10 Current Doctor Who Problems And How To Fix Them

9. Very Few Characters Return

Doctor Who has always had a lineup of interesting and fun characters since the original episode aired back in 1963. But after a character leaves the programme, they seldom ever return. Occasionally they will find their way back into the Doctor's life, of course, usually bringing with them a wave of nostalgia and the cheers of older fans. But the show's missing out on a more subtle way to go about it, and a way that could give Doctor Who a more fleshed out narrative. It's simple. Have characters return with more frequency. This isn't meant to appease the Whovians demanding Ian Chesterton's return to the show, but instead to just feature more recurring characters in general. Take Shona, for example. Following Last Christmas many fans have exclaimed confidently that she should return as a new companion, fighting evil alongside the Doctor and Clara throughout time and space, but here's a better idea. Have Shona appear in a new episode, have her discover the TARDIS, give the audience brief flashbacks of Last Christmas, and then have her get pulled away by Dave as they cheerfully go on their way. Not everyone who comes back to the show needs to be a previous companion or of high profile, instead just bring back characters from previous endeavours every once in a while, maybe have Alonso Frame appear with a group of survivors stranded on an alien planet, or have Journey Blue appear in the next Dalek episode, older and higher in rank.