Shows returning after a long hiatus are often disappointing, but Doctor Foster has all the ingredients to work

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After a nine-year wait since the second season, a third season of Doctor Foster is officially in the works.

Viewers who enjoy the BBC’s suspenseful revenge drama have good reason to be excited, but after waiting so long for the new season, they might also be feeling a little anxious.

The show shocked viewers by killing off a key character, Mr. Big (played by Chris Noth). This instantly transformed the series from its lighthearted roots, leaving Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker) a widow and disappointing many fans who were expecting the same fun and playful vibe as the original Sex and the City.

Honestly, when Kim Cattrall decided not to come back, it really changed the show. Samantha always brought this fun, confident energy to every episode, and it was just missing. Whenever they mentioned her in ‘And Just Like That…’, it only reminded everyone that she wasn’t there, and it felt a little sad.

One of the biggest reasons the recent Frasier reboot didn’t succeed like the original series was the absence of key cast members. While Paramount+ brought back the show nearly 20 years later with Kelsey Grammer as Frasier, it overlooked what made the original so special: the dynamic between Frasier, his father Martin, brother Niles, and caregiver Daphne and their relationships with each other.

The character Martin was written out of the new series after John Mahoney, the actor who played him, passed away in 2018. David Hyde Pierce and Jane Leeves also didn’t reprise their roles, although their character’s son, David, does make occasional appearances. While Frasier’s former producer Roz Doyle and ex-wife Lilith had brief cameos, they served as a reminder of what made the original show so good – and highlighted the reboot’s shortcomings. The series lasted for two seasons before being cancelled, and it hasn’t been picked up by any other networks since.

Not every show revival fails. The new season of Scrubs has gotten mixed reactions – some viewers enjoy it, while others are disappointed by JD and Elliot’s divorce, which feels like a major breakup similar to Ross and Rachel’s on Friends. However, other revived shows have been much more successful.

Veronica Mars, a popular TV show that originally aired from 2004 to 2007 (with a follow-up movie in 2014), centers around Veronica (Kristen Bell), a clever high school student who aspires to be a private investigator. Set in the coastal California town of Neptune, the show expertly blends teen drama with intriguing mysteries, and includes a compelling romantic storyline with the complex character Logan (Jason Dohring).

The 2019 revival showed Veronica, now an adult, following in her father Enrico Colantoni’s footsteps as a private detective. Her latest case brought back popular characters like Francis Capra’s Weevil and police officer Leo (Max Greenfield). The show successfully captured the spirit of the original, with Veronica remaining sharp-witted, her dad still charming, and her realistic relationship with Logan continuing – though Logan is eventually killed off, the show handles it with such skill that it feels forgivable.

The X-Files was another show that understood long-term storytelling. Originally running for over 200 episodes from 1993 to 2002, the science fiction series starring investigators Mulder (David Duchovny) and Scully (Gillian Anderson) later continued with two films and then two additional seasons between 2016 and 2018.

The revival brought back familiar faces and elements from the original series – including beloved characters like the Cigarette Smoking Man, the Lone Gunmen, and Director Skinner. Most importantly, the final season finally answered some questions fans had been pondering for over ten years.

Details about the new season of Doctor Foster are still limited, but the announcement hints that long-standing mysteries will be answered. This includes what happened to Gemma Foster’s son, Tom, who went missing at the end of the 2017 season – a question fans have been waiting to have resolved.

The BBC has confirmed that Suranne Jones, Bertie Carvel, and Tom Taylor will all return as Gemma, Simon, and Tom, respectively. Mike Bartlett, the show’s writer and creator, is also back for another season. While it’s unlikely Jodie Comer will reprise her role as Kate (Simon’s former mistress and wife), as her character left during the second season, fans would certainly welcome a reunion between them.

Everything looks promising for a successful third season of Doctor Foster, and a recent hint from Suranne Jones about the show’s direction has fans even more excited.

I immediately felt ready to reprise my role as Gemma Foster when I was asked. We’d intentionally created some distance after the first two seasons, and it felt like the right time to bring back Tom – Gemma and Simon’s son – as a grown-up, ready to explore his past.

This story really focuses on taking responsibility and asking tough questions. It explores whether we can ever escape the impact of past hurts and traumas, and truly move on with our lives. Gemma and Simon, in particular, have a lot to work through.

Even after nine years, people are still talking about Doctor Foster, which shows how impactful the earlier seasons were. It’s unclear if the new season will be as good, but initial reactions are promising.

You can watch the third season of Doctor Foster on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. The first two seasons are already available for streaming on iPlayer.

Authors

Jo Berry
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2026-02-27 14:05