Doctor Who’s Season 15 Shocker: The Well’s Terrifying Link to David Tennant’s Midnight Revealed!

Be advised: Doctor Who Season 15 Episode 3, “The Well,” starts off as a fresh exploration for The Doctor, but it gradually uncovers connections to an earlier story from David Tennant’s tenure as the Tenth Doctor, specifically Doctor Who Season 4 Episode 10, “Midnight.” In this revisited tale from 2008, Ten found himself alone during his journey towards the planet’s surface; while there were others with him, labeling them companions would have been a bit of a stretch.

In the upcoming season 15 of “Doctor Who”, Ncuti Gatwa steps into the role as the Fifteenth Doctor. This new incarnation of the Time Lord accidentally finds himself in the main setting of a two-part story, where he’s trying to get Belinda Chandra (portrayed by Varada Sethu) back home. To assist his Vindicator device in guiding the TARDIS back to Earth on May 24, the Doctor and his companion frequently land, providing the Vindicator with necessary data. As per custom, what was supposed to be a simple journey transforms into a heart-stopping adventure. During this thrilling escapade, the Doctor encounters an old enemy once again.

What Happened To Midnight & How Long After The Tenth Doctor’s Visit “The Well” Takes Place

“The Well” is set 400,000 years after “Midnight”

The Fifteenth Doctor finds himself on a planet referred to as 6767, which was once called Midnight. During his previous visit, as the Tenth Doctor, he recognized this world. It was famed for its diamond-covered surface, making it an attractive tourist spot, despite the intense X-tonic rays emitted by the planet’s sun. However, in a 2025 sequel episode, over 400,000 years have elapsed, and the sun is now a dull star. Although it no longer emits as much X-tonic radiation, the galvanic energy has seeped deep into the very core of 6767 itself.

6767 Planet appears dramatically altered in “The Well” contrasting its previous state during the timeframe of Midnight. While specifics are scarce, Shaya Costallion, portrayed by Caoilfhionn Dunne, offers a hint. She explains to Fifteen that “The sun expired, wars erupted, they mined all the diamonds off the surface, leaving it desolate.” Essentially, this implies that during the 400,000-year interval between the Doctor’s visits, there may have been extensive conflict involving or near Midnight, given that “diamonds” in this context are synonymous with carbon 46.

The Monster In “The Well” Is The Same One From Doctor Who Season 4’s “Midnight”

Fifteen is caught off guard by the dangerous reunion

The group from “The Well” is probing a baffling communication failure at a mining colony on Planet 6767, where bodies showing signs of being either shot or brutally attacked are found. Strangely, the culprit appears to be an entity that’s essentially invisible to the naked eye. Since The Doctor has encountered formless adversaries in the past, it wasn’t certain at first if they were dealing with the same foe that Ten encountered in “Midnight.” However, upon realizing that Fifteen is on the same planet as he was when he was Ten, it becomes apparent that a reunion of sorts is unfolding.

In his second encounter with the Midnight Monster, Fifteen may not hold an edge, unlike most situations for the Doctor. Quite unusually, this time the Doctor acknowledges being particularly terrified by the creature known as “Midnight”.

The “Midnight” Monster Is Far More Powerful In Doctor Who Season 15

Fifteen has to account for the villain’s new abilities

For the initial time since the events of “Midnight,” the antagonist makes a reappearance, bringing along some alterations to the enigmatic creature. Over the lengthy period it’s likely spent alone, this creature has undergone significant transformations. Unlike its initial appearance when it possessed only one individual, Lesley Sharp’s character Mrs. Sky Silvestry, and mimicked everyone else on board, it eventually zeroed in on the Tenth Doctor, immobilizing him following the appropriation of his voice. The passengers’ growing paranoia subsequently posed the most significant danger to the Doctor as they attempted to expel him from the airlock. In “The Well,” this entity demonstrates a propensity for aggression.

“It came out the well, and they said it was laughing.”

– Aliss Fenly (Rose Ayling-Ellis) in Doctor Who, season 15, episode 3, “The Well.”

The Doctor hypothesizes in “Midnight” that the creature was mimicking and learning by inhabiting Sky, but Fifteen has had ample time to ponder its intentions. Moreover, it seems as though the entity was engaging in a game of sorts. Additionally, it appears to have developed the capacity to exist outside a host body, although not independently from it. In “Midnight,” the creature is not directly shown; however, if you pause the episode at the correct moment during “The Well,” you can catch a glimpse of it. This physical form is used by the creature to commit cold-blooded murder when individuals step behind it.

In another scenario, individuals on the Crusader Tours vehicle in “Midnight” maintained a surprising composure for quite some time despite the tense situation. However, things eventually spiraled out of control. Contrastingly, people lose their rational thinking much more rapidly in “The Well.” Given that the monster has been isolated for about 400,000 years, it’s not far-fetched to imagine that it may have honed this ability if it possessed it from the beginning.

“The Well” Is A Reminder That “Midnight” Remains One Of Modern Doctor Who’s Best Episodes

Russell T. Davies chose a brilliant villain to flesh out

Regardless of the fresh start that Doctor Who experienced under Disney, showrunner Russell T. Davies hasn’t been hesitant to draw upon the extensive history of the franchise. For instance, the reappearance of Sutekh delved into the depths of Doctor Who’s classic era. Following a subtle continuation of a 1975 Tom Baker story, the stage was set for the series to explore more forgotten Doctor Who narratives. Consequently, Davies had the opportunity to pen a sequel for virtually any one-off villain; however, he opted for “Midnight” as it is one of his top scripts and ranks among the best modern era adventures that Doctor Who has to offer.

Although it’s typically considered family-friendly, Doctor Who has had moments that are genuinely frightening throughout its run. The episode “Midnight” stands out as one such instance, demonstrating the series’ ability to excel even within the genre of psychological thrillers. This episode capitalizes on the suspense generated by an unseen antagonist and amplifies fear by showing the Doctor struggling to maintain control and exhibiting genuine terror. In contrast to many other Doctor Who stories that span multiple episodes or even entire seasons, “Midnight” is a compelling example of a self-contained storyline.

Doctor Who Season 15’s Release Schedule On Disney+
Episode Title Release Date (2025)
1 “The Robot Revolution” April 12
2 “Lux” April 19
3 “The Well” April 26
4 “Lucky Day” May 3
5 “The Story and the Engine” May 10
6 “The Interstellar Song Contest” May 17
7 “Wish World” May 24
8 “The Reality War” May 31

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2025-04-26 23:30