Doctor Who: The Eighth Doctor’s Dark Eyes costume – Why it represented a major change for the character

We look back at the Eighth Doctor’s costume that he first used in Doctor Who: Dark Eyes, and why it stands out for the character.

In October 2010, during an appearance at a convention in New Zealand, Paul McGann surprised everyone with a brand new costume. Wearing a double-breasted black Naval jacket, a courier pouch bag and even carrying a brand new sonic screwdriver (courtesy of Weta Workshop), this look presented a brand new image for the Eighth Doctor in Doctor Who.

However, it would be a long while before the costume would start to be used officially. Over the following year, Big Finish continued to use images of McGann’s Doctor from his only TV appearance in the movie, wearing his distinctive Wild Bill Hickok costume.

However, this isn’t too surprising. When the new look had been revealed, the fourth and final season of The Eighth Doctor Adventures with Lucie Miller had already begun, and there was no need for the Eighth Doctor to change costume mid-season. When we saw the Eighth Doctor next, it was set much earlier in his lifetime, during his travels with Mary Shelley.

However, his run with Lucie Miller had ended in a big and dramatic way in To The Death, and had left the Eighth Doctor deeply traumatized. Fans wanted to know where the Eighth Doctor would go next. They were excited enough when Dark Eyes,  a four-hour long box set that explored the Eighth Doctor in the aftermath of To The Death, was announced.

But then they saw they cover. And they knew that the Eighth Doctor would never be the same again.

The cover for Dark Eyes revealed a brand new look for Eight, and immediately let fans know that he wasn’t quite the man he once was…

(Image credit: Doctor Who/Big Finish Productions.

Image obtained from: Big Finish Productions.)

New look, new Eight

The change in appearance for McGann’s Doctor wasn’t just done purely for aesthetic reasons. (Especially since this is audio, after all.) But, while it was never directly addressed in the story itself, the Eighth Doctor’s new look made it clear that he wasn’t quite the same man as he once was.

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In the TV movie, while he took things seriously when he needed to, he also had funny and quirky moments. (One particular highlight was how excited he became over a pair of shoes.) That attitude continued throughout much of the expanded universe material, and while he had his moments of darkness and depression, he was still the same man.

The events of To The Death changed him in a big way. He became full of anger, rage and despair, and was now a Doctor without hope. Gradually, he did get some of his old humor and lightness back across the whole of Dark Eyes. But it was clear that he would never truly be the same again.

That change was reflected by his new look perfectly. It had hints of what was to come with Nine (and of course with War, although that was unintentional), but it was still the Eighth Doctor’s own look, too.

A distinctive era

And it’s a look that the Eighth Doctor still continues to have today. While he got another new look just a year after Dark Eyes with the minisode The Night of the Doctor, you’ll still see his Dark Eyes costume used. While the Eighth Doctor is now far from the dark place he was in the first time he wore the costume, it’s a clear indication of where we are in his timeline when we see it.

It’s proved to be so recognizable for Big Finish fans, in fact, that recently, an action figure of the Eighth Doctor in his Dark Eyes costume was released by Character Options! It says a lot about how distinctive this look has become, and how much fans enjoy it as a look for the Eighth Doctor.

What do you think of the Eighth Doctor’s look from Dark Eyes onwards? Do you think it suits the character? What’s your favorite costume for his Doctor? Let us know in the comments below.