I‘ll put everything in spoilers I guess
It seems pretty clear what happened here on a macro level. Disney leaving the future of the series up in the air forced Ncuti to make a call since it could be years until BBC can continue on with more shows if Disney gets around to passing. So they turned to someone they knew was loyal to the show for whenever they’re able to pick it back up after he decided to leave. I think there is a narrative sense to the choice given this Doctor was essentially killed by the thing that Rose’s face looked into all the way back in 2005…and, honestly, I expected a cut to black without a reveal in this episode if I’m being honest.
Much of the last two seasons felt rushed and truncated but I loved Ncuti as the Doctor. Loved him. I’m bummed he’s gone. Bummed they left obvious plots dangling with Rogue and Susan. I mean….they can always get to the latter no matter whose face The Doctor is wearing…but man is it obvious that was being built for this incarnation. He’s literally having visions where she’s asking him to come find her…and, until the reshoots they tacked on because Ncuti decided to exit…they had another season culminating with this Doctor confronted by a family plot line. Last year he watched Ruby find her mother. This year there was a whole daughter plot…which I’m assuming was originally intended to end far differently given the abrupt turn it takes leading to his sacrifice.
He never fought a Dalek or a Cyberman or saw a Weeping Angel or a Zygon or the Master…what a strange run the Disney era was. With an actor so delightful in the role he’d have probably been top two or three for me had he been in a better era. But I totally understand the call. It could be years before he’d be called back…and he’s in the prime of his career with a lot of options I’m sure.
