Summary
- Ncuti Gatwa's Doctor lacks a memorable outfit, going against the tradition of a unique signature piece.
- Gatwa switches outfits every episode, losing the iconic look associated with previous Doctors.
- Doctor Who's second season with Gatwa won't address the issue, continuing the trend of frequent wardrobe changes.
Doctor Who is a unique show, given how many different actors have played the titular role, but having the character regenerate is part of the charm of this iconic science fiction show. Each actor has brought their spin to the role, and the current 15th iteration, played by Ncuti Gatwa, is no different in that regard.
He's brought lots of energy to Doctor Who while also making his performances quite emotional at times, which has been fun to explore. His performances have been a lot of fun, but one aspect of his version of the Time Lord hasn't quite worked in the eyes of many Whovians, and it appears that his upcoming second season isn't addressing them.
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Ncuti Gatwa's Version Of The Doctor Doesn't Have A Memorable Outfit
This Isn't How The Time Lord Normally Works
When it comes to every version of the Doctor, one thing they have in common is that they normally have one signature piece of clothing. This isn't the same thing, as each Doctor is unique in terms of their dress sense outside of the fact that it's normally quite zany. For instance, David Tennant's character would wear a pin-stripe suit in almost every episode with some questionable shoes, Tom Baker's always had eye-catching scarves, while Matt Smith's version was notorious for having a bow tie on at all times. These different clothing choices helped to differentiate each actor and helped provide an iconic feel to them. Fans knew which Doctor people were talking about when discussing the clothing, and it opened things up for cosplaying opportunities to try and build the brand even further beyond people just watching episodes of the show.
However, when it comes to Gatwa, that hasn't happened. People could attach no identifiable features to his version, which is a shame. It's something that diehard fans of the series have been very open about regarding their frustrations, as they feel that he is being done a disservice by not getting a signature look. It has hurt his character in many people's eyes as Gatwa doesn't have the same level of memorability as previous actors, which is a shame. He deserves to be given the same opportunities as previous actors, and the fact that hasn't happened isn't necessarily good.
Doctor Who Has Switched Ncuti Gatwa's Outfits To Match The Episode
It Has Provided A Glimpse At What Each Episode Will Entail
While Doctor Who fans aren't happy that Gatwa's version of the Time Lord doesn't have a signature look, the showrunners would argue that he has the biggest wardrobe of any Doctor in the show's history. In his first season in the titular role, the Doctor wore a new outfit for every episode. It was often themed to the location that they were in, whether that be the time period or the setting, which helped to add something to every episode. It instantly gave audiences an idea of where the episode might go while proving that the Doctor was able to just quickly change whenever he wanted, which was interesting in its premise.
However, the constant changes have led some fans to believe he can blend into a scene rather than vibrantly standing out due to his clothing choices, as previous Time Lords have done. It's a debate that is likely to rage on due to how passionate people are about this, even if Gatwa has ended up in some very impressive costumes throughout the years. Fans don't want something totally different from him in every episode, as it can be distracting, and it makes him feel slightly more human, which shouldn't be the case for the Doctor.
Doctor Who's Upcoming Season Isn't Fixing This Issue
The Season Two Trailer Has Teased More Outfit Swaps
Gatwa's consistently changing outfits ultimately had no impact on the story itself or the quality of each episode. It didn't make him an entertaining or boring Time Lord, but it did stop fans from having a straightforward method of identifying him. Given how many people complained about this particular issue, most people presumed that it might change for the upcoming second season as that would've provided the show with an easy win in the eyes of many audiences. However, the trailers that have come out for the upcoming season of Doctor Who have proven that this is one problem that isn't going to be resolved.
Gatwa can be seen running around trying to save the universe in various different outfits, constantly wearing something else. It's clear that this is how his character is going to be presented, arguably being the most fashionable Time Lord of all time. There's a chance that him always altering his look could end up becoming Gatwa's signature, but at the same time, it's easy to see why Doctor Who fans would like him to be more uniform and consistent, and the fact that their issues haven't been listened to isn't a great sign.
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