10. The Versatility Of An Anthology
The strength of Doctor Who is a flexible format supported by the central idea of a man who can exist anywhere and at any time. More akin to The Twilight Zone than Star Trek, the show uses the theme of space and time travel as a jumping off point rather than a rigid linear structure. While an episode may be part of a larger narrative arc it also works as a standalone story. This allows the writers to explore different genres including horror, comedy, science fiction and fantasy. Doctor Who does not employ a writers room instead choosing to farm out its stories on a freelance basis. This allows for wide-ranging points of view though it should be noted there is a dearth of scripts penned by women or minorities. While the Doctors narrative voice remains consistent, the environment around him and the characters he meets are constantly changing. This keeps the plots lines fresh and exciting and the audience coming back for more.