Why Doctor Who Needs to Refocus on the Monsters (Not Just the Doctor)

Stop Telling Me How Amazing the Doctor Is

Let’s get one thing clear right off the bat: the Doctor is amazing. The concept of the character - regeneration, always curious, funny, flawed, brilliant - is still one of the most unique in TV history. But there's one thing that bugs me, and this is a modern Who thing, we already know that. I know the Doctor is all of those things, I don't need to be told it quite so many times. Being constantly told how amazing the Doctor is in every other episode has become a little tiresome. You kind of become numb to all that praise.

The Doctor Is Nothing Without Great Monsters

The show needs to change its focus, and I'm not saying turn it away from the Doctor, but I'm saying let's take a better look at the monsters. The Doctor cannot be the Doctor without a decent threat.

You can only judge a hero by their villains. And right now, that’s a serious problem for Doctor Who.

Where Are the Iconic Villains?

Remember when the Weeping Angels first blinked into existence? Did you see what I did there by the way? How about the Daleks first appearance in both classic and modern Who? Cybermen? These weren’t just good monsters - they were pop culture icons. They terrified kids. They made people hide behind the sofa. They sold toys and inspired fan art and haunted nightmares in the best way possible.

Where are they now?

We’ve had flickers of brilliance. Swarm and Azure in Flux were genuinely chilling, stylish, and new. The vibe was right. The stakes were huge. And then, just like that, they were gone. No long game, no satisfying conclusion. Gone before they could build real momentum. Maestro had potential, but again, gone! What have we had the last few series? Cosplaying birds, a bogeyman, some cheesy racist trying to stop Rosa Parks, Amazon delivery drivers...

Time to Scare the Shit Out of Us Again

I think doctor who needs to pull a monster out of the bag! Not a snot monster out of a babies nose, I mean a monster who is going to scare the shit out of everyone. Ones that are so terrifying they are loved.

I want things in danger, it doesn't have to be the universe, just one person will do, but the threat needs to be big. I don't want the monster fully defeated either, I want the threat of them hanging around.

I love how goofy Doctor Who can be, but it became legendary by the scares. You don't say oh Doctor Who had me laughing in front of the sofa do you?

Football, Robots, and the Death of Character

I loved football growing up, I think it's shit now. Why's that? Two reasons - the opposition and characters.

I'm not a Man United fan, but they played teams full of amazing players and characters on their way to the treble. Who did Man City beat on their way to their treble (other than the rules). Where have all the characters gone? Footballers are all robots, sports stars are all robots. We are severely lacking characters everywhere, in life and on our screens.

An Iconic Doctor Who Monster Can Save the Show

If Doctor Who can give us a character to hate, love, be scared of, all at the same time, then it's giving us something we have been starved of. I want the Doctor to sweat, I want us to sweat with them.

Ncuti has been amazing and I have loved his era so far. Millie has been great, and Varada has all the potential to be a peak companion. Maestro was a great villain, but in a very camp way, nothing wrong with that, but has Ncuti's Doctor really faced terror yet.

If Doctor Who wants to climb back up the ratings and really captivate the audience again - especially a younger one - it needs monsters. Big, bold, terrifying monsters that own their space in the Whoniverse. That make the Doctor sweat. That make us sweat.

Let the Doctor be brilliant sure, but give us something to fear (and love) again.

Am I wrong? Probably! Let me know why in the comments below.

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