Rumours have been swirling in recent months about the future of Doctor Who beyond the upcoming Series 15. From speculation about the Disney+ deal falling through, to talk of Ncuti Gatwa quitting, and questions around Russell T Davies’ own future with the show. Now, in a new interview with BBC Newsround, Davies has strongly indicated that a “pause” is on the cards.
The segment began with Ncuti Gatwa and new companion Verada Sethu being asked if there was “any news about Series 3”. Gatwa, clearly cautious, responded, “I don’t know anything.”
Then the interview cuts to Davies, and his answer is far more illuminating. Up to now, Davies had maintained that no decisions about the future would be made until Series 15 had concluded. But now, even that cautious optimism seems to have faded.
Davies stated:
“I kind of know that the Doctor’s reached the status of like Robin Hood. Sometimes there might be a pause, and during that pause, the viewers of Newsround now will grow up a few years and start writing stories and they’ll bring it back. So I have absolute faith that that will survive because I am living proof of it and that’s what happens to good ideas. No good idea ever dies.”
This marks the strongest indication yet that a hiatus will follow the next series. Notably, Davies’ remark about today’s viewers “growing up” before reviving the show implies that any potential break may not be brief, but a significant pause that could stretch over several years.
I have heard good things about Heaven Sent, but the bits I saw of Hell Bent really put me off. Rassilon was badly miscast, the Doctor needlessly killed the general (which is just not him, not to mention the completely unnecessary cringe-worthy men-bashing dressed up as humour*) and Moffat's inability to actually commit to the ending of "Face the Raven" completely undermines the impact of that episode. I just don't see why I would spend my time when the payoff isn't worth it - whilst nobody's perfect (RTD's "Last of the Time Lords" was a mediocre resolution), Moffat rarely seems to wrap things up satisfactorily and I hated Matt Smith's final episode for that reason.
I think Jodie Whittaker is in a similar boat to Peter Davison. Good actor and could have been a good doctor but the writing in their episodes was so bad I can't watch their seasons.
I enjoy Peter Davison, but Season 21 was clearly where the writing was on the decline. I can barely watch Colin Baker's era and it has only been when I rewatched it with the production subtitles on that I finally understand why I don't like most of his stories:
I haven't seen anything with Jodie Whittaker in it (apart from a few scenes of The Power of the Doctor) so I can't really comment on her acting. Chibnall really destroyed the show for me, though, with his childhood fanfic concept of the Timeless Child and the Fugitive Doctor (neither of which actually make any sense with the previous established canon - too many problems to go into here - and to me signal complete contempt for the show's history).
Yeah the Colin Baker and Sylvester McCoy seasons are where I don't even see the core of a good show anymore. I can see the Davidson stories being fixed with some writing polish.
JNT didn't want to be in charge of Docto Who and it shows. Even the final Tom Baker season is bad.
Hell Colon Bakers pimp suite was because he asked for a black outfit so they gave him the opposite.
I actually really enjoy Tom Baker's final season - Meglos is really the only weak link there. I thought JNT was fine early on, but after 3-4 years it would have been time for a change (and IIRC, JNT tried to find a replacement during the Colin Baker era). Unfortunately for him (and us), there was nobody else to take over and so he just kept going (I think Moffat was in the same boat for the Capaldi era).
Re Colin Baker's outfit - yes, now that you mention it I remember reading that!
Some of the McCoy stories are fine, if very camp. I am probably in the minority in that I really don't like Ghost Light but enjoyed Dragonfire. The core concept of The Happiness Patrol could have been really good, but it was abysmally executed. In one respect it was probably a good thing that the show ended when it did, as I am aware of "the Cartmel Masterplan" and hate the concept - like Chibnall's Timeless Child nonsense, it would have just completely undermined established canon.
Yeah hell bent holds the worst of moffats excesses. Avoiiiiiid.
Heaven sent though...👌👌