Russell T Davies: The new series of Doctor WHO will be called Season 1 rather than Series 14

METAL GEAR REX · Nov 3, 2023

The most shocking revelation for me recently was finding out that Doctor Who was not technically wasn't a children's show. All these years I thought it was within the CBBC block of programming aimed at school kids. It made so much sense to me why the tone was the way it was, why the writing was the way it was etc. I was always so confused why people loved it outside of kids and defended it so much.

apocat · Nov 3, 2023

Not exacly a big deal. It doesn't really mean anything, and it makes it a little less daunting for new viewers.

PS_Snake said:
The most shocking revelation for me recently was finding out that Doctor Who was not technically wasn't a children's show. All these years I thought it was within the CBBC block of programming aimed at school kids. It made so much sense to me why the tone was the way it was, why the writing was the way it was etc. I was always so confused why people loved it outside of kids and defended it so much.

Have you actually watched the show? It can be super gruesome at times. It's a family show with a long standing reputation of scaring the younger family members.

METAL GEAR REX · Nov 3, 2023

apocat said:
Have you actually watched the show? It can be super gruesome at times. It's a family show with a long standing reputation of scaring the younger family members.

I certainly have, it's kinda unavoidable in the UK. I think because it was promoted occasionally in schools and in old Newsround back in the day is where my confusion started.

Kschreck · Nov 3, 2023

PS_Snake said:
I certainly have, it's kinda unavoidable in the UK. I think because it was promoted occasionally in schools and in old Newsround back in the day is where my confusion started.

RTD and Moffat had the ability to craft a show that kids can watch and enjoy but adults would also be able to watch and enjoy. They found a great balance between being easy to follow while still having awesome twists and turns and craziness throughout. Not a lot of creators can pull this off. Series 1-6 were some of my all-time favorite tv and I've watched a lot. I do think series 7 and onwards slowly lost quality (with a few exceptions like the amazing Heavent Sent episode) but I also know that Moffat explained that he had taken on way to many projects during the time and had far less time to focus on Doctor Who. Still the show remained mostly entertaining and fun until Chibnall took over. Nearly nothing redeemable about his episodes and I felt bad for the cast because they were all pretty great but the writing didn't do it for me.

Really really really hoping RTD can pull off the same magic as he did back during his first run. Doctor Who clearly is a show with basically unlimited potential with the right team working on the episodes.

Roboraptor · Nov 3, 2023

So can we just call it Season 1 of the Disney Era now?

Sign My Guestbook! · Nov 3, 2023

Roboraptor said:
So can we just call it Season 1 of the Disney Era now?

Might be more accurate to say it's season one of the Whoniverse era

Multievolution · Nov 3, 2023

Recently got into the series with the release of the magic the gathering cards around it, currently around season 11 now and I have to say this seems like a pointless arbitrary change to me. When you reboot a series after a decade+ absence it makes sense, but that's not the case here, to me it suggests the tone might shift drastically, and that it's trying to focus more on the new people it wants to attract which I've found in other series to not be that great of a decision.

I'm definitely willing to keep watching, but I need to see what this statement is about for myself, I'd still like to hope old stuff could get the odd reference here and there.

Kschreck · Nov 3, 2023

Multievolution said:
Recently got into the series with the release of the magic the gathering cards around it, currently around season 11 now and I have to say this seems like a pointless arbitrary change to me. When you reboot a series after a decade+ absence it makes sense, but that's not the case here, to me it suggests the tone might shift drastically, and that it's trying to focus more on the new people it wants to attract which I've found in other series to not be that great of a decision.

I'm definitely willing to keep watching, but I need to see what this statement is about for myself, I'd still like to hope old stuff could get the odd reference here and there.

Yeah this is kind of where I'm at as well. In my opinion, Doctor Who hasn't really been good for quite a long time now. I didn't care for the Chibnall years at all but even the later Moffat seasons were starting to drop in quality as well. Rebooting the series doesn't feel really necessary but at the same time I can understand why they are doing it. I just hope it doesn't feel like a completely total reboot ignoring the past content as that would be a huge disservice to long time fans. That being said, I don't think they will do that. I mean the Tennant specials alone have a lot of fan service in them. I remain cautiously optimistic. Can't be as bad as the Chibnall years.

