10 Doctor Who Controversies That Divide Fans

It's tough to think of a more controversial moment in Doctor Who history than the lore-shattering revelations of Series 12 finale The Timeless Children.

This episode told us that the Doctor isn't actually a Time Lord, but a mysterious being from another universe, one with the power to regenerate infinitely. The DNA from this "Timeless Child" gave the Time Lords their ability to regenerate, meaning that the Doctor is the chosen one, a god - the foundation of Time Lord society.

This reveal sent shockwaves through Who fandom, with many feeling that it was unnecessary, convoluted, and even disrespectful to the show's pre-established history. What was the point in Eleven's new regeneration cycle in The Time of the Doctor? Do River's own regeneration powers even make sense now?

To some, it was even boring, and largely inconsequential. The Doctor can regenerate infinitely... and? One way or another, that would've happened anyway, for as long as the BBC wants the show on the air. The Time Lords lied to the Doctor and kept her past hidden... and? The Doctor has never got along with their own kind, which is one of the reasons why they ran away in the first place.

While discourse on the Timeless Child skews largely negative, there are those who appreciate how it opens up opportunities to explore the Doctor's past. There's also Jo Martin's Fugitive Doctor - an important piece of the Timeless Child puzzle throughout Series 12 - who received a lot of praise for her commanding presence.

All in all, the Timeless Child is still one of the most debated topics in Doctor Who's various online communities to this day. Chris Chibnall certainly took a bold swing here, but considering all the controversy, perhaps "Doctor Who?" was a question best left unanswered.