Doctor Who Season 11 had some pretty good ratings during its run, but Jodie Whittaker's first season as the Doctor wasn't without its critics. One of the biggest issues voiced was the lack of canon familiarity, and specifically, the lack of familiar villains. Doctor Who somewhat rectified that with a special Dalek episode in early 2019, but now the show is already promoting another former baddie on the way. Get ready for alien rhino cop mayhem in Season 12, because the Judoon are coming back!
As for what's going on with the Judoon's arrival in Season 12, showrunner Chris Chibnall has said this year will feature the intergalactic mercenaries on a mission in Gloucester, and they aren't in the business of merely taking prisoners. BBC America shared a photo of the Doctor coming face to face with her old adversaries (who probably don't look quite as inappropriate as Daleks when molded into snowmen), in what looks to be their central command quarters, or possibly their spaceship.
For those whose minds feel more wiped than Donna Noble's trying to remember these rhino cops, the Judoon were first featured in Doctor Who back in 2007. David Tennant's 10th Doctor and Martha Jones went head to head with the militaristic aliens, who were intent on finding a non-human they believed was hiding out within a London hospital. It was the first adventure shared by the Doctor and Martha Jones, and one that the Doctor handled rather easily.
This is largely due to the nature of Judoon culture. The creatures are so accustomed to obedience and upholding the law by whatever means necessary, they refuse to break even the most minor rules even if the result aids in them capturing suspects. This means criminals can easily escape them simply by driving over the speed limit, or by walking into an area marked "No Trespassing."
Another quirky thing about the Judoon is their unique language, which seems to only consist of words that end in "o."
Doctor Who showrunner Chris Chibnall teased that the return of the Judoon isn't the only exciting part of this upcoming episode, as acclaimed actor Neil Stuke (Doctor Foster) will co-star alongside Jodie Whittaker's Doctor. Stuke's credits exist mainly in the world of British television, which he's been a staple of for over two decades. Chibnall seems to be really high up on him, and that alone should give fans reason to at least be a little excited about his casting.
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Random updates about Season 12 are about all Doctor Who fans have to look forward to at the moment, beyond general excitement, as new episodes aren't set to arrive until 2020. Of course, there's always a chance there's some unexpected Christmas special we've yet to learn about, so be sure to stick with CinemaBlend in the meantime for updates on Doctor Who, and other goings on in the world of television, movies, and pop culture.
