When Doctor Who made a revival in 2005, with Christopher Eccleston in the lead, the program returned in top-notch form. The series (including the David Tennant seasons that followed) were remnant to the Tom Baker jovial fun that I grew up with. (Thank you, PBS.) To be fair, the original series had a charm of their own -- cheaply produced, limited sets and props, silly one-liners... but with a larger budget the BBC was able to revive the series in a manner it never accomplished since the series premiered in 1963.
When the Disney+ platform struck a deal with the BBC, there were skeptics who spoke out against the series. After all, the last few seasons were lackluster. That last word I used politely. They plots sucked. There, I said it. I feel sorry for Capaldi and Whittaker because they were great in the roles -- it was the plots that sucked.
Having watched the first half dozen of the new season, starring Ncuti Gatwa, I am pleased to report the program has returned to form. Whether The Doctor is battling a powerful villain named The Maestro, participating in a ghost story that spans decades, or fails in his attempt to save a colony of spoiled rich brats, the plots are a notch above. The series has become fun again.
If you jumped the shark some time ago, I encourage you to revisit the series with the start of Ncuti Gatwa in the role and enjoy what made Doctor Who a fun program.
