Sometimes the worst examples of evil and sadism in the universe are exhibited on the planet Earth by the human race ourselves. Other races have called us the scourge of the galaxy for our sadistic reality TV and game shows of the future (although modern day reality TV is already heading in that direction). Doctor Who has explored the idea of society devolving to the point where humans enjoy the torture of other humans for their own entertainment, something that our ancestors enjoyed in the Roman Colosseum.

Vengeance on Varos

★★★★★

TX: 19/01/1985 – 26/01/1985

Written by Philip Martin    Directed by Ron Jones

The prison planet Varos is abundant in a rare mineral called Zeiton 7 ore. A despicable, slug-like alien creature called Sil is duping the Governor of Varos into believing that the element is almost worthless and that the prison planet’s only source of revenue is the commercial export of sadistic torture game shows within the punishment dome. The TARDIS stalls and the Doctor and Peri only have enough energy to reach Varos in order to refuel with Zeiton 7 ore, a power source for the TARDIS.

Peri is taken to the punishment dome with other prisoners and forced to be turned into a bird. The Doctor is able to escape and prove to the Governor of Varos that he is being fooled by the slimy Mentor Sil. The Doctor shows to the Governor that Zeiton 7 ore is valuable and that people all over the galaxy cry out for the product. This brings an end to Sil’s hold over the planet and to the sadistic entertainment that the decaying society on Varos was enjoying.

Bad Wolf / The Parting of the Ways

★★★★★

TX: 11/06/2005 – 18/06/2005

Written by Russell T Davies    Directed by Joe Ahearne

By the year 200,100, society on Earth had degenerated to the point where the population was obsessed with sadistic game shows and reality TV broadcast from the Game Station (formerly known as Satellite Five) in orbit around the planet. Contestants are chosen at random by transmat and the unfortunate ones are executed on live television, a form of entertainment similar to those seen in the Roman Colosseum or The Hunger Games and the Saw film series. Rose Tyler was forced to play The Weakest Link with the Anne Droid that disintegrated losing contestants. Captain Jack Harkness was confronted by the blade-wealding Trine-E and Zu-Zana on What Not To Wear. And the Ninth Doctor was beamed inside the Big Brother house, where the evictees were evicted from life!

The Ninth Doctor, Rose and Captain Jack are beamed aboard the station and forced to participate in the horrifying games. The Doctor discovers that he is responsible for the collapse of Earth society. His previous intervention on Satellite Five in The Long Game led to a prolonged lack of information and news which eroded humanity’s knowledge and intelligence, leaving them vulnerable to manipulation. If something is genuinely your fault, you should always own up to it and take responsibility for your actions. The Doctor uncovers a massive Dalek fleet hidden on the edge of Earth’s solar system. The Daleks installed the Jagrafess on Satellite Five a hundred years previously and played the long game in terms of manipulating Earth society to prepare for an invasion of the planet. It is very clear that elements of this story were borrowed from Vengeance on Varos by writer Russell T Davies. John Barrowman, Billie Piper and Christopher Eccleston all give incredible performances in this iconic finale. Eccleston is on the podium of Doctors!