10 Reasons RTD's Doctor Who Return Failed

In a similar vein, first impressions count. A lot. Which is something RTD2 never really seemed to understand.

For the big Disney launch, all eyes were on the Season 1 opener. And rather than a story that showcases what Doctor Who can do, and what makes it so unique and brilliant, RTD went with… talking babies?!

Genuinely, we underestimate how baffling that decision was. All those supposedly intelligent TV people in a room. All of them thought Space Babies was a good first impression for perhaps the most important Doctor Who episode since Rose? It seems they did eventually get cold feet later on, as the decision to launch with two episodes clearly signalled they knew Space Babies wasn't good enough on its own. But by then it was too late.

Season 2's opener was an improvement, and certainly a visual feast, but it was just... flat. Average. Again, not what you need for your big opening statement.

In this day and age when there’s so much competition from other streaming platforms, you have to put your best foot forward and stand out from the crowd. And Russell simply didn't do that.

Seasons 1 and 2 needed to start with a bigger, more game-changing story like The Impossible Astronaut. Or something more high-concept like Boom and 73 Yards. Not that those stories would work as openers as they stand – but they’ve absolutely got the right vibe, the right hook.

Saving that sort of thing till episode three or four is pointless if you can’t get people to watch past episode one.