Doctor Who's Redesigned Characters: A Critical Analysis
An in-depth look at the controversial redesigns of classic Doctor Who characters and their impact on the show's 60th anniversary specials.
The Controversy Surrounding Davros' Redesign
Doctor Who's 2023 Children In Need special redesigned the villain Davros, removing his facial scars and wheelchair. Changing the villain from a wheelchair user to a non-wheelchair user toes the line between positive and offensive. Russell T. Davies told Doctor Who: Unleashed that he wanted to remove the problematic association between being disabled and evil (via Radio Times). Additionally, Davros not using a wheelchair doesn’t completely contradict his prior iterations because many wheelchair users are semi-ambulatory. On the other hand, Doctor Who took a massive step by introducing a wheelchair user in 1975. Even today, this demographic is largely underrepresented, making Davros’ representation important. However, this wasn’t the only criticism of the redesign. Fans also took issue with the fact that the “new Davros” looked nothing like the original character.
Custom image of the original Toymaker and Neil Patrick Harris in Doctor Who
Though Davros’ redesign gained criticism, the comments are now laughable because of the Toymaker’s redesign for Doctor Who’s 60th anniversary episode, “The Giggle.” David Bailie’s Toymaker from the 1960s looks nothing like Neil Patrick Harris’ version of the character. Bailie wore a hat and robe based on Qing dynasty imperial clothing, making him a problematic Yellow Peril villain caricature. Harris’ Toymaker takes on multiple outfits, and adds whimsy to the character. The character first wears a pinstripe white button-up with a plaid maroon vest, a polka dot cravat, and glasses. This outfit allows him to blend in enough with the time period. When the world is diverging into chaos, the Toymaker dances through the scene wearing a full tuxedo with tails, a white bowtie, a carnation, and a top hat – an interesting dichotomy. Later, in the Toymaker’s wonderfully ridiculous Spice Girls scene, he wears a red band uniform reminiscent of Sgt. Pepper, making him seem psychedelic and otherworldly. By the end, the Toymaker is wearing a pilot outfit with an A-2 bomber jacket, reflecting how dangerous the character truly is.
The Toymaker places his hand on the banister while standing in front of a red curtain in Doctor Who "The Giggle"
The Impact of Toymaker's Redesign on Classic Villains
With the exception of Davros, the modern Doctor Who has tried to keep the appearances of the villains the same. They updated characters like the Daleks, Sontarans, and Cybermen to look more modern while keeping the same general appearance. However, the Toymaker’s drastically different look in Doctor Who’s 60th anniversary special might signal the end of this trend. RTD and future showrunners may feel more free to change up classic Doctor Who villains for aesthetic and creative purposes.
The Toymaker dances through the street wearing a tuxedo with a top hat in Doctor Who.
The Evolution of Doctor Who's Villains
The Doctor Who anniversary specials include some of the best storylines and characters. Villains like the Toymaker put all of time and space in jeopardy, only for the Doctor and their companions to sweep in to save the day. Not every Doctor Who character goes over well with audiences, though. On the other hand, Doctor Who took a massive step by introducing a wheelchair user in 1975. Even today, this demographic is largely underrepresented, making Davros’ representation important.
Neil Patrick Harris as the Toymaker in Doctor Who
