'Love & Monsters' is perhaps the most controversial episode of the Tenth Doctor's time. How does it fair, some 20 years after its broadcast? Anybody familiar with New Who will be au fait with the concept of the 'Doctor-lite' episode. As the name suggests, this is an episode in which the Doctor hardly appears - a plot point made necessary by Doctor Who's intense … [Read more...] about Love & Monsters: 20 years on
The Satan Pit: The darkest Doctor Who story of all?
In 2006, Doctor Who went full-horror with possibly the scariest adventure ever made: 'The Impossible Planet' and 'The Satan Pit...' David Tennant's first season was nothing if not experimental, and this bleak two-parter from writer Matt Jones stretches the metaphorical elastic band to breaking point. 'The Impossible Planet' and 'The Satan Pit' see the Tenth Doctor and Rose … [Read more...] about The Satan Pit: The darkest Doctor Who story of all?
Is this the boldest First Doctor story?
In 1965, the BBC made an unprecedented move: a First Doctor story without William Hartnell, his companions or even the TARDIS - and not a single frame of footage survives... We are of course referring to the infamously titled 'Dalek Cutaway,' or 'Mission to the Unknown' to be precise. This was a standalone First Doctor story which centred around a stricken group of space … [Read more...] about Is this the boldest First Doctor story?
Why is the Second Doctor so special?
Patrick Troughton played the Second Doctor - the quintessential 'cosmic hobo,' and one of the Time Lord's most important incarnations. In 1966, Doctor Who's future hung in the balance. William Hartnell, hindered by ill health, was unable to continue in the role, but the BBC was keen to keep the programme on the air. As a result, they cooked up the concept of regeneration … [Read more...] about Why is the Second Doctor so special?
What makes Doctor Who scary?
What, exactly, makes Doctor Who scary? Because it was never meant to be - not in the beginning, anyway. And yet the series' themes, stories and monsters have been the cause of many a sleepless night... Perhaps one of the most famous answers to this question comes from the Doctor himself - or rather, the actor who played him. Reflecting on what makes Doctor Who scary, Jon … [Read more...] about What makes Doctor Who scary?