Disheartened by New “Doctor Who”
By Katherine Rowe
By Katherine Rowe
With its second season featuring Jodie Whittaker as the doctor, “Doctor Who” has returned and the new edition is just as disappointing as the last.
After the first female doctor debuted back in 2018, the show took an unfortunate downhill turn due to subpar writing, the TARDIS interior changing and the adoption of three new companions.
When Whittaker took on this role, Chris Chibnall also took over as head writer and executive producer, which previously belonged to Steven Moffat. Although Chibnall’s writing has improved this year, the episodes still tend to be frustrating, as the doctor’s character feels extremely preachy, almost as if instead of going on adventures through space and time, the audience is being lectured in a classroom.
Even with the return of established aliens, such as the Judoon and Cybermen, the show is still lacking. The new villains created also seem to try and serve a certain agenda more often than not, like Dregs, the new creatures that inhabit an Earth destroyed by climate change.
I was really hoping that this season would be better, but after the two-part special that kicked it off with a bang, it reverted to the same exasperating tirades about the real world issues “Doctor Who” viewers try to escape through science fiction.
What used to be an enjoyable outlet has just become another reminder of everyday struggles and controversy that we are being told how to think on through these episodes.
Ultimately the blame does not fall on Whittaker, as her acting has been consistently good throughout these past two series. The difference between the previous doctors is not her, but a lack of outstanding writing. All Whovians can do now is hope that the return of the Cybermen, one of the most devious enemies to the doctor, will help the episodes come back around to being the incredible show it used to be.
After the first female doctor debuted back in 2018, the show took an unfortunate downhill turn due to subpar writing, the TARDIS interior changing and the adoption of three new companions.
When Whittaker took on this role, Chris Chibnall also took over as head writer and executive producer, which previously belonged to Steven Moffat. Although Chibnall’s writing has improved this year, the episodes still tend to be frustrating, as the doctor’s character feels extremely preachy, almost as if instead of going on adventures through space and time, the audience is being lectured in a classroom.
Even with the return of established aliens, such as the Judoon and Cybermen, the show is still lacking. The new villains created also seem to try and serve a certain agenda more often than not, like Dregs, the new creatures that inhabit an Earth destroyed by climate change.
I was really hoping that this season would be better, but after the two-part special that kicked it off with a bang, it reverted to the same exasperating tirades about the real world issues “Doctor Who” viewers try to escape through science fiction.
What used to be an enjoyable outlet has just become another reminder of everyday struggles and controversy that we are being told how to think on through these episodes.
Ultimately the blame does not fall on Whittaker, as her acting has been consistently good throughout these past two series. The difference between the previous doctors is not her, but a lack of outstanding writing. All Whovians can do now is hope that the return of the Cybermen, one of the most devious enemies to the doctor, will help the episodes come back around to being the incredible show it used to be.