Former Doctor Who showrunner Steven Moffat admitted there is a glaring error in one of his episodes during Peter Capaldi’s time as the lead role of The Doctor. Doctor Who is a British science-fiction television series produced by the BBC, first premiering in 1963. The series ran until 1989 and later returned in 2005 as a continuation of the original. To date, 13 actors have portrayed the title character and the current series lead Jodie Whitaker is the first female to play the role. This tradition of recasting the doctor has let the show explore its narrative and discourse in ways other series can’t.
For his part, Moffat served as showrunner for six seasons from 2009 to 2017 and it is arguable that his time on the show and his casting of Matt Smith as the 11th Doctor helped Doctor Who reach the success it did outside of the UK. Recently, Moffat admitted to making a mistake when referencing a classic Doctor Who episode in season 8.
In a recent watch-a-long of the season 8 episode “Listen,” Metro UK reports Moffat made the surprising confession that there was a mistake in a major callback to a classic Doctor Who episode - to the first Doctor, William Hartnell, no less. During “Listen” the Doctor (Capaldi) is following a mysterious monster that has haunted him since childhood. The Doctor’s companion Clara (Jenna Coleman) at one point says, "Fear makes companions of us all." The line is an echo of a quote from Hartnell, however Moffat admits the correct line is: "Fear makes companions of all of us."
Moffat explained on Twitter that the original line was the first time The Doctor showed affection on screen and he had “...always loved the line, and the kindness that first emerged with it. This was my love letter to it." Moffat joked he was drunk with power and not concerned that it was wrong, saying he couldn’t let go of the way he had misremembered it for so long.
Moffat’s gaffe, if you can call it that, is forgivable. With over five decades of material to draw from, it is easy to look past the reordering of the words for the sentiment behind them. Moffat’s own description of the line as a love letter to the moment with the first Doctor is perfectly apt. It is fair to say that few viewers would have a recall of the original line to compare it to. There is something endearing about the line being delivered in its own way as a subtle tribute from the heart of someone who cared so deeply about the Doctor Who story over 50 years later.
Source: Metro UK