One formerDoctor Whostar is not pleased with the direction that the show is taking. After the BBC agreed to a massive deal with Disney+ for much ofthe Ncuti Gatwa-led era, Disney+ recently declined to renew itsDoctor Whodeal. With Gatwa exiting and Billie Piper returning to play the Sixteenth Doctor, the show’s future is in doubt.
The franchise has been prominent around the world since it first premiered in 1963. As a consequence, over a dozen actors have played the leading character, including David Tennant, Peter Davison, and now, Billie Piper. Piper appears to be poised to lead the next era of the show, but one star believes thatDoctor Whois struggling.
Davison, who played the Fifth Doctor, believes that the show is failing to maintain a fulfilling narrative. In an interview onThe Lewis Nicholls Show,Davison described watchingDoctor Whoas being akin to “watching a trailer.“He believes that there is no narrative cohesion, as the series jumps from point to point with no direction. Check out his comments below:
It’s like watching a trailer for a Doctor Who show you’d like to watch later.There are huge gaps in the narrative.They’re just leaping onto the next bit and hoping your brain fills in the rest.
What This Means For Doctor Who’s Modern Era
Davison Believes Doctor Who Is Struggling Narratively
Having played the Doctor from 1981 to 1984, Davison has maintained a strong presence in theDoctor Whocommunity. Even his son-in-law, David Tennant, played the Doctor from 2005 to 2010 and later reprised the roleto play the Fourteenth Doctor. Having remained connected to the show over the decades, Davison’s opinions carry weight.
The BBC is still shopping for a new deal for the show, but Davison’s criticisms could cut to the heart of its problems.
Doctor Whois facing declining ratings, having reportedly fallen by nearly 2 million average viewers over the past two seasons. Losing the Disney+ deal is also worrying, given that Disney offered a massive contract for the show, leading to an increased budget and greater international recognition. By all metrics, the show is facing a worrying decline.
The BBC is still shopping for a new deal for the show, but Davison’s criticisms could cut to the heart of its problems. After all, the increasingly complex storylines rarely have the opportunity to build and develop slowly over the course of a season. Instead,showrunner Russell T Daviesprefers a frantic narrative style, which led directly to Davison’s arguments.
Our Take On The Doctor Who Criticism
Peter Davison Has A Point
It is difficult to dismiss Davison’s criticisms, given that audiences have apparently agreed about the show’s decline, but it is also easy to understand how the show went wrong.TV shows are increasingly competing with social media, which generally offer bite-sized content to engage viewers.
If Davies hopes to engage those viewers, a trailer-like series could be an effort to capture attention. Unfortunately, it does not appear that it has actually worked for the show. With declining ratings, the loss of the Disney+ deal, and concerns about its future,Doctor Whomay need to return to its roots.
Slow and character-focused storylines could help to bring back the allure that once made this series so great. While season-long storylines are engaging, they can be simplified to give more room for slower-paced scenes that help audiences connect to characters. Davison is right thatDoctor Whoneeds to change, and now is the perfect time to do it.
