Summary
"Love & Monsters" is widely regarded as the worst modern Doctor Who episode due to the lack of the Doctor and Rose Tyler, and its poorly developed villain.
Peter Kay, who portrayed the Abzorbaloff, acknowledges the episode's dreadful quality; however, he embraces its notoriety and his portrayal of the iconic monster.
The conclusion of "Love & Monsters" is widely regarded as displeasing and unsettling, exacerbating the episode's already negative reputation.
The Doctor Who episode "Love & Monsters" is widely regarded as the weakest installment of the show's modern era. Not only do fans dislike it, but others also share the sentiment. Season 2's "Love & Monsters," starring Marc Warren and Peter Kay, takes a unique approach by focusing on a group of bystanders rather than the main characters. Warren's character, Elton Pope, is deeply fascinated by the Tenth Doctor and Rose Tyler and seeks to uncover more about them. However, apart from a brief encounter with Elton, the Doctor and Rose have minimal presence in this episode, deviating from the typical Doctor Who format.
In this episode, Kay portrays the Abzorbaloff, the primary antagonist. This alien being absorbs individuals, incorporating their faces onto its own body. The creation of this Doctor Who villain can be credited to nine-year-old William Grantham, who won Blue Peter's "Design a Doctor Who Monster" competition. Unfortunately, "Love & Monsters" is widely regarded as one of the worst Doctor Who episodes to date, largely due to the absence of the Doctor and his companion. Recent revelations confirm that it's not just the viewers who harbor this dislike.
Peter Kay Wasn't A Fan Of Doctor Who's Love & Monsters
Peter Kay, in his autobiography, admitted that he couldn't deny the fact that "Love & Monsters" was terrible, especially after receiving a not-so-positive review from his grandmother. Despite his disappointment with the lack of the Doctor's appearance in the episode, Kay oddly takes pride in the fact that "Love & Monsters" has been voted the worst Doctor Who episode of all time. Surprisingly, his portrayal of the Abzorbaloff continues to hold sentimental value for him and is something he is proud to have been a part of.
In his autobiography, Kay acknowledges that, whether it was considered good or bad, being involved in Doctor Who was a remarkable experience. He even confesses that he was tempted to purchase a plastic figure of the Abzorbaloff that he stumbled upon while in New York, a decade after the episode aired. Despite its negative reception, "Love & Monsters" has made a lasting impression, and the Abzorbaloff is now regarded as an iconic monster. Kay humorously predicts that if his career in showbiz ever comes to an end, he will likely find himself at sci-fi conventions, happily signing pictures of the Abzorbaloff for a small fee. Ultimately, Kay may agree that the episode was terrible, but he takes pride in the role he played on Doctor Who.
Why Doctor Who's Love & Monsters Episode Is So Unpopular
One of the main reasons why the episode "Love & Monsters" of Doctor Who received heavy criticism is due to the absence of the Doctor and Rose Tyler. However, this should not be a significant concern as the episode "Blink" also features minimal appearances of the Doctor and is widely regarded as one of the best episodes of Doctor Who. Additionally, the excitement surrounding the Blue Peter competition for Doctor Who resulted in the creation of a villain that was not as well developed as other monsters in the show. Consequently, the storyline of "Love & Monsters" is perceived as dull, and the lack of the Doctor and Rose further amplified this issue. On the other hand, "Blink" presented a much more captivating and thrilling concept.
The ending of "Love & Monsters" presents another major issue. Shirley Henderson portrays Ursula Blake, Elton's love interest, who becomes absorbed by the Abzorbaloff. In the conclusion, Ursula is somewhat saved when the Doctor transfers her face onto a concrete slab. Despite this, Elton declares his love for her and they decide to stay together. However, this ending feels unsatisfying and even rather disturbing. While some individuals defend "Love & Monsters" and argue that it receives too much hate, it is generally recognized as one of the worst Doctor Who episodes, if not the absolute worst, from the show's modern era.