Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies has explained why he doesn’t have an issue with rewriting the show’s history and canon contradictions in future episodes. Doctor Who season 14’s ending focused on the return of Sutekh as the entity tried to regain power, resulting in the Fifteenth Doctor having to fight it again in his new incarnation. This isn’t the first time villains and places in the past have been part of more modern stories, such as with the Toymaker’s return in the 60th anniversary specials.
Speaking with Radio Times, Davies explained that he has no problem rewriting the show’s history and making contradictions in the canon to make room for a familiar adventure within Doctor Who. The showrunner used Atlantis’ history in the series as an example, saying he would go back there, and to any other familiar location, if an exciting story could be told there. Check out what Davies had to say below:
It’s destroyed Atlantis three times in its history and if someone came to me tomorrow with a great story about the destruction of Atlantis, I’d do it again. In the 1960s, with William Hartnell, they went to Troy and did the wooden horse… that so wouldn’t stop me doing Troy and the wooden horse again now. I’d do it again now. That’s not a spoiler – I’m not doing it! But you’d just put in one line, ‘Oh, a glitch in time, we’re here again!’
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Davies’ candid response to possible repeated adventures in the series is already reflected by the returning villains seen in some of the recent episodes. Because the show has been utilizing its history to tell more stories as of late, it wouldn’t be surprising for the Doctor to go back to places like Atlantis or Troy in Doctor Who season 15. This could offer a new lens to these locations, especially if the adventure that happens in them is vastly different from their previous appearances.
Since the show has been pulling from the original series as of late, it wouldn’t be surprising if more locations and familiar faces show up in the near future. However, season 15’s release in 2025 will mark the 20th anniversary of the revival of the show, making it more likely for locations from the Ninth Doctor’s run to show up soon. This could include anywhere from Cardiff in 1869 to Salt Lake City, Utah in 2012. Since Davies is open to any number of repeat stories, any classic tales from the past could be part of the show’s future.
Since a number of familiar Doctor Who characters appeared in the finale at UNIT headquarters, well-known faces could also appear in stories they’ve already had roles in. While this risks a sense of further repetition for such episodes, it would also help jog viewers’ memories about having been there before. Even though new adventures with the Doctor would make for more unique stories, repeated places with nods to the original appearance could still provide plenty of memorable moments.