As a die-hard Whovian who has been following the show since its reboot in 2005, I can attest to the rollercoaster of emotions that comes with being a fan of Doctor Who. The series has an uncanny ability to unite fans and critics alike, often sparking intense debates about the narrative choices, character development, and even the casting decisions.
Previously leading the popular science fiction show, Doctor Who, Steven Moffat, who was once the showrunner, has spoken about the negative feedback he received while in charge from 2010 to 2017. Despite creating some of Doctor Who’s most memorable moments and achieving critical acclaim, Moffat endured significant criticism from fans before stepping down from the series. However, he later returned for special episodes and more recently for the Christmas special titled “Joy to the World,” scheduled for 2024.
At the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival during an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Moffat reminisced about several challenges he faced while working on Doctor Who. Moffat humorously pointed out that whoever assumes the role of Doctor Who’s showrunner will inevitably be perceived as “the nation’s chief devil-maker” at some point, explaining further:
The amount of hostility I receive is intense, almost to the point where it could bring down multiple commercial airplanes. Honestly, it never seems to let up. I was continually criticized and labeled as a homophobe, misogynist, misandrist, misanthrope, sexist, racist, and more. To be fair, I am critical of many groups of people, but to call me an ‘omni-bigot’ is incorrect because that term implies I dislike everyone equally, which isn’t true.
However, criticisms of Moffat’s Doctor Who were not isolated to political differences. Many fans also disagreed with the narrative choices Moffat made as the lead writer of the series, with one Reddit user eloquently describing Moffat’s typically convoluted plots as “a Russian doll of mysteries.” But despite the negativity Moffat faced during his time as showrunner, fans have almost universally praised his stand-alone episodes, with installments like “Blink” and “Silence in the Library” earning some of the highest ratings the show has experienced since its revival in 2005.
Doctor Who Showrunners United By Criticism
Regardless of the enduring popularity that ‘Doctor Who’ has established since its debut in 1963, spanning a hiatus, a TV movie, and a reboot in 2005, it appears that criticism is a recurring aspect of this iconic series. For instance, showrunner Chris Chibnall encountered significant opposition when he switched the Doctor’s gender by casting Jodie Whittaker as the Thirteenth Doctor in 2017. Now, with Russell T. Davies returning as showrunner following his tenure from 2005 to 2010, ‘Doctor Who’ is facing criticism once more due to the selection of Ncuti Gatwa, a Black actor, as the Fifteenth Doctor. Additionally, LGBTQ+ characters like Captain Jack Harkness (John Barrowman) and Bill Potts (Pearl Mackie) have been subjected to critique throughout ‘Doctor Who’s history.
Unfazed by a knack for drawing criticism from all sides, the future of Doctor Who remains as promising as ever. The latest season received a flawless rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and fans are eagerly looking forward to the Doctor’s return in a highly-anticipated Christmas special, with Moffat penning the script once more.
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2024-09-09 17:31