Doctor Who: The surprise monster at the end – a history of spoiler titles

Sometimes, an effective monster reveal in Doctor Who can be ruined by a spoiler title. But are there instances where a spoiler title can work?

(Photo credit: Doctor Who/BBC

Image obtained from: official Doctor Who website.)

Across numerous stories throughout Doctor Who history, a well built-up monster reveal has been ruined by the title of the story. But can a spoiler title also work in a story’s favor?

Doctor Who has a long history of spoiler titles. Particularly within the Classic Series. Due to the serial nature of the show’s original run, most episodes built up to cliffhangers. Some of these were minor or regular occurrences, and would usually simply be the Doctor or their companion in danger.

However, other times, the writers and producers would want to go for something significant. Something that will really grab the audience’s attention. The best way to do that? The return of an old enemy! Even better, save it for the end of the first episode! The audience will never see it coming!

Unless, of course, they looked at the title. Because that’s where the monster would be revealed. While so many stories set up a monster for a surprise reveal, the title would normally be a huge giveaway.

Now, admittedly, sometimes this wasn’t too bad. Especially if it’s at the end of a first episode of a six-parter, or even a four-parter. Building up to the reveal of the monster can definitely work, such as in The Evil of the Daleks. A Dalek only showing up at the end of part one isn’t too bad when the whole serial is seven episodes long.

However, this isn’t always so forgivable. For example, in The Sontaran Experiment, the monster of the title doesn’t appear until the end of part one. This doesn’t sound too bad, until you take into account that it’s a two-parter! It doesn’t ruin the story, but you do wish that they had just shown the Sontaran Lynx from the start.

Guess how long it takes for the Daleks to show up in this one. Seriously, guess!

(Image credit: Doctor Who/Big Finish Productions.

Image obtained from: Big Finish Productions.)

Beyond the Classic Series

This isn’t just a flaw of the Classic Series, either. One of the worst examples I’ve ever seen has come from Big Finish with the final story of the Stockbridge trilogy. Set far in the future, this story features deadly rain, scary zombies and an old enemy, hiding in the shadows. It’s only at very end of the second episode that the real threat is revealed to be…the Daleks!

Sounds like a great surprise, right? One that I’ve just massively spoiled? Well, I would’ve done…if it weren’t for the fact that the title of the story is, of course, Plague of the Daleks.

This one particularly bothers me. Because I’m not exaggerating when I say that the Daleks only show up halfway through. That’s only fifty per cent of the story that they’re in. That’s not worth ruining the surprise for. Seventy-five per cent, maybe, but not fifty.

So why did writer Mark Morris ruin it by calling the story that? The obvious answer is that of course he didn’t. The working title of this story was Village of the Damned, which frankly would have suited it perfectly. It’s a pity that the title was changed to clearly grab more sales.

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I understand why it was done, especially as Big Finish are very dependent on direct sales. But at the same time, ruining a really good twist like that can definitely damage the trust a consumer has in the product. When the monster’s named in a story, you want it to be for much longer than just half of it.

When it works

Having said that, I must admit, sometimes, a spoiler title does work. Going back to TV stories, Planet of the Daleks doesn’t feature the pepper pots until the end of part one. However, the cliffhanger still works, particularly due to the way that it’s revealed.

It also helps that it was continuing so directly from Frontier in Space anyway. Along with featuring the Thals – Skaro’s other major race first introduced in The Daleks – and even if the Daleks hadn’t been mentioned in the title, it would have been pretty obvious that they’re somehow involved.

So there are many instances where a spoiler title does ruin an effective surprise ending. But at the same time, there are also instances where those titles genuinely build towards an effective cliffhanger. It all depends on when the reveal happens, and how early it happens in the story, too.

What do you think of spoiler titles in Doctor Who? Which do you think ruin a vital element of the story, and which do you think help add to it? Let us know in the comments below.