There's a 50th anniversary special coming up, but the sad thing is that I only hope Moffat doesn't ruin one more aspect of the show. He can't leave soon enough in my opinion. If you've read my reviews you will have noticed that I loved most of the episodes written by Moffat during the RTD era. Unfortunately, Moffat's apparent genius did not translate well to the position of show-runner.
His seasons have been disappointment after disappointment with no end in sight. Like I said, I'm not just trying to hate on the guy irrationally or anything. You should see my RTD vs Moffat post in which I explain the things I think Moffat gets wrong, like weak characterization, timey-wimey-ness, season long plots, and endings and so on.
The bottom line is that ever since he took over at the beginning of Season 5 the show has seen a slow but steady decline in quality. I don't care about ratings, or how many cheering fans Moffat has, the quality has gone downhill and this is plain and obvious and discussed in great detail in several other places. What I will do in this post is discuss some of the ways I think the show could be saved.
That's the great thing about Doctor Who, the show has such a great potential built into it to be able to change and overcome hard spots. Despite the 3-season decline, it's quite believable for it to make a quick comeback. Here are some of the ways I think this can be done. Some of them are wishful thinking, but most of them will be serious! I've separated them into the 3 wishful thinking suggestions followed by some more specific/detailed suggestions.
BE WARNED. THERE ARE SPOILERS AHEAD
Wishful Thinking
1) Erase seasons 5-7 from existence
Of course this is not going to happen, but the potential to do this is built into the show. They've used the reset button so many times already and in my opinion this is where it's most needed. I mean, there were some good episodes in these seasons, but the utter mess that Moffat has made of the season arcs and all the mysteries has just infected the entire lot with awfulness. If only it could all be erased and we could go back to the point just before season 5 and try again. /wishful thinking
2) Fire Moffat and Find a Show-Runner who can handle long-term plot and characterization
Unfortunately I don't see Moffat being able to salvage this mess himself. Despite his wonderful episodes in the RTD era he's now had three seasons in which to show us what he can do when he's in charge and he has failed miserably. I like how even those who try to defend Moffat's reign will point to his episodes in the RTD era such as Empty Child, Blink, etc. to prove that he's good, forgetting that what we're talking about here is different from writing one or two episodes. He's a good writer, just not a good show-runner.
He has done one important thing, though. He's shown us how drastically this show can change with a different person in charge. He changed everything from the TARDIS to the theme song so that his era feels completely removed from the RTD era. Now all someone needs to do is step in and change things again, this time for the better.
3) Examine and build upon past success
Many fans who are upset with Moffat have rightly pointed out that Moffat doesn't seem to realize what made some of the most beloved episodes (even the ones he wrote!) work for the audience. Someone needs to just look back a bit and realize that that it was characterization, not mystery or "fiesty" cardboard cutout characters, that made the show compelling. They need to look back and realize that timey-wimey and the weeping angels and many other things should have stayed firmly in the past.
Detailed Suggestions
1) Lose the mysteries
This includes Clara, River Song, and all the other "mysterious" goings on in season 5-7. As I said elsewhere Moffat seems to think that mystery is a substitute for plot and characterization, but it really isn't and the show has suffered because of this.
2) Bring back proper companion characterization
Ever since that series 5 opening episode "The Eleventh Hour" in which we were introduced to adult Amy with the camera creeping up her legs we began to see the companion's characterization reduced from the 3D characters like Rose, Martha, and Donna to the "fiesty" and "sexy" variety like Amy and Clara and River Song. Either Moffat is incapable of characterizing women or he just won't be bothered. The thought process seems to be that these women are there only for the purpose of displaying their flesh and being involved in innuendo and when none of that is going on they can act "fiesty."
Now, since Moffat is apparently sticking around for the eighth season and we can't fix this problem by getting rid of him, we still have the possibility of changing the companion to a male or someone really old (Wilf, anyone? I mean, I know he basically killed Ten, but I am much forgiving of that now that I've seen Moffat's reign and realize we are much better off without having a Moffat-led season with him!)
