10 Times Doctor Who Got Way Too Dark For A Family Drama

9. Not So Fantastic Plastic

Doctor Who has often escaped the criticism that it's too scary by citing that it is a sci-fi show and the monsters are obviously fantastical. A child is unlikely to run into a Dalek out shopping, for example, and many of the tales are set on far flung worlds. However, there are notable occasions when the show has made the everyday terrifying in a way that has led to complaints flooding in to the production office. Producer Barry Letts inherited a format that had the Doctor exiled on Earth and thus facing terrors children could more easily imagine. The Autons, from writer Robert Holmes, smashed out of the windows of familiar high street shops to make a generation still nervous around mannequins today. However, the following season's Terror of the Autons was judged to have gone too far and deemed unsuitable for a family audience. Here, not only did police turn out to be plastic assassins, but also a troll doll. Cherished teddy bears were now potential murderers to the despairing child. Dark indeed.
Contributor
Contributor

Writer of The Blog of Delights, a review site covering film, TV, cult TV, books and audio. Fan of Dr Who, Bond, X-Men and Marvel. Also the writer of e-book 'Fictional Legends: Doctor Who - the TV Adventures' for Collca.