Video

The show was called Doctor WHO. The character was an alien. Benign but unknowable. Doctor Who used to be for everybody. Now its solely for those who agree with Russel T Davies view of the world, which is so limited and dull. He is fixated on sexuality as the defining trait of the character and its so boring. He's brought the show down to Earth with a dull thud. A major retcon is in order. My kids are bored to tears by it. Aren't we all?

I was six years old when I watched Brain of Morbius. Does RTD think it would have appealed to me more if the Doctor had reignited thr Sisterhood of Karn's sacred flame by farting on it?

1:00:00 Do you remember when being opppsed to homophobia meant divorcing homosexuality from its cultural signifiers like camp or hobbies atypical of ones sex, rather than reinforcing them? Remember that? I am sure I remember that.

I knew some of his work before Doctor Who, and he did a really good job overseeing the return of Doctor Who. Even if some of his individual scripts weren't all brilliant, he had a concept of what the show should be and employed lots of great writers. This time round its almost all RTD and he seems to have lost his touch.

I think RTD was always slightly naff, but we were just happy it came back in 2005.

The sad thing is that RTD2 is affecting my view of RTD1. I struggled but went along with the falling in love, the messy finales with their crappy solutions, and when Matt Smith appeared under Moffat breathed a sigh of relief but rewatching The Stolen Earth/Journey's End for the channel, I found it harder to take because 'the seeds of doom' were sown then. Hugh

Thanks for another wonderful podcast!

RTD new era of Who has killed my interest in modern Dr Who now. I still can't believe quite how badly it's turned out.

Considering his destruction of Dr Who, I imagine two reasons: 1. He has an undiagnosed mental illness. 2. He's always wanted to destroy Dr Who for his 'agenda' but in the past felt he had to behave himself due ro 'societal norms' and morals (remember them?). But after society has become more 'woke', pathetic and stupid, the creepy floodgates opened and he felt empowered to go full pervert. To the thought police or A1..This is just theory, an opinion, assuming this is still allowed.

How can you watch current WHO to enjoy it when so many misguided elements wuthin it make ones blood boil ?

Great discussion . Your chat had an additional benefit as your voices had a calming effect in the background as I was attempting assembly of an IKEA chair. Your podcast literally assisted my erection prowess 👍👍

Many thanks, Brendan and all for a typically comprehensive and in depth discussion. I never wanted Davies to return as showrunner. One unhinged public rant after another readily convinced me that he had sublimated his genuine loss and grief into an unwholesome crusade to elevate certain societal minorities at the expense of all others. Sadly, I fear that Davies' and Doctor Who's legacies are destined to be inextricably linked because, where Chibnall was satisfied with reducing the show to the status of laughing stock, Davies has far loftier ambitions. Only when that first child transitions, proudly and gratefully claiming it to be on the back of watching the show, will RTD2's debauched mission be complete. After which, of course, will follow the change of heart as the physical and chemical abuse to which they have subjected themselves makes itself apparent. Then gratitude will become blame and a show that has long been rightly hailed as a wholesome, educative force for good will, seemingly overnight, be associated with child indoctrination and forever deemed unsuitable for children. It will never recover and not a day will go by without my asking myself if the man who so lovingly restored it to global renown could really be responsible for so stigmatising it. Thanks again and all the best for now. Paul

But what is there in Davis Who to be positive about?

I do think modern writers like RTD should be better educated about the subjects they pronounce on. More job, less gob please. 1. "Celestial" was an English rendition of the honorific title of the Qing Emperors (Son of Heaven), which was also used at a slightly lower level of formality to address their representatives for trade purposes. It wasn't a pejorative, although undoubtedly used incorrectly by some Westerners both personally and in popular entertainment. An inappropriate compliment at worst. 2. The great figures of Egyptology/archaeology were all gifted amateurs - the French classicist Champollion, the English artist Carter and the German modern polyglot Schliemann. While their expeditions were funded by powerful/wealthy patrons (less so in Schliemann's case with Troy) and prestigious artifacts were expatriated, the motivation was to discover, preserve, study and understand evidence of ancient civilisations, regarded as the wellspring of us all. You have to appreciate that the Egyptians (and other occupying factions) had thoroughly and destructively raided their own ancient sites over millennia to the point where they knew very little about their own history. Cleopatra didn't understand cuneiform or hieroglyphs. Tutenkhamun was actually a very minor pharaoh but the significance of Carter's find was that it hadn't been erm "looted". Nobody is asserting that imperialism/colonialism was a saintly pursuit, far from it. But to simply dismiss these matters as "racism" and "cultural appropriation" is crass, ignorant and intellectually lazy. PS Imo the Third Doctor's relationship with Jo was avuncular/parental. His touching and tasteful parting with her was the act of a mentor sadly and selflessly accepting his protege flying the nest. I too have been a teacher and the goal is to help them outgrow you. It's always a bit bittersweet. Hands down the best companion departure of the lot.

