Since 1963, Doctor Who has lived many lives, in more ways than one. Firstly, through the many faces of the main character, The Doctor. The Doctor’s regeneration is one of the biggest elements of the show: Every time The Doctor is in mortal danger, they can simply “regenerate” by changing their appearance and live on with a new face. Since the beginning of the show, The Doctor has been portrayed by 15 different actors, all of whom did a phenomenal job undertaking this unique role. That means that as long as there are actors who want the part, the show can essentially run forever, changing the appearance of The Doctor every few years.
Another form of regeneration Doctor Who has seen is through the different installments of the show. Fans categorize it into three eras: The original show, Classic/Old Who (1963-1989). The first reboot, NuWho (2005-2022) on BBC that started broadcasting after a 16-year break. And lastly, the newest series, Modern Doctor Who (2023-2025), that followed Disney’s purchase of the show’s rights.
These many lives of this silly sci-fi show are a testament to how beloved it is, but does that really mean it should go on forever?
In recent years, even before Disney took over, the show severely struggled. A good sci-fi show relies heavily on great writing, so when writers and showrunners kept getting switched up, it was apparent on screen, and fans began to lose interest. The last couple of seasons of NuWho, as well as most of the new Doctor Who, experienced a significant drop in ratings, which led the showrunners to try different methods to lure fans back in. Why challenge yourself with good writing when you can bring back popular actors and characters to take advantage of fans’ love of nostalgia?
The return of David Tennant and Catherine Tate in the 60th Anniversary Specials, and most recently, the shocking reveal of Billie Piper as the face of the 16th Doctor, are among the many examples of this phenomenon. However, bringing old actors back and trying to play the nostalgia card can’t save an entire show. Even after a successful 60th anniversary, the show still struggled to keep the audience around.
Via Cheezburger
And that is exactly the problem. Doctor Who doesn’t need just a new showrunner, writers, cast, or broadcaster, it desperately needs a new audience. Fans are the toughest critics of any media form, and the Doctor Who fans, aka the “Whovians,” have simply grown too old to enjoy the show.
Doctor Who is a show about a time-traveling alien who travels the universe with a human companion, saving Earth and different planets from all kinds of dangers. Its primary audience is kids and teens, exactly the people who were fans of the show in 1963 and again in 2005. When Classic Who ended and the show went on a 16-year-long break, it allowed the fans of the show back then to grow up and move on. When NuWho came around in 2005, a new, younger audience took over the reins of the Doctor Who fandom. The older generation of Whovians, who watched the show in 1963 were no longer the target audience; their children were. And while both generations could happily watch the show together, a new generation of fans rose.
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Since 2005, there hasn’t been a similar break that prompted a change of viewership. So the people who are criticizing the show, who complain on Twitter that Doctor Who isn’t what it used to be, are 30-something-year-old Whovians who refuse to pass the reins to a younger audience. And why should they, when they have been watching the show for 20 years now?
The reasons behind Disney's decision to sever its ties to BBC’s Doctor Who are practically irrelevant. It’s a sign that another significant break is due, hopefully after the confirmed Christmas special in 2026. Then and only then can a real new era of Doctor Who arise, along with a new doctor, companion, writers, and most importantly, a new audience.
In theory, having your favorite show run forever is the perfect scenario. No one wants to say goodbye to something they hold so close to their hearts. But there are plenty of different fandoms out there that will testify that good things can’t last forever, and many shows that run for too long end up losing their spark. The devoted Whovians have been lucky enough to have the past 20 years of thrilling adventures around the universe with The Doctor. If you have been one of those lucky companions, maybe it is time for you to step out of the TARDIS and make room for a future generation to enjoy the ride.