3) Lose the Doctor-Centric nonsense
I understand that the show is called Doctor Who, but I really couldn't care less what the Doctor's name is. I mean, if he revealed it to a cool character in a well-written and well-acted scene showing how much the Doctor trusted that person that would be nice, but to have not just one episode, but multiple episodes focused on his name is just silly. What happened to going on adventures? What happened to saving the world? I don't want to know what the Doctor's name is or learn more about him and his TARDIS, I just want to watch him go on awesome adventures. And not ones that he refers to as awesome, but ones that actually are awesome because the writers bothered to put in some effort.
4) Stop trying to Americanize it
I'm not British, but I like watching Doctor who because it's a good, unique show. I LOVE that it isn't like the American brand of Sci-Fi movie, so why does it feel like they're trying to make the show more and more American lately? It's not something 100% tangible, just something in the feel and mood of the show in Moffat's era, and it has to do with a lot of other factors like characterization, the "blockbuster per episode" nonsense in season 7 and so on. Please stop Americanizing this show!
5) Go back to good season arcs and satisfying endings
The RTD era season arcs were wonderful, because you could watch them episode by episode and they stood alone wonderfully, but then by the time the finale rolled around you realized there had been all these hints dropped throughout that feed into the ending. And the pay-off was satisfying and didn't leave any open ends or cliffhangers. Then Moffat took control and with season 5 he gave us the stupid crack in the wall with a bunch of things left unanswered after the end of the season, then season 6 which was a shambles and made zero sense. After Season 6 I think Moffat realized he had gone wrong with season 6, but instead of going back to sane plotting he decided to ditch season arcs altogether and do the "blockbuster per episode" thing. There's such a thing as balance. Any of the series 1-4 arcs can serve as a great example (and yes that includes the extremely annoying "Utopia/Sound of Drums/Last of the Time Lords" thing).
6) No one wants to see another...
Some things have been overused to the point of ineffectiveness and with the whole history of Doctor Who, with the whole realm of possibilities one could imagine we really don't need to see them again. The writers should really think of something new! Here's my list of things that should never make another appearance:
o Daleks
o Weeping Angels
o Timey-wimey (events or uses of/references to the phrase)
o Mysterious Women (River Song and the rest of her clones)
o The trio from the 1800s (the lizard woman, Jenny, and that Sontaran)
o Love stories involving the Doctor
o Cybermen
7) Make the Doctor smart again!
Unfortunately while the Tenth doctor was good at being random and running around and making things up as he went along while still maintaining the aura of a genius 900 year old alien the Eleventh doctor has been a very childish and stupid one. Most of the time he really has no clue what's going on or what to do next and this does not bode well for the show.
I'm sure there are many other things that should be done to fix the show, but I'll leave it there. Comment below and let me know what you think.
BE WARNED. THERE ARE SPOILERS AHEAD
Wishful Thinking
1) Erase seasons 5-7 from existence
Of course this is not going to happen, but the potential to do this is built into the show. They've used the reset button so many times already and in my opinion this is where it's most needed. I mean, there were some good episodes in these seasons, but the utter mess that Moffat has made of the season arcs and all the mysteries has just infected the entire lot with awfulness. If only it could all be erased and we could go back to the point just before season 5 and try again. /wishful thinking
2) Fire Moffat and Find a Show-Runner who can handle long-term plot and characterization
Unfortunately I don't see Moffat being able to salvage this mess himself. Despite his wonderful episodes in the RTD era he's now had three seasons in which to show us what he can do when he's in charge and he has failed miserably. I like how even those who try to defend Moffat's reign will point to his episodes in the RTD era such as Empty Child, Blink, etc. to prove that he's good, forgetting that what we're talking about here is different from writing one or two episodes. He's a good writer, just not a good show-runner.
He has done one important thing, though. He's shown us how drastically this show can change with a different person in charge. He changed everything from the TARDIS to the theme song so that his era feels completely removed from the RTD era. Now all someone needs to do is step in and change things again, this time for the better.
