DOCTOR WHO: 5 Jaw-Dropping Moments From the Season 2 Finale
The TARDIS doors have now closed on Doctor Who Season 2.
Its finale, 'The Reality War,' boasts many a twist (there's always a twist at the end), from surprise appearances to surprise endings. The most shocking twist is easily Ncuti Gatwa's departure as the Fifteenth Doctor and his regeneration into a face baked into the DNA of the RTD era (well, the first one, anyway). I've thoroughly enjoyed Gatwa as our intrepid alien with two hearts, so much that he's easily in my top three. He commandeered the TARDIS with compassion, joy and endearing depth of feeling.
Below, I've compiled a list of five jaw-dropping moments from the Season 2 finale. So, let's hop onto the Rani's weird flying scooter and pray the Bone Beasts don't mistake us for excitated atoms. Anita to the Rescue DOCTOR WHO Season 2 Episode 8, 'The Reality War.' Photo credit: Lara Cornell/BBC Studios/Bad Wolf
Remember Anita (Steph de Whalley)? We last saw her in the 2024 Christmas special, 'Joy to the World.' Now, she's the manager at the Time Hotel, living and working in 4202. She has a child on the way with a man named Ricardo from HR. Anita has grown accustomed to living in the distant future and has even become familiar with the vernacular surrounding our titular Time Lord (Gatwa) and his adventures.
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She saves the Doctor right before he presumably would've fallen into the Underverse with, well, the whole world. Then, Anita makes another valuable contribution to our heroes' efforts in battling the Rani (Archie Panjabi), Mrs. Flood (Anita Dobson) and Conrad (Jonah Hauer-King). She opens the portal to the Time Hotel and leaves it open, allowing the flow of actual reality to wash over Conrad's wish world. Reuniting with Anita in 'The Reality War' is an absolute highlight. I'd watch the hell out of a Time Hotel spinoff with her at the helm. The Rani Becomes Lunch DOCTOR WHO Season 2 Episode 8, 'The Reality War.' Photo credit: James Pardon/BBC Studios/Bad Wolf
This one stings. I've fallen head over heels for Panjabi's take on this iconic character in the Whoniverse. She's wholeheartedly (whole- hearts -edly, if you will) Shakespearean here and fits the theatrical vibe of this series well. Panjabi squeezes the figurative juice out of every syllable and never wastes a word — or a charged glance.
The Rani's objective to split open the skin of reality to unleash Omega and rebuild Gallifrey is compelling. Personally, I would've loved to see her get closer to bringing her vision to fruition and the narrative obstacles this creates.
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However, Omega, now a skeletal monster creature, emerges from the Underverse via the Seal of Rassilon with the intent of becoming the God of Time. He'd rather feast on the remaining Time Lords and the world at large than help the Rani achieve her dream. Hence why she, unfortunately, becomes lunch. RIP to a queen. Well, I don't entirely believe she's gone. At the very least, Mrs. Flood is still out there.
I enjoyed seeing our favorite Time Lord use the Vindicator — a device he constructed in episode two to bring Belinda (Varada Sethu) home — to send Omega back from whence he came. Lucky Number 13 DOCTOR WHO Season 2 Episode 8, 'The Reality War.' Photo credit: James Pardon/BBC Studios/Bad Wolf
I love a good pleasant surprise . Jodie Whittaker reprises her role as the Thirteenth Doctor in 'The Reality War.' She and Gatwa boast an easygoing, vibrant chemistry despite their brief scene aboard the TARDIS. Thirteen imparts wisdom to Fifteen regarding his departure and impresses the importance of getting it right — rupturing the Time Vortex with all that regeneration energy could be detrimental to all creation.
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Fifteen tells Thirteen he loves her, and it's a profound, resonant moment of self-love for the Doctor. I especially love Thirteen contemplating telling Yaz (Mandip Gill) she loves her. Fifteen informs Thirteen that she doesn't, but Yaz knows. Oof. Talk about a punch to the gut.
Thirteen's remark about not liking Fifteen's redecorating is a fun dig, as is Fifteen's line about being surprised Thirteen isn't 'the other guy.' He's always turning up. Friendly shots fired at David Tennant, y'all.
