Doctor Who is a series
that has enjoyed so many iterations due to its evolving nature. Pick any era of
the show at random and it will reflect the values and style of tv and wider
society at that time. Yet its fans often fail to appreciate this flexible
quality and would prefer it if the series remained the same hence the usual
outcry anytime there is a change of Doctor, showrunner or even scheduling. For
me the criteria of what makes good Doctor Who has never changed and that
is simply do I like it? I don’t care who makes it or what platform it sits on,
I just want some good storytelling.
This season is, oddly, the third season one in the show’s
history (though there have been many resets that could have qualified for that
number) and is being pushed as a good jumping on point for viewers unfamiliar
with the concept. American viewers especially are likely targets as this version
of the programme more than any other needs to succeed in that market to win a
longer term future. You know how streamers like to cancel shows, right? Russell
T Davies returning as showrunner combined with a bigger budget and promotional
reach (adverts on the New York subway!) raises the potential of Doctor Who
becoming bigger than it has ever been. So, as you can imagine American studio
executives saying, “Let’s see if the content delivers…”
