You are in charge of New Who

[The Vet]

inspired by this thread https://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t+166370&highlight=star+trek

it's 2005 and you are the showrunner for the revived Doctor Who. cast who you want, have whatever story arcs you want, bring back any monsters of aliens you want but keep it within the budget restraints of the time

 

[Orville_third]

It'll be mostly the same, but...
-Spend money to buy the rights to the made-for-tv movie. (If only so Paul McGann can have a proper goodbye.)
-Leave open ways for beings to get out of the Time War.
-No "Doctor-Light" episodes. "Love and Monsters" was okay in bits, but "Blink" never did much for me. Ditch the Weeping Angels too.
-Change the last bit of "Forest of the Dead". I do not want it implied that Romanadvoratrelundar was trying to seduce the Doctor.
-Maybe an episode on Tara, if only for a proper last episode of sorts for Mary Tamm, most underappreciated companion ever.
-A bit more Mickey.
-Have someone else succeed Davies. Moffat will have plenty of opportunities to run other things.
-Make sure the CBC promotes the show- perhaps filming an episode or two in Canada?
-Make sure Sci-Fi promotes the show. (It's better than most of their crop...)
-If BBC America gets it, make sure more cable companies get BBC America.

 

[Imperator Novae Zealandae]

Mostly the same as OTL but bring back some of the other old-school monsters/aliens along the way. Perhaps have a couple more time lords survive the Time War. Do not have companion Donna Noble return after Runaway bride so find a new companion or two for S4.

Moving into the near future, have Matt Smith succeeded by Richard Ayoade. Eventually he will be succeeded by the first female doctor (not sure who should play her though), followed by Noel Fielding. Also, more episodes by Neil Gaiman.

 

[ColeMercury]

A couple of things to start with:
-- It'd be nice if we didn't have to wait six years before we saw any of the Tardis interior apart from the control room.
-- Mickey deserves more goddamn respect.
-- A wholly alien environment at some point during the first series, rather than having them all in some way Earth-centric.
-- Don't kill off all the Daleks every time they appear. By the end it just becomes ridiculous. They can do it in Series 1, but not from Series 2 onwards.
-- Set the first episode in 2004, so Rose's one-year timeskip brings her up to 2005. In TTL they fudged it around when Rose left and Martha appeared, so it became aligned with real time again somehow: avoid doing that.

 

[Paul_Sussex]

Ditch the fat-arsed Tellytubby Daleks! (And shoot Russell Grant for ever thinking they were a good idea)

 

[Glass Onion]

Personally I would like to subvert the Rose is the greatest ever concept that existed before Matt Smith took over the role. I want to do this not because I hate Rose as some do, but because I think there's some story potential in doing that. It may sound crazy, but I think it would be interesting to see Rose return in the fourth season, as a villain of sorts. Someone who's willing to essentially destroy universes and time itself to be with the Doctor again, who has no qualms about killing her perceived competition. Essentially take the darker elements of Rose Tyler about as far as you could take them. Again, not because I dislike the character, but because I think there's an interesting story in there. It'd make Rose's arc a kind of tragedy, albeit, not exactly a classical one.

This gets into another thing I would change. I would use the Daleks considerably less. Not sure if I'd be allowed to do that given other pressures. But the more the Daleks appear, the less (relatively speaking in the context of the show) menacing or interesting they are.

I'm not really that big of a fan, so I know that I'm probably offending someone's sensibilities with both of my suggestions

 

[Count Dearborn]

Keep it much the same, except have it where the Doctor and the Master are not the only Time Lords left. I would get Patrick Stewart to show up as the Meddling Monk, and Gillian Anderson to show up as the Rani. I would also resolve the stories of Peri, Nyssa, Mel, and Ace. Faction Paradox would also show-up as would Iris Wyldthyme. In the story THE END OF TIME, we would see the rise of Rassilon, the basis for the Doctor leaving Gallifrey, and a group of Time Lords being able to break out of the time loop. The leader of the Refugees would be Borusa, and we would find out why he and the others were put into stasis.

