Is Doctor Who still relevant and why do fans still care?

[@paulbowler5345]

I still care about Dr Who, but the new Disney Who isn't my cup of tea at all really. Sicking with Classic Who for now.

[@Borntobeawhovian]

cor the way this guy says someone else was in charge after him... like wow

[@ADifferentLens2345]

I love how they don't even refer to Chibnall by name

[@purefoldnz3070]

like Voldermort.

[@bojurie]

I don't love it. He's a big part of the show and a lifelong fan

[@AllThePiecesMatter_]

I was as optimistic as many other fans when it was announced RTD was returning but feel it hasn't hit the heights of his first time as showrunner. Yet. There may be many reasons for this but i do think 2005-10 and maybe up to the shows' 50th anniversary was a golden period for it culturally and that it might lack the same appeal now.

[@markprior2278]

I want to still care but i hate what it has become. After the terrible Chibnal era i hoped everything would improve with RTD back at the helm, but the 60th anniversary specials were so bad that i have just had enough of hoping that it would get better. I don't recognise it as Doctor Who anymore.

[@Andy.Gledhill.Models.]

Yes, I think we all had high hopes when we heard RTD was back. But it is a massive disappointment to see what he has actually done to the show now. It ain't Doctor Who any more.

[@robalexander8065]

Love they don't mention Chibnall.

[@samanthab1923]

I like Peter but haven’t watched in years

[@purefoldnz3070]

you missed out seeing Mel and Ace return.

[@rebeccaburgess8710]

I still care ❤

[@steveandjeanniefrith236]

I moderately care. If Susan and the Rani and Romana and the Meddling Monk appear I'm here for it. Susan might but I doubt the others.

[@lbricks7631]

Depends on who you ask. Seems to me that ever since Matt Smith left Doctor Who has fallen back to the kind of cultural status it held in the 80's. The average joe watched it as a kid, (Tennant is the modern equivalent of Tom Baker), and it still has a very active fanbase. But what makes it different from the 80's is that it draws higher numbers than pretty much any other drama on television and is not actively hated by those at the BBC.

[@Andy.Gledhill.Models.]

When has it got higher ratings than other drama's? Drama's like Red Eye, Death in Paradise, Beyond Paradise, and many others got far higher ratings than Doctor Who. This last season got the lowest average rating per episode, out of the whole history of the show. Even worse ratings than when it was cancelled in 1989. How anybody class this last season as a success is beyond me.

[@GermanLeftist]

@@Andy.Gledhill.Models. Because the nominal ratings don't matter. What matters are share, appreciation index, chart rating, and those double within the target demographic of young adults. In all those categories, the last season was an improvement to the previous ones. But you're correct that DW is not the most successful drama on the BBC.

[@lbricks7631]

@Andy.Gledhill.Models. Church on Ruby Road got higher viewership than the kings speech.

[@robalexander8065]

​@@GermanLeftist Yeah about that appreciation index... we are still waiting for those numbers for the last series.

[@Andy.Gledhill.Models.]

@@GermanLeftist Off course the ratings matter. Chart position is meaningless, because all that shows is how well it did against what else was on in that same week. Better to compare it with other dramas. Tons of other dramas have got far better ratings than Doctor Who. 4 of the 8 episodes of this last season, did not even get above 4 million views after 28 days. Now, that is terrible. Also, The BBC is refusing to release the Audience Appreciation Index figures (AI). That is something they have never done in all the years that the AI rating has been used. Now why is that? It can only be because the AI ratings must be terrible.

[@ryder2085]

ill always watch doctor who

[@jahmeljones2]

I’ll always love Doctor Who but this year’s finale was a let down in almost every area. Im hoping next series fixes things or the show will just go back to the decline introduced by the previous show runner

[@Wolfie-p7q]

It should be canceled and a reboot going back to Sydney Newman’s original concept. I know he’s in his 80s but I’d like to see David Bradley in a series of stories about the First Doctor, William Hartnell being my first and favourate incarnation of the Doctor.

[@Andy.Gledhill.Models.]

Yeah, I think it should go back to the traditional 25 minute episode format. 45 minutes just isn't enough time to tell a full story most of the time.

