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Doctor Who will be back after Season 11 with a new Doctor and new showrunner. Here’s what we’re hoping to see with this fresh new Who.
We haven’t had a *fresh start* with Doctor Who since way back in Season 4, when The Doctor (David Tennant), his companion, Donna Noble (Catherine Tate), and showrunner Russell T. Davies left. So now that we’re getting a To Be Determined new Doctor and a new showrunner (Chris Chibnall, we’ll get to more about him later) at the same time for Season 11, we’re getting a chance to dream big about what we’d like to see.
Maybe there’s something from Season 2 you really miss. Or a villain that you’re hoping to see again. Or maybe you’ve got a really specific choice for who you’d like the new Doctor to be? Or a certain feel you’re hoping the Doctor portrays? Every Doctor has their own energy they bring to the show and makes their own mark on the long-running series. So, the sky is the limit as we move into a new era of Doctor Who.
So here are 20 things we’d like to see once we have a new Doctor.
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New Doctor
One of the biggest changes of the new era of Doctor Who is the Doctor themselves. As we move into the difficult casting decision of the Doctor, the internet has made plenty of suggestions. And incoming showrunner Chris Chibnall has reportedly said that he hasn’t decided the specifics of the Doctor he’ll be casting yet.
Chibnall told the Telegraph a little bit about his casting process:
"“We’ll cast the role in the traditional way: write the script, then go and find the best person for that part in that script. You couldn’t go out and cast an abstract idea.”"
While I agree with Chris to an extent, I believe that there should be a concerted effort to make the 13th Doctor more diverse than the 12 before. With 12 straight, white men playing the Doctor in a row, isn’t it time to get something a little different?
There are plenty of ways to diversify the Doctor. How about a person of color? Many people think it’s time to have the Doctor be a female. Or what about if the Doctor’s sexuality was explicitly discussed? I don’t necessarily want ALL of these options, but it certainly would be a new dynamic to the show if the Doctor was a bit different than what we’ve seen before.
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Not Too Cynical
The Steven Moffat era of Doctor Who often felt pretty cynical compared to seasons previous. It doesn’t mean one way is right and one way is wrong, but since many of us feel like there’s plenty of cynicism in the world already (and plenty on TV!), it’d be nice to have a more hopeful Who. A little more joy and a little less pain, right?
The Doctor has suffered a lot of loss and the show in general typically experiences losses of characters throughout an episode, but it’d be nice if every once in a while things turn out okay. Or at the very least, a little hopeful that life isn’t all a waste!
Episodes like “The Lodger” with James Corden or “Partners in Crime” (in which the Tenth Doctor and Donna reunite). Episodes where in general, you don’t leave feeling depressed would be great. Episodes where we aren’t left wondering if we only have a few days left of happiness before everything explodes.
There are plenty of dark and upsetting shows on TV these days. It’d be nice if we can pop on an episode of Doctor Who and have a bit of a break from the cynicism and negativity.
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Old Favorites, New Friends
This may be a crazy idea but I think the new iteration of Doctor Who should bring back some old favorites–well, the ones where it’s feasible. But in the world of Who, can’t we explain away any unusual circumstances?
For example, first and second season companion Billie Piper seems psyched for the idea a female Doctor. If that happened, would Billie come back to the show as Rose? Sure, that’s wishful thinking but what about other favorites like Captain Jack Harkness (John Barrowman) or Donna Noble (Catherine Tate)? Or River Song (Alex Kingston)? Maybe even Martha Jones (Freema Agyeman) since she was in an episode written by Chris Chibnall?
With a new Doctor and Showrunner, it’d be nice to feel some comfort from an old friend. And that includes enemies too. I’m hoping to see some classic Who villains battling the new Doctor. Obviously some Daleks but what about Cybermen, Weeping Angels, and even the creeping monsters created by Steven Moffat known as The Silence.
What about some awesome guest stars? Plenty of actors have had cameos on Doctor Who and the fresh start seems like another opportunity to bring in some famous actors for an episode.
