10 Times Doctor Who Has Ripped Off Other Franchises

Doctor Who love to go on about their favourite show's unique format. It's the show where anything can happen in time and space. The truth is, however, far more prosaic. Yes, Doctor Who has its unique qualities but in many ways the show is influenced by what is around it, in terms of society and in terms of other media. From the very definite influences of sci-fi pioneer HG Wells in the concept of the TARDIS, to the 1950s Cold War influenced sci-fi flicks that inspired the Daleks, Doctor Who has always imitated as much as it has innovated. TV is a demanding beast and there's only so many ideas writers can dream up. Some eras of the show have quite deliberately taken the template of another show or film franchise, often to great success. This is not something that stopped with the Classic Series, either. The revived Doctor Who in 2005 very consciously modelled itself on a few notable American franchises including how those shows were run. The Doctor Who the world now knows and loves has been shaped throughout its existence by many franchises around it, some obviously and very influentially, while others have made a quick appearance and then quickly departed. Here follows 10 examples of when Doctor Who has copied other franchises, and some might just surprise you...