Doctor Who: Tenth Doctor’s Deepest Fear Finally Revealed!

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Be cautious, as the discussion ahead contains spoilers for Doctor Who season 15, episode 3 titled “The Well.” Ncuti Gatwa’s new Doctor in this season reveals something that aligns with a theory I’ve held since a 2008 episode featuring David Tennant’s Tenth Doctor. Interestingly, “The Well” serves as an unexpected follow-up to the beloved episode “Midnight.” In “Midnight,” we witness a facet of the Doctor that was previously unknown or at least less pronounced.

With Ncuti Gatwa taking the lead in the Doctor Who season 15 ensemble, my theories regarding the mindset of Ten in the 2008 episode have been validated. The battles fought by Fifteen against Doctor Who’s unnamed Midnight Creature pay homage to the David Tennant escapade while also advancing the story. Instead of forging its own narrative, “The Well” cleverly references “Midnight,” featuring a significant revelation about Ten’s emotions at that time and how every subsequent adventure has been influenced by it.

I Always Felt Like The Tenth Doctor Was Absolutely Terrified In “Midnight” & “The Well” Confirms It

The Doctor’s unexpected reunion comes with a harsh truth

At midnight, the Doctor encountered an unusual type of danger. Although he’d tackled formless, intangible creatures previously, this time the circumstances were challenging. To make matters worse, he was completely in the dark about the nature of the threat he and the others on the shuttle faced. In such uncertain conditions, Ten had to rely heavily on his intuition and guesswork, as there was no one to support him when doubts arose regarding his leadership. As the situation spiraled out of control, particularly when the entity attached itself to him, Ten appeared increasingly fearful – an unusual display for him.

In “The Well,” Ncuti Gatwa’s Fifteenth Doctor confesses that the last time he faced the Midnight Monster was the most terror he has ever known. Thus, It turns out I was justified in my worry about the Doctor way back then. Much like Ten, who mostly maintained a brave front throughout “Midnight,” Tennant’s exceptional acting skills revealed glimpses of that deep-seated fear peeking through his otherwise self-assured Doctor persona. Contrastingly, Gatwa’s Doctor is more straightforward with his feelings, and he openly acknowledges the fear as soon as he recognizes it during their unexpected reunion.

The Doctor’s Fear Is Why The “Midnight” Monster Feels So Scary, Even Though You Don’t See It

The 2008 Doctor Who villain’s return remains just as terrifying

Given the numerous perilous encounters that the Doctor has faced since “Midnight,” his confession in “The Well” serves as a significant revelation, underscoring the sheer menace of the entity. If the Doctor had never experienced such intense fear prior to this and hasn’t felt it since, it also instills the same level of dread among viewers. It boils down to the fact that the Doctor is afraid of something he believes he can’t prevent, and remarkably, there are only a few things that the Doctor seems incapable of overcoming.

As a film enthusiast, let me share my thoughts: In “Midnight,” the monster being unseen only intensified the fear. Typically, once a creature like that is revealed, its impact diminishes somewhat. But in “The Well,” I got to see what it looked like, and if anything, it heightened my terror. My expression probably showed I was even more frightened after catching a glimpse of the dreadful entity that haunted me in Doctor Who’s season 4.

Doctor Who Season 15’s Release Schedule On Disney+
Episode Title Release Date (2025)
1 “The Robot Revolution” April 12
2 “Lux” April 19
3 “The Well” April 26
4 “Lucky Day” May 3
5 “The Story and the Engine” May 10
6 “The Interstellar Song Contest” May 17
7 “Wish World” May 24
8 “The Reality War” May 31

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2025-05-01 14:38