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Less epic, more character
Doctor Who is one of the shows that does big, science fiction well–especially in the Steven Moffat years. The show has gotten bigger each year as popularity has grown. But one aspect of Doctor Who that we’ve always loved and grown attached to are the characters. In the new season of Who, we’d like to see more focus on characters.
We like science fiction, aliens, and space action as much as the next people, but one aspect of Doctor Who that we really enjoy is the connection to characters. When the Doctor (and the audience) can really connect to characters and empathize with their lives.
With the new Doctor, we’d love to see a focus on character arcs–even if that means some of the big (and super cool looking!) scenes end up being smaller. Especially with a new Doctor (and companion that we’ve yet to see), it’s important for the audience to be able to connect with the new characters. Strong focus on character over plot would help, at least initially as we adjust. That’s one aspect of Doctor Who we’d love to see in Season 11 as they begin a new era of the show.
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Broadchurch Actors for Cameos
Let’s talk about the new showrunner Chris Chibnall. Chris isn’t new to Who. In fact, he’s credited with writing six episodes of Doctor Who ranging from Seasons Three to Nine. So, he’s clearly no newbie. Also, Chris wrote seven episodes of Torchwood. Which means that Chris is pretty familiar with the world of Who.
But Chris also has experience on non-Who shows–namely Broadchurch, which also happened to star David Tennant. And since we’re fans of Broadchurch too, it’d be pretty great to see some actors from Broadchurch (or even Gracepoint, that American re-make) make appearances on Doctor Who now that Chris is running the show.
In fact, besides David Tennant, there are plenty of other connections between the shows. For example, Olivia Colman. She was on Doctor Who for “The Eleventh Hour” way back in Season 5. It’d be awesome to get her back in another role. Or Jodie Whittaker who plays Beth Latimer on Broadchurch could help the Doctor in an episode. Or maybe her Broadchurch husband Andrew Buchan could make a cameo on Who as well. Whatever happens, it’d be delightful to see some faces from Broadchurch make their way onto Doctor Who.
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History!
Some of our favorite episodes of Doctor Who involve the Doctor traveling to some historical event that we remember and basically showing how he altered it. It’s a puzzle for sure, but one that we think always pays off.
We would love for the new Doctor to dive into historical events like the Doctor has in the past. Episodes like “The Unicorn and the Wasp” (where they explain the disappearance of Agatha Christie), “Vincent and the Doctor” (where the Doctor and Amy attempt to show Vincent van Gogh the impact he’s made), and “The Fires of Pompeii” (where the Doctor and Donna visit Pompeii the day before it will be destroyed). These are just a few.
These episodes bring a familiarity to the audience in addition to bringing aspects of history into the story–which is pretty cool. Every episode doesn’t need to be based in history but every once in awhile it’s nice to imagine that the Doctor is real and had a significant impact on the world we’re living in. So when we see the new Doctor, let’s explore history as much as possible. After all, we sometimes learn from it!
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Keep it Lighthearted
Sometimes Doctor Who gets dark, obviously. But we think one of the strengths of the show is the ability to mix dark subject matter with more lighthearted moments. We would love for the new Doctor to lean into the lightheartedness of the Doctor and keep the show feeling more on that side of things rather than going super dark.
Doctor Who has always had humorous aspects to the show and has done a good job balancing it with the seriousness of the show. We’d love the new Doctor to bring emotion to the show without seeming like the show is taking itself too seriously. After all, the Doctor is a Time Lord traveling around in a spaceship that looks like a Police Box. Can it really take itself super seriously?
Silliness has certainly been an aspect of the Doctor played up in previous iterations, and that silliness is important when tackling important issues. So if the new Doctor could project the lighthearted moments of the show, it would be pretty cool.
Of course, the abilities of the actor who plays the new Doctor will dictate some of this, but I’m sure Chris Chibnall will allow the new Doctor to shine.
