Last Year’s Most Shocking Doctor Who Cliffhanger Explained by Writer & Producer (Was It Planned?)

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The recent collaboration between the BBC and Disney+ on Doctor Who has finished, but several plot points from last year’s episodes remain unresolved. The main show ended with a surprising scene of the Fifteenth Doctor, Ncuti Gatwa, seemingly transforming into Billie Piper’s character, Rose Tyler, which is expected to be explained in the 2026 Christmas special. Additionally, the spinoff The War Between the Land and the Sea concluded with a puzzling moment: Jemma Redgrave’s Kate Lethbridge-Stewart pulling a gun on someone who had dropped litter, leaving viewers wondering if this signaled a turn towards villainy. While Piper’s return was anticipated, the cliffhanger involving Lethbridge-Stewart came as a complete surprise.

Russell T. Davies, the showrunner of Doctor Who and a writer/producer on the The War Between the Land and the Sea spinoff, recently shared on a Blu-ray bonus feature (via Cultbox) that the story’s ending was initially quite different. Originally, Russell Tovey’s character, Barclay, wasn’t meant to find happiness. He was supposed to be left behind in the human world while the Aquakind were confined to a reservation. Furthermore, Barclay was intended to be the one who angrily confronted someone for littering, highlighting humanity’s failure to learn from past events. “That was always the planned ending for Barclay,” Davies stated.

Davies described the original ending as incredibly grim. There was no requirement for a happy ending, but the initial plan involved the complete annihilation of the Aquakind – they were to be forced onto a reservation and hunted, with humanity declared the victor. However, after casting Tovey as Barclay, Davies had a change of heart. They already had scripts written, but as they grew to appreciate the character of Barclay, they realized how harsh that ending would be. This led Davies to develop the idea of the ‘Accord,’ a connection between Barclay and his Aquakind partner that would allow them a positive resolution.

What Does This Mean for Kate Lethbridge-Stewart?

This change might not seem like a big deal initially. However, there’s a significant difference between Barclay and Kate Lethbridge-Stewart, beyond Kate’s position as UNIT leader. Kate is an established character with a history in Doctor Who, having appeared in the main show during the Moffat years and linking different eras of the modern series. While a scene with Barclay would have been impactful, Kate’s appearance carries much more emotional resonance due to her existing connection with the show’s history.

There are early signs that UNIT will be featured in this year’s Doctor Who Christmas Special. The recent storyline, The War Between the Land and the Sea, left UNIT’s leader in a vulnerable and isolated position, seemingly struggling with the strain of her job. To make matters worse, she’s realized she can’t rely on the Doctor for help, so she’s prepared to handle things herself. The finale also revealed that her therapist thinks she should be relieved of duty, but Kate uses her authority to ignore that advice.

The big question now is whether the show will actually follow through with this new direction for Kate. It wasn’t part of the original plan, which suggests Russell Davies might not have fully considered the implications. He may have just thought the scene was a strong symbolic moment, without worrying about who was involved. If that’s true, it would be a significant wasted chance for his time on Doctor Who.

With a new season of Doctor Who on the horizon, many fans are wondering if a change in leadership is needed. Who would you pick as the next showrunner? Share your thoughts and discuss it with other fans in the ComicBook Forum!

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2026-03-09 16:10