10 Doctor Who Episodes That Took Risks And Failed
5. An American Doctor Who
With the greatest of respect to the American audiences who
helped Doctor Who become the enormous success that it now is, particularly
since the era of Matt Smith, the first attempt to bring it to the US failed abysmally,
despite cast and crew throwing everything and the kitchen sink at it.
Paul McGann’s first outing as the Time Lord was marred by a network feeling that made it seem more like an episode of Dynasty than of Doctor Who, including the flirting between the Doctor and Grace Holloway. This would be far from the last time the Doctor would get caught up in a love crush-situation, yet as the first example it felt off.
Many things have been said about the inclusion of and subsequent silence about the Doctor’s half-human heritage, which despite being an attempt to change the show itself, it was reviled by audiences.
The higher budget on display does give the project a high-quality shine, though McGann’s heavy overacting during his regeneration
brings it down again. The TV movie may have been an attempt to include the
melodrama of US soaps, though it only proved that Doctor Who did not suit that
format at all.