Doctor Who: The Doctor as a Ghost Does Not Make Sense
By David Hill
Under the Lake was a truly excellent episode, perhaps the best one of the Peter Capaldi Era on Doctor Who. Instead of being a classic ghost story in the traditional sense, it provided a great deal of atmosphere and food for thought, showcasing the Twelfth Doctor in what may be the perfect role for him.
While the episode was utterly brilliant, there was something about it that stuck in the back of my mind. There was something about Under the Lake that just did not make much sense, and that goes beyond the normal questions about whether or not such a situation could exist. Then, it struck me – at the end of the episode,the Doctor reappeared underwater as a ghost.
Now, in the preview for Before the Flood, there was a scene where the Doctor said he has to die in order to figure out the problem. Now, this would not be the first time the Doctor put himself in danger of being killed in order to figure out what was happening. Just look at Mystery on the Orient Express, where the Doctor made himself the focus of the mummy in order to figure out the mystery. Was there any doubt that he would do the same here?
More from Doctor Who
- Ncuti Gatwa’s Doctor Who Christmas special is a “complete reinvention”
- Ncuti Gatwa is “so nervous” to take on Doctor Who role
- The Doctor and Donna are better than ever in “Wild Blue Yonder”
- Take the Black: House of the Dragon season 2 trailer hints, the Fallout show, and more
- Jodie Whittaker didn’t pick up on any of the hate for her version of the Doctor
The problem with this specific instance is the idea that the Doctor would become a ghost after dying. After all, one of the constant themes of Doctor Who is that the Doctor regenerates when he receives fatal damage. It’s just a part of being a Time Lord. So, how, exactly, could the Doctor become a ghost if the was to die?
Unless, of course, the Doctor has the ability to suspend his regenerative ability. We have seen him use this energy to resurrect River Song, and, most recently, when he was ‘tricked’ by Davros into sending this energy into the Daleks. It would stand to reason that, should the Doctor be able to channel this energy, that he could suppress it as well.
It certainly would open a new avenue to be explored on Doctor Who. While it may be difficult to imagine another situation where the Doctor suppressing his ability to regenerate would be beneficial, this could open up another way for the Doctor to get to the bottom of other situations involving mischievous spirits or otherwise troublesome undead being.
The ending of Under the Lake, where the Doctor was a ghost, is certainly something that leads to a lot of questions. However, the answer to the question of how the Doctor was able to become a ghost could have future ramifications on Doctor Who.