The latest series of Doctor Who has been garnering a mixed response so far. Ever since the new showrunner and Doctor came on board, audiences have been questioning whether this series should continue or perhaps take a break.
While the quality of the episodes could be the best they’ve ever been, they are also very divisive in part due to the themes they are exploring. Here are 5 reasons the show should continue and 5 that suggest it may be time for Doctor Who to come to an end.
END: DIMINISHING AUDIENCE
The ratings for the show have dropped a little over the past few episodes and aren’t quite at the height that they once were. While this could mean that people are watching Doctor Who on catch up over a longer period of time, it still doesn’t spell good news.
Doctor Who is incredibly popular, there’s no denying that, and will continue to be a science fiction staple. However, would going on a break allow for the ratings and viewing figures to be at an all-time high when the show did finally return? After all, absence makes the heart grow fonder.
CONTINUE: 13TH DOCTOR
The 13th Doctor has been an absolute treat and Jodie Whittaker’s performance has been astounding. While some were speculative about the Doctor finally being female, it has all-around been a great piece of casting and a breath of fresh air for the old show.
While there are still many adventures to be had with the 13th Doctor and some people disagree with some of the writing, this iteration of the Time Lord will certainly go down in history as the favorite of many. She’s certainly brought in new fans as well.
END: CLASSIC
Doctor Who is a classic. Consequently, perhaps, it should remain as such and come to an end before its legacy is tarnished. That said, this latest series is not doing any damage to the overall brand, in fact, it may be doing quite the opposite.
But everything must come to an end eventually. This show has gifted viewers with amazing characters, cool gadgets and gizmos, fascinating stories, unique planets, and so many alien species. Perhaps this can all remain special by ending Doctor Who, at least, for a while.
CONTINUE: GLOBAL HIT
The global nature of the internet and streaming services has made Doctor Who more international than ever before. While the UK still remains the hotspot for Whovians, the movement has been slowly increasing across the world.
Doctor Who is now a global hit, and has finally gained a substantial following in the United States. While some fans are still catching up on old episodes, the newer version of Doctor Who is reaching far beyond what previous seasons could accomplish.
END: TAKE A BREAK
Sometimes, it’s just good to take a break to rejuvenate something. Doctor Who has been ongoing since rebooting in 2005 and while there have been gaps in between the seasons, it’s hard to argue against the fact there’s been an overabundance of the Doctor.
Having a break before the 2005 reboot did wonders for the show. Perhaps a similar strategy could add a breath of fresh air to the overall production, give the creative team new avenues to explore and perhaps even create other opportunities to take this series.
CONTINUE: GREAT STORIES
While the writing can be said to be hit and miss, overall the recent stories have been excellent. The return of the Master was a particularly great arc and there were some amazing one-off episodes in the previous season of the show.
While there’s plenty more to get through in this latest series, the writers behind Doctor Who are still some of the greatest storytellers in the country and have explored some rather interesting subjects and themes.
END: SAME IDEAS
Despite the fresh blood in the crew and cast, there are a number of ideas that have returned time and again. Doctor Who can still shock audiences and the overall plot surrounding Gallifrey is certainly different; other features feel like a return to form though.
There’s a difficulty between honoring the legacy of Doctor Who and not treading old ground. While not everything about the show feels repetitive at the moment, if it goes on for many more years, there’s definitely a danger of that happening.
CONTINUE: RETURNING FAVORITES
Having said all this, the show does have a great legacy of characters and it’s a shame to not see them return every so often. The companions are often the highlights of Doctor Who and it would be a treat to see any of them make a comeback.
The villains of the series are also some of the greatest antagonists ever put on TV. The Daleks, Cybermen, and even the more modern Weeping Angels, all have a place in television history as baddies that still genuinely fill viewers with fear and dread.
END: OTHER CONTENT
There’s so much content out there that it’s difficult to keep track of it all. While Doctor Who is certainly one of the premium science fiction shows currently on the market, there’s so much to catch up on that some people might be turned off from the series.
The fact is, nowadays, brand new shows are made available all the time that are completely unique. With more and more big franchises dipping their toes into the television landscape as well, Doctor Who could be at risk of being left behind.
CONTINUE: FAMILY ORIENTATED
With less content that both kids and adults can watch together, this could be the opportunity Doctor Who has been waiting for to step up its game to another level. However, it has to avoid moving back into too childish territory again, putting off older viewers.