 

[Glen]

inspired by this thread https://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t+166370&highlight=star+trek

This link doesn't work. Got another?

it's 2005 and you are the showrunner for the revived Doctor Who. cast who you want, have whatever story arcs you want, bring back any monsters of aliens you want but keep it within the budget restraints of the time

Hmmm, that might be a fun, but would require some thought....

 

[Glen]

It'll be mostly the same,

Not a bad start <wink>

but...
-Spend money to buy the rights to the made-for-tv movie. (If only so Paul McGann can have a proper goodbye.)

Sounds fine - how would you use it, though? I assume to provide a regeneration seen for going from eight to nine at some point?

-Leave open ways for beings to get out of the Time War.

Well, they ended up doing so anyway. You could do it a bit more if desired (and I can think of a few reasons why it would be desired), but would have to be done carefully if any value of Time Locking the Time War were to continue.

-No "Doctor-Light" episodes. "Love and Monsters" was okay in bits, but "Blink" never did much for me. Ditch the Weeping Angels too.

Well, I'm not a fan of episodes with little to no of the Doctor on principle, but I have to disagree with you on your choice of problem - Blink was freakin' brilliant! Removing it and especially the Weeping Angels would be a huge mistake!

-Change the last bit of "Forest of the Dead". I do not want it implied that Romanadvoratrelundar was trying to seduce the Doctor.

What? I missed something there. When was that implied? I don't recall.

-Maybe an episode on Tara, if only for a proper last episode of sorts for Mary Tamm, most underappreciated companion ever.

That might be cool.

-A bit more Mickey.

Depends. Early Mickey was annoying, late Mickey was cool. They just need to balance that.

-Have someone else succeed Davies. Moffat will have plenty of opportunities to run other things.

Tough call, there. Moffat has some really good shows, but also some really bad shows, under his watch. It might be acceptable to replace him, but we would need someone who was a trade up, can't just say 'get rid of Moffat'.

-Make sure the CBC promotes the show- perhaps filming an episode or two in Canada?

Oh, I like this! Would it be just too too cliche if we had an episode with MOUNTIES?!?

-Make sure Sci-Fi promotes the show. (It's better than most of their crop...)

Yes, yes, yes!!!

-If BBC America gets it, make sure more cable companies get BBC America.

Actually, I would want to see it run on both Sci-Fi and BBC America. Sci-Fi could do the more traditional runs (first run in the US, run the last season in regular rotation) whereas BBC America should run ALL the Who, on a regular rotation basis. I have been watching how few shows BBC America actually runs - they have plenty of room for it!

 

[Glen]

Mostly the same as OTL

Again, a good start.

but bring back some of the other old-school monsters/aliens along the way.

Agreed, but they already have done quite a bit in that regard. Who else are you looking for? We've had Daleks, Cybermen, Silurians, and Centaurans. I guess we're still missing the Ice Warriors....

Perhaps have a couple more time lords survive the Time War.

Agreed. I want Romana! The Rani would also be a great choice for a Time Lord who would escape.

Do not have companion Donna Noble return after Runaway bride so find a new companion or two for S4.

I disagree. Donna Noble was a fun character. My family actually liked her quite a bit. I much prefer her having coming back than being a one-off.

Moving into the near future, have Matt Smith succeeded by Richard Ayoade.

There does seem to be some interest in him playing the Doctor from a brief perusal of the Internet, and I am okay for casting an actor of color for the Doctor - if it is the right actor. I don't know about this one. Have to research more.

Eventually he will be succeeded by the first female doctor (not sure who should play her though),

Sorry, maybe it is just short-sighted of me, and I do think it should be allowable for some Time Lords to gender switch, but I don't think that the Doctor should do so. It just doesn't feel right for the character to me.

followed by Noel Fielding.

Another one I'm going to have to check up on.

Also, more episodes by Neil Gaiman.

Definite yes to that!

 

[Glen]

A couple of things to start with:
-- It'd be nice if we didn't have to wait six years before we saw any of the Tardis interior apart from the control room.

Agreed!

-- Mickey deserves more goddamn respect.

Well, again if they go more with latter Mickey rather than early Mickey.

