Life is full of injustice. The innocent suffer and the guilty get away with it. In the fictional world of Doctor Who, however, whilst there is the occasional failure or catastrophic mistake, there is always an ultimate resolution, ensuring that evil always gets its comeuppance in the end. Sometimes these desserts are deliciously enjoyable to watch, none more so than when the Anne Robinson of the 51st century - the Anne Droid - is exterminated by the Daleks. What's more, the android equivalents of those equally loathsome TV personalities, Trinny and Susanna, are delightfully despatched by Captain Jack Harkness, too. So thank you Doctor Who, for daring to bring to screen the fantasies of millions of irritated TV consumers. Now, let's drew up a wish list for the production team. Who will be next?! In Series 8, Doctor Who caused a great deal of debate. Some viewers were left nervous and uncertain since the characterisation of the Twelfth Doctor had thrown into question the shows positive outlook. The viewer could no longer totally trust that in the end alls well that ends well. But regardless of whatever self doubts the Twelfth Doctor harbours, his admiration for the human race calls to mind the Fourth Doctors indomitable speech. In Series 8 even those things fans might assume to be weaknesses are reinterpreted by the Doctor as superpowers. In Listen, for example, it is fear, whilst in In The Forest Of The Night, it's our failing memories. As far as Doctor Who is concerned, the tables are turned and the weakest links turn out to be the strongest. Take that Anne Robinson. Exterminate! What did you think of this list? Are there any other ways that Doctor Who has restored your faith in humanity? Join the conversation in the comments section below.
Paul Driscoll is a freelance writer and author across a range of subjects from Cult TV to religion and social policy. He is a passionate Doctor Who fan and January 2017 will see the publication of his first extended study of the series (based on Toby Whithouse's series six episode, The God Complex) in the critically acclaimed Black Archive range by Obverse Books. He is a regular writer for the fan site Doctor Who Worldwide and has contributed several essays to Watching Books' You and Who range. Recently he has branched out into fiction writing, with two short stories in the charity Doctor Who anthology Seasons of War (Chinbeard Books). Paul's work will also feature in the forthcoming Iris Wildthyme collection (A Clockwork Iris, Obverse Books) and Chinbeard Books' collection of drabbles, A Time Lord for Change.
