10 Harsh Realities Of Doctor Who's Modern Era

Summary

• Doctor Who
  ‘s modern era struggles with new villains, relying heavily on classic foes like Daleks and the Cybermen.
• The show’s reliance on companion romance tropes post-2005 has led to predictable dynamics that sometimes fall flat.
• Doctor Who
  ‘s standalone episodes are often more successful than long-term arcs, with hit-and-miss Christmas specials.

Doctor Who originally ran from 1963 to 1989, and the show has been just as imperfect since its 2005 revival. Although the long-running British sci-fi show is still on the air, the current run has several weaknesses that fans of the show can find difficult to accept. Some issues with Doctor Who‘s modern era are far easier to ignore than the harsh realities of rewatching Doctor Who‘s classic era, but others can be distractingly prominent. While it could be argued that the show’s imperfections are part of what gives it its charm, some writing decisions seem frustratingly avoidable.

Every actor to play the Doctor has had to endure the show going through rough patches, although some lasted longer than others. The rotating door of showrunners, actors, and new writers may keep Doctor Who fresh, but they can also cause certain growing pains as the new formula takes hold. However, even once a fresh team and framework have been established, there’s no guarantee the cracks won’t be on show for all to see, and Doctor Who‘s modern era isn’t immune to this.

10 Doctor Who’s Modern Era Has Struggled To Create New Recurring Villains

The Daleks and other classic villains are still in heavy rotation

There has never been a shortage of villains in the Doctor Who universe, with many episodes introducing fresh antagonists to oppose the various iterations of the Doctor and their companions. Unfortunately, very few of these bad guys return for a rematch, with the Doctor often defeating them on the first try. The main recurring Doctor Who villains in the modern age have been the Daleks, the Cybermen, and the Master, and then the cycle tends to repeat.

Given that
Doctor Who
was revived almost two decades ago, it raises the question of why the writers have had to rely so heavily on such a small number of pre-existing bad guys.

What’s even more disappointing is the fact that all three of these villains originated in Doctor Who‘s classic era, so none of the newer Doctors from Christopher Eccleston’s Ninth and onward have had an ongoing nemesis unique to the current run. Given that Doctor Who was revived almost two decades ago, it raises the question of why the writers have had to rely so heavily on such a small number of pre-existing bad guys.

9 Doctor Who Has Been Too Reliant On The Companion Romance Trope

The Doctor’s relationships with his companions have often been romantic since 2005

One of the biggest differences between Doctor Who‘s classic era and the modern run is the Doctor’s dynamic with his companions. In the original era, the Time Lord’s relationship with his fellow travelers was generally Platonic, which is rarely the case post-2005. Initially, it was exciting to see a new side to the Doctor, seeing him fall in love and how it impacted the character. Unfortunately, it was an idea that Doctor Who ran with for too long and was only rectified in the Disney era, by having Ncuti Gatwa’s Fifteenth Doctor enjoying a traditional friendship with Millie Gibson’s Sunday.

Paul McGann’s Eighth Doctor was the first iteration to have romantic attachments to his companion, which came in the 1996
Doctor Who
movie.

While there is some debate about whether Nine and Rose had a romantic relationship, there is no doubt that Rose and Ten had feelings that went far beyond friendship. Martha Jones’ one-sided affection for the Tenth Doctor also stole the spotlight during her time in the TARDIS, although the romantic dynamic was rested when Donna Noble became Ten’s new companion. From there, the trope dipped in and out of use but has still been in heavy rotation throughout Doctor Who‘s modern era. After a while, it starts to get predictable and less effective.

8 Doctor Who’s Standalone Episodes Are Usually Better Than The Long-Term Arcs

Shorter stories typically tend to work best for Doctor Who

It would be tough to categorize the modern age of Doctor Who as a serialized drama, but most of the newer seasons do have a narrative thread bubbling away in the background – even when an episode feels especially self-contained. These larger arcs can be incredibly well-thought-out and expertly executed, but standout Doctor Who episodes tend to be installments that can easily be viewed in isolation.

Many of the most highly-revered
Doctor Who
episodes in the modern era come in the form of stories such as the Weeping Angels’ debut in “Blink.”

