10 Times Doctor Who REFUSED To Give Fans What They Wanted
8. Paul McGann As The Doctor In 2005
The 2003 announcement of Doctor Who's return was incredibly exciting for fans as the show celebrated its 40th anniversary year. Once the initial excitement died down, thoughts turned to whether or not this would be a continuation or a remake. Strangely, that debate continued throughout the first series in some dark corners of the internet, right up until the Tenth Doctor was reunited with Sarah Jane Smith and K-9 in season 2.
One of the key stumbling blocks for fans was the fact that Paul McGann wasn't involved in the new show. This was seen as hugely disrespectful by some, and a missed opportunity by others. Some fans were particularly flummoxed by the idea they wouldn't get to see McGann regenerate into Christopher Eccleston. And, when McGann did return in 2013, they saw him regenerate into John Hurt instead!
Of course, RTD was right to stick to his guns. Paul McGann had been the Doctor in novels, audio dramas, and comic strips since 1996; what would you do with all those already existing stories? In not establishing exactly what happened to the 8th Doctor, RTD spun a mystery that gave the Doctor an intriguing and emotional backstory for new audiences, while providing intriguing teases for fans about the state of the Doctor Who universe during the Doctor's absence from our screens.