[@Wolfie-p7q]

@@Andy.Gledhill.Models. Sylvester McCoy was the last Doctor I really saw as Doctor Who. I’m seventy and I guess that makes me old school and maybe as Russell T Davies put it, you’ve had your fun. I don’t know if Bradley would appeal to a younger viewer, but something needs to change. Something along the lines of Torchwood or the Sarah Jane Adventures spin-offs would work for me. I’d watch the spin-off and ignore the main show, others could watch Ncuti Gatwa series if that’s what they want and some might choose to follow both. Personally I can’t stand the current series, in my opinion its worse than Jodie Whittaker’s incarnation of Dr Who and wasn’t over-enamoured of her acting or storylines either.

[@Andy.Gledhill.Models.]

@@Wolfie-p7q I know what you mean mate. I will be 63 in January, and I have watched Doctor Who since at least the Troughton era. I did enjoy some of the re-boot era, but not all of it. Looking back on the re-boot era now. You can see the warning signs about RTD back during his first stint as show runner. With stories like the Slithean ones where we got stupid fart jokes. I really enjoyed Matt Smith as The Doctor. The writing under Moffat as show runner was much better. But it went seriously down hill with Whittaker. I watched Whittaker up to the garbage Timeless Child end of series 12. Then I checked out and stopped watching. I came back to watch Whittaker's last episode, and actually thought it wasn't too bad. I had high hopes when I heard that they were bringing back RTD. But then they announced Gatwa in the role. After that news, I knew it would be garbage. But I was determined to give it a chance. But my suspicions were realised when I saw the 3 so called anniversary specials. I watched last years Christmas Special and was not impressed. But I still wanted to give it a chance. So, I did watch the majority of this last season. I did not watch Dot & Bubble and Rogue, because I knew beforehand what the subject matter was all about. I will not be watching this years Christmas Special and will not be watching next years season. Its been turned into Disneyfied garbage. It needs to be cancelled and re-booted in a few years time with better producers and writers.

[@Wolfie-p7q]

@@Andy.Gledhill.Models. As you have probably guessed, I’ve been watching from the very beginning back in 1963 when I was nine years old. Like you I watched the Whittaker era, even though the acting and storylines felt weak. Again, I watched the three anniversary specials and could see the writing was on the wall for the new season of Doctor Who, but again I felt the need to give it a chance having been a follower of Dr Who for sixty years, but I think the time has come to let go and say this isn’t for me anymore, I’ve my DVDs of the Hartnell era and a collection of Target books to cover the stories not in my DVD collection. I’ve got the Dalek stories covered from the Troughton, Pertwee, Tom Baker, Davidson and, Colin Baker and McCoy eras as a DVD and or in book form so I can still enjoy Doctor Who without suffering the travesty and pretence that passes for Dr Who today.

[@Andy.Gledhill.Models.]

@@Wolfie-p7q Yep, I have most of the DVD's, but I stopped collecting those after I started getting the Bluray boxed sets. I still have loads of those Blurays to get through and watch. I will be watching those when I can. As to the main show. Unless there are major changes in producers and the actor hired to play the part, I am done with it. I just want to see it cancelled now.

[@jimhillis3745]

Dr Who WAS a juggernaut and is now a shambling wreck. Chibnall and Davies have betrayed its Core values of tolerance and redemption to Intersectional Politics. It is now unwatchable and will remain so as long as those currently in charge helm the show. Time for a rest and a top down rethink.

[@darlig.ulv.bakhjerne]

Chibnall and Davies haven't betrayed its core values of tolerance, their eras embodied the values of tolerance. Did you even watch Series 11-14?