Great show, Brendan. It is difficult to retain an impartial view in the chat, given the restrictions, which is nobody's fault. But give us something to be positive about and we'll be positive. But if it's crap, then crap it shall be be called. The point is, we want to be positive!

Sutekh WITHOUT the MUMMIES. It's like Fish without CHIPS or Eggs without BACON!

Dr Who died after Capaldi.

Great show. Many thanks, Brendan, Gary, Rachael and Simon. The bi-regeneration has provided me with the perfect jumping off point. We didn't see one Doctor change into another. The baton has failed to be passed. And so when I see Ncuti behaving in so many ways that the Doctor wouldn't, he fails to convince me that he is the Doctor. Not unlike the metacrisis Doctor, he's not the Doctor, he's a peculiar offshoot from the Doctor, travelling the universe, not in the same TARDIS that we first saw in that junkyard in 1963, but in a copy of that TARDIS - at best, a magic clone of that TARDIS. This feels more and more like a spin-off show that carries the same name, and carries so very little of the same quality. They even called it Season One to make the distinction from what had gone before. For me, this is RTD'S legacy.

I don't want to sound like a prick, but I also grew to hate Rose and for mostly the same reasons as the panel. She was a good audience surrogate in Season 1, but by Season 2 a lot of the stories with her in were basically "We're Rose and the Doctor and you're not, biatch". I grew to hate her massive ego. (also the way she treated Micky never sat well. Or the way the Doctor did his 'Micky the Idiot' stuff.)

I'm not a gay man. But I think RTD has made it worse for gay people. It never bothered me about gay people. He thinks everybody should be gay. Let it drop. That also includes Tennant. Another great show Brendan.

RTD is liked as much as Keir Starmer. Let's be honest RTD is living on his past. He's finished. It's so sad to see this classic show die. All we asked for was classic Sci Fi. But RIP Doctor Who. Thanks for another great show Brendan.

BLAKES 7. Speakijg of rival shows are there any Blaeks 7 fans out there? Brendan did you watch it as a kid? I am mentioning this because I just saw a CZcams promo, Coming Soon - Blake's 7 - The Collection! | BBC Studios and it looks fantastic. There is a look of cross over between B7 and DW not just Terry Nation but actors who appeared in both such as the amaizng Jacqueline Pearce, other eiterd, direcctors etc... Hope everyone in the Sense Sphere is doing well.

RTD is an ideas man. He comes up with an idea and wham, that is the new episode. He is not a story teller. Ideas are not stories. Stories have a structure where something happens and the logic displayed resolves the problems created. RTD has very very rarely managed to pull that off. Take this story. They solve the problem by Donna becoming a god and pressing the 'Defeat Daleks' button. Then we get about 4 hours of Murray Gold to tell us we need to cry over Rose getting her own personal Doctor sized sex toy. The only reason this could be the best RTD Finale is because all of his others are also very basic and unrewarding stories.

As ever, it was a big, Davis dud

Both shows have run out of good, creative writers.

Never really bought into the dark Doctor. I like the idea, but didn't really think McCoy pulled it off.

As ever, Brendan, point perfect. I really enjoy your analytical evaluations.

I have absolutely no respect for Davis as a writer. To my mind, he is completely overrated.

The build up to this is great. However, it is let down my the most contrived ending I've ever seen. Typical, Davis. Any competent writer can build up a story. You can do what you want. But resolving it is the far more difficult part, something Davis can't do: We'll imprison the main characters in a room that includes everything required for escape. Ridiculous! The second part really let the first part down. Lazy, lazy, poor writing.

The old cliche that "JNT kept the show going throughout the 1980s. If he'd gone earlier, then the show would have gone too" is complete nonsense. The changes JNT instigated from the very beginning of his tenure were a disaster from changing the beloved Delia Derbyshire theme to that dreadful electronic music that also saturated the programme throughout, the awful new titles that weren't up to the filmic slitscan titles of Bernhard Lodge, the dreadful costumes. The show did not feel like Doctor Who anymore and was a massive turn off for the General Public who switched off immediately. It was change for change sake and was a massive turn off for the viewing public. JNT destroyed the show overnight.

He brought Nicola Bryant in to the show. 10 out of 10 just for that.

Sorry did not see this live. Better late than never. I have a lot of respect JNT. When it comes to RTD. I have about the same respect for him that I have for Keir Starmer. Believe me, that's bad.

I was a life long fan since 1972. I stopped curtailing my watching a few episodes before the end of the 2nd season, watched the David tennent Christmas special and the first 4 epidoes of Ncuti but stopped after that. For me, personally, the show is no longer a fun and entertaining show; it has become more about telling people how they should think and an agenda that is not Doctor Who. Sorry, but like I said, it's my personal take and no disrespect to others who have a different view.

