The future ofDoctor Whois vulnerable, and audiences don’t want it to end again, butthe show can only survive if it brings back this important part of the classic era. Afterthe Rani’s shocking plan inDoctor Whoseason 15 is somewhat foiled, the Fifteenth Doctor regenerates, leaving Billie Piper unexpectedly standing in his place.
Since the release of “The Reality War,” viewers continue to feel uneasy aboutDoctor Who’s fate going forward.Doctor Whoseason 16 is yet to be confirmed, and for the first time since the show’s return to screens in 2005, there are fears of it being cancelled once again.
However,Doctor Whois a sci-fi staple with a fantastic, committed fan base. While the show will find a way forward, it also needs to make some changes, and there is a core quality ofDoctor Who’s classic era episodesthat are worth revisiting.
Doctor Who Should Return To A Serialized Format (Even If It’s Just For One Season)
Doctor Who Season 16 Should Take Inspiration From Serials Like “The Trial Of A Time Lord” & “Flux”
While there are someharsh realities ofDoctor Who’s classic era, one thing the show can take from it in the future is the format.ClassicDoctor Who’s seasons are made up of serials, in which each story is broken up into typically four or more episodes, instead of standalone or two-parter episodes, but there are also serialized seasons, too.
This means that installments such as “The Trial of a Time Lord” follow an overarching storyline throughout the entire season. However, there are also interconnected adventures that take a break from the main story at various points,but they are still linked and relevant.
“The Trial of a Time Lord” is Colin Baker’s last serial as the Sixth Doctor inDoctor Who. However, none of the episodes show the Sixth Doctor’s transformation into the Seventh, making Colin Baker the only actor to play a main incarnation of the Doctor without a regeneration scene.
For the sake of the show’s future,Doctor Whoshould consider revisiting this serialized structure.This would allow for better character and story development, and less content would need to be cut due to runtime constraints. It should also, in theory, result in fewer plot holes.The modern era ofDoctor Whohas done this before with season 13, better known asFlux. However, one common criticism ofFluxis that it’s overly complicated at times, but this is something thatDoctor Whoseason 16 can learn from.
There’s alsoTorchwood: Children of Earth,which is considered one of the best overarching stories of theDoctor WhoTV spinoff. However,Torchwood: Miracle Daydoesn’t replicate this format in the same appealing way. Whilenot every attempt at a serialized structure sinceDoctor Who’s 2005 reboot has been successful,we know it can be done well if executed correctly.
Billie Piper Should Be A Representation Of The Doctor’s Story, Not The Sixteenth Doctor
The Return Of Past Doctor Who Figures Should Be A Reminder To The Doctor
At the moment, it’s still unclear whetherBillie Piper is the Sixteenth Doctor inDoctor Who. Yes,Piper is standing in the place of Ncuti Gatwa’s Fifteenth Doctor after regenerating, but the sudden and suspicious appearance of the actor, paired with the fact she isn’t credited as anyone in “The Reality War,” implies she might not be the titular character.
Naturally,Doctor Whoaudiences typically know Piper as the Ninth and Tenth Doctor’s companion, Rose Tyler.However, she also takes on other forms in the show. The first is the Bad Wolf entity, which serves as a warning to the Doctor across time and space after Rose stares into the heart of the TARDIS. Piper also returns toDoctor Whoin the 50th anniversary special, “The Day of the Doctor,” as the Moment’s interface.
The Moment is a weapon the War Doctor uses in an attempt to bringDoctor Who’s first Time Warto an end, and it chooses the image of the Bad Wolf/Rose to communicate with him. As we all dwell and theorize on the true identity of Piper’s latestDoctor Whorole,it’s worth considering she isn’t portraying the Doctor at all.I believe, for the sake of the show’s future, that Piper’s latest character shouldn’t be the titular figure or any of her previous personalities.
Piper’s character should once again be something symbolicfor the Doctor,but not a reminder of their past with Rose. The most logical explanation is that the Doctor has regenerated into the Bad Wolf form because Fifteen unleashes regeneration energy into the Time Vortex. However, this doesn’t mean the Bad Wolf form is also Rose.
With the face of Rose Tyler, this character can force a reflection on the Doctor’s habits when it comes to companions, and their role in how their stories begin and end.
Whoever Piper exactly is,the character needs to serve as a representation of the Doctor’s overall story, regardless of whetherDoctor Who’s Timeless Child storylineis canonical or not. With the face of Rose Tyler, this character can force a reflection on the Doctor’s habits when it comes to companions, and their role in how their stories begin and end.
Doctor Who Season 16 Should Focus On Fixing Plot Holes Over New Characters & Storylines
Past Doctor Who Characters Deserve Justice & Better Story Endings
One of the biggest issues withDoctor Whoseasons 14 and 15 is the lack of resolutions.Ruby and Belinda’s stories set up some fascinating mysteries, but their endings are rather lacklusterand, quite frankly, their conclusions are disrespectful to the characters. AfterDoctor Who’s season 15 finale, there are so many unanswered questions.
With the future ofDoctor Whohanging in the balance, and for the sake of keeping audiences engaged, the show needs to address these issues. However, this is how the serialized format can help. Having one big, overarching story that connects multiple pastDoctor Whocharacters together could provide an opportunity for some much-needed closure.
The final episode of Doctor Who’s 14th season,The Reality War, received a lukewarm rating of 6.4 on IMDb.
Doctor Who’s canon and lore can change at the drop of a hat, and while there’s nothing wrong with that, more recent installments of the show fail to give a decent explanation as to why or how. For example, since when have the Time Lords been sterile, and was this a result of the Time War, or something else? It’s not just recent stories that need work, either, andthere are loads of past details audiences would love the show to acknowledge.
The manyversions of Clara Oswald across the Doctor’s timeline, Sarah Jane’s kids, and the chronological order of the Master’s incarnations are all parts ofDoctor Whoviewers would like more information and clarification on, for example. Despite heavy attempts,Doctor Whohasn’t been able to push the idea that season 14 marks a new era of the show.It tried to label it as the start of a new era, but audiences haven’t really gelled with the idea. Perhaps this is simply because too much from the show’s past has been left unfinished, inconclusive, or nonsensical.
With one big season that focuses on wrapping up the past,Doctor Whocould really give itself a fresh slate for seasons 17 and beyond. This doesn’t mean that the show should avoid bringing back fan favorites or iconic figures fromDoctor Who’s lore, but at least they’ll come back with the proper character development.
Doctor Who
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Doctor Who: Doctor Who is a British sci-fi television series debuting in 1963, following The Doctor, a time-traveling alien Time Lord. The Doctor explores the universe in the TARDIS, accompanied by companions, confronting various adversaries and striving to save civilizations while addressing injustices.
An alien from the planet Gallifrey travels through time and space to explore, solve problems and fight injustice while also making friends with human beings. His spaceship, called TARDIS, resembles a police box, but it is much more than it appears to be.
Doctor Who: Released on June 19, 2025, this series follows the Doctor and their companion as they journey across time and space, encountering a range of extraordinary friends and adversaries, expanding the universe of the long-running British science fiction series.
