The title of the Doctor Who Centenary Special has finally been revealed. The current era of Doctor Who has been noted for its secrecy, with marketing deliberately concealing as much as possible to avoid potential spoilers. Doctor Who‘s upcoming Centenary Special, released as part of celebrations of the BBC’s centenary, is a classic case in point.

A first Doctor Who Centenary Special trailer released immediately after the last special, “The Legend of the Sea Devils.” It teased an action-packed adventure in which Sacha Dhawan’s Master led an alliance of the Doctor’s greatest foes against her, in fulfillment of a prophecy issued by the avatar of Time itself in Doctor Who: Flux. Two classic era companions will be returning: Sophie Aldred’s Ace and Janet Fielding’s Tegan Jovanka. Most exciting of all, this is a regeneration story, as Jodie Whittaker’s time as the Thirteenth Doctor draws to a close. Regenerations are always bittersweet, as fans say goodbye to the Doctor whose adventures they’ve enjoyed for years while looking forward to the future. There’s been radio silence from the BBC about the Centenary Special since Easter, with even the episode title considered a closely-guarded secret.

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Now, Doctor Who Magazine #582, released to subscribers today, finally confirms the official title: “The Power of the Doctor.” The title is an obvious allusion to the Doctor’s ability to regenerate, which the Chibnall era has redefined as an ability she possesses in unlimited measure, with the Time Lords duplicating her power after substantial experimentation rather than sharing it. It follows the pattern of previous specials released under Steven Moffat, such as “The Day of the Doctor,” the Doctor Who 50th anniversary special that released in 2013.

In truth, the title of the Doctor Who Centenary Special feels a little formulaic. Still, it hopefully signifies showrunner Chris Chibnall’s ambition to make an episode on the scale of the 50th anniversary special, one that is seen to define the show for years to come. Chibnall’s tenure as showrunner has been divisive, but hopefully it will end on a high note. Certainly the potential is there, with returning foes such as the Master, the Daleks, and the Cybermen, as well as classic-era companions.

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At first glance, the episode title “The Power of the Doctor” seems to simply refer to Whittaker’s impending regeneration. It may be far more significant, however, simply because the Master is one of the few to know the Doctor is in fact the Timeless Child, and it’s quite possible he has figured out a way to siphon off and weaponize the unlimited regeneration energy her body processes. Dhawan’s new version of the Master has been universally praised as an exciting incarnation of the Doctor’s nemesis, so the clash will surely be an epic one. Hopefully it won’t be long before the BBC release a new trailer for the Doctor Who Centenary Special, “The Power of the Doctor,” to show more of the final encounter between Whittaker’s Doctor and Dhawan’s Master.

Source: Doctor Who Magazine #582