as a bit of a downgrade, The Doctor’s depressed state is realistic, given the circumstances. Thus, it seems that the writers were keen not to gloss over Rose’s death and were committed to carrying the effects of this storyline over to the next season.
This season also wasn’t afraid to ramp up the tension, even if it became uncomfortable for the audience. In Season 3, Episode 7, “42,” The Doctor is engulfed by the power of a star, leaving him screaming in immense pain. Again, this is quite a shock for the audience because they’re familiar with seeing him angry or passionate but never in a vulnerable state like this. Therefore, it’s clear that this season is focused on highlighting how grief has altered The Doctor inside and out. As such, even though The Doctor may only hint at his true emotions, certain events in Season 3 allow his body language to express everything he is thinking and feeling.
The Re-Introduction of Captain Jack Gave 10 a New Best Friend
Fans will remember Captain Jack Harkness from Season 1, the suave con man who helped the Ninth Doctor defeat the Chula. Though he played a very minor role during Season 1, fans quickly became obsessed with him and couldn’t wait to hear more about his story. His return to Doctor Who was highly anticipated, and many fans believe that he’s one of the most integral parts of Season 3. Alongside his exuberant personality and tongue-in-cheek humor, he also gave The Doctor a much-needed sense of male companionship. In Season 3, Episode 11, “Utopia,” the men have a tender heart-to-heart while Jack is fixing a rocket. The men discuss Rose and what it’s like living multiple lives across time. This scene is quite moving as it’s the first time the audience has seen The Doctor discussing his true feelings. Not only is he expressing his woes and fear, but he’s sharing these thoughts with a man who understands him better than anyone. So, although Martha is incredibly smart and empathetic, he just doesn’t feel comfortable enough to wear his heart on his sleeve in front of her.
Another bonus of including Captain Jack in Season 3 is that he’s able to carry out abilities that others can’t. For example, in Season 3, Episode 12, “The Sound of Drums,” the team uses Jack’s Vortex Manipulator to travel back to the present day. Since the TARDIS is now in the hands of The Master, the trio has no choice but to use a more primitive form of time travel. Without Jack’s influence in this episode, The Doctor and Martha wouldn’t have been able to escape Silo 16. Plus, Martha also uses the Vortex Manipulator to return to the surface after The Doctor and Jack are taken prisoner. Although Jack may not be the most gentle soul in the world, his experience and resources make him a fantastic companion for The Doctor throughout Season 3 because, in this era, he has to face so much more.
Season 3 Showed Growth on All Sides
Doctor Who is now preparing for its 15th season since the reboot, and fans can’t wait to see what The Doctor has up his sleeve this time. Although many fans look back at older seasons of the show with a sense of distaste for its poor special effects and inconsistent plotlines, Season 3 worked to get the franchise back on track. Many fans were sad to see Rose go, but Martha Jones gave fans a companion they had never seen before. Instead of hysterically screaming at every threat and hanging on to The Doctor for dear life, Martha exuded confidence and wasn’t afraid to stand in the eye of the storm. Not to mention, this season explored a lot of exciting narratives, such as the Daleks taking over 1920s New York as well as witches influencing Shakespeare’s most famous plays. Thus, since this season didn’t have to set up the key principles of the show like the previous seasons did, it seems that the writers were keen to let their creative juices flow.
Another interesting part of Season 3 is that it was accompanied by a ton of spin-off content. During this time, Torchwood was preparing to release its second season, giving audiences more insight into the elusive life of Captain Jack and his team of alien investigators. For younger audiences, Sarah Jane Adventures allowed an iconic classic companion to take center stage and start fighting aliens on her own terms. The BBC was also determined to showcase a lot of behind-the-scenes content, allowing fans to see just how much work goes into this beloved sci-fi show. Totally Doctor Who and Doctor Who: Confidential were shown alongside the latest episode so that audiences could get some backstage gossip and explore how the team brought certain special effects to life.
Overall, Season 3 has a lot to offer and is desperately underrated. Both Freema Agyeman and David Tennant give stellar performances and truly expand the idea of what it means to be a fan of the show. Though the franchise is now involved in another reboot that hopes to draw in more international viewers, this season will be very hard to match. Alongside giving fans a heavy dose of nostalgia, Season 3 provides fans with a sense of intergalactic escapism that they just cannot get from any other sci-fi franchise.