Doctor Who Season 8: 10 Ways They Could Screw It Up

7. Too Many Companions?

As more information trickles in about series 8, we€™ve learned that not only will Clara be returning, but she€™ll be joined in the TARDIS by Samuel Anderson as Danny Pink, and later in the series, by Ellis George as Courtney. And of course, the Paternoster Gang are going to be right there in episode one. So that€™s at least six companions. Overkill? Well€ When Moffat ascended to the hallowed heights of showrunner, his detractors dug up this controversial interview from the mid-90s, in which our man (more than a little intoxicated) proceeded to diss almost all of classic Who. The only era he claimed particular fondness for was the Davison years- which is a fascinating, and in many ways crucial insight. Now, the Davison era is far from the show€™s nadir, but it introduced several profoundly unpopular changes to the series, chief amongst them an expanded TARDIS crew. With Davison, there were always three companions at any one time- and none of them got more than a shred of development. Moffat, unconsciously or not, is copying that formula. He€™s undoubtedly a better writer than Eric Saward or anyone of that vintage, but six characters is a tall order, and giving each of them enough story may distract from the centrepiece of the season- which of course, is Capaldi.