3) Examine and build upon past success
Many fans who are upset with Moffat have rightly pointed out that Moffat doesn't seem to realize what made some of the most beloved episodes (even the ones he wrote!) work for the audience. Someone needs to just look back a bit and realize that that it was characterization, not mystery or "fiesty" cardboard cutout characters, that made the show compelling. They need to look back and realize that timey-wimey and the weeping angels and many other things should have stayed firmly in the past.
Detailed Suggestions
1) Lose the mysteries
This includes Clara, River Song, and all the other "mysterious" goings on in season 5-7. As I said elsewhere Moffat seems to think that mystery is a substitute for plot and characterization, but it really isn't and the show has suffered because of this.
2) Bring back proper companion characterization
Ever since that series 5 opening episode "The Eleventh Hour" in which we were introduced to adult Amy with the camera creeping up her legs we began to see the companion's characterization reduced from the 3D characters like Rose, Martha, and Donna to the "fiesty" and "sexy" variety like Amy and Clara and River Song. Either Moffat is incapable of characterizing women or he just won't be bothered. The thought process seems to be that these women are there only for the purpose of displaying their flesh and being involved in innuendo and when none of that is going on they can act "fiesty."
Now, since Moffat is apparently sticking around for the eighth season and we can't fix this problem by getting rid of him, we still have the possibility of changing the companion to a male or someone really old (Wilf, anyone? I mean, I know he basically killed Ten, but I am much forgiving of that now that I've seen Moffat's reign and realize we are much better off without having a Moffat-led season with him!)
3) Lose the Doctor-Centric nonsense
I understand that the show is called Doctor Who, but I really couldn't care less what the Doctor's name is. I mean, if he revealed it to a cool character in a well-written and well-acted scene showing how much the Doctor trusted that person that would be nice, but to have not just one episode, but multiple episodes focused on his name is just silly. What happened to going on adventures? What happened to saving the world? I don't want to know what the Doctor's name is or learn more about him and his TARDIS, I just want to watch him go on awesome adventures. And not ones that he refers to as awesome, but ones that actually are awesome because the writers bothered to put in some effort.
4) Stop trying to Americanize it
I'm not British, but I like watching Doctor who because it's a good, unique show. I LOVE that it isn't like the American brand of Sci-Fi movie, so why does it feel like they're trying to make the show more and more American lately? It's not something 100% tangible, just something in the feel and mood of the show in Moffat's era, and it has to do with a lot of other factors like characterization, the "blockbuster per episode" nonsense in season 7 and so on. Please stop Americanizing this show!
5) Go back to good season arcs and satisfying endings
The RTD era season arcs were wonderful, because you could watch them episode by episode and they stood alone wonderfully, but then by the time the finale rolled around you realized there had been all these hints dropped throughout that feed into the ending. And the pay-off was satisfying and didn't leave any open ends or cliffhangers. Then Moffat took control and with season 5 he gave us the stupid crack in the wall with a bunch of things left unanswered after the end of the season, then season 6 which was a shambles and made zero sense. After Season 6 I think Moffat realized he had gone wrong with season 6, but instead of going back to sane plotting he decided to ditch season arcs altogether and do the "blockbuster per episode" thing. There's such a thing as balance. Any of the series 1-4 arcs can serve as a great example (and yes that includes the extremely annoying "Utopia/Sound of Drums/Last of the Time Lords" thing).
6) No one wants to see another...
Some things have been overused to the point of ineffectiveness and with the whole history of Doctor Who, with the whole realm of possibilities one could imagine we really don't need to see them again. The writers should really think of something new! Here's my list of things that should never make another appearance:
o Daleks
o Weeping Angels
o Timey-wimey (events or uses of/references to the phrase)
o Mysterious Women (River Song and the rest of her clones)
o The trio from the 1800s (the lizard woman, Jenny, and that Sontaran)
o Love stories involving the Doctor
o Cybermen
7) Make the Doctor smart again!
Unfortunately while the Tenth doctor was good at being random and running around and making things up as he went along while still maintaining the aura of a genius 900 year old alien the Eleventh doctor has been a very childish and stupid one. Most of the time he really has no clue what's going on or what to do next and this does not bode well for the show.
I'm sure there are many other things that should be done to fix the show, but I'll leave it there. Comment below and let me know what you think.
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