"How Do You Solve a Problem Like Chris Chibnall?" Topic

Having been a long-time fan of Doctor Who, I was mildly perturbed when I heard that Chris Chibnall was taking over as the showrunner/head writer of the series.

Given his previous track record on Who, with some pretty woeful episodes that lacked logical consistency or smacked of lazy writing, stealing ideas from other sci-fi shows and making them…meh, I was understandably anxious that he was going to make it rubbish.

Having now watched the entirety of Series 12 and the first three episodes of Series 13. my fears have been realised, so much so that as far as I'm concerned, there is NO 13th Doctor. Or, at least, not yet…

Rather than lambast Chibi-Who, as I like to call it, I thought I'd pose a positive question instead.

Given free rein to cast any actor, of either sex, as the 13th Doctor, who would you have chosen? And given that the show's premise spans all of time and space, you are free to choose any actor, living or dead, as your ideal 13th Doctor.

The best writers cost big money. Money the BBC never seems to have?

The question should be, do we want Gary Lineker presenting BBC's Match of the Day at £1,750,000.00 GBP a year, or better Dr. Who scripts.

It's a simple case of 'National Treasures'.

Therefore, as Gary's done some acting, and he'd probably want a good script, let's have him! Come on, if only for the ear jokes!

After living through John Nathan Turner's single handed attempt to destroy Doctor Who in the eighties Chris Chibnall's efforts ain't so bad.

I think they should have just left it alone after it was axed the first time around and not tried to bring it back at all.

Ardal O Hanlan…… about time we had an Irish Dr.

I was hoping that the 1st female Doctor would be Zoe Wanamaker; I'd accept O"Hanlon also.

I agree that the 13th Doctor/series has been woeful. What I find disturbing is that I have also recently watched the BBC drama Dracula and in using similar gender swap themes Dracula has managed to imbibe the key roles with something very new and fresh. While Dr Who has destroyed a BBC cash-cow and turned off many ardent Who fans.

Tony
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I liked the first three episodes of this season. Last season was regrettable but the first few episodes of any new doctor are often forgettable.

I'd bring back the 9th Doctor who I feel is the best of the lot.

Binged the first 3 episodes of the 13th Doctor and I'm with Carrion Crow. This is just awful. Episode 3 ended with an exhortation that we have to change our polluting ways or evolve in carbon mon/di-oxide breathing bipeds.

That threw out a whole bunch of prior story lines for a badly written eco-rant. And then the mother – daughter dynamic? AAAAAARRRRRRRGH!!!!

A better doctor or a better writer? I go for better writer. Neil Gaiman or Noah Hawley (who did an amazing job on 'Legion, he has an aesthetic that would work).

A Doctor… what we've got could work with better scripts but I want something more acerbic, less explanatory dialog and less playing to the politically correct. But in that vein then yes, Zoe Wannamaker.

And don't get me started on the companions…

"A better doctor or a better writer?"

Remake or recycle the scripts from the 60's of all those shows that got destroyed. Should keep the show on the air for decades…

So is it the message or the show you really don't like? A number of the John Pertwee episodes had pretty much the exact same message.

Its too late. They have killed the fan base and the next generation of fans also. Ratings numbers show that full well and they aren't going to get any better as this season goes on.

My advice. Go BigFinish stories instead and re-watch the older series, ignoring the current dumpster fire.

Personally, I always feel that the 8th Doc got short shrift. Be nice to see a series or two with him in it as a way of bridging those lost years. But I wouldn't want them to do that now given the they can't make a decent story to save their careers.

Jodie Whittaker's confirmed she's back for series 13. Good News.

The entire modern era (2005+) has been an abomination from go to woe. I'm surprised it's taken some people this long to see it.

I hope they just can it quick, the horse they are flogging is pure chum by now.

The modern series has reintroduced the Doctor to a new generation of fans and, because of the references made to the previous series throughout its run, will encourage those new fans to go back and watch some, if not all, of the previous series. Surely that's a good thing?

I know of people who despise the modern series, such a H Man above, but I also know of people who think that the new series is fantastic, but hate the original series.

Up until the introduction of the 13th Doctor, I considered it all ONE series, with a hiatus during the 90's.

However, since the advent of the 13th Doctor and Chris Chibnall's taking over as the showrunner, it just doesn't FEEL like Doctor Who anymore.

Whilst I understand that Chibnall wants to put his own stamp on the series and has therefore brought in a whole new cast and set of writers, it feels like a reboot of the series, rather than a continuation. Same basic premise, but not real continuity with what has gone before.

At least the previous showrunners since it's revival in 2005 acknowledged and built on what had gone before.

Rewatching ANY of the episodes of what has preceded this current incarnation of the Doctor just reinforces that the show has seriously lost its way.

At least there is hope there. If they rested it a while, they could later produce a proper follow up to the 8th doctor. Or just leave it the gosh alone.

I feel the production trying to get new fans, as opposed to trying to keep existing fans is the issue.

"Let's make another Jaws movie and aim it at the teletubbies crowd!"

Now even they appear to be fleeing the scene.

Who was a kids show, then it became a family show. The modern stuff seems to be a dumbed down kids show with adult themes.

Don't mess with formula. That is what appears to kill a lot of shows, X files, sg1, dsv, so on. In 2005 they threw the doctor who formula out the window. It got a lot of new fans, as it was a new formula and most kids at the time didn't know it was based on an old show, but it was Dr Who in name only. Like National Lampoon these days.

If you don't like the original run your not a true doctor who fan. As with most things. Also original shows seem to out last their remakes/sequels. Star Trek is one other example, even with all the others, Spock and Kirk prevail.

So on…