Summary

• Many classic Doctor Who characters are long overdue for a return to the modern show.
• Allies like Osgood and Susan deserve to return for Doctor Who season 14.
• Villains like the Rani would make ideal enemies for the Doctor in season 14.

Doctor Who season 14, which could bring back other classic characters.

There are lots of characters who could easily follow the Toymaker's example. This ranges from Earth-bound allies to the Doctor's family, as well as several cosmic-level threats. There are even some classic Time Lords who haven't returned to the modern show who more than deserve another appearance on-screen. Here are some of the biggest Doctor Who characters who've been missing from the show in recent years, and why they deserve to return in the new Russell T. Davies era of the franchise.

9 Susan

The Fate Of The Doctor's Granddaughter Remains A Lingering Question

Susan was one of the foundational Doctor Who characters, and has been long overdue for a return to the franchise in some form. Susan was the Doctor's granddaughter, and was introduced traveling through space and time alongside the 1st Doctor. However, after falling in love with a human during one of her adventures, the Doctor decided to leave her behind to live her life. Susan reappeared in some episodes of the classic Doctor Who and has been at the heart of numerous audio adventures. However, the character hasn't formally appeared in the modern era of Doctor Who.

The Doctor has repeatedly noted his belief that Susan is lost to him, claiming his loved ones all died in the Time War.

Susan's return would be an interesting chance to showcase how much the Doctor has grown. This would be particularly notable given the events of the Time War. The Doctor has repeatedly noted his belief that Susan is lost to him, claiming his loved ones all died in the Time War. However, revelations and retcons about that event throw Susan's fate into question. Susan's return would be an exciting turn of events for the Doctor, and could highlight how much he's changed since the earliest days of the show.

8 Jenny

"The Doctor's Daughter" Deserves A Modern Sequel

Introduced in season 4, episode 8, “The Doctor’s Daughter," Jenny was a biological clone of the Doctor created to serve as a solider in a seemingly endless war. Her time with the Doctor showed her a different path, however, and she seemingly sacrificed her life to save her "father." Jenny survived this wound, however, and set out on her own adventures across the universe. Jenny has yet to reappear in the series, despite the storytelling potential of a young, adventurous Time Lord traveling the cosmos on her own.

Jenny's return could make for a more optimistic approach to a similar kind of story Susan's return would feature. Jenny encountered the Doctor when he was his most brooding, dealing with the aftermath of the Time War and a deadly encounter with the Master. Introducing the more mentally healthy Doctor to Jenny would be an interesting way to highlight the Doctor's evolving morality and mentality. It would be especially interesting to place her against the 14th Doctor, who appears similar to her "father" but is an entirely different incarnation of him.

7 Osgood

Modern Doctor Who's Best UNIT Character Needs To Come Back

Osgood is a fan favorite ing character from the modern era of Doctor Who. A brilliant scientist with UNIT and a massive fan of the Doctor, Osgood found herself increasingly entangled in the Time Lord's affairs. She and a Zygon duplicate became particularly close, declaring themselves to be sisters. Scientific advisers with UNIT, the two versions of Osgood worked to protect the world from all sorts of threats — which sadly directly led to the death of one of them at the hands of Missy.

The remaining Osgood has continued her work to help the Doctor (without revealing if they're the human or the Zygon), and has become a prominent character in Doctor Who audio dramas. However, Osgood's absence from the 14th Doctor's adventures was notable. As one of the more high-profile UNIT characters in the modern era, Osgood's absence during the events of "The Giggle" were particularly notable. Osgood returning as an ally to the Doctor in season 14 could be an exciting chance to revisit the character and pair her with a new kind of Doctor who can match her sheer enthusiasm.

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6 The Black Guardian

The Lord Of Chaos' Return Could Have Already Been Teased

The Black Guardian was a recurring threat to the 4th and 5th Doctors, and one of the Doctor's most dangerous enemies. A god-like avatar of chaos in the universe, the Black Guardian worked to cause strife across the cosmos for the sheer fun of it. The Black Guardian was actually mentioned in "The GIggle," with the Toymaker implying that he had defeated the Black Guardian (as well as his cosmic counterpart, the White Guardian) and transformed them into voodoo dolls.

However, with the Toymaker's defeat, it's possible that the cosmic force could break free and threaten the galaxy once again. The Black Guardian and the White Guardian were purely binary in their perspective on the universe, and seeing a more modern take on their dynamic — especially in relation to the Doctor — would be an exciting and massive threat for the Doctor to confront. The way the Black Guardian manipulates others to carry out his goals could make for an interesting counterpoint to the Doctor, who has been accused of using Companions as tools for their adventures.

5 Kronos

A Time-Eating Wild-Card

Even the TARDIS pales in comparison to the Chronovores capabilities.

Kronos was the most notable of the Chronovores, a species of powerful entities that even the Doctor feared. Hailing from a dimension outside regular space and time, Kronos and the rest of their species could consume time itself, This made them one of the most potentially dangerous forces the Doctor ever encountered. Even the TARDIS pales in comparison to the Chronovores capabilities. In "The Time Monster" story arc, Kronos was revealed to have been worshiped as a god in Atlantis before wiping out, all while easily capable of containing multiple TARDIS' at the same time.

