The Early Dr Who -v- The Later Dr Who Series

[Want-to-know]

When the programme first started in the early 1960s, it was not just about travelling forward in time and meeting various types of monsters, e.g. sci-fi, but also about travelling back in time, e.g. getting involved in historical events. It gave the programme a wide dimension.

So far, there has been very few episodes about going way back in time, which I feel is sad. It seems to be developing into a "monster of the week" series where every week a different type of monster wants to take over the earth.

Is this because of unimaginative writing? Anybody agree/disagree?

[robbo82]

Didn't they have a few episodes last series when they travelled back to Victorian times and met Charles Dickens?

[Want-to-know]

Hi Robbo, I mean way way back to Tudor times.

[kick3m0n]

I love the new series, and as a 35 year old, I can remember a fair few of the older ones, but this is amy favoruite by a long way. Personally I'm glad it's not some lame "let's teach the kids history" type series, that's too dull (and too 1960s) for words. As Robbo (hi babes :o)) pointed out, we've already been back to see Queen Victoria, and next week looks to be set in the 50s (I think)...much more relevant and interesting for kids and adults alike I think.

[tonymclark]

Getting rid of the purely historical stories was down to viewers wishes, the audience figures for the historical stories weren't as strong as the science fiction ones.

We haven't had a period story without an alien since March 1982.

Today's audience for Who expect a monster / alien / baddie, and I would think they would be dissappointed with a pure historic story.

[marwel7]

There has been a good number of historical stories in the new series.The historical stories were more prevalent in the days of Hartnell and Troughton.There were hardly any in Pertwee's time as for much of the Third Doctor's time he was exiled on Earth and the Tardis didn't work properly.Thereafter the mix was much the same as it is now,and the historicals have mostly featured aliens as well.

As for imagination,there is no lack of it on display here.Sadly the same cannot be said of the majority of television.

[Suzyboo]

I have to diagree with marwel7 about the writers imagination - to me for a series of this type to have so many episodes based on either earth or replica earth-type planets and to have the same characters e.g. Rose's mother popping up all the time is just unimaginative and lazy. I keep watching out of loyalty to my childhood memories but I have to say I think that the plots are dire.