Technically, Doctor Who was never formally cancelled. It just went on hiatus for 16 years.
Spoilers Russell T. Davies Returns to Doctor Who as New Showrunner
- Thread starter Allyn Gibson
- Start date
Technically, Doctor Who was never formally cancelled. It just went on hiatus for 16 years.
The more I think about it the more I can see that the appearance of Billie is maybe the least worst option.
I still get that with Disney prevaricating Ncuti angled to get out (and I can understand why*) but what I don't get is that the deal with Disney was supposedly for 26 episodes.
So far we have:
3 x 60th anniversary specials
16 x standard episodes
2 x Christmas specials
So that leaves budget for five episodes? Or did Disney either get out of that final part of the contractual arrangement or do they have a veto about when those additional episodes could be made that would prevent us getting a truncated final season for Ncuti, or even just a series of specials to see out his era?
*Although is there some evidence that he was angling to get out even if there was go ahead for a third season?
I still get that with Disney prevaricating Ncuti angled to get out (and I can understand why*) but what I don't get is that the deal with Disney was supposedly for 26 episodes.
So far we have:
3 x 60th anniversary specials
16 x standard episodes
2 x Christmas specials
So that leaves budget for five episodes? Or did Disney either get out of that final part of the contractual arrangement or do they have a veto about when those additional episodes could be made that would prevent us getting a truncated final season for Ncuti, or even just a series of specials to see out his era?
*Although is there some evidence that he was angling to get out even if there was go ahead for a third season?
But that's not what happened. The show was going on hiatus when Survival went out. They just didn't know when it'd come back, but it would be. That it would take more than 15 years is the surprise of it.
The last five episodes are for the spin-off The War Between the Land and the Sea.
Of course!
Don't mind me, it's been a crazy few weeks.
Probably a bit mad of RTD to be focusing on spinoffs so soon into a new partnership.
Kinda depressing to think that 2-3 years ago it all looked so bright - RTD back, Tennant and Tate back for a while, an exciting new talent as The Doctor, Disney money, the possibility of an expanded universe and spin-offs.
And the annoying thing is that for the most part the series has actually been pretty good. Yet here we are.
And the annoying thing is that for the most part the series has actually been pretty good. Yet here we are.
Indeed, but as I think was suggested at the time, getting into bed with a streaming partner was always a gamble, look at all the shows that Netflix have cancelled, or Amazon, or Disney+ etc.
I don't think it was ever the panacea people thought it might be and I sincerely hope that the BBC/Bad Wolf went into the deal with their eyes wide open (or at least not screwed tightly shut) about the potential risks as well as the potential rewards.
You're right though, it's made doubly annoying by the episodes being, on the whole, really enjoyable.
To quote Buffy's Once More with Feeling...
"Where do we go from here?"
These days you can grab enough of a noggin shot with an iPhone and a green screen. Blow up the Tardis for a bit in episode one, shakey cam flashback with a body double. That new console looks even worse for bashing your head on. Bit of carrot juice, jobs a goodun.
That’s assuming he gets the Hollywood career he hopes is calling.
Fuckin' Disney!!
As for Number 2, Disney is SOOOO Woke their new logo is a photo of amphetamines & coffee.
Because Acting Unions require it. I don't know how it is in the UK, but in the US, you try to get a line in something (before getting a SAG card). That line will get you a card. You will most likely NOT get a job without a SAG card (unless it's with an indie production that is not using ANY union cast or crew.
The problem with streaming is the whole "6 years between seasons" nonsense. TV needs to be mostly annual - 1 season a year with 13 episodes and a special, with an occasional shortened season. 2 seasons of 8 followed by an indeterminate gap year(s) makes it really tough to keep interest going.
Or they could have left him flying away in the TARDIS and done a regen during a christmas special or something. If Ncuti had already moved on to a different project, they could probably still grab him for a few weeks of shooting or for a regeneration scene.
They could have just ended it on a regeneration and if the series continued then they pick up with a new actor/actress at the start of the next episode. Why did they have to complete the regeneration?
Unfortunately, it hasn't really prevented that perception.
Last edited:
Unfortunately, that's because the current fandom are a bunch of doomsaying pricks (not that the "Second Doctor looks like Coco the Clown!!" brigade were much better - plus la change...).
Ncuti's first ep ended not on him flying off, but on Ten v3.0 getting therapy. Could easily be a break point too.
Five episodes for The War Between the Land and Sea as per Scott Handcock.
Also according to Scott, that spinoff was the first thing RTD pitched for the Whoniverse even before DW itself!
I dispute this. That only represents a loud vocal minority. Most of this season (up until the understandably divisive finale) has been filled with people here enjoying almost everything about each episode. Only a select few were doomsaying from the get go.
I don't think they had to. But it was probably considered the least bad option. You've got all this uncertainty swirling around the show and its future. If the season were just to end with a uncompleted regeneration, it reinforces that uncertainty. It might contribute to it actually ending.
However, with this ending, there's the hype with Piper but also it shows that RTD intends for it to return. It changes the narrative from "the show is ending" to "what will Piper be when it comes back?!"
It kind of reminds me of the situation at the end of the Trial of a Timelord season. There was lots of uncertainty about the shows future. Eric Saward wanted to end it on an ambiguous note where the Doctor appears to die. But JNT didn't want that and forced an ending where it's clear that the Doctor survives.
It's not a perfect analogy but, given the uncertainty surround the show, JNT (and RTD) chose a direction that avoided the narrative that show was done.
I can't really blame them to be honest. Especially these days with the Internet. The doom and gloom would've exploded with an unresolved regeneration. It would seem to confirm the very worst suspicions!
Losing Disney Plus as an International distributor does not in any way jeopardize the show's future.
The only things that can actually do that are if the BBC outright cancels it (which they've made clear isn't happening at the present time) and/or Bad Wolf Studios suddenly deciding that they're no longer wanting to co-produce it with BBC Studios.
The only things that can actually do that are if the BBC outright cancels it (which they've made clear isn't happening at the present time) and/or Bad Wolf Studios suddenly deciding that they're no longer wanting to co-produce it with BBC Studios.
Even I said when stuff was good XD
And I have a reputation for being on the critical side of the force on Who since Capaldi said to never eat pears. (Before, technically, Thin Ice made it stop being family viewing for me.)
Double edged sword. Might not have been possible to produce the show without them.
