Too Sophisticated for My Simple Brain

The actor Peter Purves, who previously played the role of Steven Taylor, expressed his disapproval towards the current version of the Disney+ series, stating that it is overly complex for his liking. He appeared on the show from 1965 to 1966.

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In the show “Doctor Who,” Purves’ character stood out significantly as the series was still in its early stages, before many aspects of The Doctor’s mythology were fully established. For instance, regeneration hadn’t been introduced during Steven’s journeys with the First Doctor, and there had been little delving into the Time Lord species at that time.

Peter Purves Shares His Complaints About Modern Doctor Who

As a movie enthusiast, I recently had the pleasure of visiting an informal exhibition for everyone’s favorite time-traveling series, Doctor Who, held at the Peterborough Museum and Art Gallery. While there, renowned fan Purves openly expressed his thoughts on the current incarnation of the show, stating that it’s simply too complex for my humble understanding.

He contended that the tales we once told were quite straight-forward. You’d start at one place, continue to another, a suspenseful moment would occur at the end of each episode, resuming the next week with more cliffhangers until the story concluded, only to begin another one right away. These stories were simple, direct, clear, and easily comprehensible for children.

Purves stated that he ceased to routinely watch “Doctor Who” during Jon Pertwee’s earthbound explorations in the 1970s, as he believed the shift in format negatively impacted the series. The Third Doctor’s era found The Doctor exiled to contemporary England, where he worked alongside UNIT as a form of Time Lord punishment.

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Doctor Who season 2 cast
Actor Role
Ncuti Gatwa The Doctor
Varada Sethu Belinda Chandra
Millie Gibson Ruby Sunday
Christopher Chung Cassio
Alan Cumming Mr Ring-a-Ding
Anita Dobson Mrs Flood

Though Purves may not frequently watch it anymore, he still commends Doctor Who for its impressive duration as the series celebrates its 60th anniversary in 2023.

He emphasized that he always aims to recognize everyone present, as it might be awkward or even humiliating for him, especially if the unfamiliar person turns out to be one of the main characters.

“We used to have stories that were very simple.”

60 years later, I’m still amazed by the enduring power of this series, captivating audiences as much today as it did when I first experienced it. Here I stand, a bit older perhaps, but just as passionate about discussing its impact.

In 1965, the character of Steven Taylor, played by Peter Purves, debuted in the six-part series “The Chase.” This was where he became part of the TARDIS crew, having assisted The Doctor and companions Ian, Barbara, and Vicki in thwarting Dalek efforts to trace them across time. During Purves’ tenure on “Doctor Who,” his character stood out for being more proactive in combat situations compared to previous characters.

Peter Purves’ Doctor Who Connection Continued Beyond His 2 Years on the Show

  • The actor and TV host frequently presented Doctor Who-related segments on his BBC children’s show Blue Peter throughout the 1970s.
  • Purves later provided audio narration links for home video releases for his Doctor Who serials — many of which were either partially and fully lost from the BBC archives.
  • He also frequently reprized his role as Steven Taylor for Big Finish’s Doctor Who audio drama serials.

During their travels, Steven continued his journey alongside The First Doctor, landing in 1500s France at the time of the notorious St. Bartholomew’s Day massacre. Together, they thwarted a renegade Time Lord named Monk (Peter Butterworth), who aimed to alter European history. However, Steven decided to part ways with the TARDIS in 1966 during “The Savages” storyline, opting instead to settle on a distant planet and assist in resolving conflicts between its native Savages and former ruling Elders.

1966 marked a significant shift for the character of Doctor Who, as the concept of regeneration was introduced, enabling Patrick Troughton to succeed William Hartnell as the main character. Over the years, this regeneration concept has continued to evolve, with 2023 seeing a new twist that will separate David Tennant’s 14th Doctor from Ncuti Gatwa’s 15th.

Every Saturday, I’m thrilled to tune into the latest installments of Doctor Who, which are now available worldwide on Disney+. Back in the UK, it’s still a delightful tradition to catch them on BBC iPlayer or BBC One as well!

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2025-05-06 01:07