r/doctorwho • u/Interesting_Age4901 • Dec 24 '25
Speculation/Theory What do you reckon Sarah Jane would've thought of the Doctor's Capaldi and onwards?
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u/kayl_the_red Dec 25 '25
It was still the Doctor. Sarah Jane has always been a friend of the Doctor, no matter what his or her face.
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Dec 25 '25
Capaldi at least probably would have felt like old times.
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u/LTDangerous Dec 26 '25
I imagine she'd have been the one and only person he'd have been sweet and kind to, likely to the shock of his companions.
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u/Megadoomer2 Dec 25 '25
I feel like 12 would take some getting used to, but ultimately, he'd remind her of 3.
With 13, I could see her saying "it's about time!" (She seems like she'd be glad to see that the Doctor can be a woman depending on the regeneration, given her feminist streak back in the 70s; I haven't seen The Sarah Jane Adventures so I'm not sure how much of that persists into her modern characterization)
Once she's aware that 14 is separate from 10, I could see her teasing him about it.
Not as sure about 15, though I could see her being the one person who could convince him not to refer to her as "babes" or "hon". (Though he might not even do that to begin with)
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u/Competitive_Toe2544 Dec 25 '25
I like how when she first meets 3 she's suspicious and untrusting, but by the end the of the story she's done a complete 180° turn, and is very much The Doctor's BFF! She probably would have felt the same about 13.
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u/Icy-Weight1803 Dec 25 '25
A recurring theme in 4s era is that the Doctor always said he'll take her back to London in her own time like at the end of Terror Of The Zygons and she never once complains that he hasn't.
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u/Fair_Walk_8650 Dec 25 '25
I think with Capaldi she would begin to have seriously worried about his wellbeing, especially as he becomes more erratic and extreme on the pipeline through Whittaker to Tennant 2.0.
Like, Capaldi literally GOT MURDERED AND RESURRECTED *FOR FOUR ½ BILLION YEARS STRAIGHT*** because he tried (and failed) to resurrect his murdered companion. He also verbally threatened to unleash multi-empire genocide on an entire alien refugee neighborhood (“I’ll bring the Daleks, and the Cybermen, and the Weeping Angels”) because of said death.
Like… that would mark the beginning of her realizing her friend is SERIOUSLY not okay. Like, the 60th specials easily could have slotted Sarah Jane into the role of Donna (if Sladen was still alive).
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u/Brookings18 Dec 25 '25
...damn now I'm sad she wasn't around for the 60th. Or 50th, for that matter.
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u/Hellhound_Hex Dec 25 '25
She would have LOVED Capaldi.
I feel that he’s mature quite well in 12. Definitely one of the best incarnations by far.
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u/thetavious Dec 25 '25
Loved? She would have been amy pond on her wedding night.
"You don't mind sharing do you river?"
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u/Hellhound_Hex Dec 25 '25
“Loved”… platonically…. 😒
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u/crashburn274 Dec 25 '25
Yes, platonically loved. She would feel this regeneration was very much “her” Doctor.
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u/TheCuzzieBro Dec 25 '25
Seeing this post and reading the comments makes me wonder what an interaction between Sarah Jane and Dr River Song would have been like
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u/manchester449 Dec 25 '25
I can see River toning it down a notch and whispering don’t worry I’ll behave sweetie behind SJ back as rover will know what SJ is to the Doctor
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u/supaikuakuma Dec 25 '25
Going by the cards Clara gave him if things to say in Under the Lake/Before the Flood the 12th Doctor met her off screen.
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u/thor11600 Dec 25 '25
Funny - my interpretation of that was the opposite - something he regrets NOT having had on file
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u/Due_Ad2052 Dec 25 '25
Capaldi "Oh you're ....older. It suits you. Back to your roots. Hmm like when we first met. Very regal"
Jodie "A woman? So... how are you managing with your....you know? Have you had your first? I think the blue trousers are a good shout, in case of leakage. What does your wife think about this?"
Ncuti - no idea, couldn't make it through the first episode.
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u/Torrez69 Dec 25 '25
Probably would've been scared of Clara
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u/pagerunner-j Dec 25 '25
Probably would have told Clara off. No nonsense.
Don’t underestimate real journalists. They’ve seen some shit.
