10 Biggest Doctor Who 'What Ifs'
4. What If The Second Doctor Wasn't Well Received?
This is actually a scary 'what if' scenario. The concept of regeneration was risky business for the producer Innes Lloyd back in 1966. As mentioned in a previous entry, the idea of changing the lead actor was pushed forward due to William Hartnell's uneasy working relationship on set with both the cast and crew.
Despite initially being discarded, the idea was kept on the table as William Hartnell's health didn't improve, and the new production team felt it was time to let their star go, as his acting ability gradually declined, to the point where he couldn't remember his lines. Not to mention his own wife worried about the strain Doctor Who was having on him.
Naturally, a huge burden was placed on Patrick Troughton's shoulders. Essentially, the future of the show rested on him. It was all riding on his ability to help ease the audience with this revolutionary transition, helping them to understand that The Doctor was still the same character, despite the glaring differences. Obviously, we know Patrick Troughton nailed it, and demonstrated that regeneration could work, allowing Doctor Who a new lease on life.
Unfortunately, like all decisions, there has to be a universe out there driven by the opposite course of events. One in which the Second Doctor was hated by audience members, sealing Doctor Who's fate, as BBC executives determined regeneration as a commercial failure. Had the ratings dropped I very much doubt Doctor Who would've been renewed for another season, thereby cancelled by 1967 after Season 4 came to a conclusion. A world were Patrick Troughton didn't succeed scarcely bares thinking about.