Of course, there are exceptions to this rule. For instance, the Bad Wolf story from Russell T Davies’ initial stint as showrunner is especially prolific in the show’s history, and it took a very long time to fully unfold. However, many of the most highly-revered Doctor Who episodes in the modern era come in the form of stories such as the Weeping Angels’ debut in “Blink,” and the time-bending adventure with Madame de Pompadour in “The Girl in the Fireplace.”

7 David Tennant’s Fourteenth Doctor Hurt The Show’s Future

Fourteen’s lingering presence distracts from Doctor Who’s current story

Although David Tennant’s original time on the show as the Tenth Doctor was an enormous success, his surprise comeback as Fourteen ahead of the Doctor Who 60th-anniversary ultimately threw a spanner in the works regarding what fans will expect going forward. After a trilogy of adventures in 2023, Tennant handed the baton to Ncuti Gatwa to lead the franchise as the Fifteenth Doctor. Interestingly, Doctor Who‘s shocking bi-generation twist meant Tennant’s Doctor could stick around, which has created the ongoing question of when and if he will show up again.

There will be huge portions of the fan base distracted by the prospect of Fourteen’s potential and sudden return.

Tennant’s version of the Time Lord now residing on Earth overshadows Gatwa’s time as the show’s leading man – and the same could be true of any other actor to step into the role when the time comes for the character to be recast. Tennant is one of the most popular actors to have ever embodied the iconic persona, so there will be huge portions of the fan base distracted by the prospect of Fourteen’s potential and sudden return.

6 Christopher Eccleston’s Run As The Ninth Doctor Was Too Short

Eccleston only served as the Doctor for the 2005 revival season

Eccleston was at the TARDIS console when Russell T Davies revived Doctor Who in 2005, but he only remained in the role for a single season. The 13 episodes in which he stars helped set the tone for the show’s comeback, and Eccleston’s performance as the Ninth Doctor is a huge part of his run’s success. His version of the Time Lord has a darkness hidden just below the surface, and his season doesn’t have time to adequately explore Nine’s potential.

The actor departed the role due to being unhappy with various facets of how the show was run, leaving the producers to find a new leading man to take over before Doctor Who season 1 had even finished being shot. Luckily, a suitable replacement was found in David Tennant, who led the show until 2010 and has since returned to reprise the role twice. Eccleston has recorded additional audio adventures as the Ninth Doctor but hasn’t appeared onscreen as the character since his departure in 2005.

5 Doctor Who’s Modern Era Has Been Inconsistent With Certain Pieces Of Lore

Certain post-2005 Doctor Who episodes have made bold and misguided canonical changes

When Doctor Who came back in 2005, the show came with an impressive amount of preexisting canon, so continuing the story wasn’t a huge task. As the modern era has progressed, the various writers and showrunners who have contributed to the show’s universe have continued to add to the extensive lore. However, some additions have clashed with canon that was either already established in Doctor Who‘s classic era, or even sometimes with new lore added after the 2005 revival.

Since its return in 2005,
Doctor Who
has had just 3 showrunners.

One of the most notable examples is the Doctor’s ability to regenerate, and how many times the character can do so. Playing by the old rulebook, Matt Smith’s Eleventh Doctor should have been the final iteration of the Time Lord, but he was granted more regenerations by his people in his farewell episode. This allowed his transformation into Peter Capaldi’s Twelfth Doctor and onward. Post-Capaldi, Chris Chibnall’s Timeless Child storyline introduced a massive retcon that revealed the Doctor was never a Gallifreyan native, but an unknown species with infinite regenerations. The change sat at odds with decades of storytelling.

4 Doctor Who’s Disney Era Has Resulted In A Confusingly Soft Reboot

Sutekh’s return highlights the indecision regarding whether to take Doctor Who forward

The beginning of Doctor Who‘s 60th-anniversary special episodes was when the show started to be co-produced by Disney as well as the BBC. David Tennant’s comeback trilogy as the Fourteenth Doctor feels very much like a natural continuation of the Jodie Whittaker era. However, when Ncuti Gatwa’s Fifteenth Doctor officially took over the show as the lead actor, Disney was obviously using the opportunity to welcome a new generation of fans. There was no problem with the plan, but its execution feels a little half-baked, as the show poorly balances looking to the future with honoring the show’s past.