The pair also has an exchange about how stuck in their ways they are ('timey-wimey,' anyone?), which is interesting considering how many different faces the Doctor has had. Yet, there's always a desire to cling to a particular visage for a bit longer as the inevitable regeneration takes effect. Even our eponymous Gallifreyan hates change and fears the unknown. Getting Home to Poppy DOCTOR WHO Season 2 Episode 8, 'The Reality War.' Photo credit: James Pardon/BBC Studios/Bad Wolf
Who knew Captain Poppy (Sienna-Robyn Mavanga-Phipps) from 'Space Babies' would have so much narrative importance? After her debut in Fifteen's first season, she reappears in Season 2 Episode 5, 'The Story & the Engine,' but only to Belinda. Then, she's Belinda and the Doctor's (aka John Smith) daughter in the Season 2 penultimate episode, 'Wish World,' before becoming Belinda's actual daughter.
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Of course, Poppy's eventual disappearance following the undoing of Conrad's wish world activates Ruby's (Millie Gibson) Spidey senses. Fifteen is known for risking it all to save one person, which he's done for Ruby, Belinda and even Susan Triad (Susan Twist). Naturally, when he learns he has a daughter, our Doctor springs into action and willingly sacrifices himself to shift all of time so Poppy exists again.
Before he regenerates, though, the Doctor reunites with Belinda and Poppy. This time, we learn that Poppy is the reason Belinda wanted to go home so badly at the start. We see a collection of scenes from past episodes in which dialogue about Poppy is retroactively inserted, from Belinda believing she's dying in 'The Well' to after she and the Doctor meet young Conrad in 'Lucky Day.'
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Sure, this gives us a new perspective on those scenes. The plan was always to return to Earth on May 24, 2025, at 7:30 am, for her daughter. While the choice to end Belinda's arc with motherhood is strange, given she's never mentioned it before (although it does call into question how much of actual reality we've seen this season), the real heartbreak is in the Doctor realizing he doesn't have a child. That's the meat of it all. Oh, Hello DOCTOR WHO Season 2 Episode 8, 'The Reality War.' Photo credit: BBC Studios/Bad Wolf
As much as I don't want Fifteen to go, I enjoyed his pre-regeneration moments while he's alone in the TARDIS. He decides to regenerate in open view of space, with Joy (played by Nicola Coughlan before she turned into a star) twinkling before him. Joy to the world, indeed.
Fifteen lands on 'joy' as the descriptor for his experience with this face and body — an 'absolute joy.' And it feels fitting for this Doctor to leave with joy in his hearts and a smile on his face. He simply radiates optimism and a buoyant, effervescent energy.
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So, after looking like a star himself as he regenerates, the Fifteenth Doctor transforms into … Billie Piper, who seemingly breaks the fourth wall to greet us. Now, I have thoughts. I don't think Piper is the Sixteenth Doctor. Firstly, she's not introduced as such in the closing credits, whereas Gatwa and Whittaker are credited as the Doctor, respectively. Secondly, the new Doctor is usually announced well in advance of the current Doctor's regeneration.
Thirdly, there's an intriguing shot of the TARDIS console while Fifteen regenerates. Could this familiar face have sprung from the TARDIS, considering how inextricably linked it is to Rose Tyler? Could she be The Moment? An alternate Rose? Or perhaps she's the TARDIS herself, having taken on a new face (the TARDIS was previously played by Suranne Jones in 'The Doctor's Wife').
What if Billie Piper is meant to be someone else entirely? That said, if she really is the next Doctor, it wouldn't be the first time our Time Lord has regenerated into a familiar face from the series. Regardless, I hope Russell T Davies has something exciting in store for us. Let's not retread old ground, please. Although I highly suspect that Piper is a placeholder, as it were, and will transform into the Sixteenth Doctor, whoever they might be.
Seasons 1 and 2 of Doctor Who are now streaming on Disney+.
DOCTOR WHO: Our Favorite Easter Eggs From 'Lux' Contact:
[email protected] What I do: I'm GGA's Managing Editor, a Senior Contributor, and Press Coordinator. I manage, contribute, and coordinate. Sometimes all at once. Joking aside, I oversee day-to-day operations for GGA, write, edit, and assess interview opportunities/press events. Who I am: Before moving to Los Angeles after studying theater in college, I was born and raised in Amish country, Ohio. No, I am not Amish, even if I sometimes sport a modest bonnet. Bylines in: Tell-Tale TV, Culturess, Sideshow Collectibles, and inkMend on Medium.
Critic: Rotten Tomatoes, CherryPicks, and the Hollywood Creative Alliance.
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