Doctor Who series two is almost upon us and with it, the much-discussed return of Sarah-Jane Smith and K9. With that in mind I thought it would be a good idea to find out people's thoughts about bringing "classic" characters into the new programme. I'm not necessarily talking about
returning foes - although they are of course included.

Do you think it's a good idea and will strengthen the programme, or do you feel that the new series should be able to stand on it's own without trying to 'bribe' the audience by bringing back past characters?

Do you think they have the balance right with new characters and the occasional "guest appearance"
of a classic character?

Is there anyone/anything you would like to see return - either because they were a favourite or because they would bring something to the programme, or do you think that the producers should concentrate on creating new characters since, after all, this is a new series.

I have some thoughts of my own, but as always it's much more interesting to hear other people's ideas - plus it will give us something to discuss in the run-up to the new series.

I have requested a poll, so bear with me while the mods put this into place.

Cheers Den and a good topic to choose.

I am looking forward to SJS return. Have to be honest and say I am not all that bothered about K9, except from a nostalgic point of view. I found K9 quite smug and irritating at times and found he was an easy device to get The Doctor out of situations he was more than equipped to get himself out of. Still I will await School Reunion before making too hasty a judgement.

As for other companions and characters returning I have no objection as long as it isn't for the sake of it and to keep the die hard fans happy. In the JNT era I felt that some people were wheeled out just for the sake of it, their characters were not well served by the scripts/story and season by season you got the impression that someone returning was just to keep the fans in a frenzy...well they are easily pleased!

So if the story/script was right and it wasn't just cobbled together to fit around their reappearance and there was some character development and not just more of the same then bring it on!

I'm in complete agreement with you BG - I think the best analogy would be crossover episodes of Star Trek...

In TNG, the episodes with Spock were brilliant, really added to both the mythology of the show and the character of Spock.

Then, in Enterprise, they shoe-horned Riker and Troi into the last episode and, frankly, crapped all over the whole franchise.

Take your pick...

The new series must definitely stand on its own two feet. I must admit I was disappointed to hear of the return of the Daleks in series one (after the negotiations with the Nation Estate). I am still waiting to see the "new and terrifying aliens" that RTD promised us he had before the daleks became available - I trust he didn't mean the Slitheen.
This being said though I would welcome the return of old characters, whether friends or foes as long as it is done well and for a reason other than appeasing fans by "nods to the past".
The old series has been my favourite television programme for 34 years now (even though a wedge of it was utter rubbish!) and I had high hopes for the new series. I think these hopes can only be realised by the new series being highly original.

Very glad to say that I have found someone else to agree with me about K9 - it just makes me happier that it is the great Black Guardian that does so. Smug didn't even begin to cover K9's attitude. Did anyone else want to summarily rip out K9's diodes? Or am I just jumping the (nasal) gun?

K9 was just too convenient for The Doctor or companion to use to blast doors or provide data without putting any leg work in themselves. Think most of the lead actors hated having to work with him as you would have to crouch down to his level to get the shot, he was constantly breaking down so filming would be delayed. Companions like Romana, K9 and Adric who were know it alls never worked, even though I loved Romana, as it is The Doctor who is supposed to come up with the answers. The only story I liked K9 in was Warriors Gate for obvious reasons..he left!

I thought Warrior's Gate was a great story - well written, quite sad and the end of an era in more ways than one, least of all the last we saw of Romana.

I'll cut this short - but in the modern vernacular, "so say we all."

(Sorry, but I couldn't help but squeeze a BSG reference in to reinforce my total agreement with you.)

I don't think producer JNT was a huge K9 fan - in most of his stories, K9 was either beheaded, kicked or drowned! I'm quite looking forward to his return and I think the youngsters will like it.

I'm wondering though who the next 'big' returning monsters will be - it seems we might expect a returning foe every series. The Daleks and Cybermen are fairly big names, but if we're lucky enough to get a series 4 or 5, we'll be down to 'supporting monsters' that only sad fans like me will remember !

Bring back the Zygons, I say. Horrible, foetal, bulbous-headed things, they were, with the advantage of being able to disguise themselves as human beings. That'll get the kids behind the sofa where they belong!

