One of the most interesting changes that Doctor Who has experienced this year is its exploration of "impossible heroes" and just how impossible they might and mightn't be. While the Doctor has always been somewhat of a mythical figure himself, this concept was pushed to its limits - narratively speaking - in 2014 when he came face to face with Robin Hood in Robot of Sherwood. Many viewers were no doubt expecting the inclusion of the notorious outlaw to be revealed as part of some greater alien ploy but, as it turns out, it wasn't a gateway into the Land of Fiction after all, though how cool would that have been? This year Doctor Who taught us that Robin Hood is real - or as real as the Doctor is, anyway - which has naturally caused all sorts of headaches. The Doctor is real as far as the confines of the Whoniverse, and probably some of his fans, is concerned, whereas Robin Hood really isn't. Still, it managed to raise a lot of questions about the Doctor's position in our universe, because there are some things that fans refuse to accept even when it's right there before them, and it's also opened the door to pretty much everyone and anyone making an appearance in the series, whether they actually exist or not. Will it be explained? Won't it be explained? It might turn out to be part of a much bigger story but it'll certainly be interesting to continue the speculation in the meantime. You should never stop believing in fairytales which is the basic moral of the story.
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.