[@Caramiela]

I still care! Loved that last season and I am loving Ncuti as Doctor, he quickly became one of my favourites. I agree he has fantastic charisma he brings to the role of the Doctor (and also agree that he's just insanely gorgeous hah). I also love that his Doctor is more sensitive and not scared of expressing emotions - however I would argue that the episdoes where he cries should be more sparse because it takes away from the moments when it really should hit you - like for example finale. I know that current era is divisive among the fandom (the issues people are having with Doctor being black or queer are making me sad, you would assume that fans of the show exploring the beauty and variety of different times and worlds in the universe would be more open minded, really, not stuck in the past) but for me personally it was the breath of fresh air after Chibnall era which I am not a great fan of (but will probably give it another chance and rewatch it in the future). Was the first season of Ncuti's perfect? No, for example "space babies" was for me very weak episode and puzzling choice for the premiere of the season, should be cut from the (very short after all) list of the episodes in general. Ncuti definietly needs good space station under siege episode but this ain't it. The season finale also left me scratching my head, especially revelation about Ruby's mom was a let down - but still, even in these weaker episodes we had really fantastic scenes of Doctor being empatic toward other characters and I love that about Ncuti's Doctor. Other than first and last episodes, I think we had really strong run this year. I like that despite decreased number of episodes we still received great variety in the themes and styles - however I must say I hope we will get more classic sci fi in season 2 and, hopefully, 3. Give us planets, space stations, Fifteen needs to face daleks finally! My favourite episode of the season was Rogue. I've been awaiting it since Jonathan Groff's casting was announced a year prior to broadcast - and I think it was absolutely beautiful. I love the character of Rogue (and also that him being time travelling bounty hunter brings us back into sci fi territory), I really liked how Doctor and him were able to connect over similarities between their lonely lives and I am really hoping he will be this era's River Song - recurring love interest for the Doctor. IMO Ncuti and Jonathan had just insane on screen chemistry. I am also being hopeful about new names in the writing room for season 2 - new writers always bring new ideas and perspective, especially in the sci fi genre. so bring on Joy to the World(s) and season 2! I'm ready!

[@ØĐGaming-x8g]

Doctor Who ended for me the moment it went woke.

[@AGES1934]

doctor who has always been woke. It’s been that way since the show’s inception back in 1963. It’s practically in the shows DNA, so realistically speaking it never ended, it just changed.

[@Knaveofspades6]

​@AGES1934 What on earth are you talking about. 😂 there's a massive difference between bringing up societal challenges / growth of the day, and trying to force it down your audiences throat. 😂

[@Perkunas_1]

What, about 18 odd years ago?

[@kayleighcoyle2940]

I still watch and care

[@Andy.Gledhill.Models.]

Couldn't give a toss any more. Watched Doctor Who live. from at least the Troughton era. But, I will not be watching it again. The last season was a complete joke. It is NO LONGER Doctor Who. Its just a vehicle for RTD and Disney to push their pathetic ideology. RTD, the producers and especially, Disney, have to go.

[@lbricks7631]

Well obviously you do give a toss because you took the time out of your day to write this comment about Doctor Who. In your opinion, as a classic who fan who watched the revival in 2005, what made those changes acceptable but these changes a "pathetic ideology".

[@Andy.Gledhill.Models.]

@@lbricks7631 I guess you have NEVER heard of the concept of giving feedback. In fact, why is it that people like you CANNOT accept the fact that millions of fans have been turned away by RTD and Disney? I am not going to waste my time with some bigot like you. I bet you are one of the hundreds of people like you that I have already Blocked on FB.

[@funtimewithnickandfriends1998]

@@Andy.Gledhill.Models. see I never understood the whole idea that it was now just “pushing his politics down our throats” since the show has always been extremely left-wing when it came to its messaging. I mean the first ever delak story wasnt trying to hide the fact it was very anti facism/anti nukes.

[@davidblyth6886]

​@@funtimewithnickandfriends1998 methinks it's time the show learned the world has just about had all they can take of the batshit crazy left wing, trumps reelection was a big enough wake up call

[@harnois75]

@@funtimewithnickandfriends1998 How is that left wing?

[@steveandjeanniefrith236]

No and no. 😂

[@shrewman]

No and we don’t. Is the correct answer

[@Faulty720]

No, it's not.

[@kitesplays3551]

Yes

[@ben-tendo]

Of course Doctor Who is still relevent... yeah we had a dip a little while back, but it's not the first time, and it survived, and it's surviving again!

[@davidblyth6886]

Everything ends

[@jackturnerfilmmaker4124]

I still care ❤