10 Big Differences Between New And Classic Doctor Who

6. Sci-Fantasy

Continuing the theme of the previous entry, the content of the adventures changed, in line with 15 odd years of virtually no sci-fi and fantasy on UK television. The Classic writers had a wealth of literature to inspire them, from Isaac Asimov to Agatha Christie. That way of thinking had evaporated by the time NuWho dawned. A Star Wars mentality had taken hold, steering audiences into bigger, splashier, yet perhaps shallower waters. Movies and TV became an overriding influence. A key alteration between Doctor Who then and now is a shift toward fantasy and horror rather than science-fiction. Compare the Christopher H Bidmead approach of importing hardcore concepts into the series and Steven Moffat's River Song arc, for example. The Classic era had its wilder moments, too, of course, especially during the latter end of the Fourth Doctor years. But the difference is obvious. Doctors 1 to 7 were arguably of a scientific bent, while 8 was a Byron-esque fop who charged about in the interim gap. From 9 onwards, the Doctor became a laddish, improvisational figure constantly talking of his own lunacy. The newer Time Lords often rustle something up at the last minute and face beings that are on the supernatural side, possessing elemental powers from ancient sources that can't be well-explained. Moffat's Weeping Angels and The Silence are examples of this.