-- A wholly alien environment at some point during the first series, rather than having them all in some way Earth-centric.

That would be fine. That actually in my opinion is optional, not critical, but could be done.

-- Don't kill off all the Daleks every time they appear. By the end it just becomes ridiculous. They can do it in Series 1, but not from Series 2 onwards.

Agreed. This just takes a bit of tweaking of the lines so that they aren't assuming that is the very, very last of them.

-- Set the first episode in 2004, so Rose's one-year timeskip brings her up to 2005. In TTL they fudged it around when Rose left and Martha appeared, so it became aligned with real time again somehow: avoid doing that.

That sounds like a good idea, and easy to do.

 

[Glen]

Ditch the fat-arsed Tellytubby Daleks! (And shoot Russell Grant for ever thinking they were a good idea)

I don't mind the redesigned ones. They've gone through so many already. My kids like the colors, at least. However, I do want see the old styles crop up from time to time as well.

 

[Glen]

Personally I would like to subvert the Rose is the greatest ever concept that existed before Matt Smith took over the role. I want to do this not because I hate Rose as some do, but because I think there's some story potential in doing that. It may sound crazy, but I think it would be interesting to see Rose return in the fourth season, as a villain of sorts. Someone who's willing to essentially destroy universes and time itself to be with the Doctor again, who has no qualms about killing her perceived competition. Essentially take the darker elements of Rose Tyler about as far as you could take them. Again, not because I dislike the character, but because I think there's an interesting story in there. It'd make Rose's arc a kind of tragedy, albeit, not exactly a classical one.

That, that - that actually would be pretty darn cool!

This gets into another thing I would change. I would use the Daleks considerably less. Not sure if I'd be allowed to do that given other pressures. But the more the Daleks appear, the less (relatively speaking in the context of the show) menacing or interesting they are.

Overall I feel that they aren't used too too much - the recent 'cameo' appearances are weak.

I'm not really that big of a fan, so I know that I'm probably offending someone's sensibilities with both of my suggestions

No, not offended (and I definitely count as a fan) - they are good thoughts.

 

[Glen]

Keep it much the same,

Again, not a bad start.

except have it where the Doctor and the Master are not the only Time Lords left.

Already stipulated.

I would get Patrick Stewart to show up as the Meddling Monk,

An inspired casting choice, but the Meddling Monk would need some serious reimaging I think. He should be emotionally scarred, transformed, by the Time War. Maybe he is dedicated now to 'righting' the wrongs of the Time War, but perhaps with a callousnes about the consequences for impact on people in the here and now.

and Gillian Anderson to show up as the Rani.

No, this is not a good choice, no no no. Actually, Alex Kingston would have rocked as the Rani. Have to think whoelse might be a good fit in the role - oh, if we want to go with 'American Casting' I could see Jennifer Beals in the role.

I would also resolve the stories of Peri, Nyssa, Mel, and Ace.

I think not. That isn't going to mean much except to the hard core. I wouldn't want them to show up for just 'fan service'. However, if there were a good reason, then sure. Sarah Jane Smith and Elisabeth Smith was a special case. She was, in the end, THE companion. The only ones who rise to this level of importance to show up in the renewed series by my lights are Alistair Lethbridge-Stewart (Nicholas Courtney) and Romana (should be a different actress, though - a new regeneration).

Oh, there is one special case of a story that at some point needs to be tied up in some way, that of the FIRST companion, The Doctor's 'grand-daughter', Susan. That is a gaping plot hole in the series that I think needs to be addressed.

Faction Paradox would also show-up as would Iris Wyldthyme.

They would be interesting, but hard to fit in, I think.

In the story THE END OF TIME, we would see the rise of Rassilon, the basis for the Doctor leaving Gallifrey,

That would be cool.

and a group of Time Lords being able to break out of the time loop.

I don't know - this could be good or bad.

The leader of the Refugees would be Borusa, and we would find out why he and the others were put into stasis.

No, just no. Borusa has run his course.

 

[Glass Onion]

That, that - that actually would be pretty darn cool!



Overall I feel that they aren't used too too much - the recent 'cameo' appearances are weak.



