The Terrifying Doctor: A Scary Interpretation of Doctor Who

The Scary Doctor

Former Doctor Who showrunner Steven Moffat has offered a surprising take on the lead character's actions, indicating they could be considered scary in the right context. Moffat ran the sci-fi series from 2009 to 2017, responsible for the runs of the Eleventh and Twelfth Doctor. However, he was involved as a writer for the series since 2005, having a 12-year connection to the franchise.

Millie Gibson as Ruby Sunday and Ncuti Gatwa as the Fifteenth Doctor holding onto a ladder at the entry hole of the Goblin's ship in Doctor Who

Speaking with The Times, though, Moffat insisted that the Doctor is a scary entity, emphasizing his very different take on Doctor Who's main character. The former showrunner explained that, without the series' comedic focuses, its star would be portrayed in a very different light. Check out what Moffat had to say below:

If you take the comedy away, the Doctor is terrifying. This guy’s running into the middle of every fight he can find and deciding who should win. People get one chance, then he exterminates their species.

Why Comedy Is An Important Part Of Doctor Who

Many times throughout the series, the Doctor has proven to be ruthless to some extent, balanced out by the comedic elements of the show. This was recently reflected in the Doctor Who season 14 Christmas special, 'The Church on Ruby Road,' where the Fifteenth Doctor goes back in time to save his companion Ruby Sunday. He ends up impaling the Goblin King on a church spire, an act of murder that saves his friend.

Because of how powerful the Doctor is, it makes sense why some elements of his travels could be considered unsettling. However, the light-hearted tone of the show emphasizes its focus on adventure, giving even the darkest moments levity that works in its favor. Without these relieving moments, the series would feel either too dark or too serious, diminishing what makes the show so special.

While Moffat's interpretation of the Doctor is understandable, it doesn't negate the series' emphasis on large-scale conflicts he gets embroiled in. Even so, it's possible future episodes or seasons of Doctor Who will acknowledge the former showrunner's interpretation, perhaps in a special episode different from the rest. Either way, the series provides such a multitude of different stories that the majority do not need to be interpreted through a horrific lens.

The Future of Doctor Who

Doctor Who season 14 returns with 8 episodes starting in May 2024.