10 Doctor Who Characters Who Don't Deserve The Hate

2. The Wire

The Wire Doctor Who
BBC Studios

The Idiot's Lantern technically has two villains: the bullying father, Eddie Connolly, and the formless creature known as The Wire.

While the Connolly storyline forms the heart of the episode, it's hardly Oscar-worthy material. And yet, it's The Wire that receives the bulk of the hate that's directed at this episode.

The premise of an entity manifesting inside TV screens and feeding on viewers' faces is a terrifying concept, especially in an age where we are surrounded by screens. And though the adopted face of The Wire - and its constant whines of "HUNGRYYYYYY" - are potentially annoying, there's also something deeply unsettling about this creature. Maybe it's the polite manner, or the fact that it's an elderly woman - something scary lurking beneath something innocent.

Of course, there are better villains out there, and The Idiot's Lantern is hardly a classic. But The Wire is one of the most unique Doctor Who antagonists ever, and for that creativity alone, writer Mark Gatiss deserves props.

 
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Ellie has been part of the WhatCulture team since 2021 where she began as a freelance presenter for the WhoCulture channel. As a diehard Whovian with a BA (hons) degree in Drama and Acting, this role was the perfect opportunity for her to combine her screen presence training with her extensive Doctor Who knowledge. From there, she branched out to various other WhatCulture channels, including TrekCulture, and became a full time Content Producer/Video Presenter in 2023. Ellie is now a regular fixture on both WhoCulture and TrekCulture and has become a well respected public figure within both fandoms, building up a substantial following across her social media platforms and being given the opportunity to represent the channels and the wider communities at several industry events. Her favourite Doctor Who character is River Song and her favourite Star Trek character is Captain Janeway - which tells you everything you need to know about how she approaches her role within a generally male dominated field.