Doctor Who's classic era has been gradually making the jump to the 21st century, but it's taken more than a TARDIS to do so. Certain episodes and storylines have already been remastered, making them a more visually appealing watch decades after they originally aired. Of all these upgraded viewing experiences, there's been a really obvious Doctor Who storyline that would be perfect for such an upgrade. It's taken until 2026 for the BBC to see sense, but it's finally happening.
1996's Doctor Who TV movie was supposed to be something of a backdoor pilot for the show's new era, which had been inert since its cancellation in 1989. It introduced an Americanized take on the British saga, introducing Paul McGann as the Eighth Doctor. Despite also bringing back Sylvester McCoy's Seventh Doctor to help bridge the gap, the movie ultimately flopped. However, the recent announcement that it'll receive a 4K remaster provides a much-needed second chance.
Why the Doctor Who movie failed first time around
Paul McGann was actually great in the attempted Doctor Who revival, but he was one of its very few highlights. The first act promises a cinematic adventure that upholds the franchise's core tenets, but it all falls apart pretty quickly. It was great that McCoy was recalled to allow for a sense of continuity, but how he met his end (getting shot) was more than a little underwhelming.
As the movie moved on, there were several inconsistencies, the biggest of which is Eight's reveal that he is actually "half-human, on his mother's side." While this could have been cast aside as a lie, the Doctor's human DNA becomes a major turning point in the movie's story. In short, the script felt inauthentic, and couldn't decide whether it wanted to honor the franchise's vast lore or move on from it entirely.
The Doctor Who movie is better now than it was in 1996
It's still not a masterpiece, don't get me wrong, but the movie isn't a complete waste of time. In 1996, fans were especially disappointed by Doctor Who's return to screens being so lacklustre. They hadn't had a new episode in over half a decade, and their expectations weren't met. Since Doctor Who was successfully revived by Russell T Davies in 2005, the show has run continuously and welcomed more than one generation of new fans.
Just as the classic era had poor episodes, so has the post-revival era. There are several modern installments that even I, a huge Doctor Who fan, skip when I rewatch the show. The 1996 movie is better than most of these disposable installments, so it looks better by contrast. Plus, McGann has reprised his role a smattering of times in the modern era. If newer fans want to learn more about him, the best way to do so is still to watch his debut in the 1996 Doctor Who movie, which remains his most substantial on-screen performance as Eight.
The 4K remaster of the Doctor Who TV movie will be available to pre-order soon.