Multievolution · Nov 3, 2023

Kschreck said:
Yeah this is kind of where I'm at as well. In my opinion, Doctor Who hasn't really been good for quite a long time now. I didn't care for the Chibnall years at all but even the later Moffat seasons were starting to drop in quality as well. Rebooting the series doesn't feel really necessary but at the same time I can understand why they are doing it. I just hope it doesn't feel like a completely total reboot ignoring the past content as that would be a huge disservice to long time fans. That being said, I don't think they will do that. I mean the Tennant specials alone have a lot of fan service in them. I remain cautiously optimistic. Can't be as bad as the Chibnall years.

Having been binging the series I have an interesting insight I imagine, I definitely have favouritism for everything up to pond leaving, though the episode(s) leading to the 11th dr regenerating into the 12th definitely left a mark.

I do think it's a very subjective thing though, the tone does shift throughout the series, and it's not hard to imagine people could fall off during those transitions.

Santerestil · Nov 3, 2023

Lynd said:
New New Who.

Newer Who!

theme park joe said:
As long as they don't call the new phase the "Whoniverse" I'm actually really cool with it.

"Whoverse" is better.

liquidtmd · Nov 3, 2023

'a clutching of anoraks' 😂

RTD is a kinda great / kinda annoying thing - he's a massive troll to people who care deeply about the show, whilst being at the same time someone who cares deeply at the show.

Specifically in the last two months in the PR for the 60th stuff he's deliberately winds the more hardcore fans up with super convoluted and intricate cuts and then turns to say to the wider audience 'woah there, why do geeks have to obsess so much over this'?

I get it's sarcasm and self depreciation somewhat, but it's a fine line between gentle poking and snide trolling

SpoonSpatula · Nov 3, 2023

New Who, Too.

Looking forward to the upcoming specials and new season. I still need to catch up on the Capaldi and Whittaker seasons (I think I only watched the first two episodes of each).

Dandy · Nov 3, 2023

I hope it's good! I gave up on the last run.

Shopolic · Nov 3, 2023

Last seasons were so bad compared to previous ones in my opinion and I watched them hardly. But somehow I think new season will be great and have a good feeling about it.
I wish we could have a more mature/darker Doctor Who series. I like this series (specially Peter Capaldi era) and I know that sometimes there are dark episodes, but overall it's too childish.

mclem · Nov 3, 2023

liquidtmd said:
RTD is a kinda great / kinda annoying thing - he's a massive troll to people who care deeply about the show, whilst being at the same time someone who cares deeply at the show.

The *real* meaning of 'Toclafane', anyone?

Edit: Actually, that may be apocryphal? I can't find anything with much provenance confirming what I remember reading ages ago.

Aprikurt · Nov 3, 2023

It's amusing that there are people legitimately upset by this. It's not like they're going to stop referencing older series or including characters/enemies from the past.

plagiarize · Nov 3, 2023

Makes sense and I don't think fans will get confused because we already break the show up by Doctor or showrunner. The New New Who joke actually works really well if you apply it to different show runners in the classic era too.

I mean, you can't tell me that Bidmead coming in isn't a bigger shift than when Moffat or Chibnall came in.

Also technically, the reason the production codes etc changed in 2004 was because it was being made by a new studio. And that has happened again here. You've got the BBC era. The BBC Wales era. Now the Badwolf Productions era.

Beaniedude · Nov 3, 2023

The New Who

The Unsent · Nov 3, 2023

PS_Snake said:
The most shocking revelation for me recently was finding out that Doctor Who was not technically wasn't a children's show. All these years I thought it was within the CBBC block of programming aimed at school kids. It made so much sense to me why the tone was the way it was, why the writing was the way it was etc. I was always so confused why people loved it outside of kids and defended it so much.

It's a family show, but there isn't really a specific tone, it changes on who is the writer.

Also I find that last part of your post a bit passive aggressive if you you haven't watched it "people loved it outside of kids and defended it so much."

Rassilon · Nov 3, 2023

Aprikurt said:
It's amusing that there are people legitimately upset by this. It's not like they're going to stop referencing older series or including characters/enemies from the past.

the performatively outraged are out in force on youtube as usual

Mr. Bad Example · Nov 3, 2023

As long as he doesn't let them film first drafts like Chibnall did, I don't really care one way or the other what season number he calls.

Guppeth · Nov 3, 2023

Rassilon said:
the performatively outraged are out in force on youtube as usual

I never get fed any of that shit. What's their angle? Is it a woke numbering system?

