Day 133: The Tenth Planet Episode 3

Can Doctor Who survive without the Doctor? It's a nice question, and one that comes to mind as we witness the Doctor collapse at the beginning of this episode and not appear at all, leaving the plot to be filled with the supporting cast, as Ben and Polly take the action and compassion roles respectively, whilst a helpful scientist becomes this serial's ally and a headstrong general becomes an antagonist, leaving the Doctor without a role in this serial at all. So because his appearance is not necessary, it's becoming apparent that perhaps Doctor Who could survive without the Doctor, and just make it a series featuring a blue police box that travels through space and time. But this serial is a bad example because it doesn't quite feel like Doctor Who. As mentioned before, the Doctor barely appears, and so the supporting cast fill out the rest of the story. This gives the end result of the programme feeling like a generic (although rather good nonetheless) science fiction serial. But with the Doctor, the series gains a purpose, being able to bring things back to the original concept, about people travelling through time and space, and not just travelling through time and space. Doctor Who does need the Doctor, or rather, a Doctor.