The new Doctor Who audio-drama, released weekly on BBC Sounds, shows just how Russell T. Davies can reinvent the show. Regeneration lies at the heart of Doctor Who. It's not just how the show moves from one Doctor to the next; each regeneration is also an opportunity for the show to reinvent itself, sometimes dramatically. One such moment is coming, with Jodie Whittaker's Thirteenth Doctor due to depart after the upcoming Doctor Who Centenary Special - along with current showrunner Chris Chibnall. Russell T. Davies is returning to take Doctor Who in a bold new direction, with an as-yet-unannounced Fourteenth Doctor arriving for season 14.
But Whittaker's stories aren't quite over. The BBC has launched a new audio-drama on BBC Sounds, Doctor Who: Redacted, with episodes dropping every Sunday. Although Whittaker has herself recorded dialogue for the story, in truth this is a Doctor-light adventure in the style of "Blink." The basic concept is a chilling one; everyone who ever knew the Doctor is being erased (or "redacted"), and the Doctor is being forgotten. Doctor Who: Redacted stars a group of podcasters and conspiracy theorists who have been tracking a mysterious blue box through history, and who have no idea what they've stumbled into. Two episodes in, the audio-drama Doctor Who: Redacted is drawing popular and critical acclaim as a tremendous adventure that honors the show's past while pointing the way to a brighter future.
Fundamentally, Doctor Who: Redacted understands there's a sense in which the human characters (usually companions) should serve as the stars, because they are the lens through which the Doctor should be interpreted. This naturally means there is a real sense of mystery and intrigue around the Doctor, because she is beyond human comprehension and the characters she is interacting with will always be discovering new facets of her character, new aspects of her history. Smart writing can make even references listeners would recognize - nods to episodes from David Tennant's run as the Doctor - feel enigmatic. Such an approach contrasts markedly with some of the weaknesses of Chibnall's era, which have focused on the Doctor and tried to restore mystery with over-complex retcons that rewrite the show's lore.
Doctor Who: Redacted gets the balance of nostalgia right. There's a sense in which every episode exists in the shadow of a past Doctor Who story; episode 1 was full of references to "Partners in Crime," while episode 2 explored the legacy of "Smith and Jones." But the continuity doesn't feel overwhelming, precisely because the main characters have no idea what they're dealing with; listeners who aren't familiar with those past stories get to experience all the intrigue and suspense, while those who know them well simply understand a little more depth in the narrative. Both long-term viewers and new listeners wind up focused on exactly the same mystery all the same; the question of just what's happening to the Doctor's friends. It's a smart way of handling the complex continuity and long history of Doctor Who.
Meanwhile, Doctor Who: Redacted is rightly earning plaudits for its commitment to diversity. One of the stars, Charlie Craggs, is a trans actress playing the trans woman Cleo Proctor in Doctor Who: Redacted. This gives the audio-drama the chance to explore the trans experience in an incidental and natural way that serves as a simple reflection of the real world. This kind of diversity is absolutely delightful, because it both allows trans listeners to see themselves portrayed in the world of Doctor Who, while also allowing cis listeners potentially fresh insight into this experience. Russell T. Davies reportedly has a bold vision for Doctor Who's future, and it will surely include further embracing diversity; hopefully Doctor Who: Redacted will serve as a template for Doctor Who season 14.
Ultimately, the BBC's Doctor Who: Redacted is one of their most enjoyable Doctor Who productions. It's a welcome reminder that the show is always changing, always evolving, always regenerating. And given that's the case, hopefully Russell T. Davies will be listening in as he contemplates Doctor Who season 14 and beyond.
