Doctor Who. His youth and popularity are all but guaranteed to help revitalize the venerable show, which in return will propel his already blossoming career.
Fans of Gatwa and his performance on Netflix's Sex Education are excited about the announcement, and they should be, as there are many qualities shared between his character Eric and the Timelord. These qualities, whether wisdom, wrath or musical ability, are evidenced in multiple scenes throughout the Netflix series.
When Eric Plays The French Horn
Patrick Troughton's Doctor was famously a whizz on the recorder, and Peter Capaldi wowed with his electric guitar skills during his spin as the Timelord. While Eric's rendition of "Jerusalem" might have fallen flat with his peers, his French horn would make a brilliant addition to the TARDIS.
He is also known to love musicals, having told Rahim that "people who hate musicals have no soul." If Gatwa brings this musical flair to his performance, it will offer a refreshing take on the Doctor's lesser explored musical side.
When Eric Dances
In "The Doctor Dances," Rose (Billie Piper) is shocked to discover that the Doctor does indeed dance when he says, "I've got the moves, but I wouldn't want to boast." A couple of incarnations later, Matt Smith shows off these moves at Rory (Arthur Darvill) and Amy's (Karen Gillan) wedding, which the latter refers to as "embarrassing."
Gatwa too has the moves, as evidenced in multiple scenes throughout the series, but perhaps the most significant is when he and Otis reconcile at the school dance in a moving moment.
When Eric Stands Up For Himself
After Eric is involved in a homophobic hate crime, his father expresses concerns for his son's safety due to how he dresses for the school dance. In his own defense, Eric says, "I'll be hurt either way. Isn't it better to be who I am?" His father its that he is starting to learn from his brave son.
Likewise, the Doctor is a character renowned for being brave. Although a scene like this isn't likely to occur in Doctor Who, it shows a moment of real-life bravery that is just as significant as (and more relatable than) saving the world from otherworldly villains.
When Eric Challenges People
Although the Doctor has been known to use violence at times, the character is one that favors peace and believes that all living beings deserve a chance. This is one of the character traits that Eric from Sex Education and the Doctor from Doctor Who share, even when people mean him harm, as evidenced in a scene where he challenges Adam.
Eric is horrified when Adam is violent towards his peers, despite them being homophobic towards him. Although Eric himself had previously been suspended for punching a classmate, his reaction in this scene is evidence of his personal growth and comfort with his own identity.
When Eric Breaks Hearts
The Doctor has had to make sacrifices, sometimes at the expense of others. Over the last 60 years, companions have come and gone, with some being lost, left behind and abandoned, such as when Tom Baker's Doctor left Sarah-Jane Smith to return to Gallifrey where humans were not allowed.
Eric displays this tendency to make difficult decisions in his relationships by putting the greater good first when he breaks up with Adam, subsequently breaking his heart. He says, "I feel like I'm ready to fly, and you're just learning to walk" when the pair discuss the meaning behind Eric cheating on Adam in Nigeria on Sex Education.
When Eric Looks Out For His Companions
To the Doctor, looking out for your companions isn't just about saving their lives. It's also about educating them, steering them along the right path and hitting them with the occasional hard truth, such as when Peter Capaldi's Doctor tells Clara (Jenna Coleman) that he's not her boyfriend.
Eric has never been one to shy from hitting his friends with hard truths and offering advice when it's in dire need. This is evidenced in the scene where Otis its that he responded with "that's nice" when Ruby confessed her love to him. After some gentle bullying, Eric wisely advises Otis to tell her the truth about how he really feels to save her feelings from getting hurt in the long run.
When Eric Unleashes His Wrath
Eric has had two significant run-ins with the "odd little man" Owen: once in the toilets when he delivers one of the funniest quotes in Sex Education, "You should wash your hands, you dirty pig!" and again when he forces Owen to confess to causing the chlamydia outbreak in the school.
When Owen gives Otis some unsolicited advice, Eric claps back with, "I think that we've had quite enough of you today. Go on, Owen. Uncalled for and unnecessary." Fans have been reimagining the scene as written for Doctor Who, with one TikTok showing a Dalek edited over Owen to get a feel for the new Doctor's wrath.
When Eric Is True To Himself
Eric's journey to finding his true self has featured multiple ups and downs. After his attack, Eric retreated into himself before coming to the conclusion that, if he's going to be hurt anyway, then he might as well be true to himself. A season later, he declares that he won't go back to hiding things about himself again in a heated discussion with Adam.
This development shows that Eric's life experiences have made him wise beyond his years. Wisdom is a trait he shares with the Doctor, meaning that Gatwa will undoubtedly channel this attribute with ease.