One of the defining attributes ofDoctor Whois its rogues gallery of iconic monsters. From the Daleks and Cybermen to the Sontarans and Zygons, the ever-changing Doctor has faced off against no shortage of memorable alien menaces over the course of their many adventures. However, besides the prominent exception of the Weeping Angels, all the most popular recurring monsters in the series originated from the show’s original 1963-1989 run.
While the modern series has introduced a multitude of new aliens, robots, and other menacing creatures to challenge the Doctor, very few of them have had much in the way of staying power. However, there are still plenty of new series monsters who could easily rise among the ranksof the Doctor’s greatest foes— if only they were allowed to make a proper comeback. Here are a few monsters from the new series ofDoctor Whothat deserve a second shot at the spotlight.
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The Sycorax
The superstitious, skeletal warriors known as the Sycorax are notable for being the villains of “The Christmas Invasion,” the special that serves as the formal introduction to David Tennant’s iconic Tenth Doctor. They attack Earth and threaten to cause untold devastation unless humanity becomes their slaves, but the Tenth Doctor manages to drive them off after besting their leader in a climactic swordfight. It’s a striking introduction to these sinister aliens, to say the least. But while the Sycoraxmade a few minor cameossince then, they’ve never been the focus of another episode.
The Sycorax have quite a bit going for them besides just their presence in the Tenth Doctor’s debut. Their aesthetic is unique amongDoctor Whomonsters for feeling more fantasy than sci-fi. While they do possess advanced technology, it comes with more of a mystical, sorcerous flavor. That unique juxtaposition of magic and science could easily give them a unique niche among the Doctor’s many foes. But even so, they’ve never gotten a second shot at being major antagonists in the 17 years since their debut.
The Vashta Nerada
Another Tenth Doctor-era monster, the Vashta Nerada are amongthe more unique aliensin the series. They were first introduced in the two-part storyline “Silence in the Library” and “Forest of the Dead,” written by Steven Moffat shortly before his tenure as showrunner. Like their fellow Moffat creations the Weeping Angels, the Vashta Nerada are a high-concept monster with heavy horror influence. Described as “the shadows that melt the flesh” and “the piranhas of the air,” the Vashta Nerada are microscopic lifeforms that dwell in shadows. In strong enough numbers, they can devour a human being in seconds.
Not only do the Vashta Neradaoffer a sci-fi twistto humanity’s primal, inherent fear of the dark, they also make for one of the most visually striking foes of the Tennant era. While the creatures themselves are microscopic, they eventually begin to possess the spacesuits of their victims, turning them into skeletal puppets. With that kind of first impression, it’s a surprise that no writers have tried to bring back the Vashta Nerada. However, they have yet to even receive a cameo appearance since their debut.
The Flood
One final Tennant-era monster worth a second look is the Flood, the villain of the Russell T Davies-penned masterpiece “The Waters of Mars.” The Flood is an intelligent, virus-like hive mind that dwells in water, and can infect any living beings containing water in their bodies. Once infected, the Flood’s victims aretransformed into zombie-like huskswith dead eyes and cracked skin, constantly emitting water from their hands and mouths. Not only are they among the Doctor’s creepiest-looking foes, the concept of the Doctor taking on a zombie outbreak has enough potential to warrant a rematch against this waterlogged abomination.
The Silence
Some of the most controversial monsters in the series’ history, the enigmatic Silence are as fascinating as they are confusing. After being teased throughout Series 5 with the recurring phrase “Silence Will Fall,” these mysterious masterminds take center stage in Series 6. They immediately make a striking impression with their menacing designs — inspired by the classic Edvard Munch paintingThe Scream— and their unique abilities. Namely, the Silence have the abilityto erase the memoriesof their victims, causing them to forget about the existence of the Silence the instant they look away from them. It’s a compelling concept, and it’s fun to watch the Eleventh Doctor and his companions try to circumvent the Silence’s mind-wiping.
However, despite a strong central conceit, the Silence are heavily hamstrung by the writing of Series 6, in which Moffat’s penchants for convoluted conspiracies and elaborate time travel plots reach a fever pitch. The Silence are initially introduced as shadowy schemers who have manipulated human civilization in secret for millennia. The extent of their machinations is never fully explored, nor are their motives. However, this is soon contradicted by the revelation that the Silence are actually a religious orderdedicated to killing the Doctorfor equally nebulous reasons. It isn’t until the Eleventh Doctor’s final episode, “The Time of the Doctor,” that the Silence’s origins are fully revealed. But by that point, they’ve already been reduced to little more than a footnote in the narrative.
Though Moffat could seemingly never decide what he wanted to do with the Silence, it’s undeniable that the basic premise of the monster is brilliant. Their cool, creepy appearance and memory-erasing powers make for an incredibly engaging concept, even if the execution of said concept was ultimately lackluster. Even so, a different writer could easily reimagine the Silence into a more easily digestible enemy who canserve as recurring antagonistsnot tied to a single storyline. Perhaps a splinter faction of the original organization could be introduced — one with a clearer backstory and less complicated motives.
The Stenza
Rounding out the list is a species introduced at the start of Chris Chibnall’s recently-concluded era as showrunner. Debuting in “The Woman Who Fell To Earth,” the Stenza known as Tzim-Sha was the first villain to ever face Jodie Whittaker’s Thirteenth Doctor. The Stenza are a species armored hunters who track down prey on alien worlds to prove their worth — a premise distinctlyreminiscent of thePredatorfranchise.They’re also notable for their icy body temperatures, which allow them to freeze their prey to death with just a touch. However, it also forces them to remain in their armor at all times to stay cool, similar to Mr. Freeze ofBatmanfame.
But though the Stenza are described as infamous warriors who have conquered numerous worlds, the only Stenza who has yet to appear in the flesh is Tzim-Sha, better known by the incredibly undignified nickname “Tim Shaw.” And while Tzim-Sha himself has proven decidedly unpopular with fans, the Stenza could still be salvaged by future writers. After all, a society of ice-cold hunters could easily make aformidable threat to the Doctorif depicted with appropriate menace. Let’s just hope that the other Stenza don’t share Tzim-Sha’s repulsive habit of grafting his victims’ teeth to his face. Some ideas are best left forgotten.
