Kara Dennison
November 22, 2021 
November 23 marks the anniversary of Doctor Who. The classic TV series has charmed (and terrified) kids and adults alike. And every few years, the (anti-)heroic Doctor gets a facelift via regeneration. This Time Lord power allows chosen Gallifreyans to live multiple lives; and it allows the BBC to bring in new actors and reinvent the lead role.
With a new era of the series on the horizon, everyone’s thinking about who’ll be next in the role. Obviously anime characters are out of the running — unless you know something I don’t. But there are a few we think have the right stuff to play the renegade Time Lord. What do you think?
Hange Zoe, Attack on Titan
Doctor Who has no shortage of monsters and mysteries. And while Team TARDIS is always there to save the day, the Doctor also has an insatiable curiosity for the unknown. Even the most hideous alien can be fascinating or beautiful in the Doctor’s eyes. Sounds a little bit like a certain Attack on Titan character we know.
Hange Zoe has that combination of smarts, cheerful personality, and curiosity that every good Doctor needs. Plus, Zoe isn’t afraid to get series when necessary — and has a fair share of compelling scenes. If everyone’s favorite Time Lord ever ran into a Titan, we’re pretty sure it would be with Zoe’s same excited attitude.
Senku Ishigami, Dr. STONE
Every star of Doctor Who is different somehow. Some Doctors are arrogant, some are romantic, some act like weirdly awkward granddads despite being quite young-looking. One thing is always true, though: the Doctor is brilliant. Whether it matches or clashes with appearance, there’s a lot of brain up there.
See also Senku Ishigami, the unflappable star of Dr. STONE. This scientific genius kicks things off by keeping track of thousands of years in seconds — a level of smarts and patience we wouldn’t be able to maintain. He’s also a driven scientist, who plays around just as much as he works hard. (After all, he made ramen and candyfloss, remember.)
Rintaro Okabe, Steins;Gate
If anyone’s going on a Doctor Who comparison list, it’s the Steins;Gate star. And maybe he’s a bit of a gimme, but that’s because he’s such an obvious choice. Even putting aside the time travel aspect, his arc is reminiscent of modern Doctors. Putting on a larger-than-life persona, for one thing. The effect of repeated loss on his personality, for another.
This self-proclaimed “mad scientist,” more than anyone, has all the earmarks of the classic character. His time machine may not be bigger on the inside, but his time-travel-induced trauma sure is.
Have you seen any other Doctor types in your favorite shows?
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