8. A (Nearly) Consistent Continuity
With so many different explanations for the sinking of the Titanic or the destruction of Atlantis, and a lot of Classic Who writers making things up on the fly (does the TARDIS exist in a state of grace, or doesn't it?), the old series was a hodge-podge of ideas and theories that, despite the tortured attempts of many uber-fans, never really made a whole lot of consistent sense. After the revelation of the Time Lords, for example, some of the First and Second Doctor's actions suddenly seemed at odds with the idea that this is what they were escaping from. But while the new series may, occasionally, contradict itself, it seems there have been far more attempts at creating a consistent continuity than in the old days. Now that the series is a million dollar (or pound) marketing opportunity, the writers need to take more care in crafting a believable universe. Fans can take it for granted that when things happen, such as the Master becoming the Mistress, they become set in stone continuity-wise and play into the larger story of the Whoniverse. This means that occasionally some Classic Who continuity has been sledgehammered into place, while others have been ignored. But the result is a Whoniverse that feels far more consistent, rather than a procession of little unconnected pocket worlds and times and rules that change from story to story. That's something to be thankful for, right?