Credit: BBC
Stand Alone and Monster of the Week Episodes
Some of our favorite episodes of Doctor Who have been stand-alone or “Monster of the Week” episodes–like “Blink”, “The Waters of Mars”, “Mummy on the Orient Express”, and “The Doctor’s Wife”.
These episodes encapsulate what we love about the Doctor while also keeping the show accessible to those who don’t watch regularly (gasp!). If you’re looking for episodes to show friends in order to encourage them to become Whovians, stand alone and “monster of the week” stories are some of the best.
The new Doctor will have a lot to grapple with in Season 11 but a few strong stand alone episodes could help bring in a new audience and encourage viewers who may have waned at some point in the last ten years to jump back on the Doctor Who train.
These episodes also allow for the Doctor to deal with exceptionally creepy monsters or situations that might not be dealt with in an episode that’s party of a larger arc. It’s important for these episodes to provide a moment of relief and break from the mail arc of the season. We’re excited to see the new Doctor take on these challenges.
Credit: BBC
Focus on Compassion
The Doctor is an alien. And while he has two hearts, it doesn’t always mean he understands the emotions and fragility of humans. Some of the most touching moments of Doctor Who are the ones where the Doctor is compassionate towards the companion or someone he comes in contact with. These moments are many of the ones that impact the audience the most.
It’d be awesome for the new Doctor to have some strong moments of compassion early on in the series. These moments will help connect the audience to the Doctor in a way that goes beyond thinking the Doctor is “funny” or “silly” or “smart”. This connection on an emotional level is important, and one aspect of the show that needs more focus as the new team moves in.
Moments where the Doctor sees the companion struggling and is able to sympathize, are also important in building the relationship between the Doctor and companion. And since we’ll be getting a new Doctor, it’s even more important than the bonding of a new companion coming in. Doctor Who has always been best when it’s the most compassionate. And the new Doctor should lean into that.
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More Fun and Explorations
Sometimes it’s easy to forget that Doctor Who is a show for families and children. I mean sometimes the episodes are even too scary for me and I wonder how a child could not be getting nightmares. As mentioned earlier, the lightheartedness of Doctor Who is one aspect of the show we hope to see with the new Doctor. And another part of the show that would be great to focus on are the more fun and exploratory adventures of the Doctor.
Like when the Doctor randomly decides to go to a planet just to explore or stumbles upon something while on vacation. These are things kids can relate to. The joy of exploring and the idea that the Doctor wonders the galaxies in his free time just because he likes to learn about new planets and people. The Doctor loves to experience all that there is and since he has the TARDIS, why not take advantage.
It’d be neat to see the new Doctor taking advantage of the adventurous and curious personality of the Doctor to take some trips for fun that kids would love. And maybe even learn a little something along the way.
Credit: BBC
Female Friendships!
It’s really important for women on TV to be represented, first of all. And secondly, it’s important for women to be depicted in friendships that don’t revolve around a man. This may seem inconsequential, but if you watch shows where there’s a strong female friendship, it’s noticeable and certainly adds another aspect of human connection to the show. it ups the attachment to the characters.
Something Doctor Who hasn’t always done well in the past is female friendships–or to be more broad, female relationships. With the exception of a few instances (like Rose and her mother), the show really hasn’t demonstrated this in a substantial way.
Now, if the new Doctor is female and the companion is as well, that’d be amazing. But even if that doesn’t happen, it’d be pretty cool to see female characters on the show getting along and helping one another. After all, that’s more true-to-life than a woman going through the world with absolutely no female friends.
As Doctor Who continuously increases its popularity, these instances of representation become increasingly important. So let’s get some women making friends on Season 11.
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Earthly Ties and Family
One great part of the early seasons of the current Who is that the companions often had some Earthly or family ties grounding them. Whether it was Rose and her mom or Mickey or Martha and Donna’s ties to their families. These ties draw an even greater focus on the fact that the Doctor has no family and is basically always alone.
