2. The Part Where I Mention Paul McGann (8)
Yes, seriously. Can we do something about this? For everyone who stopped counting after Tom Baker and resumed when Eccleston showed up (Or just showed up in 2005), Paul McGann is the "raw deal" Doctor, the guy who got one shot in the mid-90s for a "co-produced with Fox" revival movie that didn't go to a series. So as a result, 7 (who, yes, is in the movie) shows up, gets shot, regenerates, stops the Master from destroying reality and snogs a pretty American doctor. And it's shot in Vancouver by Fox, so you spend most of the movie expecting Mulder and Scully to show up. (No, really - watch it with that expectation, there's three great moments it threatens to crossover and be a better "X-files" than anything in Season 9....) Most fans agree the movie is awful, at best starting Ok and then going downhill once Eric Roberts gets going as The Master (Sorry, that last sentence is both real and accurate). But most people ALSO agree that McGann actually makes a rather good Doctor, and despite his introductory story is someone you'd genuinely like to see more of in the role. And.....that never happened (outside of audio). Yes, Doctor #6 got fired, but he got at least two full seasons. Doctor #7 got cancelled, but he got three series and is hailed with hindsight as the return of quality to the program. #8 literally got cut right after he showed up. Had he been awful it would've been a mercy killing considering the quality of his film. But Paul McGann is genuinely very, very good. He clearly still loves the part, as he even had a new costume and sonic screwdriver designed for his appearances and audiobook covers. He's pretty much the only "Old Guard" Doctor you DON'T have to make allowances for aging either, and really has pretty much said that he only hasn't shown up because he hasn't been asked. Best of all for the writers and production team, this is pretty much the ONLY Doctor they have complete license with - The public at large hasn't heard his audio stories, so really, anything could have happened. As opposed to, say, the 5th Doctor, whose episodes offer so little breathing room by linkage you'd HAVE to explain where his companions were or why he AND they looked older. McGann's Doctor allows for any point in time during his later life to be dropped in on, and whoever he's with is entirely up to the writer/producer too. Also, this really doesn't have to be a "Smith and McGann lark about and have adventures" deal. (Really, though, we already know that'll probably happen with Tennant.) Have a flashback. Or even better, have two adventures run parallel, where one Doctor (probably McGann) realizes another (Smith, who'd remember things working out a little TOO well when he was #8) may be setting up things for him. It's Doctor Who, plots like these are MADE to happen.
What I'd Settle For: A "Time Crash"-like mini episode with 8 instead of 5, which totally undercuts the possibility in favour of nostalgia. If you're going to have the old guard back, do it RIGHT (especially this year), but "Time Crash" was at least inoffensive and well done.
What I'm Afraid We'll Get: Tennant and a bunch of Davies-era holdovers who aren't busy. Not that I don't welcome 10 and some familiar faces, but come on - it's the 50th anniversary, and you can't even get Eccleston. PLEASE try a bit harder.