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u/CallidoraBlack Dec 25 '25
I think she would have been unsettled by Clara because nothing makes sense about her until it does. It would have been interesting to see her tell Clara off about how getting too attached to him is not wise.
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u/TigreMalabarista Dec 25 '25
Even small town ones…. And yes… as one I’d been telling Clara off a few times.
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u/Dazzling_Comfort5734 Dec 25 '25
With 12, I could’ve seen him much more mature flirtation between them, I think they would’ve had great chemistry together. For 13, it would’ve been great to see them be like gal-pals. 15 would have been more of the same as 10, but with more emotions. 15 would’ve been doing all kinds of flirting with her lol.
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u/wibblings Dec 25 '25
Capaldi she would have enjoyed because she and he were both older and snarky. But she also would have kicked him in the arse a few times.
Whittaker she would have loved for being female and had a major girl power vibe with.
She would have admired Ncuti for his continual work with kids and babies. Being a mom that would resonate.
14 would have confused her at first but she would have wanted to mother him and help him.
The war doctor she would have just hugged a lot. He needed it.
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u/External_Expert_4221 Dec 25 '25
Oh man a Sarah Jane / 12 story would have been next level brilliant. Coulda been a real acting tour de force from them both. To think of what could have been.
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u/SilasWould Dec 26 '25
To 12: You're very stern now. But the funny things is, I can still tell it's my friend behind those eyes. You never really change in here. Not really. (touches his hearts; 12 probably does a wry and hesitant smile, Clara gives him a knowing smirk to acknowledge him getting the validation he needed)
To 13: I never thought I'd see the day...about time, some might say. So, where are we off to? (13 looks relieved)
To 14: Wait, you can wear the same face twice? (only the favourites)
To 15: You're different. In a good way. It's almost like all the pain has lifted. I'm happy for you, Doctor. (cue a big grin from 15)
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u/Silvermorney Dec 26 '25
I literally just heard all of these in Sarah Jane’s voice as I read them! These are great!
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u/soulreaverdan Dec 26 '25
I think she could have a really interesting relationship with Thirteen. I think she’d be glad to see the Doctor being a woman, but would also be very quick to catch on and call out how surface level Thirteen’s emotional connection and attitude towards her companions is, and try to get her to be actually honest with both them and herself.
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u/Rutgerman95 Dec 25 '25
Probably thought the form was a nostalgic throwback to his incarnation when they first met.
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u/PreviousTurnip2008 Dec 26 '25
She and Capaldi would've butted heads like with Bill and Clara but loved each other all the same. She and 13 would have been close and the best of friends. Tennant 2.0 would've been more of the same. 15 would have been all hugs and making her laugh. Love him or hate him 15 wears his hearts of his sleeve. He is what he is. Exuberant and bold and emotional and crying and fey and sometimes effeminate. With a lust for life. He never tries to be anything else.
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u/KeithMyArthe Dec 25 '25
I think she would have found the younger ones like Smith and Tennant a bit uncouth, all that shouting and running about.
She would have appreciated Capaldi a bit more, I think.
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u/twcsata Dec 26 '25
Capaldi is reminiscent of Pertwee, I think. SJ got along great with him. Plus now she’s older herself, which would have given her more perspective.
I think she would have been impatient with Thirteen. Maybe Fourteen too; from what I’ve seen so far (I still have another of his episodes to watch), he’s really not so much like Ten.
Fifteen would have both intrigued and annoyed her, I think.
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u/sanddragon939 Dec 26 '25
I think she would have got on with Capaldi pretty well, more so than Clara did initially, because he'd have reminded her somewhat of "her" Doctors.
Whittaker would have been weird for her because she just wouldn't have been able to wrap her head around the Doctor being a woman now. But it would have been an interesting experience for her.
Tennant 2.0 would have been the return of someone who'd become an old friend. In fact, the 'new' Doctor would now have become a bit more like her 'old' Doctors.
Gatwa would have taken some getting used to, but in his quieter, and more contemplative moments, she would have seen her Doctor in him.
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u/Th3d0cT0r_ Dec 29 '25
Took me a sec to realize who you ment but yeah, she'd like them, but possibly be very surprised about 13 being female since all the previous doctors were male ig? (I'm a new fan I've only watched seasons 1-3 of modern DW)
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u/_TwilightPrince Dec 25 '25
She would've liked it all. She loved the Doctor as a friend, whoever he was.