But these family and Earthly ties also ground the show in a way that doesn’t happen without the connection. The companions have something to go home to and a reason to make it their safely. They have someone to call if they think they might die and they have someone to tell about their adventures when they come home.
This is one part of the show that we would love for the new Doctor to deal with. We aren’t sure of what ties the new companion will have yet, but giving the Doctor a way to feel tied to humanity adds another layer to a planet exploding or even the possibility of death. The Doctor cares about the companion and therefore cares about those who also care about the companion. This is an important tie that hopefully will make an appearance with the new Doctor.
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Keep the new companion
It might be a little too early to ask for another season with Pearl Mackie as the Doctor’s new companion Bill but from what we’ve seen, she will be perfect.
Here’s what the crew who cast Pearl had to say to Radio Times:
"“She arrived fully formed, with a strong personality and a strong sense of herself. A great deal of humour too, which is something we were looking for in this case.”"
Since we’re getting a new Doctor and Pearl is just starting, it’s really not necessary to change companions already. Especially if Pearl’s character gets some juicy material in the upcoming season of Doctor Who.
But even if it’s not Pearl, we’re hoping that the new era of Doctor Who will give the companion a strong story arc allowing them to grow and change as they journey with the Doctor. Bill should have a life before the Doctor and a life outside of the Doctor. The companion character is our access point into the world of the Doctor and having a companion with a compelling story is an easy way to keep the audience invested.
So let’s keep Bill and give her an amazing story!
Photo: BBC
More Normal People
One thing about Doctor Who that has always been pretty neat is that often times the normal, everyday human can save the world. Or at least, help the Doctor save the world.
In the new era of Doctor Who we’d like to see more episodes involving ordinary people who are just living their lives become part of the adventure. There are a few reasons for this. One, it allows us, the audience, to feel like it’s totally possible for the Doctor to drop down one day and need our help. Two, I think it empowers viewers by reinforcing the idea that anyone can help change the world.
There are a lot of stories of superheroes saving the day but the more times we see normal, decent people with no extraordinary abilities making a difference, the more we believe it. If the Doctor can help empower people, why not take the chance?
The Doctor can also learn a lot from the ordinary characters in the show. By giving perspective into the lives of different people, it allows the Doctor to feel connection he might not otherwise feel. Every day people can change the world and Doctor Who can remind them of that fact.
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Torchwood-Type Teamwork
As we mentioned earlier, the new Doctor Who showrunner beginning in 2018 is Chris Chibnall, who not only has experience on Doctor Who but also on the spin-off Torchwood. So it would make sense that Chris might bring aspects of his time and lessons learned on Torchwood over to Doctor Who.
One unique part of Torchwood was the dynamic of all of the members of the team and how they worked together. They brought different skills to the team and most of the time it felt as if working together was one of their greatest strengths. Of course, the Torchwood team was far from perfect, but in thinking about the crew the Doctor ends up being surrounded with, it’d certainly be a strength to employ teamwork.
While the Doctor often seems like the one in charge, he (or maybe she!) needs the balance of the companion in many cases. The Doctor has a lot of wisdom and experience, but often the perspective of the companion and willingness of the Doctor to listen is what ends up saving lives. So hopefully we’ll see teamwork in the new era of Who between the new Doctor and companion.
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Lower the stakes
Doctor Who has almost destroyed (and actually gone through with destroying) planets many times. And while it certainly keeps the audience guessing, I’d love to see the stakes lowered for the new Doctor. Maybe instead of addressing huge issues, the Doctor and companion can focus on smaller, micro-problems. At least, some of the time.
Not only will this make it more surprising when the stakes are actually high, but it allows for smaller stories, which can move the arc of the character along without committing genocide. These smaller and more grounded stories allow for more connection and deeper dives into character and emotion.
Doctor Who does high stakes well, but a balance of lower stakes will allow for even more moments of humor and lightheartedness. Some episodes can be about saving only one person–like one of the best episodes ever: “Vincent and the Doctor”.
