Before the show came back in 2005, Doctor Who was always remembered for the sometimes poor quality of the special effects, make up and design of it’s monsters. For some it was the reason to dismiss the show as cheap and unwatchable, for others it was part of the programme’s charm. But when the show came back, and when we first met the Ninth Doctor and Rose Tyler we were also reintroduced to the Autons, a classic foe from the classic series, and they still looked lame! Nostalgic fans of the cheap production values of old could sigh a breath of relief as we were treated to men in rubber costumes and burping bins.
As it happens, as the episodes rolled on the sad factor that had previously been associated with the show was quickly wiped away and the Doctor once again became king of the BBC. The writing was good, the acting was good, and most shockingly of all the effects were good. Well, mostly good anyway. There’s always going to be the odd effect that looks like a tin dog or like they’re made of toilet rolls right?
So with that in mind let’s celebrate the best of the worst, as we look at the five worst designed creatures of the new era in Doctor Who!
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5 Comments
I don’t understand how can you judge the Abzorboloff a bad creature. Or how can you even judge the episode bad. Seriously, I think this episode was one of the best of the revived series, simply because it was special, a Doctor-lite episode with a genuine story only focused on the Doctor as a legend, with casual people as protagonists.
And the monster was creepy and really well made.
I’m sorry, but I have to disagree on this one. :)
Every single monster here is from Russell T Davis time at the show and that does not surprise me. While he done well in bringing it back I was constantly left dissapointed by how he finished things in the final episode of a series. Series 4 and David tennents exit apart every other finale was a bit of a damp squib. Rose spoke in a posh voice and killed the daleks, the dalek cyberman battle was a joke and the master being taken out by a flying doctor after people say his name was all just utter leech (Scots word).
The sad thing for me was they all had a wonderfull build up. Series 2 was the worst of the lot in my humble opinion, the girl in the fireplace is my favourite dr who episode ever however apart from that I can’t remember a.single episode I liked.
As for the abzorbaloff, it is my least liked episode from my least liked series. I can’t take the doctor lite episode as an excuse because as usuall stephen Moffat shows the way in the next series with the weeping angels. Pretty negative I feel but that’s the nature of the debate lol. I love dr who and I thank rtd for giving us it back but sadly Steven Moffat was the best thing about the show. I just wish they would make the Christmas episodes more like the.series and less of a joke.
Yeah, I can’t argue with any of these choices. And it’s funny that you note that the Sarah Jane Adventures get to be the dumping ground for Doctor Who’s goofier monsters that can’t carry an episode seriously (The Judoon, who only merit “Guard” status after “Smith and Jones”, also got this consignment).
I know “Love and Monsters” splits fandom. I accept that it’s got good character moments and strong individual performances from the grunt from “Battlefield” and Moaning Myrtle. But even the Abzorbaloff’s creator bemoaned his onscreen appearance. When someone who should be among the show’s most open minded audience (a child!) can condemn something he gave rise to, I can’t say it’s hard to agree. Peter Kay is anything but creepy in the role, unless you find camp old men creepy.
And as to the comments, here’s to the Christmas specials being series-based stories (Like “The Christmas Invasion”) rather than spectacle or festive tripe indeed!
Yeah I noticed all my choices were from the RTD era, and to be fair to him the production values have improved in the few short years since it came back so the blame was never aimed at that era. I personally loved the Cybershades, but they earned a spot for the bad in a good way, but bad all the same mentality lol
Whoever had the idea of letting a child design a new Doctor Who monster that was supposed to be a credilbe threat to the characters is a moron of epic proportions. As is RTD for casting Peter Kay in the role (which he wasn’t suited for in any way despite his good work elsewhere) for no other reason than that Kay sent him a letter praising the revived series.
An honourable mention should to go to the Vinvocci in THe End Of Time who looked incredibly stupid and almost exactly the same as Meglos from 1981. The attempts to mix CGI and makeup with them was terrible as well. If you’re going to put a load of green makeup on them, why not do their faces while you’re at it instead of CG-ing it?