Between the BBC's centenary special and next year's 60th Anniversary episode, Doctor Who fans have a lot to talk about. There are new rumors and theories coming out every week, and fans are excited to see how Jodie Whittaker's story ends and when Ncuti Gatwa will take her place. With any luck, both specials will be remarkable, proving to naysayers that the show still has a long way to go.
With any show, however, there is bound to be conflict. That is exponentially more true for a show going on 60 years, which has been a television staple for generations. Fans have different opinions, and that means that they are likely to get into a lot of arguments—both with those in the fandom and those outside of it. At some point or another, every Doctor Who fan will have debated the show's strengths and weaknesses, and the controversy helps to keep the show relevant and strong as it moves forward.
Which Doctor Is The Best?Depending on who counts as Doctors, there have been between fourteen and around 60 different actors who have taken on the iconic role. Given that, it's only natural that fans have their favorites, though the community is at its best when fans give each version a proper chance.
Each version of the Doctor has a different personality, so while they are all technically the same character, it's difficult not to compare them. Some favor the classics, claiming William Hartnell or Tom Baker as their Doctor. Others prefer the more recent versions, favoring David Tennant or Matt Smith.
Classic Who Or New Who?In addition to looking at different versions of the Doctor, there is a generational difference between classic fans and new fans. Those who watched the show from the beginning remember the confusion and wonder at the first Doctor's regeneration, and they will argue that, despite the effects, the classic stories were better.
Then there are the new fans, who were brought in by the Doctor and Rose's love story, by David Tennant's quirks, or by Matt Smith's balance between slapstick comedy and deep emotions. They will fight for the new stories, which focus more on action and romance than science and history. Though some will switch sides over time, Doctor Who fans generally strongly prefer the 1963 original or the 2005 reboot, rather than loving both equally.
Why Do They Always End Up In London?One of the weaker points of Doctor Who is the plot convenience which results in the Doctor routinely picking up companions from modern-day Britain and facing foes that attack London on Christmas. For a show that can depict any time and place, it's unusual to see it so heavily tied to one place and a relatively limited period of time.
For the next time a Whovian ends up in that argument, they can suggest that they end up in the UK so often because Torchwood and UNIT make it a hotspot for alien activity, or that the Doctor returns regularly because he dedicated himself to being Earth's protector in his third iteration.
Who Should The Doctor End Up With?The Doctor rarely had romantic entanglements in the Classic era, with the exclusion of Sarah Jane Smith, but it's become a staple in the 2005 revival. In a world devoted to the love triangle, it's only natural that fans get into battles about whom the Doctor should end up with.
On the one hand, fans suggest Rose Tyler, who appeared to be his first great love. On the other, there's part-Time Lord and documented wife River Song. While these romances can be captivating, the driving theme of the show is change, so no relationship should be expected to ever be the be-all, end-all.
Is The Doctor A Good Person?Although the Doctor is nominally a hero, there have been questions about whether he is actually a good person. Christopher Eccleston's Doctor, for instance, was told that he would be a good Dalek. These questions became more common later on, as the Eleventh Doctor heartbreakingly warned his opponent that he wasn't a good man, and Peter Capaldi's version had a season-long arc determining if he was actually the villain.
Though this theme was not as common in the Classic version of the show, it could still be asked, given how dark some of his companions' endings were. Altogether, the Doctor is a morally complicated figure, and most fans would agree that is more interesting than a strictly good one.
Have Some Classic Villains Become Overused?When "Blink" first aired, it introduced the scariest Doctor Who aliens to date. However, the Weeping Angels have become less frightening in later episodes, with more expansive lore cheapening the villains. According to some fans, this is also true for other, older Doctor Who villains, like the Daleks, the Cybermen, and the Master.
Fans from the 60s get a thrill from seeing Classic-Era villains, but that doesn't mean they'll be as exciting the second time around. That said, many fans are eager for the return of their favorite villains, no matter how over-used they might be.
Which Writer Was The Best?The modern era of Doctor Who has become somewhat of an auteur system. While the lead actor and companions are important, the showrunner gets praise for especially strong plot lines, as well as blame for ones that don't work. On top of that, guest writers like [Neil Gaiman] can gain even more fans with an exceptional episode.
Russell T. Davies had a lot to prove when he brought the show back, but he managed that and more, with his four seasons culminating in the powerhouse finale "The Stolen Earth" and "Journey's End." Steven Moffat then had the chance to make his own mark, which some thought was brilliant and complex, while others found it lacking. Finally, Chris Chibnall has received a lot of hatred for his handling of the show's established lore. The return of Davies seems to suggest the BBC has a clear favorite, but fans are still prone to debate amongst themselves.
Is Doctor Who Getting Too Political?A general complaint about media lately is that it has become too political, and many have thrown that description at Doctor Who, particularly with the show highlighting female, LGBT+, and BIPOC characters in recent years. Adding storylines discussing race, bigotry, and political figures didn't help the accusations.
For many fans, this is simply bringing new depth to a show that has historically been predominantly white and male-led. For others, it's a sign that the showrunners have sacrificed the story for political correctness. On the whole, however, most fans are willing to follow the show as long as the stories, however political, remain entertaining.
Are The Spin-Offs Worth Watching?Russell T. Davies recently announced that he wanted Doctor Who to have a more expansive universe, similar to the MCU, and the potential for this idea has already been demonstrated through in-universe books, Big Finish audio dramas, and televised spin-offs.
For some fans, these are all extraneous things, which are inferior to the mother ship and not worth spending time on. For others, they provide a place for different age groups to enjoy the world of Doctor Who, with Torchwood being a more adult version and The Sarah Jane Adventures being more suited toward children. Either way, they can provide new adventures during the show's notorious hiatuses.
Should The Show Have Ended At 12 Regenerations?When Doctor Who began in 1963, the writers could never have expected it to become the cultural phenomenon it is today. Because of that, they created lore that limited how far the show could go. The biggest limitation was that Time Lords only have 12 regenerations and 13 forms. This probably seemed like plenty of time in the 60s, but it technically ran out with Matt Smith.
Continuing the show meant bending (and later, breaking) the established rules, which many fans took as heresy. For those who have disliked the show's recent direction, it would have been better for the show to end gracefully at its assigned time. For others, the lore is secondary to the story, and keeping the show alive is all that matters. Only time will tell whether it will be remembered as a show that went on too long or as a show that had too many stories to tell for such an arbitrary limitation.
NEXT: Which Doctor Are You, Based On Your Enneagram?
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