9. Out With The Old...
...and in with the new! Well, sort of. Doctor Who was being reinvented for a brand new audience but its new showrunner Russell T Davies entrusted in the services of a Classic Series adversary to affirm the show's position in the 21st century televisual market. Enter the Autons. The Doctor first encountered these malevolent mannequins in his third incarnation during the 1970 serial Spearhead from Space (rather befittingly, it was Jon Pertwee's first adventure, too) and they also hold a special place within the show's mythology for being the first monster to be presented in colour. It was a match made in heaven, then, that these deadly dummies were dusted off to help kick off NuWho in spectacular style. Doctor Who is all about honouring its roots and their inclusion in the first episode reassured its long term fans that it was still the same show they had known and loved. And thank God it was! The Doctor was back and so was one of his oldest enemies, too, and the universe's most formidable foes were only just getting started.
Dan Butler
Doctor Who Editor
Dan Butler is the Doctor Who Editor at WhatCulture.com. When he isn't writing his own articles or editing other people's, he can be found trawling the internet for gifs of Steven Moffat laughing. Contact him via dan.butler@whatculture.co.uk.
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