Jenna-Louise Coleman joins Doctor Who

More news came out of the UK about season seven of Doctor Who, including the announcement of a new companion, 25 year-old Blackpool born Jenna-Louise Coleman. The actress first came to public attention playing Jasmine Thomas in the long-running soap Emmerdale between 2005 and 2009. She then went on to appear in the fifth season of Waterloo Road as Lindsay Jones, and will be seen on upcoming miniseries Titanic from Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes. Her debut in film came with the role of Connie in Captain America: The First Avenger. While some might complain that Steven Moffat is basically using the same template of pretty, young female companion that has served the series for nearly 50 years, I’m willing to give him the benefit of doubt about this new, unnamed companion. Still though, Amy Pond did follow in the footsteps of female companions that fall in love with the Doctor since the series was revived back in 2005. Moffat was mum on who this new companion is, including where the Doctor meets her, “where he finds her, are all part of one of the biggest mysteries the Time Lord ever encounters,” he said. 

The structure for season seven did come out, with the Ponds exiting the series in episode 5, after the Doctor, Amy and Rory meets up with the Weeping Angels again. Those five episodes and the Christmas Special will air in the fall, possibly starting in November. The back 8 will air in 2013, but there is still no word when. We still know that there will no two-parters, that each of the 14 episodes can be considered mini-movies that feature new villains and returning ones as well. Showrunner Steven Moffat did add that arcs begun in earlier seasons have not been abandoned and will be picked-up again. 

We know now the Daleks will return sometime during the autumn run as well, but seeing that next year is the series 50^th birthday, I would not be surprised they didn’t return then as well. Whether the mutants from Skaro will be part of the back eight, or part of season 8 remains a mystery as well, though this does substantiate the rumor that additional scenes were filmed in Spain while the crew was shooting there for episode three; the idea that some of the barren areas are supposed to resemble the Daleks doomed home planet. If the Daleks return in those 8 remaining 2013 episodes, it could be the season finale, which might also feature the end of Matt Smith’s run as the Eleventh Doctor –though I stress, this has no basis in fact, just wild speculation at this point. 

One other piece of speculation can be this: when the series celebrated its 20^th season, that year featured a return villain from the Doctor’s past in every episode. If the show returns for an 8^th season in the fall of 2013, and Matt Smith and showrunner Steven Moffat stay with the show, could we see something similar? The internet has been rife with rumors concerning at least two original series villains were returning (does the Daleks count?) for this season, but could they be held until season 8? 

In the end, though, all this speculation is meaningless; fun, but also not really productive. What will be, will be.