Doctor Who Series 11: 10 Huge Questions After Kerblam!
7. Who Are The Doctor's Robot Friends?
The Doctor is against all forms of discrimination - including robophobia. She is happy to point out that she has made friends with a number of robots over the years. Robophobia is a classic Sci-fi trope (explored for instance in the Spielberg flick AI and the hit series Westworld and Battlestar Galactica), and whilst not as immediate as other forms of discrimination, with every passing year fears about humans one day being displaced grow ever more real. Kerblam! not only looks ahead to the future, but also has much to say about current working conditions that could evolve into such a scenario. The Doctor doesn’t mention any of her robot friends by name, but we’ve a good idea who she is referring to.
Back in February, the internet was awash with rumours of the return of the Doctor’s robotic canine friend, K9. A model of the Doctor’s smartest companion had been spotted whilst series 11 was filming in Gosport. It was, in fact, a very accurate fan-made prop that had been brought in for some photo opportunities (alongside a less than convincing Dalek model). What all the furore does show is that there are many fans of the series who share the Doctor’s love for the ‘tin dog’.
The Doctor has also travelled with the shape-changing robot, Kamelion, and whilst strictly cyborgs rather than robots, more recently she has also welcomed Handles and Nardole into the TARDIS.
It’s unlikely that K9 or any of the above will return to the Doctor’s side on screen, but it would be no surprise if the Doctor picked up another robot companion in the near future.