What to do

I have loved Doctor Who since my dad introduced me to it in the 90s, and I was beyond thrilled when it came back in 2005. One of the reasons I've continued to love it is how every few seasons a new creator takes over, with new ideas. As Thirteen said, you have to grow while remembering who you've been.

I'm paraphrasing, I know.

Until recently I'd have said the show was honoring that. But with the last few seasons it doesn't feel like there's that growth, or fresh take on the character.

So, I've come up with a few ideas I think would shake up the show while staying true to the overall themes of Doctor Who.

1. Trap the Doctor somewhere.

I love all the galivanting to times and places, but how great would it be to have the Doctor, and whoever their companion is, be stuck in ONE place an entire season? Fabulous, that's what it would be! A whole season to either dig into the depths of a historical time/place. Or, to create a whole futuristic world or planet. What does traveling with the Doctor mean when you AREN'T traveling? Not being shown the wonders of time space? How does the Doctor cope with being in one place for so long? Still trying to be impressive, but frankly running out of ideas?

2. The Doctor and their companion separated and trying to find each other.

This would be difficult but fascinating, and goes along with the previous idea. I picture it in a real dystopic time/place with lots of flashbacks to how they met and became friends. Shifting perspectives as they work their way back to each other.

3. The Doctor dies.

This will be controversial, I'm sure. But maybe it's time for the Doctor to die? The Time Lord runs out of time. But what then? What does a companion do without the Doctor? How do they go on knowing all the ways the Doctor helped? How do they try and BE the Doctor? What does that mean for someone who ISN'T the Doctor? How does the name/title carry weight and how can it be upheld by someone new to the role?

4. The Doctor with a nonhuman companion.

Taking the humans to see the universe is great. They surely deserve a good trip to stretch their wings. But it's been done for decades. Literally. Rinse and repeat. Why not have an alien companion, someone with a different perspective on the universe and the Doctor. How does someone like that take to traveling? To encountering humans?

5. The Doctor finds a human NOT on Earth, and tries to get them home.

This one has been done before, and it's worked well. So why not try it again? Let the Doctor regenerate NOT on Earth, and very quickly finding a human lost in space and trying their hardest to get them home. While STILL being the Doctor. All the travel, and adventures, and showing off, and world saving. But with an overall goal of just getting someone home. The world's longest taxi ride. If you will.

I think the show is still good, or at least still has potential. But as long as showrunners are committed to changes only in the Doctor's back story, the overall show lore, or just changing the companion, how is it really new?

Maybe it's time to take a leap of faith.