No, not offended (and I definitely count as a fan) - they are good thoughts.

Basically I had my idea about Rose when I watched the season four finale episodes. Basically I thought to myself, what if Rose was somehow responsible for the rift in time/breakdown of universes that was going on there. What if she successfully found a way out of her own universe, and went with it, no matter what the cost? Not sure if it would be epic enough. But my mind ended up on something resembling everyone vs. Rose, with the Doctor only realizing late in the game who was actually responsible for all the destruction around him, because he doesn't want to think it could possibly be Rose Tyler. The question would be how to make that plot line epic enough, and how to avoid the idea that Rose shouldn't be able to do something like that. Part of the concept was that it would be an older Rose who does all this. And that her actions have wider consequences, that is, some larger villain shows up because of stuff Rose has done.

 

[Glass Onion]

If we have other Timelords survive, why not have the Doctor's granddaughter be one of them? That would be an interesting episode. And you could get away with a recast because she's a timelady, and will have regenerated in the years since she's appeared. Or is there some event in Who history that I as a casual watcher have absolutely no idea about that would utterly preclude that? As far as I know, the only thing would be the Time-War thing. But if we're presuming others survived, why not have Susan return? I just think that dynamic, with a Doctor who looks very young, would be infinitely amusing.

 

[Noravea]

-Leave Series 1 the way it was, mostly. No Captain Jack being left behind. Promote him and Mickey to full companion for Series 2 and on.
-Introduce the Brigadier in Series 1 or 2, and have him on until the actor chooses to leave, or dies (Depending if we have to recast him or not, or have the Brigadier's son take the role).
-Have Sarah Jane appear more frequently following Series 2.
-Have the Doctor get over Rose much quicker.
-Keep Martha the way she was, but have Jack be a companion during her Series. Have her stay on board for another series as well.
-No Time War, or a limited one. Maybe instead of the time lock, have most of the Time Lords killed, with only a handful left in some kind of civil war.
-More TARDIS interiors.
-More visits to historic events. A World War 2 episode with David Tennant would be cool, visiting ancient empires, or pre-Columbus America.
-Instead of 4 TV movies, make it a full series.
-Make the farewell less dramatic for David Tennant.
-None of that Silence crap, and have a few older companions visit when the 11th Doctor comes (Like Captain Jack and Martha).
-Don't let Stephen Moffat take over the show. Let him stay on as a writer, but hand over the show to someone more capable.

 

[Glen]

Basically I had my idea about Rose when I watched the season four finale episodes. Basically I thought to myself, what if Rose was somehow responsible for the rift in time/breakdown of universes that was going on there. What if she successfully found a way out of her own universe, and went with it, no matter what the cost? Not sure if it would be epic enough. But my mind ended up on something resembling everyone vs. Rose, with the Doctor only realizing late in the game who was actually responsible for all the destruction around him, because he doesn't want to think it could possibly be Rose Tyler. The question would be how to make that plot line epic enough, and how to avoid the idea that Rose shouldn't be able to do something like that. Part of the concept was that it would be an older Rose who does all this. And that her actions have wider consequences, that is, some larger villain shows up because of stuff Rose has done.

Have an accomplice who can do it, but needs Rose for her connection to the Doctor's universe and her previous channeling of the heart of the TARDIS.

 

[Glen]

If we have other Timelords survive, why not have the Doctor's granddaughter be one of them? That would be an interesting episode. And you could get away with a recast because she's a timelady, and will have regenerated in the years since she's appeared. Or is there some event in Who history that I as a casual watcher have absolutely no idea about that would utterly preclude that? As far as I know, the only thing would be the Time-War thing. But if we're presuming others survived, why not have Susan return? I just think that dynamic, with a Doctor who looks very young, would be infinitely amusing.

Susan was basically dumped in Post Dalek Invasion Earth. It is unlikely she had much to do with the Time War.

 

[Glass Onion]

Susan was basically dumped in Post Dalek Invasion Earth. It is unlikely she had much to do with the Time War.

By time-war thing simply was reference to the fact that she's presumably dead because of it.