Doctor Who: 10 Great Villains Who Were Badly Wasted

2. The Vigil

Another Neil Cross creation, the Vigil are absolutely ingenious. They're one villain that actually turns the sonic screwdriver into a proper weapon, given that they expel sound waves, and the design of them is brilliant. What's more is that the name, Vigil, is a literal translation of what they are; a vigil is either a period of observation or the eve of a religious festival, and they're the creatures that go looking for Merry when she disappears before the festival. But what exactly happened to the Vigil? They disappeared. Why? Because a bigger monster took their place. And then a bigger monster took that place. The Vigil were brilliant enough though to hold the episode all on their own. They were clearly just henchmen for someone more powerful, but 'The Rings of Akhaten' would have been all the more fascinating with them leading the attack against the Doctor. It's one of the most hated episodes of the series, but with a bit more cohesion, and maybe some focus on these brilliant monsters, 'The Rings of Akhaten' would have been more well-received.