Doctor Who Defies Its Own Classic-Era Rule in a Bold and Controversial Move
RTD revolutionizes Doctor Who by playfully challenging the long-standing 'No Hugging in the TARDIS' rule, enhancing the show's emotional depth and creating a stronger connection between characters
WARNING: Contains SPOILERS for Tales from the TARDIS
Article Overview
"Tales from the TARDIS" expertly brings together the Doctors and their companions, remaining faithful to their individual time periods while infusing heartfelt depth. Russell T. Davies cleverly ridicules the archaic "no hugging in the TARDIS" guideline from the 1980s, accentuating the lack of emotional warmth in the vintage Doctor Who.
The inclusion of hugging in modern Doctor Who broke the outdated "no hugging" rule, enhancing the realism and emotional depth of the show. This change made the Doctor-companion relationships feel more authentic. In the new spinoff Tales from the TARDIS, which reunites Doctors and companions from the classic series, writers Russell T Davies, Pete McTighe, and Phil Ford skillfully honored the spirit of each respective era while incorporating the emotional complexity characteristic of post-2005 Doctor Who.
Doctor Who Mocks The Show's "No Hugging In The TARDIS" Rule
Written by Russell T Davies, the new scenes at the beginning and end of the omnibus version of "Earthshock" finally allow the Doctor and Tegan to engage in a meaningful conversation. The concept of Doctor Who's Memory TARDIS serves as a form of therapy for the Doctor and Tegan, assisting them in coming to terms with the loss of Adric (Matthew Waterhouse). Unfortunately, such emotional dialogues were uncommon in classic Doctor Who, particularly during the 1980s when any physical interaction between the Doctor and their companions was strictly prohibited.
When John Nathan-Turner took charge of Doctor Who in the 1980s, he famously enforced a strict policy of "no hanky panky in the TARDIS." The potential for romantic involvement between the Doctor and their female companion didn't become a part of the show until 2005, but JN-T was exceptionally puritanical in his approach. Engaging in physical embrace was frowned upon, as it may have been misinterpreted by viewers as having a sexual connotation. This peculiar standpoint resulted in an overall sense of aloofness and detachment throughout the majority of Doctor Who in the 1980s. Russell T Davies playfully mocks this regulation, breaking the fourth wall with an exchange between the Doctor and Tegan.
Fifth Doctor: "We never really did this sort of thing, did we?"
Tegan: "We do now!"
Why Doctor Who Is Better After Breaking Its "No Hugging" Rule
The comment on the emotional coldness that dominated 1980s Doctor Who and the reflection of Russell T Davies' introduction of realism to the show in 2005, makes it interesting. What is particularly peculiar about John Nathan-Turner's rule on physical contact is that it contradicted much of what had been previously witnessed in the series. Going all the way back to William Hartnell's era as the Doctor, he was seen linking arms with Barbara (Jacqueline Hill) at the conclusion of the serial "Inside the Spaceship". Considering Hartnell's portrayal as "the grumpy one," it is astonishing that he displayed more physical affection towards his companions compared to the supposedly kind-hearted Fifth Doctor.
John Nathan-Turner may have felt uneasy about misinterpretations of the bond between the charming Peter Davison and his female companions. However, Russell T Davies never shared such reservations. Embracing and kissing became customary during the RTD era. Alongside the unabashed romance between the Tenth Doctor (David Tennant) and Rose Tyler (Billie Piper), embraces in Doctor Who also served to make the platonic connections between the Doctor and companions feel more authentic.
The death of Adric in Doctor Who has always had little impact on the characters, which is strange. Eric Saward's script fails to effectively convey this, and the enforced ban on physical contact only exacerbates the issue. Although the Fifth Doctor is an alien, he is not devoid of emotion, and his inability to offer comfort to his companions does not endear him to the audience. Therefore, the "Earthshock" episode of Tales of the TARDIS demonstrates that Doctor Who has a greater emotional impact when it disregards JN-T's peculiar "no hugging" rule. Currently, Tales of the TARDIS is exclusively available on BBC iPlayer in the UK, while Doctor Who will begin streaming on Disney+ from November 25th.
Editor's P/S
1. Russell T. Davies' bold move to include hugging in the new Doctor Who spinoff, "Tales from the TARDIS," is a refreshing and long-overdue change to the show's classic-era rule of "no hugging in the TARDIS." This playful challenge to the outdated guideline enhances the show's emotional depth and creates a stronger connection between the characters.
2. The Doctor-companion relationships feel more authentic and realistic when they are allowed to express their emotions physically. The scene between the Fifth Doctor and Tegan in "Earthshock" is a poignant example of how hugging can be used to convey deep emotions and help characters process difficult experiences. Overall, the inclusion of hugging in modern Doctor Who is a positive development that brings the show more in line with contemporary storytelling and audience expectations.
