4. Have A Minor Classic Alien Race Re-Appear Incidentally
So, here's the thing. Everyone wants the Zygons back. (Really, they do. Search it, there are multiple articles and appeals about this sort of thing... Even David Tennant was on that bandwagon.) But you're really not getting THE Zygons. You're probably getting a redesign, which can either make everyone happy (the 2005 Daleks) or everyone furious and cheated (the 2010 Daleks). If you put a classic Alien center stage, you best be sure they measure up to everyone's expectations of their "classic" nature AND convince the new fans/kids that they're worth the run behind the sofa. Rumours are abound that Ice Warriors will be stopping in for the latter half of Series 7 for the first time in almost 40 years. And no doubt they'll be center stage, either posing a threat or crucial to the plot of the Doctor's then-current adventure. But really, why have every returning alien be a blockbuster event? Forcing a great story with the terms "It needs to have the Zygons" or "The Autons come back" literally crippled the program in the mid-80s with plots that basically WERE "The Cybermen are back" or "The Silurians and Sea Devils are back, and still hate man". Not all races the Doctor met were threats. (Or at least not all of them were collectively bad.) And notably, some of them would GREATLY benefit from a redesign. The Zygons had a perfect costume, even by modern standards. But other races, such as The Sensorites? The Kraals? The Zarbi? Even if they WERE good, some of them could benefit from an update, especially as what worked in 1960's monochrome usually didn't pan out in colour as well. (See the aforementioned Ice Warriors....) So, have a plot that requires the Doctor to prevent a freighter from exploding? Have a passenger be a Sensorite. Or a Draconian. Have him visit a galactic zoo, and speak to a fellow visitor who happens to be a Foamasi. Show a previous adventure ending as the current week's begins, and have him bid the Tythonians farewell. Every single one of those races would be seen as a great nod to the past, and viewscreen interaction would insure that even just ONE mask would be needed. (Or for the Tythonians, some CGI. Google them, you'll see what I mean....) Save the blockbuster returns for the aliens that deserve no less. (Yes, Ice Warriors, you ARE indeed overdue.) But this year in particular, showing a peek at the rest of the Doctor's universe would be just as good for a story that didn't really require an old alien race to show or be central to the plot....
What I'd Settle For: A decent Sontaran story, where they actually ARE the warrior race they claim and not comedy stooges. The classic series got this right the first time out (1973's "The Time Warrior") and the New Series has.....had a mixed track record. Getting their asses handed to them by UNIT or carrying on about lactic fluid and the moon really DON'T do their apparent military might any favours, nor establish them as threats worthy of the Doctor's attention. Can I have the clone race that invaded Gallifrey back, please?
What I'm Afraid We'll Get: More humans as extras, still dressed like they shop at the Gap in the 21st century when it's set in the 51st century. PLEASE Wardrobe, fix this!