WISH-CRAFT - OF MICE AND MENOPTERA

When Russell T, Davies brought 'Doctor Who' back in 2005, everything was updated - the technology, the TARDIS, the pace of the show, the special effects, and especially the classic alien monsters.  No more would they look like the alien costumes by Paul Zastupnevich for 'Lost In Space', with the zippers visible up the backside.

The Daleks pretty much remained the same as far as their tanks went, although Steven Moffat tried to gussy them up with paint jobs.  But RTD brought the gelatinous squidlings out in the open more often, which I don't think happened very often in the classic run of the series.

The Cybermen definitely got an upgrade with a more imposing invulnerability to their armor, although I did like the voices from their original appearance in "The Tenth Planet".  Very creepy!  The Sontarans also looked more "natural" rather than the masking used in the old days.  You also got the feel that they were from various clone batches with the returns of Christopher Ryan and Dan Starkey in multiple roles.

Moffat continued these upgrades once he became the showrunner, with the Silurians and the Ice Warriors.  The Ice Warriors weren't just those lumbering, almost comical, costumes - those turned out to be their protective armor and they were revealed to be slithery reptilians inside.  As for the Silurians, it was explained that those unconvincing faces - where the lips never moved when they spoke - were actually masks.  Underneath, they looked like reptilian humanoids whose design may have been inspired by the evolved dinosaurs of "West Of Eden".

I suppose not much was done for the Zygons when they returned, but they were more effective as sybilant, spongy, grotesques as originally envisioned.  It was their power to transform themselves to look like humans which was more important.

So now that we have a new showrunner in Chris Chibnall, I'm eager to see if he brings back any classic aliens and if so, what type of upgrade will they have in the way that they look.  

I do have one suggestion.  I've always been rather fond of the Menoptera from the second season adventure "The Web Planet".  Basically they were humanoid butterfly/bees:

From the TARDIS Data Core:
Menoptera were humanoid in general appearance. They had human-like faces, but with large black eyes, black and white patterns and antennae. They had bands of black skin and white fur, which covered their bodies. Menoptera had four large wings, which allowed them to fly. If removed, the wings would quickly grow back, but the Menoptera would be unable to fly again. (TV: The Web Planet)

They were not villainous although I'm sure there must have been a few individuals with evil intent in their hearts.  (I've never been a fan of all members of an alien species being in militaristic lockstep with one purpose - conquest.  I guess why I like Clan Slitheen, not to be confused with the actual species, the Raxicoricofallapatorians.)

If their look was modified somewhat (perhaps with the splainin that they were an off-shoot of the original race which evolved on a colony planet), I could see them as a visual feast in some future episode.  Who knows?  Maybe one of them could even add some variety to the Doctor's Companions for a time.

A MENOPTERA WITH BARBARA

I'm just putting this out there in the hopes that somebody with connections might consider the Menoptera as a touchstone to the show's past and bring them back for at least an episode.  And as they were from the series' second season, they would basically be a fresh idea to many of the viewers who don't have any familiarity with the show's history beyond Eccleston's tenure (if even that!)

BCnU!

PS:
I lied.  There were no mice involved in this essay.  I'm a baaaad boy......