It's happening again. The planet Earth's mightiest defender is regenerating for a thirteenth time. Or is it the fourteenth? Or the twenty-sixth? But I digress.
For the uninitiated, "Doctor Who" is a television juggernaut. It's the longest running science fiction series on television, broadcasting its first episode on November 23rd, 1962, a day after the Kennedy assassination. To date, thirteen actors have portrayed the Doctor, plus Peter Cushing who played the role in a pair of mid-sixties films. The Doctor, you see, is an alien with the ability to regenerate when the end is near, a conceit brilliantly introduced when the first actor, William Hartnell, grew to ill to continue. Now the first female to play the role is stepping down, and it's a time of reckoning for the venerable series.
I discovered the Doctor in the mid 70s, when he was portrayed by Tom Baker, memorably adorned with a twelve-foot scarf, Gene Wilder locks and a floppy hat. Baker's Doctor was quirky and eccentric, unlike any science fiction hero that I had ever seen. Baker could switch from whimsical to morose in mid-sentence, and I was spellbound watching him perform. Later, I immersed myself in every "Doctor Who" story, with all of the previous Doctors, and found elements to enjoy in each.
The series was unceremoniously canceled in 1988 during the reign of Sylvester McCoy. A 1999 movie, made with the cooperation of our very own FOX network, was the pilot for a new series starring Paul McGann, but it wasn't picked up. In 2002, Russell Davies brought us a slicker Who, with a decent budget and an engaging lead in Christopher Eccleston ("The Avengers"). This series has trotted along now for nearly twenty years, but of late, the numbers are sinking, Jodie Whittaker and her show-runner Chris Chibnall are departing, and Davies has been recalled to right the ship.
While there has been much to admire about the NuWho, I've had some quibbles. David Tennant and Peter Capaldi have been the stand-out new Doctors in MY book, and rumors abound that Tennant may actually return to the title role. But the larger budget and on-location shooting has resulted in abbreviated runs for the actors portraying the Doctor. Most last three years (compared to Baker's record seven), and most of those "seasons" consist of little more than ten episodes, and we're enduring more than a calendar year between seasons. More time is needed in post-production ... and pre-production. Most of these episodes are "standalone" shows, meaning that new sets, costumes and makeup need to be generated with each adventure. And worst of all, the writing has become slipshod and preachy ... woke, if you will.
Here, free of charge, is how I would right the ship, Mr. Davies (oh, and welcome back sir), let's return to the original format of "Doctor Who," please. Rather than having ten one-hour episodes each season, every other year, let's go back to 30 minute episodes of 4 to 6 parts each! Bring back the thrill of the episode-ending cliffhangers, leaving your audience screaming for more! Now, instead of having to mount ten miniature feature films every two years, you can bring us 22-24 shorter episodes that present 4-6 stories. Your costuming, makeup and location shoots are now much more economical, and you can resume writing characters of substance and depth. And no more moralizing, please! If I want preaching, I'll get it where the rest of us do. From "Meet the Press."
By the way, happy 90th birthday to Mr. Baker, who delights me anew in a series of "Doctor Who" audio adventures from Big Finish. He hasn't missed a beat!
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