Christopher Eccleston made a fantastic return to form in the TARDIS, fifteen years after playing the Ninth Doctor in Doctor Who. Eccleston’s Ninth Doctor was the face fans saw when Doctor Who was revived after a lengthy hiatus back in 2005.
Doctor Who is an iconic British television program that’s been on the air for more than fifty years, the story follows a time-traveler from the planet Gallifrey called the Doctor. Eccleston’s Ninth Doctor is particularly notable because he survived the ravages of the galactic Time War, a chaotic clash that saw the end of the Time Lords and their mortal enemies the Daleks. (The extinction of both races was later revealed to be by the Doctor’s hand.) The Ninth Doctor was the last of the Time Lords, haunted by his choices but still trying to look forward to the future.
Recently, Christopher Eccleston made an appearance at the Doctor Who fan convention Gallifrey One, much to the delight of Doctor Who fans worldwide. Eccleston made his grand entrance via the TARDIS, and Twitter user tardis_monkey caught the glorious moment on camera. Check out Eccleston’s return from the TARDIS below:
One of the reasons for Doctor Who’s longevity is the show’s brilliant conceit that the titular character regenerates into a completely different-looking person each time they die, allowing the series to recast the Doctor every few years. Eccleston’s incarnation is universally loved, even though the Ninth Doctor only lasted one season. The actor brought a potent mix of pathos, comedy, and a genuine sense of humanity to the otherwise alien character. Eccleston’s ability to go from lighthearted humor to dark-edged Doctor in a second set the precedent for revival Doctors, from Nine to Jodie Whittaker’s 13th Doctor. The character may be able to crack a joke, but anyone or anything that threatens the Doctor’s friends risks unleashing the Time Lord’s wrath. Needless to say, fans were disappointed that Eccleston’s fantastically complex Ninth Doctor didn’t make an appearance in the 50th-anniversary episode.
There was an immense weight on Christopher Eccleston’s shoulders when Doctor Who was revived in 2005, after being off the air since 1989. An earlier attempt to revive the show via a TV movie had failed, so Eccleston’s portrayal could either make or break Doctor Who’s second chance at life. Eccleston’s Ninth Doctor had many brilliant moments, and fans were saddened when he regenerated into David Tennant’s Tenth Doctor. Christopher Eccleston cemented his legacy amongst Doctor Who fans worldwide. If the cheers of adoring fans eagerly raising their phones to capture the Ninth Doctor exiting the TARDIS for the first time in fifteen years is any indication, his time away has only made them miss him more.
Next: Doctor Who: Why Each Doctor Regenerated
Source: Twitter
