The new Doctor Who Companion continues a casting trend that dates back to 2006

The following contains minor spoilers for Doctor Who Season 14, Episode 3, “Boom,” now streaming on Disney+

Doctor Who'S “Next Companion” continues an unlikely casting habit that the series has followed for nearly twenty years. Although Ncuti Gatwa's Doctor already has a loyal companion in Millie Gibson's Ruby Sunday, the pair will soon be joined by a new ally. Although details about the character are still being kept under wraps, it has been confirmed that Varada Sethu will play the new companion who will board the TARDIS at some point during the events of next season.

This is far from Sethu's first experience with science fiction, as she previously played Cinta Kaz in the series war of stars Series, Andor. However, “Boom” reveals that this supporting role won’t be her first time in the universe Doctor Whoeither. If she follows the trend set by previous performers Doctor Whothen Sethu's upcoming companion could have a connection to someone the 15th Doctor has already encountered.

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Varada Sethu appears in Doctor Who season 14, continuing the 18-year-old casting trend

Several actors played multiple roles Doctor Who

Doctor Who Casting Varada Sethu as the Doctor's next companion, even after featuring her in a seemingly unrelated supporting role – continuing a trend in the modern era Doctor Who Pour. Varada Sethu is currently filming the next episodes of Doctor Who He plays a new companion alongside Gatwa and Gibson. However, Varada Sethu also appears as Mundy Flynn, a cleric in “Boom”. She's also far from the only actress to play a supporting role Doctor Who only to later be cast as a more important character.

Freema Agyeman played Adeola Oshodi in the season two episode “Army of Ghost” before returning to play season three companion Martha Jones. Karen Gillan and Peter Capaldi both appeared in the fourth season of The Fires of Pompeii as Mira the Fortune Teller and Lobus Caecilius, respectively. Both later joined the show full-time, with Gillan playing the 11th Doctor's companion Amy Pond, while Capaldi becomes the 12th Doctor. David Bradley appeared in The Sarah Jane Adventures And Doctor Who before he was cast as a modern version of the First Doctor.

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There could be a connection between “Boom” and the Doctor’s next companion

This trend of Doctor Who The casting of actors who previously appeared in the series in supporting roles was addressed in various episodes incorporated Doctor Who Storylines. It turned out that Oshodi was Martha's cousin, creating a familial bond between the two Agyeman characters. It turns out that the 12th Doctor had unconsciously based his appearance on Capaldi's Lobus, particularly to remind himself of his heroic duties. Although there is no clear connection between Amy and Mira, Amy's appreciation for ancient Rome became a plot point in Season 5 and gave them a thematic connection.

However, Varada Sethu joins Doctor Who amidst a series of mysteries This could force the show to confront its dual roles. Forces like the mysterious Pantheon and the enigmatic Meep boss may still be at work in the universe, and one of the Doctor's companions seemingly having the same appearance as someone else the Doctor has encountered seems like too much of a coincidence to miss it. Doctor Who has turned minor casting coincidences into major plot impulses before, and the series shouldn't forget this tendency to associate its stars with their previous supporting roles on the show.

Doctor Who

Originally premiering in 1963, Doctor Who is a science fiction series that follows a powerful being known as the Time Lord, referred to as the “Doctor.” Using an interdimensional time travel ship called the TARDIS, the Doctor travels through time and space with various companions as they solve numerous problems and help avert disaster, as well as almost causing it. Although the Doctor is always the same character, they experience regenerations that allow them to be reshaped into a unique immortal being with new personality traits every few seasons.

Seasons

14

Franchise(s)

Doctor Who

writer

Mark Gatiss, Toby Whithouse, Neil Cross, Steven Moffat, Chris Chibnall