Is John Hurt the Twelfth Doctor? Unfolding the Mystery

The inquiry into whether John Hurt will be the twelfth Doctor (Doctor Thirteen currently) has been around for a while, and to be frank, it remains unanswered. Given that John Hurt passed away in 2017, and considering the current status of the series, this age-old question seems more or less resolved. However, for the sake of exploration and discussion, let's dive into this intriguing mystery.

John Hurt and the War Doctor

John Hurt played a significant role in the Doctor Who universe as the War Doctor in the 50th anniversary special episode. Chronologically, he should be considered the ninth incarnation; however, he is not numbered like the other Doctors. This unique distinction is attributed to the fact that neither the current incarnations nor those who followed him ever considered him to be the Doctor in the traditional sense.

The War Doctor, played by John Hurt, embodied the Doctor in a critical time of crisis in the universe, specifically during the Time War. While he was a crucial character, the Doctor Who canon does not number him among the traditional incarnations, thereby maintaining the numbering system consistent with established lore.

The Current Doctor Count

As of now, the Doctor count stands as follows:

Charks Lovelace (First Doctor) William Hartnell (First Doctor) Tony Curtis (First Doctor) Patrick Troughton (Second Doctor) Jon Pertwee (Third Doctor) Peter Davison (Fourth Doctor) Colin Baker (Fifth Doctor) Paul McGann (Sixth Doctor, eighth if considering only incarnations) War Doctor (John Hurt, eighth and a half if claiming only incarnations) Christopher Eccleston (Ninth Doctor) David Tennant (Tenth Doctor) Matt Smith (Eleventh Doctor) Peter Capaldi (Twelfth Doctor) Jodie Whittaker (Thirteenth Doctor)

The Case Against John Hurt Being the Twelfth Doctor

Speculation and leaked spoilers aside, the trend of Doctor incarnation age in the series seems to favor youthful Doctors. Paul McGann, the actor who played the sixth Doctor, was notably younger than his fellow predecessors. This pattern suggests that the series creators chose to maintain a younger Doctor for narrative reasons, possibly to appeal to younger audiences or to signify a fresh start.

Albeit without a canon explanation, the decision to have younger Doctors could be strategic. The narrative might find it more compelling to have a new, fresh outlook from a younger perspective, leading to the inconceivability of casting an older actor like John Hurt as the twelfth Doctor in this era of the series.

Conclusion

The question of whether John Hurt could be the twelfth Doctor is a point of debate more than an actual possibility. The Doctor Who universe has its unique rules and traditions, and the series often prefers youthful Doctors to maintain a certain charm and appeal. While fans can enjoy theories and speculation, the reality of the current numbering and trends within the series makes it highly unlikely for any new incarnation to be introduced with an older actor like John Hurt.