With these abilities, Kronos is one of the most dangerous forces that the Doctor could encounter. Bringing Kronos back for the modern day could highlight how alien and powerful they really are. What truly makes Kronos an interesting choice for a potential return, though, is its moral flexibility. Caught between the Doctor and the Master in season 9's "The Time Monster," Kronos forced the Doctor to confront their own willingness to kill. If the character returned to the present-day, it could be an exciting chance for a new Doctor to try and reason with a force even Time Lords fear.

4 The Gods Of Ragnarok

One Of The Doctor's Worst Most Traumatic Adventures Deserves A Follow-Up

Introduced during the 7th Doctor's tenure, the Gods of Ragnarok were a family of cosmic-level threats. Bored with the universe they could easily shape and mold to their liking, the Gods of Ragnarok trapped living beings within their own personal circus for their amusement. Battling the Gods of Ragnarok was among the traumas the 15th Doctor reminds the 14th Doctor of in "The Giggle," suggesting the memories of those foes still stand out in the Doctor's mind. Seeing them return would be an interesting way to confront the modern Doctor with a powerful and dangerous force of the past.

The Gods of Ragnarok bear a number of similarities to other Doctor Who villains, with their human disguise recalling the Family of Blood that encountered the 10th Doctor. This proves how they could still fit into the tone of the modern show. They would make for a compelling enemy for the Doctor and his companions to encounter, especially in light of similar reality-threatening forces like the Toymaker. The Gods of Ragnarok could present the kind of threat that forces the Doctor to push themselves to the limit to defeat, and force the Doctor to reflect on their own trauma.

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3 The Monk

The First Antagonistic Time Lord Needs An On-Screen Comeback

The Monk is an important figure in the history of Doctor Who. Predating characters like the Master, the Monk was Doctor Who's first villainous Time Lord. Having made a home for himself on Earth, the Monk was a dark reflection of the Doctor, who actively sought to interfere and tweak human history per his design. Although the Monk hasn't appeared on TV since the earliest days of the franchise, audio dramas focusing on the character highlight what makes them such a compelling potential challenge for the Doctor.

Unlike other antagonistic Time Lords, the Monk has some genuine noble intentions in their manipulation of the time-stream. Their difference is a proactive streak that the Doctor rightfully finds frightening, and closer to the "Time Lord Victorious" mindset that almost broke the 10th Doctor. The Monk would make for a fascinating contrast to the Doctor, someone who can empathize with the hero but still see their efforts to help the universe as lacking. The Monk's return would be one of the most compelling old enemies to face off against the Doctor.

2 The Valeyard

The Doctor's Dark Future Could Threaten Their Present

The Valeyad is one of the most dangerous of the Doctor's enemies, precisely because of who they used to be. Introduced during the 6th Doctor's adventures, the Valeyard was revealed to be a future reincarnation of the Doctor. After having spent over a dozen lifetimes repressing their worst impulses, the Doctor's final regeneration gave their worst tendencies a physical form. The Valeyard has been referenced multiple times in modern Doctor Who as part of the Doctor's future, with characters like the Dream Lord from season 5 episode 7 "Amy's Choice" highlighting what the Doctor's worst qualities personified can be like.

Bringing the Valeyard back could force the modern Doctor to confront the terrifying potential the character retains, despite their noble intentions.

The Valeyard hasn't returned to Doctor Who, despite the inherent danger and tension that would come from the Doctor facing off against their worst self. Bringing the Valeyard back could force the modern Doctor to confront the terrifying potential the character retains, despite their noble intentions. It could even force the Doctor to work alongside enemies like the Master, who openly fears the Valeyard. The Valeyard remains one of the Doctor's most compelling foes, and seeing a modern version of the Doctor -- particularly the well-adjusted 15th Doctor -- face off would make for fascinating TV.

1 The Rani

One Of The Doctor's Most Fascinating Enemies Deserves Way More Screentime

The Rani was one of the best villains the Doctor ever encountered in the classic show, which makes her relatively few appearances all the more frustrating. A former classmate of the Doctor and the Master, the Rani was a ruthless scientist with no moral com. Exiled from Gallifrey for their experiments, the Rani traveled the cosmos to test her theories on other species. The Rani ran afoul of the Doctor and worked alongside the Master, but remained an independent threat throughout. All of this is the ideal set up for an enemy capable of holding their own against the Doctor.

The Rani has yet to appear in the modern era of Doctor Who. The Rani would make for a perfect villain for the Doctor to confront again, especially given the Doctor's commitment to helping others. In an era where the Doctor's commitment to the safe well-being of other species has been highlighted, the Rani's heartless experiments would be a fantastic counterpoint. The Rani is long overdue for a return to Doctor Who, and now's the perfect time to reintroduce the renegade Time Lord scientist.