YMMV / Scream of the Shalka

• Ensemble Dark Horse: Despite only appearing in this and a short story, the Shalka Doctor has a few fans who wish to see him return.
• Fan Nickname: This version of the Doctor is often called the "Shalka Doctor" to tell him apart from the canon Doctors.
• Hilarious in Hindsight
  • The mere existence of the serial, these days considering Derek Jacobi went on to play the Master again, Richard E. Grant not only starred with Paul McGann in Withnail and I, but was also The Doctor in Doctor Who: The Curse of Fatal Death and was Simeon in the 2012 Doctor Who Christmas special "The Snowmen".
  • As for the supporting cast, Sophie Okonedo went on to play Queen Liz in "The Beast Below", and David Tennant (the future Tenth Doctor) makes a cameo here.
  • The fact that Shalka was intended to be the debut canonical Doctor before the news of the 2005 revival rendered it an Alternate Continuity becomes this when "The Timeless Children" revealed that the Doctor has had many lives they don't remember. Some of whom allegedly working for the Time Lords against their will, much like the Shalka Doctor.
  • The Master working with the Doctor, repenting for his misdeeds, and being trapped by him somewhere is almost reminiscent of Missy’s character arc in Series 10 of the revival.
• Ho Yay:
  • The Doctor and the Master have always had it, but the answering machine message takes the cake. Spoiler for slashiest moment in DW history follows:
    The Doctor: (on recording) *giggle* — You have reached the good ship TARDIS. *giggle* We're rather — *giggle* — busy at the moment, *giggle* *giggle* so leave a message after the beep and we'll try to get back to you before you called. *giggle* — Stop that! *giggle* *giggle*
    The Master: We really should change that message.
  • The Master also complains about the Doctor's new (cute, female, of course) companion. The Doctor and the Master are basically married in this. The writer has said that although the Doctor's late former companion was supposed to have been the cause of his giggling, it could be the Master if you want it to be. That probably wasn't taken too seriously at the time, but now that the TV show has made this non-canon, there's nothing that says that can't be true for the offshoot continuity Shalka thus far stands alone in.
    • The original writer for the show has stated that while he didn't intend to imply that the Master and the Doctor were in a relationship, he's very happy with this interpretation, to the point of being a guest on a Doctor/Master panel at a convention.
• Retroactive Recognition: David Tennant as a one-line cameo.

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