More shows like Doctor Who??

[F. King Daniel]

I'm amazed there aren't more shows like Doctor Who. The closest I can think of is the amazing Rick and Morty, but that's animation.

Why haven't more shows "borrowed" the "go anywhere, anywhen and have an adventure" format?

 

[Mr Awe]

Cost? It makes it hard to reuse sets.

 

[The Nth Doctor]

The closest I can think of is the amazing Rick and Morty, but that's animation.

So? I haven't watched Rick and Morty yet (it's on my long list to watch) but animation isn't some kind of crutch. Futurama is my third favorite science-fiction show (after Doctor Who and Farscape) without some kind of qualifier such as "it's animation."

 

[F. King Daniel]

Cost? It makes it hard to reuse sets.

But the format allows them to revisit the same locations again and again, and again and again and again if need be.

So? I haven't watched Rick and Morty yet (it's on my long list to watch) but animation isn't some kind of crutch. Futurama is my third favorite science-fiction show (after Doctor Who and Farscape) without some kind of qualifier such as "it's animation."

It wasn't intended as a knock on animation (Rick and Morty is one of my fave shows ever). They're different mediums. I'm interested in a live-action Doctor Who-esque show.

 

[Pindar]

There's quite a few time travel series.
Legends of Tomorrow is probably the closest on the air.
I miss Crime Traveller.

 

[diankra]

Not really (original Tomorrow People was close sometimes). A lot of shows, particularly British TV SF, are like a Who story used as a permanent setting though (and Doomwatch is very like one of the ideas proposed during the original development of Who, The Troubleshooters - not to be confused with the later BBC oil drama).

 

[Mr Awe]

But the format allows them to revisit the same locations again and again, and again and again and again if need be.

But, if they're visiting the same spots over and over again, what's the point of being able to travel anywhere and anywhen?

 

[Starkers]

I guess to a certain extent Sliders kinda fits the pattern. I guess from a production point of view the cost element is a factor, but also Dr Who is so iconic there's maybe a fear of your show being tagged as a Who knockoff (not that I think this would stop the US doing so, I love Elementary, and realistically I've come to realise it's doing something very different from Sherlock, but you can see how, initially, it seemed like a straight lift)

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

Cost? It makes it hard to reuse sets.

Gravel quarries. Also tinfoil.

 

[dahj]

"go anywhere, anywhen and have an adventure" format

Legends of Tomorrow is probably the closest on the air.

Yep, that's literally the synopsis for Legends.

 

[EnderAKH]

Gravel quarries. Also tinfoil.

And on occasion bubble wrap.

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

And on occasion bubble wrap.

Yeah, the good ol' days.

 

[Lonemagpie]

In terms of format, Legends Of Tomorrow. In terms of BBC style, Blake's 7. In terms of tone and mission, Quantum Leap.

 

[captainkirk]

While we're on the subject, why is there so little British sci-fi? Most sci-fi shows seem to be made in Canada. Is there not enough money for it, or is it like when everyone was rejecting Babylon 5 saying that it couldn't compete with Star Trek?

 

[The Wormhole]

why is there so little British sci-fi?

There's all kinds of British sci-fi out there. Where do you want to begin?

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

Ones I've seen: Doctor Who, Torchwood, Red Dwarf, Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy, Blakes 7, Primeval.

Lots more listed here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:British_science_fiction_television_programmes

 

[Mr Awe]

Gravel quarries. Also tinfoil.

Don't forget the bubble wrap!

I think Doctor Was able to get away with the format because no one expected it to look fantastic. And they had technical people who excelled at making the most out of extremely limited resources.

 

[captainkirk]

There's all kinds of British sci-fi out there. Where do you want to begin?

I should have said modern ones. I know there've been plenty in the past. It just seems like Doctor Who is all there is right now.

 

[The Nth Doctor]

Gravel quarries. Also tinfoil.

And on occasion bubble wrap.

Don't forget all of the wobbly sets!

I should have said modern ones. I know there've been plenty in the past. It just seems like Doctor Who is all there is right now.

Black Mirror originated on Channel Four before its recent migration to Netflix

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

Don't forget all of the wobbly sets!

I think they call them "wibbley" now , or at least they did during Matt Smith's run.