Great detox Brendan, Dan & Dwayne 👍 Does anyone remem ber Tripods? It was shown in the Saturday slot when Dr Who was off air. I usually watched whatever US import was on ITV when there was no Dr Who, many you mentioned. I'd bin a lot of modern Who, it's classic I always go back to even the lesser stories like Twin Dilemma, The Dominators i'd watch over any RTD, Moffat, Chibnall penned episode

He doesn't want the Doctor to sound pompous? Did he forget he was the one who wrote the 10th Doctor.

I'd agree that certain stories like The Senorities, The Space Museum, The Dominators, Colony in Space, The Mutants, The Monster of Peladon, Underworld, Power of Kroll, Armageddon Factor, are quite dull longwinded stories, but they're dull stories with some good performances and largely remain watchable for that. I wouldn't lose any of them. Nu who is a different kettle of fish, I've never watched any of them twice and wouldn't really miss them if they were wiped.

I feel the same

Personally I don't think The Romans is pure comedy. It has a few darker moments, especially in the cliffhangers. It also has a subtle subplot regarding the man trying to free Barbara from slavery, and Nero pursuing her, and the fact that it displays the political machinations around the schemes to poison competitors.

I agree on the Peledon stories. I just can't seem to get into either of them. For the Tom Baker years: Underworld (the effects look SOOO bad), and Horns of Nimon (the Nimon look ridiculous).

All Sylvesters

Now that Disney has got rid of The Acolyte I wonder if they’ll turn their attention to their other flop ? The Acolyte got far better viewing figures and boom 💥

Inferno on the list

The Time Monster is the one that always gets me on any rewatch

I know it might be an unpopular decision, but I would delete The Seeds of Doom. I really don't like that story, and can never get through it. I am not entirely sure why, but there is something about it. It just doesn't work.

Obviously to make shows go missing you just need to add a scene with Huw Edwards

Great show. Many thanks, Brendan, Dan and Dwayne. Granted, the opening scene of The Twin Dilemma is awful, the polar opposite of a dramatic hook, when the father comes home to discover that his two sons have been... doing sums!!! And, obviously, the strangulation scene is misjudged. But other than that, it's great fun. No, it's not The Deadly Assassin; it's more of a comic book style, Flash Gordon-ish, sci-fi adventure, with spaceships and bird aliens, and a mesmeric slug instead of Ming the Merciless. As with The Web Planet, if you look beyond the budgetary limitations, it's spectacular. It's also well paced, the dialogue is very good, it's funny, and Colin is quirky, unpredictable and captivating. After the death and machine guns of The Caves of Androzani, The Twin Dilemma reinvents the show once again into something else, taking it into a bright and colourful universe of animal aliens - a little like early RTD - which sadly wasn't carried forward into the next series - back to death and guns in Attack of the Cybermen - but the baton was picked up quite brilliantly by the DWM comic strip, giving us the colourful fantasy sci-fi that the BBC could never achieve. The Twin Dilemma is credited to Anthony Steven, but I believe it was largely rewritten by Eric Saward. I've just begun watching the Lord Peter Wimsey story The Nine Tailors, Dorothy L Sayers' novel adapted by Anthony Steven, and it's very good indeed. He's a very good writer. I wonder where things went wrong. Maybe he was unfamiliar with sci-fi and was trying to write what he thought sci-fi was, when he might have been better off just writing a story in a genre with which he was familiar and then adapted it to a sci-fi setting. Just a thought. The Mutants, like The Armageddon Factor, seems to have been structured as two episodes largely in one location, then the next two in another, and the final two in another after that. Maybe if six episodes feel like two much for a single sitting, just try two at a time. I love The Mutants. I like the way the story unfolds into new areas, peeling back layers, drawing me in. I'd chuck Victory of the Daleks into the pit. It serves no purpose.

For me, time to take a break from Who for my detox; watching some Quatermass or the 1980's Day of the Triffids or Survivors or The Stone Tape. Then there's the Tomorrow people or Saphire and Steel to revist. Maybe some Ace of Wands (what survives), and certainly 'The Avengers' with Emma Peel and Gerry Anderson's 'U.F.O' and 'Space 1999'.. As far as Doctor Who that could be lost, of classic Who maybe 'The Gunfighters' fro Harnell or 'Invasion of the Dinosaurs' with the worst dinosaurs in the history of TV or film on display for Pertwee. For Tom Baker, I never thought much of 'Meglos'. For Colin Baker 'Timelash' wouldn't be missed, and neither would 'The Happiness Patrol' for McCoy with Bertie Basset as The Kandyman as the villain. NuWho could easily lose Love and Monsters, and of course, everything post Capaldi.

I wish I knew where the mythical " Modern audience " actually is ...they are certainly not watching..

Thanks Brendan

Great show I actually had one of those Dalek Costumes in the photo with the Police Officer I used to terrify my little Brother pretending to be a Dalek. From memory it was made from the sort of plastic they make shower curtains with and the top part was hard plastic.You had a separate "gun" and plunger you held in your hands. As I grew I was less convincing as a Dalek as my legs became visible 😀