Doctor Who Series 14 Was A Letdown

So the dust is settling on Doctor Who Series 14, the big, ambitious relaunch of the show, introducing the 15th Doctor and his companion Ruby Sunday. It's full of the usual adventures in time and space, but I couldn't help feel a bit disappointed by the whole thing. So, what went wrong with Series 14?
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#DoctorWho #Series14 #Review

[@HarboWholmes]

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[@redsquirrel724]

I think the lack of conflict between 15 and Ruby is what makes Ruby feel less developed. I really liked Ruby as a character for the most part but sometimes seeing someone get angry shows you another layer to someone and where they'll draw a line on something and their beliefs. Same in some regards to 15, some of his scenes where he cried would've worked so much better if he was angry instead and shows that the trauma he carried prior to this incarnation is still there deep down. Then bouncing Ruby off of that and seeing how she would've reacted, showing her more caring and supportive side. Hopefully we see this sort of stuff in the next series.

[@mcrwillneverdie]

I think overall the season was fun, but I definitely agree with the issues you brought up. I think with time we might look on it more fondly, especially considering that every fan has episodes they don’t like. Ncuti and Millie are just incredible and I’d love to see more of Shirley Anne Bingham and Rose Noble too. they all made watching worth it. I’m hoping next season will make this season make more sense. and in the meantime I’ll be rewatching my favorite era - moffat’s run!

[@pickles168]

The writing felt very half arsed. It feels like RTD doesn't give a shit anymore. I don't think Ncuti really felt like the Doctor. He didn't believably have the darkness that all the Nu Who Doctors had. Maybe you could say that was a choice, but they didn't replace it with anything, so Ncuti's Doctor just felt like an underbaked character

[@JoshuaHyde-iu8ym]

The pointing at a sign was beyond bad.

[@bluegamemc1403]

This series was good, it just should have been so much better

[@Jackson-ub1uv]

One of the things I hated the most is how often Fifteen would just

[@ozmond]

I miss Moffat

[@joeyunderwood]

4 two-parters would’ve worked really well! at the very least, the first 2 episodes should’ve been a two-parter considering they dropped on the same day.

[@hydrohigh-danger9711]

I feel like the Doctor and Ruby’s “friendship” felt extremely unearned and underdeveloped due to the low episode count. Frankly, given Ruby’s solid characterization and lack of screen time with Gatwa’s Doctor, it would’ve made more sense for the Doctor to develop an intellectual obsession with Ruby’s hazy origin, providing ample parallel to Sutehk, rather than the Doctor deciding that this girl he just met is his best friend in the universe. I feel like the finale they wrote would’ve worked better with more episodes of the two of them hanging out and running from monsters together, but they should’ve seen this underdeveloped relationship coming and adjusted some of the episodes accordingly.

[@Domihork]

I think what Ruby is "missing" is exactly what you highlighted as her pros. She is "a companion". She doesn't really feel like her own character, she feels like an amalgamation of previous companions. Like you described the show to someone and they then created Ruby.

[@gtc9966]

Liked it more than Chibnall.

[@DeclanCorey]

Yes, thank you for bringing up how the Doctor cries every single episode and how it feels forced and diminishes how important such a moment should be!!!

[@Gamelover254]

I think comparing Ruby to RTD’s first companions (Rose, Martha & Donna) is almost like a joke.

[@adamschmadam]

There's something about Fifteen's characterisation that feels off to me.

[@Ro9ge]

One big issue was the push towards fantasy storytelling from a writer who doesn't seem to understand fantasy storytelling. RTD treated it as an excuse to have no rules and write whatever he wanted, which really cheapened a lot of story beats.

[@julilu423]

My biggest issue with Doctor Who since Capaldi left has been the characterisation of the Doctor and their companions. I don't know why but Chibnal and now RTD2 make the Doctor seem like a passenger in their own show. Lots of plot/stuff happens but we never really see how this genuinely effects the Doctor and (insert whichever companion lol). Re-watching the Capaldi era recently it is the doctors relationships and performances with Clara, Missy, Bill etc. which make that era work so well, elevating even the 'meh' stories or plot-points.

[@peterskrobola8753]

From a top down level: 15 and Ruby never had conflicts of ideals, most episodes felt like early drafts, due to the low amount of episodes Ruby’s family wasn’t established to a degree you’d expect from RTD. (Which is ironic since her entire arc is about family.)

[@Guerreropowerr]

I think the biggest sin was the lack of interior TARDIS shots. The interior is so beautiful.

[@Comicbroe405]

A bit surprising but understandable. A lot of potential that seems squandered by just a few decisions. I'm grateful to this season for giving me Boom & 73 Yards tho.