The Shocking Secrets Unveiled: Uncovering the Dark Side of William Hartnell's First Doctor in Doctor Who
The Toymaker returns as a formidable foe for the First Doctor in Doctor Who, uncovering shocking truths about William Hartnell's era Discover why this rare villain reappearance leaves fans wondering if the mischievous Meddling Monk will make a comeback
Summary
The Toymaker is confirmed as the main villain for Doctor Who's 60th anniversary specials, marking the character's return since 1966.
The Toymaker is one of the few adversaries who made a comeback during William Hartnell's era, whereas other villains were mainly historical figures or aliens not suitable for future appearances.
Although various endeavors have been made to revive the presence of the Meddling Monk in Doctor Who, none have achieved triumph so far. The return of this character could inject a new and captivating energy into the show's ensemble of Time Lord antagonists.
The upcoming Doctor Who 2023 anniversary specials will see the return of the Toymaker, portrayed by Neil Patrick Harris. This long-awaited comeback sheds light on some intriguing aspects of the William Hartnell era. The BBC has officially confirmed that the Toymaker will serve as the primary antagonist for the show's 60th anniversary, marking their first appearance since their debut in 1966. Despite the majority of the original serial being lost, its impact on Doctor Who is undeniable. In fact, it even inspired the Doctor Who Appreciation Society's fanzine, called Celestial Toyroom, and spawned several follow-up stories, such as the unrealized Sixth Doctor serial "The Nightmare Fair" and the beloved Eighth Doctor comic strip Endgame.
Interestingly, both the audio drama Solitaire from Big Finish and Endgame presented puppet-like duplicates of the Eighth Doctor. The tantalizing trailer for Doctor Who's 60th anniversary specials showcased a towering Neil Patrick Harris, who seemed to manipulate what could potentially be the Fourteenth Doctor, played by David Tennant, using marionette strings. With his portrayal of the Toymaker, Neil Patrick Harris is poised to leave a lasting impact reminiscent of Michael Gough's original portrayal of this iconic First Doctor adversary. It is worth noting, however, that the Toymaker is among a select few adversaries from the William Hartnell era to make a return.
The Toymaker Is Only The Third Returning First Doctor Villain
The Toymaker is the sole villain from the First Doctor era to make a comeback in the modern run of Doctor Who. Unlike the Daleks and Cybermen, who appeared multiple times throughout the series, the Toymaker stands alone as a returning singular foe from the time of Hartnell. While the First Doctor's era introduced a variety of peculiar and fascinating extraterrestrial beings such as the Voord, Zarbi, and Mechanoids, none of these imaginative creations have ever resurfaced on the show. Looking at it from a 4K, high-definition perspective in 2023, it becomes evident that the realization of these creatures often fell short in comparison to the imaginative vision of the writers and production team.
Nevertheless, there is precedent for the revival of more obscure monsters from the Patrick Troughton era, as demonstrated in Russell T Davies' Doctor Who, which brought back the Macra. This occurrence suggests that anything is possible in the realm of Doctor Who. Additionally, with the current co-production between Doctor Who and Bad Wolf, known for their work on His Dark Materials and their proficiency in seamlessly creating CGI creatures, there may be a chance for an alien race like the insect-like Zarbi to finally come to life for a 21st-century audience. However, for now, it remains peculiar that only the Daleks, Cybermen, and the Toymaker have returned from the Hartnell era.
William Hartnell's Doctor Who Era Didn't Have Many Villains
Apart from the Toymaker, the William Hartnell era of Doctor Who featured two other memorable villains: Mavic Chen (played by Kevin Stoney) and the Meddling Monk (played by Peter Butterworth). In the 12-part epic "The Daleks' Masterplan," which aired from 1965 to 1966, Chen and the Monk even joined forces under the command of the Daleks. Unlike modern Doctor Who, the Hartnell era often showcased historical figures as the main antagonists, such as the real-life 16th-century French ruler Catherine de Medici in "The Massacre." Even the Doctor and his companions often encountered aliens who were not overtly villainous, like the Monoids who rebelled against their oppressive human masters in "The Ark."
Initially, the Sensorites seemed to be villains, but their true nature was later revealed to be more complex. The Hartnell era's inclusion of nuanced alien species and historical villains may suggest a shortage of recurring evildoers. However, with Doctor Who's improved budget and technological capabilities, this may no longer be a hindrance. Russell T. Davies has already hinted at Mavic Chen making an appearance in the new era, and advancements in CGI may allow for the realization of more high-concept aliens like the Zarbi and the Mechanoids in the future. Additionally, bringing back the Meddling Monk would be a relatively straightforward endeavor for Doctor Who.
Will Doctor Who Ever Bring Back The Meddling Monk?
Several attempts have been made to resurrect the Meddling Monk in TV Doctor Who. In the late 2000s, rumors circulated that Patrick Stewart from Star Trek would revive the Monk alongside David Tennant during the Tenth Doctor era. Writer Peter Harness later proposed a Monk comeback to showrunner Steven Moffat, suggesting Matt Berry from What We Do in the Shadows for the role. However, none of these attempts have materialized into anything substantial, which is disappointing considering the potential for an entertaining encounter with a rogue Time Lord who manipulates history for amusement and personal gain.
Big Finish revived the character alongside Paul McGann's Eighth Doctor, initially casting UK comedy legend Graham Garden in the role. This was followed by comedian and actor Rufus Hound taking over the part in future audio productions with the Third, Fourth, and Seventh Doctors. The character's personality and motivations are quite distinct from Doctor Who's Master, offering a fresh take on the concept of a Time Lord villain in the show. Given the current climate of fake news and manipulation of history to suit personal agendas, the Meddling Monk could serve as an ideal antagonist for Russell T Davies' politically astute 2023 version of Doctor Who.