The new Doctor has to pave their own way, and maybe sometimes that will involve saying thousands of people at the last minute. Or sometimes it could involve spending an entire episode with a single individual and making a huge impact in a single event that had pretty low stakes to begin with. Both ways can be amazing.
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Cultural Commentary
Doctor Who has taken on various types of explicit and implicit social commentary over the years and while I do think it’s important for the show to remain timeless, there are plenty of ways to bring our current world issues into the show.
Much how other children’s shows manage to sneak in a lesson on sharing or kindness while entertaining, in the new era Doctor Who shouldn’t shy away from cultural and societal commentary. Instead, the show should lead the way and embrace the culture as a way to pull in stories that may have a broader implication.
For example, the Doctor is an alien, yet appears to be human. When greeting other aliens he doesn’t judge them the way we would as humans. Instead of highlighting differences, Doctor Who shows how those who might look different than us can still have the same feelings and emotions.
Lessons related to every-day struggles are important pieces of Doctor Who that will hopefully continue with the new Doctor and team running the show. If they didn’t use the influence of our current place in society and culture, they’d be missing out on some great stories.
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The Doctor’s Loss
In early seasons, the Doctor was burdened by the fact that he was the remaining Time Lord and forced to choose between his people and the universe. The Doctor obviously chose to save the universe, thus resulting in the destruction of his people. This burden is one that the Doctor always carries and is important.
In the 50th Anniversary episode, Gallifrey is restored and the burden carried by the Doctor of killing his entire race is basically lifted. So now, the Doctor doesn’t have the pain and burden of that loss, but also essentially removed the Doctor’s weakness.
Once a new Doctor is in place, it’d be interesting to have some sort of new loss and burden that the Doctor feels. Whether it’s related to the past companions or mistakes the Doctor perceives have been made, the dynamic of the Doctor having a weakness allows for more balance between the Doctor and companion. If the Doctor has experienced loss similar to that of a human, the tie between the Doctor and companion would feel stronger and the Doctor would feel less indestructible and thus up the amount of danger the Doctor can get into!
Credit: BBC America
Mystery
When River Song first appeared in the library in Season 4 and began acting as if she knew the Doctor, we started to try to guess who she was. And thus, a huge question was born that could be teased for seasons to come.
The mystery of River Song (and the hints she dropped about Donna) was a cool way to keep the audience guessing. Perhaps the new companion or even a new character could pop up in Season 11 to add a bit of mystery to the show. Sure, there’s an almost constant level of mystery overall while trying to figure out exactly what will happen on the show, but tossing in some intrigue for the audience to figure out would be fun.
Since our new companion is joining the show soon, perhaps she’ll have connections and issues from her past make an appearance or maybe someone could show up River Song-style and know information about the Doctor. Who knows! But either way, a little extra mystery to plan wild theories about and spend time debating about with friends would certainly keep the audience engaged when the new Doctor makes their way onto the scene. Everyone likes a good mystery!
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An Enjoyable and Entertaining Season
Any and all of these things we’ve listed would be awesome to see once the new Doctor arrives. But obviously, the most important thing we’d like to see is an enjoyable and entertaining season.
If Doctor Who returns with a new Doctor and Showrunner without episodes and characters that are compelling and genuine, not much else on the list matters. And since Chris Chibnall has experience on Doctor Who and other successful shows like Torchwood and Broadchurch, we have faith in his ability to deliver on this request.
Doctor Who is a show that we love (obviously) and want to root for. When the creators and actors are giving their all and are as dedicated to the show as we all, an enjoyable and entertaining TV show will be made.
We’re not sure where Season 10 of Doctor Who will leave us, but we’re excited to see what the new era brings. After all, sometimes change is good. And as long as we’re willing to embrace that change, we’ll be prepared for whatever comes our way in Season 11.
Related Story: Things We Would Like to See in Season 10 of Doctor Who
Season 10 of Doctor Who starring Peter Capaldi and Pearl Mackie premieres April 15th on BBC.