Doctor Who’s introduction of Sacha Dhawan, an actor of Indian descent, as the Master could be a sign of the show testing the waters for how a non-white Doctor would be received. Doctor Who’s season 12 premiere, titled “Spyfall,” has kicked things off with a high-octane, James Bond-inspired bang with a jaw-dropping twist that few fans saw coming. At the end of the first half of the two-part premiere, Sacha Dhawan’s character is revealed to be a the return of The Master, an iconic Who villain thought to be dead. However, although that revelation has tons to unpack on a story level, Dhawan’s entrance as The Master may also point to some ramifications in the real world — specifically, who will be cast as the 14th doctor.
Doctor Who has previously used The Master role to test fan reactions to changes in the franchise’s formula. The long-standing British staple made waves back in 2017 when it was announced that Jodie Whittaker would be the successor to Peter Capaldi’s Doctor Who, thus making Whittaker the first woman to play the title role. Such a monumental change was met with equal amounts of ire and praise from fans, resulting in a hotly-debated discussion following her casting. Before Whittaker officially became the 13th Doctor, there was another woman who played the first female incarnation of a Time Lord: Michelle Gomez as Missy, aka The Master.
The Master is one of Who’s most recognizable and well-loved villains, on par with species like Daleks and Cybermen. The only remaining member of the Doctor’s species (other than the Doctor themself), The Master is a dangerous foe who had a deep personal connection with the Doctor, and who was historically also played only by men. Gomez was introduced in series 8 — years before Whittaker made her controversial debut. What’s more, there was virtually no backlash about the Master’s change in gender or the decision to cast Gomez in the role, which, for the BBC, may have been an indication that they could proceed with a female Doctor without fear of an uproar.
Will Doctor Who Introduce A Non-White Doctor?
Whether or not it was intentional, the fact still stands that a female Master was introduced in Doctor Who just before a woman became the Doctor, begging the question: could Sacha Dhawan’s casting indicate that the next Doctor could be a person of color? Just as the master became female before the Doctor did, it seems like a possibility that the show could be using the Master as a way to test how well-received a non-white Doctor would be. There has been an extensive debate about the whiteness of Doctor Who’s central character, with many fans saying that it’s long past overdue for a person of color to take on the role. In 2016, Steven Moffat confirmed in an interview for Doctor Who Magazine (via The Guardian) that the part had been offered to a black actor, but due to behind-the-scenes complications, the casting didn’t work out.
Granted, that was four years ago, and since then Moffat has been replaced by Chris Chibnall as Doctor Who’s showrunner. Nonetheless, it still seems somewhat surprising that Doctor Who, unafraid of featuring LGBTQ+ characters and people of color in prominent roles, has been so slow to make a person of color its title character. However, given just how much backlash the show received when Whittaker’s casting was announced, it’s no surprise that the BBC might be interested in testing the waters before making such a big change — even if it’s one that’s long overdue. All of that being said, Whittaker shows no sign of slowing down any time soon, so there is little to no indication as to when the show will even need a new Doctor, let alone who they’ll be played by. For now, however, fans can enjoy Whittaker’s take on the iconic character, as well as Dhawan’s turn as Doctor Who’s rival, The Master.
Next: Doctor Who’s New Master Actor Explains Character’s History
