Doctor Who – sci-fi with laughter and tears

Well that was a series finale-and-a-half, wasn’t it? ‘The Name of the Doctor’, the last episode of the latest series of Doctor Who, was one of the best I’ve seen for a long time. Maybe since Neil Gaiman’s ‘The Doctor’s Wife’.

The run hasn’t had the best press, garnering criticism for its lackadaisical plots and lack of tension, and while I wouldn’t agree with all the criticism, it has to be acknowledged that Doctor Who seems to have lost something since its triumphant return in 2005. It got me thinking...

As well as enjoying the intricate plot of tonight’s episode, and revelling in the most complex character British TV has ever invented, I was struck while watching ‘The Name of the Doctor’ how much I appreciate being made to laugh and cry when watching sci-fi on TV. (Strax is one of my favourite recent characters, and having him fight a pot-wielding Glaswegian just made him all the more loveable).

And I think this appeal to the emotions is something which can easily get lost in British sci-fi productions, perhaps in British drama productions altogether? Or perhaps in sci-fi altogether.

What I loved about the latest big-screen outing of the Star Trek franchise was the re-kindling of the crucial relationship between Kirk and Spock. As well as being the engine (sorry Scotty) that drives the emotional journey of the plot, Kirk and Spock’s relationship is unashamedly TENDER and also gives rise to the key scene of the movie, a scene that I would challenge any trek-meister (is that less offensive that trekkie?) not to shed a Vulcan-like tear at. I loved it.

Doctor Who has always been able to be funny – the eccentricity of the Doctor and the sheer camp wobbly-set-ness of the show has guaranteed that. But maybe it’s been lacking a little tenderness, a little human connection? That’s probably true, but after seeing tonight’s episode I feel hopeful for the next 50 years of the show. Not because (sorry, spoiler alert if you haven't watched it yet) I saw the Doctor cry tonight, but because I saw real love and self-sacrifice at the heart of the drama, when Clara... okay, I won’t say any more – spoilers etc.

Anyway, after seeing ‘The Name of the Doctor’, I feel pretty optimistic about November 2013, especially as David Tennant and Billie Piper are going to be a part of the 50^th celebrations. Unless they reprise their turn on that scooter in ‘The Idiot Lantern’... because that wasn’t funny or tender at all.