We were actually discussing the merits of bringing back the Zygons only t'other day on the forums and a lot of people seemed to be in favour of it. With the advances in sfx and keeping much to the original design of the costumes I agree the kids would be running for the safety of behind the sofa.

not a K9 fan at all but very happy to see SJS back, although I hope they don't make a habit of bringing back an old companion each series the joy would quickly pall, particularly if we got down to Mel or something...similarly with the old villains as it becomes standard to bring back an old villain per series the format becomes predictable and to me annoying..although I would like to see The Ice warriors back

PS I remember watching Warriors Gate through what seemed like a snowstorm as the aerial had fallen off off the roof just before its transmission...

Yes. K9 is truly awful. The kids will like him though because I did in 1977 or whenever it was he first appeared. Unfortunately he way out stayed his welcome. Should have been in the one story he was intended for only.
When I see episodes with K9 in now he always manages to ruin them. I think though K9 was introduced when a large chunk of Tom Baker's "magic" had gone, don't get me wrong he still had some good stories, but it appeared that he was maybe complacent in the role and started to do it just for laughs.

As Harry Hill might say "Its official - K9 is annoying!"
Seeing SJS again will be good, but I wouldn't want a whole parade of ex assistants nor even old advarsaries.
The only characters I'd really like to see back are the Brigadier and The Master - so long as the master goes back to being evil rather than camp!

The only reason they should bring back K-9 is to give it a painful death.

But Sarah Jane is cool.

[quote=Shrike]As Harry Hill might say "Its official - K9 is annoying!"
Seeing SJS again will be good, [/i]but I wouldn't want a whole parade of ex assistants nor even old advarsaries.
The only characters I'd really like to see back are the Brigadier and The Master - so long as the master goes back to being evil rather than camp![/[i]QUOTE]

My thoughts entirely. Let's have the Brig and the Master but done well. I wouldn't want to see the pantomime Master back (it wasn't Ainley's fault but the scriptwriters.)

I have my own personal favourites that I would love to see a return but I wouldn't want them back unless there was a real reason for them to feature in the story. There is nothing worse when you see something and know that the person has been shoe horned into the plot..utterly contrived and all those happy memories you had of that character goes down the pan.

They have the right balance now....
Its good for me, as i havnt seen any old series of DW
but i always hear about these 'Great Charcters' so its nice to finally see a couple

Looking Forward to seeing SJS as i hear she was the best companion

As long as the story continues to develop and current characters are at the forefront I think it would be a shame not to utilise the shows long history and very flexible format

Utilise the rich history of characters yes but only if there is a credible reason for them to feature in the story and it is going to develop that character further. I don't want to see someone just for the sake of it. I believe Liz Sladen only agreed to return if they were going to develop the character further as she didn't want to do more of the 'same'......

I loved the Brigadier but thought his appearance in Battlefield was rather lame and did not serve his character at all well. In some instances I would rather be left with happy memories of a character than have it tarnished forever.

That is why they should bring the Brig back, he deserved better than Battlefield.

I agree with you totally BG about the risk of memories being tarnished by a poor return. That is what happened in Battlefield, Survival, The McGann Movie, the list goes on. This sort of thing should be avoided at all costs.

I agree with this, but at least Survival and the The McGann Movie tried something different with the character of the Master rather than 'I want to take over the universe'.

I have faith in RTD. When I read about certain guest appearances in the new series, that faith is tested a bit, but he has reinvented both the show itself and the concept of The Daleks in a way few would have thought possible. So I think the return of K9 - and any other monsters/characters he brings beack - will be handled well.

I agree! I just wouldn't want to see a pattern emerging and expectations raised that every series we are going to see an old companion returning.

I'd like to see the yeti on the show, have only seen old b&w footage.

Agree that old cast members shouldn't return for the sake of it

Surely, it's a bit early to see a pattern emerging when so far there's only one incidence of it happening in two whole series?

Indeed - and it's a bit premature to be judging this as we haven't seen it yet surely?

The Doctor has a back story. It's prime for exploring - as long as it's done well. I can't see a reason, editorially to keep going back to companions, but it makes sense as far as nasty alien races are concerned - they're highly likely to be trying again and again for domination if that is their bent, and why not as long a fresh approach can be found?