There has been a good deal of information released about the new Doctor Who spin-off, Class. Despite this, there has been a lingering concern amongst some fans that it will be a kids’ show. Showrunner Patrick Ness has made it clearer than ever that this will not be the case.
It is understandable that there could be a few concerns with a Doctor Who spin-off like Class. Set in Coal Hill School, and involving the lives of the students, it is easy to see why one would automatically assume that this would be some sort of kids’ show. After all, Doctor Who does need to gain a hold on each new generation to be sustainable, and a show geared towards the younger crowd could help. Some fans thought that it might even be in the vein of The Sarah Jane Adventures.
Class showrunner Patrick Ness, however, reiterated that this is not to be the case. Were there really that many fans who missed all the talk over the past few months about Class being dark and sexy? Anyway, the following is Ness’ recent tweet on the matter:
So, Class will have more mature themes than Doctor Who, making it potentially unsuitable for a younger audience. Of course, that can be its own warning sign, as the show could be some angsty teen drama; DeGrassi in the Whoniverse. Instead, this may be more like the Whovian version of Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
It is also interesting to note that Class will deal with the consequences of alien invasions in the real world. Typically, the actions of the Doctor, and others in the Whoniverse, are felt by the common folk that go about their day to day, although that remains unseen. Class is going to shine a spotlight on that from the vantage point of the students at Coal Hill.
More from Winter is Coming
- For All Mankind finally gives us information in Episode 405, “Goldilocks”
- Watch a stunning VFX breakdown of The Wheel of Time season 2
- Of course Steve Toussaint (Corlys Velaryon) thinks Eve Best (Rhaenys Targaryen) should rule Westeros
- Confirmed: The Last of Us season 2 will air in 2025
- Final season of Star Trek: Discovery will have “a lot of action, a lot of adventure, a lot of fun”
Finding out that Class will be dealing with more mature themes is actually a bit of a relief. While there is certainly room for a spin-off geared more towards the younger crowd, going in that direction now would have been an odd decision. If anything, bringing in that type of show may have furthered the questions that some fans have about the future of Doctor Who. If anything, part of the motivation for producing Class seems to be an attempt to appease those who want more Torchwood.
Yes, Class may well turn out to be a teen drama in its own right. However, having that darker edge, and a more mature leaning than may have been expected, could help draw more people to the show. And, those potential new fans, could well be brought in to watch Doctor Who as well.
(Article continues below the next post link.)
Next: Classic Doctors, New Monsters Gets Second Volume