1. It's The Only Time, Until The Night Of The Doctor, That Fans See Paul McGann On Screen As The Doctor
For all of the things that the movie gets wrong, it gets one thing very right indeed. If you have any reason to sit through the nonsensical script and the leaden performances of the guest stars, its the Doctor himself. Paul McGann, from the moment he sits bolt upright in the morgue, is simply the Doctor. He owns the part completely. Check out his glee at finding shoes that fit or his passionate description of lying on a field under Gallifreyan skies. His desperation in the final moments of finding a way to save the Earth is palpable. You almost forget the handwaving going on in the script, such is his conviction. Most fans would have been happy with a full series based on Paul McGann alone. He hit all the right notes, adding a depth to even the worst lines in the script. If the show had gone to series and found its feet, McGann might have been one of the most popular Doctor's ever, mixing the eccentricities of actors like Baker and Troughton with the wide-eyed innocence of Peter Davison. So its true. You can argue about the rest of the arguments presented here, but the absolute number one reason that the TV movie sucked was this: Its the only time (until The Night of the Doctor minisode) that fans saw Paul McGann in action as the Doctor. While he has since proved himself in the Big Finish audios, it's entirely possible that his performance could have brought in a new generation of 90s viewers to the world of Doctor Who. But, alas, thanks to a troubled production that never quite hit the mark, it was never to be. And that, perhaps, is the greatest tragedy of all. What did you think of this list? Do you agree/disagree with our reasons why the 1996 Doctor Who TV movie sucks? Join the conversation in the comments section below...
