How Doctor Who’s Reboot Pulled Off a Miraculous Rescue

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Approximately two decades ago, the contemporary phase of “Doctor Who” started, as Christopher Eccleston portrayed the Ninth Doctor and whisked Rose Tyler, played by Billie Piper, off her feet, urging her to flee – marking the beginning of countless exciting escapades.

Regardless of its fluctuations, such as current speculation regarding its continuation, it’s undeniable that the contemporary era of Doctor Who has predominantly been a triumphant period, captivating new audiences with its enchantment, and resurrecting one of Britain’s most cherished and recognized TV series.

As a cinema enthusiast, I must admit that the modern revival of Doctor Who could’ve been a disastrous move. In retrospect, it seems like an exquisite act of madness on the part of BBC executives and showrunner Russell T Davies to resurrect a series that had slipped from mainstream popularity 16 years prior, yet maintained a devoted fanbase throughout its hiatus.

Restarting a series can be challenging under the best circumstances, but with “New Who,” there were numerous potential pitfalls that could have led to catastrophe.

The adaptation might’ve been overly reminiscent of the original, appearing stale and repetitive to contemporary viewers. Alternatively, it could’ve deviated too much, confounding viewers and potentially driving away fans who initially cherished the series. An ill-considered casting choice for the Ninth Doctor could have left devoted fans feeling estranged (using a play on words).

Instead, a fortunate alignment of events and brilliant decisions made by the team responsible for the show allowed Doctor Who to endure the passing of time.

In his own contribution, the showrunner Davies, an ardent Doctor Who enthusiast, skillfully blended changes with similarities to create the ideal balance for the current series’ success.

One instance, he recently shared with David Tennant, who portrayed the Tenth Doctor, that one wise choice he made when rebooting Doctor Who was persisting with not altering the Daleks’ design. This way, they remained emblematic foes for the Doctor, an act he now refers to as a “leap of faith”.

It’s understandable that some creative minds might not have been thrilled with this idea, considering the Daleks are quite comical and old-fashioned. However, reviving the Daleks in their original form, along with other classic elements such as the TARDIS, seems essential to connect the show to its history. Only someone deeply rooted in the series like Davies would have had the insight to do this.

By resurrecting the Daleks and sticking with their classic pepper pot design, showrunner Russell T Davies had room to inject a dash of silliness into Doctor Who, as one of the unexpected triumphs of the reboot was its ability to maintain humor while still delivering notable moments in television’s New Who era.

For each Auton invasion, we find an amusing Jackie Tyler moment from Camille Coduri – similar to how every significant monologue by our outstanding lead actors is followed by a clever catchphrase. In the same vein, for every terrifying villain, there’s always a wonderfully bizarre creature lurking nearby. This unique aspect of Doctor Who has always been present and should remain, serving as a reminder of the show’s playful and light-hearted foundation.

Indeed, there were certain aspects that needed adjustment, among them the central figure of the show, the Doctor. Though Doctor Who is distinctive in its capacity for recasting its main character, this didn’t lessen the tension when it came to selecting an actor who could captivate viewers instantly – someone capable of navigating us through the cosmos!

When choosing the new Doctor, Davies felt it was important to reduce the character’s pomposity. Enter Eccleston and his leather jacket! The actor skillfully combined the Doctor’s dignity with a playful side that enhanced the show’s humor (“Many planets have a north!”), and managed to make a time traveler seem more approachable, someone you’d be willing to follow across the universe just because he invited you.

It’s surprising to reflect now that Christopher Eccleston’s tenure as the Doctor was limited to just one season, given his immense impact on the series. It seems no other actor could have achieved what he did – breathtakingly rekindle the enchantment of the Doctor and set the stage for an epic journey in a relatively short span of episodes.

A significant portion of the current success of Doctor Who is due to Davies’ contributions, but it’s important to remember that many others play crucial roles in creating its enchantment.

Among several noteworthy individuals, Murray Gold stands out with his music that has echoed in our minds for the last 20 years and provided the soundtrack for the show’s most memorable scenes. Andy Pryor, our casting director, deserves credit for discovering the brilliant actors who portrayed the modern Doctors. Furthermore, a multitude of writers, directors, cast members, and crew have worked diligently off-screen to create the enchantment we see on it.

The fortunate scheduling of Doctor Who’s revival played a significant role in its success. It returned at a perfect juncture, providing long-time enthusiasts with the nostalgic excitement of embarking on another adventure with the Doctor, while also being introduced to new generations who could experience it for the first time.

On numerous occasions, reboot attempts have failed, and now, reflecting on its journey, Doctor Who seemed to be swimming upstream. However, an abundance of skillful individuals, perfect timing, the ideal Doctor, a pinch of good fortune, and perhaps some sprinkled magic, conspired together to make it one of the most triumphant TV reboots ever recorded.

Doctor Who returns to BBC One and iPlayer on Saturday 12th April 2025.

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2025-03-26 12:04