Doctor Who: 5 Best Uses Of Classic Monsters In NuWho
The best of old Who and NuWho collide when classic monsters hit the screen!
Ever since the classic sci-fi series Doctor Who was revived in 2005, the show has been left with the difficult task of ensuring the series continues to appeal to old fans while still drawing a new audience. This means striking a delicate balance between introducing new monsters that can carry the show into the future, and using much-loved classic monsters to honor the nearly six-decade history of Doctor Who.
As with many series' reboots and revivals, NuWho's use of Classic Who monsters over the years has been rather hit and miss. When the classic monsters work, they can work very well, but for every Madame Vastra, the beloved Silurian detective, we have a very plastic Auton Mickey, and for every Mondasian Cyberman, we have a dim-witted Sontaran prepared to give away his race's biggest secrets in exchange for the recipe to human chocolate.
The latest return of a classic monster came in 'Legend of the Sea Devils', with the long-awaited reappearance of the Silurians' sea-dwelling cousins. In honour of the Sea Devils' return, let's look back at some of the best uses of classic monsters in NuWho.
5. The Ice Warriors - Empress Of Mars
In this series ten story marking the second NuWho appearance of the Ice Warriors, the Twelfth Doctor and his companions Bill and Nardole are surprised to discover a company of Victorian-era soldiers on Mars, having travelled there using technology borrowed from a rescued Ice Warrior, whom the soldiers have named Friday after the character from the Robinson Crusoe novel.
While searching the planet, the soldiers accidentally uncover and awaken Iraxxa, an Ice Warrior Empress. Iraxxa is at first open to negotiating peaceful terms with the human settlers, but when a conflict arises over ownership of Mars, the Empress awakens more Ice Warriors, ready to fight for her planet.
Friday, having formed genuine friendships with the human soldiers, works with the Doctor and his companions to avoid conflict. Ending with a cameo from the Classic Who character Alpha Centauri, Empress of Mars acts as a bridge between the war-like Ice Warriors of their earlier appearances, to the more diplomatic race they have become by the time of the Peladon stories. These special Easter eggs have gained the episode a lot of love from Classic Who fans.