LogFAQs > #958368990

Got to be honest, I wasn't really a big fan of RTD's era or especially his writing, but you have to hand it to the guy - he could definitely work the press to get hype for the show and keep it in the public eye, and he was an absolute powerhouse in terms of making sure the show was delivered consistently and regularly - two incredibly important things that Chibnall was, frankly, shit at (he wouldn't even provide publicity to Doctor Who magazine FFS). If Chibnall had RTD's talent for working the press and managing a schedule, then the show wouldn't be in anywhere near the sorry state it is at the moment even if the quality of the writing was the same as it is now.

This is a definite "safe" and uninspired option, and very obviously a bit of a step backwards, but a few seasons of being safe but familiar and consistent is 100% what the show needs right now.

Would I prefer a better writer who can do something fresh and exciting? Sure, but that can wait.

This is the right call for now and once things are back on track, I think an ideal set-up would be for RTD to stay on as exec/showrunner and oversee a fresh head writer (like Barry Letts coming back to oversee things when JNT took over). Keep RTD doing all the public-facing and admin side, where you have to say he utterly excels, and get a better writer actually handling scripts and storylines.

This also surely has to make Olly Alexander the favourite for the next Doctor, since all those rumours of him taking over in the press a year or so back got started because RTD said he thought Alexander would be a great Doctor.

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