Aprikurt · Nov 3, 2023

PS_Snake said:
The most shocking revelation for me recently was finding out that Doctor Who was not technically wasn't a children's show. All these years I thought it was within the CBBC block of programming aimed at school kids. It made so much sense to me why the tone was the way it was, why the writing was the way it was etc. I was always so confused why people loved it outside of kids and defended it so much.

I mean look at how people respond to Star Wars, a property that is demonstrably intended for a mass audience, particularly children, but has people in absolute uproar every time they make a decision that isn't well received.

Doctor Who fans aren't quite as rabid, but they still get their back up about... Pretty much any major or not major change. Similar cries of "WOKE" when they cast a female Doctor for instance

Rassilon said:
the performatively outraged are out in force on youtube as usual

I can see the 40 minute opinion pieces now "RTD ERASING Doctor Who's history with new WOKE SERIES REBOOT?!"

Guppeth · Nov 3, 2023

Do they call it Doctor Whoke? If not, I'm claiming it now. Chuds, you can use it, but you have to pay me. And I don't accept fucking crypto.

The Unsent · Nov 3, 2023

Guppeth said:
I never get fed any of that shit. What's their angle? Is it a woke numbering system?

It is click bait, like how tabloids try to amass readers by generating outrage "Look they're changing the numbers, the old version of the show you love is being cancelled and rebooted completely"

lunarworks · Nov 3, 2023

VorpalNonsense said:
This will be great for new viewers as the show enters a new and different era. There's clearly been big shifts in both production and direction and so labeling this as a new era does seem legitimately more than just marketing. It also simplifies how the show will be listed on disney plus. I welcome this decision. RTD is really going for it with this, I imagine it will recapture a lot of lapsed fans and find some new ones.

Can nerds start calling the eras of Doctor who Showa (Classic), Heisei (Wilderness), Millenium (Revival) and Reiwa (RTD2) now? Is that allowed? Is the fourteenth doctor the Shin Doctor? Let me have this okay

It's the Charles III Doctor Who.

Dwebble · Nov 3, 2023

Multievolution said:
I'm definitely willing to keep watching, but I need to see what this statement is about for myself, I'd still like to hope old stuff could get the odd reference here and there.

They've announced several old characters that are appearing in the new season already, so no need to worry on that score.

Mivey · Nov 3, 2023

Might follow the the new series then. Old Who lost me pretty hard a couple years ago.

Deleted member 13206 · Nov 3, 2023

As long as it's not full over over-bearing speeches and awful over-bearing music I might be in.

I only really enjoyed the Matt Smith stuff as it got a bit weird. All the rest I kind of checked out on.

I remember being disappointed in the 2005 series, with big CGI wasps. Just felt duff. It's always better when they don't play pretend Hollywood with 1/4th the budget. Christ I even remember an Event Horizon episode. Who's always better with a bit of grit and Wyndham-esque oddball stuff.

Hell I remember the space vampires, and that weird robot that zipped about in a quarry. Get fucking freaky with it.

#bringbackthequarries

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dI3BIrpxu5k

PUKING CYBERMEN. That's what it's about.

acheron_xl · Nov 3, 2023

This reminds me of comics throwing out years of numbering continuity for the hot sales hit of an issue #1. I hate it there and I hate it here.

excelsiorlef · Nov 3, 2023

acheron_xl said:
This reminds me of comics throwing out years of numbering continuity for the hot sales hit of an issue #1. I hate it there and I hate it here.

I mean they did it in 05 already so

acheron_xl · Nov 3, 2023

excelsiorlef said:
I mean they did it in 05 already so

A 16 year gap and format change justified that imo.

excelsiorlef · Nov 3, 2023

acheron_xl said:
A 16 year gap and format change justified that imo.

And now there's been a smaller gap, and an international broadcast partner change

Wrexis · Nov 3, 2023

liquidtmd said:
'a clutching of anoraks' 😂

To be fair, if you read the original quote, that (dated as fuck) phrase is not said by him, but from the magazine.

Hollywood Duo · Nov 3, 2023

The start of the DWCU

Trike · Nov 3, 2023

Honestly, it doesn't really matter to me. The show's canon stretches 60 years and multiple mediums. They're trying to get a new audience/bring back those who used to watch it but fell off. Feeling like you're getting in on a new start rather than tuning in on the 15th season is a lot less daunting.

