Unveiling the Hidden Menace: Doctor Who's Most Overlooked Villains That Redefine Moffat's Era

Summary

Davies brought back classic adversaries and created new villains, while Moffat preferred crafting new foes but missed out on the potential of lesser-known villains.

Moffat failed to recognize the potential of the Rani, a complex and formidable character, choosing instead to revisit well-known villains. In contrast, Davies successfully revitalized Doctor Who by featuring lesser-known characters like Beep the Meep and the Celestial Toymaker.

Davies and Moffat, two influential writers of Doctor Who, have differing approaches in utilizing the Doctor's past villains. In the new era of the show, Davies revitalized it in 2005 after a 16-year hiatus by reintroducing major adversaries such as the Daleks, the Master, and the Cybermen, while also introducing new foes like the Weeping Angels and the Slitheen. On the other hand, when Moffat took over in season 5, he brought his unique style and introduced formidable adversaries like the Silence. While both writers excelled in creating compelling enemies for the Doctor, Moffat showed more hesitation than Davies in resurrecting obscure villains from the 1963-1989 era.

Steven Moffat Wouldn't Use Obscure Doctor Who Villains

Moffat had a preference for creating new adversaries for the Doctor rather than bringing back lesser-known villains from the original run of Doctor Who. However, he did believe that revisiting iconic villains was important as long as they were recognizable to viewers. One villain Moffat chose not to include was the Rani, who had appeared in two serials in the 1980s and made a brief return in 1993. Known for her relentless pursuit of scientific experimentation, the Rani once enslaved the planet of Miasimia Goria to further her research and satisfy her curiosity. With her complex character and past exploits, the Rani had the potential to become a formidable adversary in the new era of Doctor Who, providing a rich foundation for future storylines.

RTD's Doctor Who Villains Prove Moffat Was Completely Wrong

In regards to the possibility of reintroducing her character into the series, Moffat was questioned and he responded by saying, "The Rani? People always inquire whether I have plans to bring her back. However, the truth remains that no one is familiar with who the Rani is." While Moffat recognized the significance of reviving classic and iconic adversaries, he was adamant about not excessively relying on the past. Nonetheless, Moffat's cautious approach may have been an error, as these less prominent villains possess the potential to infuse the show with renewed vitality while simultaneously paying homage to the original era of Doctor Who.

While Moffat decided against revisiting some of Doctor Who's more obscure past villains, like the Rani, Davies took a different approach altogether. For the show's 60th anniversary specials, Davies decided to shine the spotlight on Beep the Meep, a character with little recognition among mainstream Doctor Who fans. Beep the Meep, a furry and wide-eyed creature, has only made appearances in the comic strip within Doctor Who Magazine and in audio dramas produced by Big Finish Productions.

Moffat's Doctor Who Needed A Wider Variety Of Villains

Despite its adorable appearance and charming demeanor, Beep the Meep is anything but innocent. This extraterrestrial creature serves as the cunning and malevolent leader of the Meeps, a race filled with deep-rooted animosity and unbridled rage. Additionally, Davies has astutely reintroduced the character of the Celestial Toymaker, superbly portrayed by the talented Neil Patrick Harris. This immortal adversary derives pleasure from ensnaring his victims in intricate games. Davies's choice to reintroduce these obscure characters pays homage to Doctor Who's fascinating history, while also revitalizing and reimagining Beep and the Celestial Toymaker for a contemporary audience. This innovative approach breathes fresh life into these characters, a feat that Moffat, during his tenure as head writer, failed to accomplish.

While serving as showrunner, Moffat introduced fresh adversaries, such as the Silence, which enthralled viewers. However, he gained a reputation for excessive utilization of the series' most prominent villains, resulting in audiences growing weary of the main Doctor Who antagonists, namely the Daleks. In contrast, Davies elevated the significance of the Doctor's primary foes, ensuring that their encounters were remarkable and truly demanding.

Moffat's initial reintroduction of the Daleks in the World War II episode "Victory of the Daleks" failed to demonstrate their capacity for destruction, with their new color schemes being the most memorable aspect. In his second season, he included a somewhat comedic episode involving the Cybermen titled "Closing Time," which did not effectively showcase the potential threat of this notorious enemy. Moffat continued this trend throughout his tenure as head writer, for example, giving the Cybermen super speed in the episode "Nightmare in Silver" without properly establishing the danger they could pose.

Although Moffat excelled in creating new and captivating villains like the terrifying Silence, he often relied heavily on the series' central adversaries, missing an opportunity to introduce fresh and formidable foes from the past. Davies' approach of revitalizing lesser-known villains from the Doctor Who canon and reimagining them, as evident in the 60th-anniversary specials, could have brought greater diversity and intrigue to the Moffat era.

Source: Digital Spy