Every
Doctor Who
season 14 villain was unique to the Disney era, which suggested the show was trying to establish a new catalog of bad guys that didn’t rely on prior knowledge.

Every Doctor Who season 14 villain was unique to the Disney era, which suggested the show was trying to establish a new catalog of bad guys that didn’t rely on prior knowledge. Oddly, the season 14 finale had Gatwa’s Doctor facing off against Sutekh – a classic era character who had secretly been woven into the run of episodes under the moniker of “The One Who Waits.” The reveal didn’t just alienate those unfamiliar with the show’s classic run, but also those who had never seen the pre-Gatwa episodes. It was an odd decision for a show trying to reinvent itself.

3 John Hurt’s War Doctor Was Only The Second-Best Option For The 50th Anniversary Special

Eccleston needed to be replaced in “The Day of the Doctor”

One of the most exciting moments in Doctor Who‘s modern era was the reveal of a secret Doctor, who came between Paul McGann’s Eighth and Christopher Eccleston’s Ninth. John Hurt’s War Doctor was introduced ahead of the 50th-anniversary special, “The Day of the Doctor.” Hurt’s version of the character was an excellent addition to the show’s canon and finally revealed the Doctor’s psychological and physical state in the throes of the Time War. However, the previously hidden regeneration didn’t just throw the character’s numbering system off-kilter but was also a very well-executed workaround.

The initial plan for “The Day of the Doctor” was to unite all three of the actors who had played the Doctor in the modern era up until that point.

The initial plan for “The Day of the Doctor” was to unite all three of the actors who had played the Doctor in the modern era up until that point. This would have meant Eccleston, Tennant, and Smith all portraying their respective versions of the Doctor onscreen at the same time. Unfortunately, Eccleston declined to return. Witnessing Nine as the Doctor who ended the Time War would have been a much more impactful moment than it turning out to be Hurt – brilliant though he was in the episode. Instead, the show was forced to improvise, which is why the War Doctor exists at all.

2 Doctor Who Wasted The Show’s First Female Doctor

Jodie Whittaker was one of the rare bright sparks of her era

Near the end of Peter Capaldi’s run as the Twelfth Doctor, the conversation started to intensify surrounding the issue of why the Doctor had only ever been a man. It was especially confusing considering Doctor Who canon had already established that Time Lords can change gender during the regeneration process – as proven by the Master/Missy scenario. When the day finally arrived and Jodie Whittaker’s Thirteen Doctor was announced to be stepping into the TARDIS, it felt like it had been a long time coming. Unfortunately, her run was incredibly underwhelming.

Jodie Whittaker played the Doctor from 2017 to 2022.

Whittaker did an admirable job of leading the Doctor Who cast during her time on the show, but several other elements put in place by Chris Chibnall during his time as showrunner resulted in the sci-fi show falling flat for years at a time. The scripts were often under par, although they did improve toward the end. In addition, many of the casting decisions didn’t suit the show – including the introduction of British stand-up comedian John Bishop as Dan Lewis. Doctor Who had the chance to take the show to the next level with Whittaker, but it failed in many categories.

1 Doctor Who’s Christmas Specials Have Been Hit-And-Miss

The sci-fi festive adventures haven’t always been high quality efforts

Doctor Who‘s classic era didn’t typically acknowledge Christmas, although it did make at least one strong reference to the holiday during a December episode in 1965. The modern run established the tradition of a special episode on Christmas Day, although it briefly switched to New Year’s Day under Chibnall’s stewardship. While the excitement of a new adventure from the Doctor on December 25 is anticipated by many, the truth of the matter is that many of the specials are either incredibly forgettable or just not very good.

There’s no denying that certain Doctor Who Christmas specials are incredibly well-made, but as a whole, they’ve been one of the most inconsistent elements of the show’s modern age. That being said, Doctor Who is still primarily a family show, so, perhaps giving everyone a reason to settle down and enjoy a festive sci-fi adventure together is more important than ongoing quality.