Should Samuel Anderson Return as Orson Pink?

Nick Kitchen is a writer at Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews - All the latest Doctor Who news and reviews with our weekly podKast, features and interviews, and a long-running forum.

The modern run of Doctor Who has had its share of divisive characters: Rose Tyler. Mickey Smith. Donna Noble. The Paternoster Gang. And this writer would argue that how you view Series 8 is directly impacted by how you view Doctor Who‘s latest controversial character: Danny Pink.

Series 8 spoilers ahead (assuming some of you haven’t seen that latest run), but many Whovians delighted in the final demise of Danny Pink (or Cyber Danny if you prefer) in the Series 8 finale, and barring some sort of timey wimey Gallifreyan magic is not to be seen again. This hasn’t kept actor Samuel Anderson for campaigning w return to Doctor Who but not as Danny Pink, but his descendant Orson Pink.

Speaking with Radio Times about his time as Danny Pink and future post-Doctor Who, Anderson had this to say:

“If it’s Orson Pink I think the relationship would be totally different because instead of a soldier – which is the kind of person the Doctor can’t bear – you’ve got another scientist who could be quite interesting with their relationship. And then instead of it being a love interest with Clara and Danny, it would be a family affair with grandmother and grandson but at the same age… I do remind them that Orson is alive. #BringBackOrsonPink.”

 

So then, the discussion is now should Orson Pink make a return? This writer is conflicted. I am not fan of incomplete story arcs (though I’m equally annoyed by rushed resolutions, as well. I digress). However, given the ending of Series 8 and where we left the characters after the Christmas special, I’m no longer sure how Orson Pink even exists. Listen positioned the second Pink as a descendant of Clara and Danny. Unless Series 9 shows us that Clara did become pregnant before Danny died in Dark Water, this seems rather impossible. And while it is a show about time travel, it would feel somehow inappropriate to go back in time solely to check that box to advance the storyline and bring us back to Orson Pink. Maybe Danny had a twin or brother that heavily resembled him? Even going that route seems unnecessary.

On the whole I enjoyed Samuel Anderson’s performance but can’t help but wonder if some of the story arc was rushed because of the uncertainty of Jenna Coleman’s return for Series 9. Would Danny Pink have died and became a Cyberman if Coleman had signed on for Series 9 sooner? Hard to say for sure. And harder to say if Orson Pink would been another plot point for the upcoming series had Danny Pink been part of the Series 9 TARDIS crew.

With just a little over a month until the premiere, I suppose some questions may be answered. Though revisiting Danny and Orson certainly seems unlikely at this point. Enough of my ramblings, however, and let us get to the important part: your opinion! So dear readers, what do you say? Should we see Anderson return as Orson Pink? Or is it best to leave that story arc alone? Let us know!

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