We haven't seen the Doctor and Clara since the Christmas special, but they're finally back! On Saturday, Sept. 19 season nine will start with a two-part episode. The first is titled "The Magician's Assistant" and the second "The Witch's Familiar" which will air the following week.
This will be Peter Capaldi's second season as the Doctor and Jenna Coleman's third as his companion Clara Oswald. It will be interesting to see how much, if any, the chemistry between the two has changed now that the 12th Doctor's personality has been played out and more established. And as always, we can expect tons of plot twists, some special guests and even a few returning characters.
The first episode will include the return of Missy who is played by Michelle Gomez. Although we don't know how Missy is still alive, we do know that she will be joining Clara in her search for the Doctor who has gone missing. Here is the synopsis:
“Where is the Doctor? When the skies of Earth are frozen by a mysterious alien force, Clara needs her friend. But where is the Doctor, and what is he hiding from? As past deeds come back to haunt him, old enemies will come face-to-face, and for the Doctor and Clara survival seems impossible.”
Clara and Missy might be teaming up this time, but don't expect a new friendship. When asked about her relationship with Clara in these episodes, she said, "Our relationship shifts greatly from where we left off in the last series. Dare I say there might be a hint of respect there? Perhaps not quite respect. More a healthy dose of circumspect, from both I guess."
Missy isn't the only character that we know is coming back. It has also been announced that fan-favorite River Song (Alex Kingston) will be making an appearance in the Christmas special! The last time she saw the Doctor she wasn't really there in person. Or alive, actually. So there's no telling how she will be brought back this time. Although this episode is months away, we do have this from the BBC:
"It’s Christmas Day in the future and the Tardis is parked on a snowy village street, covered in icicles, awaiting its next adventure. Time traveler River Song meets her husband’s new incarnation, in the form of Peter Capaldi, for the first time this Christmas."
Alex Kingston had this to say on reprising her role, “To be honest, I did not know whether River would ever return to the show, but here she is, back with the Doctor for the Christmas special. Steven Moffat is on glittering form, giving us an episode filled with humour and surprise guest castings. I met Peter for the first time at Monday’s read through, we had a laugh, and I am now excited and ready to start filming with him and the 'Doctor Who' team. Christmas in September? Why not!”
We can also expect more two-part episodes and cliffhangers than usual this season, according to lead writer Steven Moffat. He also said that episodes three and four are "brilliantly creepy...one of our scariest adventure yet!" It sounds like we're in for an exciting season! Season nine will include 12 episodes plus the Christmas special. You can watch "Doctor Who" Saturdays on BBC America.