With all of the recurring characters who have appeared on Doctor Who, it is understandable that a great number of spin-offs would be possible. But do we really need more spin-offs without a proper ending for the ones that we already have?
Doctor Who is a show that is ripe for a great many spin-offs. Such programs as Torchwood, The Sarah Jane Adventures, K9, and Class have come, or will be coming, to television. Additional adventures, including tales of UNIT, Torchwood, Sarah Jane, Strax, and others, have become radio dramas for the BBC, Big Finish, etc. There is almost no end to the potential options for those hungry for a show about their favorite recurring characters.
Yet, one has to wonder how many more spin-offs really need to be created. While Class is certainly an interesting concept and something to look forward to — and it would be amazing to see (as a hypothetical example) what mischief Clara and Me would get up to in their travels around time and space — how much do we really need these programs right now?
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Instead of bringing new spin-offs to television, maybe the BBC would be better off bringing back previous ones. Admittedly, this is sort of being planned with the character of K9. While the show K9 will technically not be returning, K9 Adventures is in the works, with the movie K9: Timequake as the likely pilot. As for The Sarah Jane Adventures, it unfortunately cannot return due to Elisabeth Sladen’s demise in 2011, but there are other characters from that show who can carry on the storyline.
While these shows and Class are geared toward a young audience, however, an important older demographic is being ignored — one which has been crying out for years for the televised return of a particular spin-off.
Yes, Torchwood. The audio dramas are great, but just imagine the fervor if the television program were to return… with the deaths of at least some of the beloved Torchwood Three team members possibly being reversed in some wibbly wobbly way. And Torchwood in America? The answer “never happened” to that question sounds pretty damn good. Almost like the second Highlander movie. Even with those deaths and Season Four remaining in the mix, the revival of Torchwood would be an enormously welcome one.
Next: Clara and Me: the Doctor Who Spin-off that We Deserve
Doctor Who may be ripe for spin-offs, but instead of creating new ones at this point, maybe the BBC should resurrect the ones that are already in existence. Instead of just relegating these programs to audio, it may be time to also bring them back to the our screens.