Jodie Whittaker, otherwise known as the first female lead in the storied history of the decades-long show, Doctor Who,has been reflecting on the contentious finale of her iteration of the iconic character. As the Thirteenth Doctor, her tenure was glorious, with the acclaimed actor carrying the role with a light-hearted passion for adventure and building new things, as well as valuing friendship over anything else. Speaking of friendships, Whittaker is protective about some of the season’s most climactic moments, in particular the relationship between the Doctor and her companion, Yaz.

The pivotal episode in question, titled “The Power of Doctor,” marked both the end and beginning of an era. Whittaker’s Thirteenth Doctor grappled with regeneration and the continuation of the Doctor Who universe. But it was the unresolved romantic tension between the Doctor and her companion, Yasmin Khan (played by Mandip Gill), that stirred fans’ emotions. Throughout the series, they shared a slow-burn dynamic that enticed fans. When Yaz finally confirmed her feelings in the pre-finale, they hoped for Whittaker’s character to reciprocate. But it never happened.

Whittaker now reveals that it was intentional. Not only was the artistic choice made to maintain the allure of the Doctor’s character, but also, it was the version that made sense for them. Speaking to Radio Times, she explained the experience of shooting her final episode as “a really beautiful thing.”

“I’m quite protective over it. It was a really beautiful thing, particularly the scenes in the TARDIS – they were really wonderful to shoot, because that was our last day. And so we shot those and then went and sat on top of the TARDIS and then shot in isolation, straight after that, the moment of regeneration. And I think those beats, even though, story-wise, they don’t run all together, for us, because that’s how we shot it, it felt like a beautiful progression within the dynamic and the relationship that they had.”

Jodie Whittaker & Mandip Gill Will Return to The Whoniverse

While emphasizing the chemistry she shared with Mandip Gill both on and off-screen, Whittaker also made sure to dive deeper into their dynamic and acknowledge how beautifully it progressed. After all, the weight of portraying such an iconic character came with responsibilities. Whittaker’s Doctor was simple but also multifaceted, and while the finale did not provide the romantic resolution fans were anticipating, it had every element that has made Doctor Who an enduring classic.

Gill, who agreed with Whittaker, agreed by saying, “I don’t think of it as another version. That is the version. That’s where we left it. That’s how it happened.” The stars clearly have a strong friendship, as proven by them echoing similar sentiments about the ending.

Related Doctor Who’s 20 Best Companions Through the Years, Ranked From teachers and journalists to teenagers and barmaids, here is our ranking of the most unforgettable Doctor Who companions over 60 years.

But the story does not end there. Jodie Whittaker and Mandip Gill are set to return to the Doctor Who universe, but this time, they are trying an exciting new format – audio adventures. The Thirteenth Doctor Adventures, produced by Big Finish Productions, comprises twelve hour-long episodes centered around their adventures. Both Whittaker and Gill chimed in to describe it as,

“It’s kind of isolated stories – rather than it being about the Doctor and Yaz’s relationship, it’s the adventure of the episode. It’s these guys on their travels, what they come across, and their natural banter and rhythm between each other, but then also the protectiveness that they both have for each other. But we haven’t seen anything beyond this. So it could be that there’s an episode that… That gives us time to explore. But right now we’ve concentrated on the adventure in hand.”

Doctor Who: The Thirteenth Doctor Adventures
is expected to release in July 2025.
Doctor Who
, meanwhile,
can be streamed on Disney+
.