1. Writers/Writing
So, I'm simply going to call this the "Neil Gaiman" request. The Production Team drafted in perhaps the most high profile writer since Douglas Adams (actually, that's not even a "perhaps" - he's EASILY the most high profile writer since Adams) and the results, judging from fan polls and a Hugo Award, are overwhelmingly positive. And it's nice, because it seems that other than Gaiman (who, admittedly, is a friend of the producer)the criterion for writing for Who in the last 3 years has basically been: You are a regular (Gatiss, Chibnall, etc.) You are a successful writer of a current BBC series Maybe Gaiman's a fluke because he and Steven Moffat are friends. But can we please have some more variance with the writing? One of Moffat's own favoured stories from the classic series ("Snakedance") was written by someone outside of Who's usual stable, and surely the same Producer who once met the challenge of a deadline and a Doctor-lite episode by writing the seminal "Blink" would see the value of giving new writers new challenges. Or even just "new challenges". It's the 50th anniversary. Let's see some recent trends fall away, with a nod to the past. (And judging from the risks taken that made the Daleks scary again in "Asylum of the Daleks" and the handing of the Cybermen to Gaiman, I think that's reasonable.) Take away the Doctor's cocksure and reliable navigation (The TARDIS can almost fix things as reliably as the Sonic Screwdriver now, when in those early days the only safety it provided was escape once it was reached). Leave him to solve things on his wits (and sure, the screwdriver too) rather than popping back to adjust things or pick someone up last minute. (Tellingly, that very idea is the heart of one of Smith's best loved adventures and debut, "The 11th Hour".) Give us alien races that are our sympathy point, NOT humans. (This was only recently attempted with the Ood, and that came after they were established.) It's been literally 46 years since the Doctor had a pure "historical" adventure. Those have been hinted at with Smith (Look at the encounter with Henry the VIII when the lusty monarch accidentally marries Amy); it's hard to believe, with casting as strong as it has been with Historical personages, that Smith COULDN'T carry an episode that was alien free and just involved him dealing with, say, Da Vinci. Or Churchill. Really, people don't praise "Vincent and the Doctor" because of the great alien threat, do they? That episode could've been pure "Doctor helps Van Gogh" with no aliens whatsoever, and I imagine it might've come off even better. Lastly, there are even some writers from the past who could get a look in this year. Former showrunner Russell T Davies stands tallest and most obvious. But even some Classic writers (Old script editor hands Terrance Dicks and Andrew Cartmel probably make the most sense) could contribute. It's a 50th anniversary where the show is still on the air. What sci-fi series can claim that? Mine the resources you have to celebrate, and certainly don't forget that even when its budgets and effects were dire, Doctor Who shone brightest with its writers' imaginations.
What I'd Settle For: Moffat's stable of timey-wimey fixes, writing regulars, and the series' need for aliens EVERY time means I'd best bet for Davies to pop in and write an episode, which i can see. A third go for Gaiman would be nice too.
What I'm Afraid We'll Get: More of the same; This production team seemingly has been insular right down to its alien races. Not that I haven't enjoyed it, and there's something to be said for bringing in the new and making your mark, but when even appearances from non-Moffat creations dating from 10/Tennant's era are thin on the ground, why should I expect any reverence given to 9's/anything prior? I'd love to find they've just been waiting until this year to do it, and the Classic Daleks in "Asylum of the Daleks" (along with the retro "Dalek City" asylum design) give me hope I'm right. And finally, click next to real a list of ideas I think'd work, but which are unfortunately terribly unlikely...