Alastair wonders whether a hiatus would be beneficial to the much-loved Doctor Who…
Right, lets get it out the way: I loveDoctor Who.
But is it becoming jaded?
Gone is the singular memory of scarves and tawdry sets.
Meet The Doctor with more awards than regenerations.
Never before in the shows history have two men invested as much of themselves in their role and character.
The result: a supercharged, Byronic Timelord, who quixotically relishes life in all its forms.
Indeed, if fervent speculation on casting in the tabloids is a barometer of success,Whotrumps all.
So if the show cant peak with age, has it plateaued with its own success?
Production costs became a constricting framework that limited the ambitions and ideas of new writers, actors and producers.
Limited BBC budgets, the long-standing joke, were now the long-running eye sore distracting away from attempted reforms.
The anachronistic 25 minute serial format did nothing but drag out any attempt at a new tempo.
Execution could not match ambition because the perennial quality of the show change was not being realised.
The revived series may one day suffer the reverse fate.
Emotion and intensity have trumped the cliffhanger and cardboard TARDIS.
Yet the magic surrounding regeneration has left.
While the gift of the second regeneration cycle was spectacular FX, the process had already become too anticipated.
Quality would inevitably suffer.
Taking a break is much better than waiting for the end.
But, to quote River Song: You cant run forever.
And nobody knows it like the Doctor.