Dress up the new series/season however you like, I'm just hoping all of these collective changes actually end up benefitting Doctor Who. Maybe one run will have a smooth production.

excelsiorlef · Nov 3, 2023

You can of course claim it's a British show so this shouldn't matter... but in the US the 05 series run is staying on Max... imagine Disney Plus launching this already clearly new Who era with it being listed as series 14... lol

Wrexis · Nov 3, 2023

Trike said:
Honestly, it doesn't really matter to me. The show's canon stretches 60 years and multiple mediums. They're trying to get a new audience/bring back those who used to watch it but fell off. Feeling like you're getting in on a new start rather than tuning in on the 15th season is a lot less daunting.

This. Imagine in 2005 the new Doctor Who was introduced as Season 27.

PlanetSmasher · Nov 3, 2023

excelsiorlef said:
You can of course claim it's a British show so this shouldn't matter... but in the US the 05 series run is staying on Max... imagine Disney Plus launching this already clearly new Who era with it being listed as series 14... lol

Yeah, I think this is mostly a Disney mandate that Davies is just being cheeky and going along with because he knows it winds people up.

Siggy-P · Nov 3, 2023

Wrexis said:
This. Imagine in 2005 the new Doctor Who was introduced as Season 27.

Eh, I feel very confidant in saying that the difference between 2005 and season 26 is far more severe than this Season 1will be compared to the last series.

Brawly Likes to Brawl · Nov 3, 2023

I will never stop finding it hilarious how eerily similar Doctor Who's production history is to Kamen Rider.

Tycho Kepler · Nov 3, 2023

Hollywood Duo said:
The start of the DWCU

The Doctor Will C U now

AlgusUnderdunk · Nov 3, 2023

Doctor Heisei is over, time for Doctor Reiwa.

Siggy-P · Nov 3, 2023

It's just a name, whatever.

Though I would expect this to be a proper fresh reboot if its gonna do this and not just a standard series to series continuation.

Like if you call is season 1 then someone should be able to just jump in. Which I would be surprised if that's the case but we will see.

Which is not to say that you can't reference older series or have plots from them or anything but like... it needs to a first series.

Guppeth · Nov 3, 2023

Siggy-P said:
Like if you call is season 1 then someone should be able to just jump in. Which I would be surprised if that's the case but we will see.

I think every new Doctor has been a fine jump-in point. They explain who and what the Doctor is, and what the TARDIS is, every time. And you don't really need to know any more than that to enjoy Doctor Who. The show has an extremely low barrier to entry.

Siggy-P · Nov 3, 2023

Guppeth said:
I think every new Doctor has been a fine jump-in point. They explain who and what the Doctor is, and what the TARDIS is, every time. And you don't really need to know any more than that to enjoy Doctor Who. The show has an extremely low barrier to entry.

Yeah but season 1 implies a but more of a full reboot.

Like you genuienly do not need to watch a single thing from old who to jump into 2005.

Guppeth · Nov 3, 2023

Siggy-P said:
Yeah but season 1 implies a but more of a full reboot.

Like you genuienly do not need to watch a single thing from old who to jump into 2005.

The numbering is just a marketing thing, for Disney. I really think every Doctor is a reboot, not just 2005, and especially when they change the companions at the same time.

And it's happening straight after the specials, which might be impenetrable to people who didn't watch Tennant's episodes and know how they concluded. A terrible place to jump in, immediately followed by a great place to jump in.

OneTrueJack · Nov 3, 2023

So season 1, eh? I think the reason it feels weird is because the upcoming era seems like a much more direct continuation of the current show than Rose did to either the TV movie or Survival.

There's no big gap from Power of the Doctor to sort of justify the reset. It just feels like the next series. I imagine it's more or a legal/technical thing anyway. The show is now being produced at Bad Wolf Studios, so a new production means a new series order. It is, technically, their season 1.

Nevertheless, it seems like we really are entering a whole new era for Doctor Who.

Classic (1963-1989)
Wilderness (1989-2005)
Revival (2005-2022)
Modern/Bad Wolf (2022-????)

The Unsent · Nov 3, 2023

Guppeth said:
I think every new Doctor has been a fine jump-in point. They explain who and what the Doctor is, and what the TARDIS is, every time. And you don't really need to know any more than that to enjoy Doctor Who. The show has an extremely low barrier to entry.

I don't think the 12th Doctor's was, I think it was a bit of tedious intro and meta alluding to whether Clara can see the Doctor despite their aged visage. You kind of have to already know Clara and the Doctor's pre-relationship before starting that era.

Tbm24 · Nov 3, 2023

Can this new generation get its own Torchwood branch please and thank you?

Russell T Davies: The new series of Doctor WHO will be called Season 1 rather than Series 14

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