10 Times Doctor Who REFUSED To Give Fans What They Wanted

2. Resting The Daleks

Doctor Who Rose Tyler
BBC

Everyone loves the Daleks, right? Well, not exactly. Since the show returned in 2005, there hasn't been a single Doctor Who series that hasn't featured the Daleks in some capacity. There was no Dalek special during David Tennant's final year, but one still did a fly-by in a flashback during The Waters of Mars. Matt Smith's second series didn't have a Dalek story, but a wrecked Dalek popped up to have its brain examined by the Doctor in The Wedding Of River Song.

There's just no escaping the Daleks, and these small cameos run the risk of lessening their impact when they return. Chris Chibnall was criticized for featuring the Daleks in each of his New Year specials, but to be fair to him, he's not the only showrunner who loves a Dalek. Classic Doctor Who had regular large gaps between Dalek stories, with only two Dalek serials in Tom Baker's entire seven-year run.

The Daleks are great, obviously, but absence makes the heart grow fonder. It would be amazing if, after their appearance in Jodie Whittaker's finale, they don't appear for a few years. Returning in full strength toward the end of Ncuti Gatwa's run. However, whether it's for contractual or audience engagement reasons, you can expect to see them sooner or later.

Contributor
Contributor

Citizen of the Universe, Film Programmer, Writer, Podcaster, Doctor Who fan and a gentleman to boot. As passionate about Chinese social-realist epics as I am about dumb popcorn movies.