11 Things Doctor Who Wants You To Forget

5. How Many Alien Races Have Manipulated Humans Since The Dawn Of Time?

Whether it's called "manipulating", "guiding", "protecting", or "influencing", an incredible number of alien races can claim to have affected the development of the human race. The very evolution, as well as the technological development, of Mankind has, in Doctor Who, been seen to be interfered with time and time again. The history of our species must be very crowded with aliens indeed. It's a wonder they've avoided blundering into each other. In recent seasons, viewers have been told that the Silence guided technological advances on Earth for millennia and that the Ardens (In the Forest of the Night) protected Man and the Earth for geological ages. Venturing back to the Classic Series, its daemons and fendahl that lay claim to similar manipulations. Hell, even the Silurians stated they had experimented on early descendants of humans. In the spin off book universe of the Virgin Publishing New Adventures, it's even claimed that the Time Lords had adjusted humanity's genetic code to make our species an early warning system for detecting vampires in the universe. It probably made sense at the time. Before the advent of VCRs, DVDs and on-demand viewing, the repetition of this concept was forgiven and, ultimately, forgotten. A degree of audience amnesia regarding earlier plots had to be assumed, which also helped writers come up with new, exciting plots. However, in this day and age, the plots of previous stories are bound to be remembered, so it would be better if writers could therefore find a new trope for future stories. That way, viewers wouldn't need to forget every other claim to aliens guiding Man's development before being spoon fed yet another dose of that same old medicine.