Doctor Who is widely regarded as one of the most successful franchises in history, and with its new home on Disney+, it seems that this success will grow exponentially. Whether they became fans in the early 1960s or tuned in during the 2005 reboot, Doctor Who is a very accessible show, and fans have a lot of content to sink their teeth into. Therefore, the franchise continues to be loved by fans, and the 60-year-old show presents no signs of slowing down.
Alongside countless episodes, the franchise has also released a handful of spin-offs, including Torchwood and The Sarah Jane Adventures . Although the show has the potential to expand its universe even further, only a few ideas make it onto television. Yet, one project from the mid-2000s got very close to the production stage but was called off at the last moment very unexpectedly. Rose Tyler: Earth Defence would have given fans a whole new world to enjoy, as well as the chance to see their favorite companion back in action. But what led to the highly anticipated series getting canceled?
Rose Tyler: Earth Defence Would Have Reprized Much-Loved Characters
Rose Tyler’s departure from Doctor Who rocked fans to their core and left them wondering what her life would become now that she’s stuck in a parallel universe for the rest of her life. Many comics, novels, and even fan fiction have explored this narrative, and it seems that the Tylers are quite settled in their new world. However, Rose Tyler: Earth Defence was keen to explore this idea a little more, showcasing how this young woman would continue to fight aliens without her trusty Time Lord by her side. In this spin-off, Tyler would be a new recruit at Torchwood, working with other familiar faces such as Gwen Cooper and Captain Jack to ensure that Pete’s World is kept safe and sound.
Alongside a handful of Torchwood cameos, it seems that this unproduced series would have included references to other iconic characters, like Adam and the Slitheen. Though they may not seem very important to modern viewers, those tuning in during the 2005 reboot would have enjoyed seeing these faces pop up again, as it means that they had another chance to rewrite their fate. Adam Mitchell was expelled from the TARDIS in Season 1, Episode 7, “The Long Game,” after wrongly getting an Infospike implanted into his brain. Despite his mistake, a lot of fans enjoyed Mitchell’s presence and saw him as a suitable love interest for Rose. So, even though the vast majority of fans believe that Rose and Ten were made for each other, there’s no denying that it would have been interesting to see what her relationship with Adam would have been like.
Every Doctor Who spin-off needs a good set of monsters to keep the protagonists on their toes, and the Slitheen seems like an ideal fit. Though these farting nuisances got a new lease on life in The Sarah Jane Adventures, they only appeared in a few episodes of Doctor Who. So, in a similar vein to Casandra in Season 2, Episode 1, “New Earth,” Rose would come across a handful of foes from her past and would be forced to confront them with a new set of alien fighters. Plus, by reintroducing an array of familiar villains, this spin-off wouldn’t have felt too different, and fans could easily immerse themselves in the show without getting too confused.
The Location for This Series Would Open up a Ton of Doors for the Franchise
Due to the expansive nature of this show, The Doctor has the potential to travel anywhere in time and space. Yet, Rose Tyler: Earth Defence is set in Pete’s World, something that feels incredibly close to home. This location is set in a parallel universe, complete with zeppelins flying above the London skyline and the Tylers’ business empire. So, even though this spin-off doesn’t let the characters zoom across the galaxy like The Doctor can, the show would have allowed viewers to get a closer look at this alluring world. Parallel universes are not exclusive to Doctor Who and have been showcased in other iconic sci-fi shows like Star Trek and Timeless, so it’s fair to assume that fans would already be aware of this very unique concept. Plus, since Pete’s World has so much potential for growth, the writers had the prime opportunity to produce a wealth of thrilling storylines. So, Rose Tyler and Gwen Cooper could have spent their days in an alternate Torchwood hub, and the writers would not have been at risk of ruining the show’s canon.
Pete’s World is a signature aspect of Season 2, but aside from a few scenes, this new world is still pretty new. Thus, the spin-off would have allowed fans to get a better idea of how the mechanics of this land work. For example, is Vitex still available, or does the Meta-Crisis Doctor get along with Tony Tyler? All of these queries may seem very minor, but it could also be argued that they’re a big part of Doctor Who’s long-standing lore. Pete’s World is a symbol of Rose’s life without The Doctor, a world filled with opportunity, but without the time traveler, it all seems pretty bleak. So, by shoving Rose Tyler out of her comfort zone and forcing her to look after herself, the show had the potential to show a whole new side of this revolutionary companion.
The Idea Was Scrapped at the Last Minute
- Rose Tyler and The Doctor had a cameo in the Buffy Comic No Future for You Part One.
- Throughout Season 1, Rose is said to be 19 years old. Yet, in the 2005 Doctor Who Annual, her birthday is listed as 27th April 1987, making her around 18.
- When she was 15, she was expelled from school because she convinced the choir to go on strike for three days.
On the surface, Rose Tyler: Earth Defense seems like a great idea for a Doctor Who spin-off, and the BBC agreed. A 90-minute special was commissioned by the broadcaster, and there were even talks of producing more episodes if the pilot was a success. It should be mentioned that this spin-off was never intended to be a long-running series. Instead, Russell T Davies suggested that the show be broadcast on special occasions such as Bank Holidays and Christmas, ensuring that it could garner as much attention as possible and make the most out of its primetime slot.
Yet, there were a handful of flaws in this plan. Firstly, none of the Doctor Who team had formally approached Billie Piper to confirm that she wanted to take part in a new project. Thus, if she had been with filming Secret Diary of Call Girl, it would have thrown a huge spanner in the works. Not to mention, many fans still question whether Rose Tyler: Earth Defence would have clashed with Torchwood . Though both shows exist in the same universe, it’s fair to say that Torchwood is a lot more mature, so there was a risk of alienating viewers with too many contrasting spin-offs at once. However, it was Russell T Davies who decided to pull the plug on this project, believing that a spin-off would water down the emotional impact of “Doomsday.” In an interview with Doctor Who Magazine in 2006, the showrunner stated:
It spoils Doctor Who if we can see Rose… if we see as a concrete fact that her life continues to be as exciting without the Doctor,
With The War Between the Land and the Sea set to premiere soon on the BBC and Disney+, many fans are keen to see what’s next for the Whoniverse. Yet, there’s no denying that a lot of audiences still think back to the earlier days of Doctor Who and would have loved to see Rose Tyler in a new world by herself. However, this concept lives on via audio dramas and fan-made shows. In fact, Big Finish released a series in 2019 called Rose Tyler: The Dimension Cannon, which explored her adventures in Pete’s World. Thus, even though fans may never see this companion on-screen ever again, they can still enjoy her presence in an abundance of additional content.
