SIGforum
Disney+ Ending Its Partnership With BBC For Doctor Who
October 28, 2025, 07:11 PM
PASigDisney+ Ending Its Partnership With BBC For Doctor Who
Can’t say I’m all that surprised or broken up about this, in fact this may have been the move that saves the show. Disney ruined it just like they ruined Star Wars:
Disney+ Ends ‘Doctor Who’ Partnership, BBC Commits to Continue Series
October 28, 2025, 07:41 PM
Hound DogEh. It wouldn't surprise me if Disney hurt the Doctor Who brand, but the show died for me in 2017 or so (Peter Capaldi's last of 3 seasons).
The show was GREAT (mostly) for the first seasons (Eccleston, Tennant, Smith, and Capaldi) but it got progressively more depressing. THey kept killing off the companions, and the stories turned to crap.
I watched a couple Jodi Whitaker episodes, and she was a good Doctor, but the bad stories continued. I didn't have a problem at all with a 'woman doctor,' but I DO have a problem with crap writing. . . I mean, they stopped doing Christmas episodes, as (and I paraphrase what they said) that 'there just aren't any new ideas left for Christmas episodes any more.'
REALLY?
ALL OF SPACE AND TIME AND "NO STORIES LEFT?". . .
The new guy (the black gay guy - I have no idea what his name is) was ok and the new blond girl companion was good (no idea what her name was, either), but the very first episode was about magical invisible goblins sailing a pirate ship across the London skies and abducting children. Kinda dumb way to start off a series.
So, this doesn't affect me in the least bit, as I will always have my 10 seasons of the (mostly) GOOD Doctor Who episodes and movies.
Fear God and Dread Nought
Admiral of the Fleet Sir Jacky Fisher
October 29, 2025, 10:35 AM
PASigquote:
Originally posted by Hound Dog:
Eh. It wouldn't surprise me if Disney hurt the Doctor Who brand, but the show died for me in 2017 or so (Peter Capaldi's last of 3 seasons).
The show was GREAT (mostly) for the first seasons (Eccleston, Tennant, Smith, and Capaldi) but it got progressively more depressing. THey kept killing off the companions, and the stories turned to crap.
I watched a couple Jodi Whitaker episodes, and she was a good Doctor, but the bad stories continued. I didn't have a problem at all with a 'woman doctor,' but I DO have a problem with crap writing. . . I mean, they stopped doing Christmas episodes, as (and I paraphrase what they said) that 'there just aren't any new ideas left for Christmas episodes any more.'
REALLY?
ALL OF SPACE AND TIME AND "NO STORIES LEFT?". . .
The new guy (the black gay guy - I have no idea what his name is) was ok and the new blond girl companion was good (no idea what her name was, either), but the very first episode was about magical invisible goblins sailing a pirate ship across the London skies and abducting children. Kinda dumb way to start off a series.
So, this doesn't affect me in the least bit, as I will always have my 10 seasons of the (mostly) GOOD Doctor Who episodes and movies.
Your experience has been pretty much the same for me. I tried to get back into it after Capaldi (who was ALREADY starting to get a little too preachy) and just couldn't.
I may get BritBox and start watching it again from 2005-Capaldi and also some favorite classic era episodes.
October 29, 2025, 11:40 AM
P250UA5quote:
Originally posted by Hound Dog:
The show was GREAT (mostly) for the first seasons (Eccleston, Tennant, Smith, and Capaldi) but it got progressively more depressing. THey kept killing off the companions, and the stories turned to crap.
Always wanted to give DW a shot, but none of the services we have carry it.
Those 4 were the ones I'd planned to watch.
The Enemy's gate is down. October 30, 2025, 04:15 AM
ChowserI quit after the Capaldi run. Came back for the Tennant (14) specials and the first episode of Gutwa and said I'm staying gone.
Not minority enough! October 30, 2025, 04:46 PM
newtoSig765quote:
Originally posted by Chowser:
I quit after the Capaldi run...
I quit after Tom Baker.
--------------------------
Every normal man must be tempted, at times, to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats.
-- H L Mencken
I always prefer reality when I can figure out what it is.
-- JALLEN 10/18/18
October 30, 2025, 08:17 PM
Hound DogThere was a meme years ago. Doctor Who was supposed to be educational.
Time travel stories to the past taught about history.
Travel stories to the future taught about the possibilities of technology.
Now, it teaches that life is unfair and everybody you love dies.
It started getting kinda dark even in the Matt Smith years. As in, I really HATE the Weaping Angels. I don't like horror stories, and a lot of the stories were basically horror episodes.
It got worse and worse so that I couldn't even enjoy most of Capaldi's last season.
Eh. Every show has its ups and down, and I will always have those good episodes on DVD and no woke Disney crap can ever take that from me. . .
Fear God and Dread Nought
Admiral of the Fleet Sir Jacky Fisher
November 02, 2025, 07:48 AM
trapper189quote:
Originally posted by newtoSig765:
I quit after Tom Baker.
As did I.
I was going to comment that surely a show about time travel could bring him back, but he’s not dead yet.
November 03, 2025, 08:46 PM
ChuckFinleyThe brought Hartnell back for the 5 Doctors, after his death, so it can be done.
The stories from the real beginning of the series are much better, more suspenseful, more entertaining.
_________________________
NRA Endowment Member
_________________________
"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end, for they do so with the approval of their own conscience." -- C.S. Lewis
November 05, 2025, 07:03 AM
StarTravelerTom Baker was my favorite, too (I even have the 4th Doctor Hallmark Christmas ornament), but the first three doctors in the revival were good (with Tennant being my second favorite overall). When Capaldi arrived, I needed closed captioning to understand his growing preachiness and I finally bailed. I'm hoping this separation will result in a revival of better stories focused on the stories rather than the hidden (or not so hidden) messages.
***
"Aut viam inveniam aut faciam (I will either find a way or make one)." -- Hannibal Barca
November 05, 2025, 11:39 AM
Sacramento JohnsonI first saw "Dr. Who" in the mid 80's; it was the Tom Baker episodes and I thought he was goofy and iconic in the role. I see he did episodes from '74-'81 (he's still around at age 91!). He really left his mark on that series; there was a "Criminal Minds" episode in 2012 where Reid dressed up as Baker's Dr. Who character to go to a sci-fi convention. This episode was done 31 years after Baker last played the doctor!