“It’s All A Game To Them”: Doctor Who Expands The Toymaker Saga

The recently unveiled Doctor Who season 15 trailer hints at the thrilling continuation of the Toymaker storyline, a centerpiece of Russell T. Davies’ much-anticipated return as showrunner. Since his comeback to guide a new era of Doctor Who, funded by Disney, many were skeptical about the presence of a coherent storyline. However, Davies quickly dispelled those doubts by intertwining the Toymaker saga through the 60th anniversary specials—a formidable being boasting godlike attributes from beyond the universe.

Yet the Toymaker is merely the beginning of perilous adventures. The Doctor inadvertently opened a conduit for otherworldly entities to infiltrate the universe, posing existential threats. Ncuti Gatwa, portraying the Fifteenth Doctor, has already encountered formidable foes, including the Maestro and Sutekh. This has ushered in a new paradigm for the series, where even UNIT—traditionally allied with the Doctor against extraterrestrial threats—now faces challenges against the supernatural. The season 15 trailer emphasizes that this thrilling narrative evolution will persist.

Anticipate More Otherworldly Beings in Doctor Who Season 15

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Doctor Who | Season 2 Teaser | Disney+ (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpZlxdDf0Vw)

The season 15 trailer begins with ominous dialogue, where the Doctor alludes to beings of immense power from beyond our reality, viewing mortals merely as pawns in their elaborate games. This theme complements the ongoing narrative centered around the Toymaker and his accomplices, suggesting a seamless continuation of this captivating storyline. Davies appears to be either constructing or reconstructing an entire pantheon of adversarial deities for the Doctor to confront.

What kinds of “gods” will challenge the Doctor this season? Each of these formidable entities possesses unique characteristics. Lines delivered by Gatwa suggest that some foes will indeed echo the Toymaker’s whimsical, yet dangerous nature—creatures who relish in manipulating their adversaries through games. As highlighted in the episode “The Giggle,” the Doctor typically rises victorious by outsmarting such adversaries in their own domain.

Confirmed Members of Doctor Who’s Pantheon
Sutekh
The Toymaker
The Maestro
The Mara
The Trickster
The Reprobate
The Threefold Deity of Malice, Mischief, and Misery
Gods of Skin and Shame and Secrets
The Incensor
Dread and Doubt

Will Doctor Who Further Explore the Timeless Child Theme?

Doctor Who's the Timeless Child as a little girl wearing yellow, on a planet with a purple sky

A compelling question arises: will this narrative journey unravel more mysteries surrounding the Timeless Child? Under Chris Chibnall’s tenure, the storyline took intriguing turns, revealing that the Doctor is not simply a Time Lord, but a Timeless Child—an entity whose very essence transcends this universe, with the Time Lords having mirrored this being genetically. Thus far, Davies has emphasized the emotional fallout of this revelation; however, does this imply a shift will occur with the secrets of the Doctor’s extra-universal origins being unveiled?

Fans have even speculated that the Doctor may be a part of the pantheon themselves, potentially positioning them as the God of Life, which could illuminate their role as the defender of time and existence. While largely theoretical, the prospect that Doctor Who season 15 will delve deeper into this storyline becomes increasingly plausible. Given Davies’ previous portrayal of the Doctor as a Messianic figure, this possibility remains highly intriguing.

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