Since Doctor Who’s triumphant return in 2005, the show has maintained its tradition of weaving lycanthropic themes into the fabric of time and space. From alien werewolves terrorising Victorian Scotland to the recurring motif of the “Bad Wolf,” the series has shown a particular fondness for lupine mythology that goes well beyond your standard monster-of-the-week formula.
The Crown Jewel: “Tooth and Claw” (2006)
The most significant lycanthropic representation in modern Who arrived early in Series Two with “Tooth and Claw,” written by Russell T. Davies and first broadcast in 2006. This episode featured the Tenth Doctor and Rose encountering a werewolf—or more precisely, a Lupine Wavelength Haemovariform—whilst visiting Queen Victoria in 1879.
The Lupine Wavelength Haemovariform, more commonly known as a werewolf on Earth, was revealed to be an alien species that bore a strong resemblance to the common mythological depiction of a werewolf and were responsible for starting the legend. The species had to survive through a human host for each generation and would gain complete control of the host once bonding via the host’s bloodstream.
What made this particular lycanthrope fascinating wasn’t just its alien origin, but the way Davies used it to establish crucial mythology. The episode established the narrative origins of the Torchwood Institute, and thus was significant to the overall Torchwood story arc in Doctor Who and to the Torchwood spin-off. The werewolf wasn’t merely a monster; it was a plot device that fundamentally altered the show’s universe.
Unlike their mythical counterparts, these creatures had no weakness to silver and were extremely resilient to close range projectile fire. This scientific approach to lycanthropy—treating it as an alien infection rather than supernatural curse—perfectly embodied the show’s ethos of explaining the impossible through pseudoscience.
The Bad Wolf Arc: Lycanthropy as Metaphor
Running parallel to the literal werewolves, the “Bad Wolf” arc of Series One presented lycanthropy in metaphorical terms. “Bad Wolf” followed Rose Tyler and the Doctor for a significant amount of their time together, creating a subtle but persistent lupine presence throughout the season. This wasn’t lycanthropy in the traditional sense, but rather the show using wolf imagery to represent transformation, danger, and the untamed power that Rose would eventually wield.
The phrase “Bad Wolf” appeared scattered across time and space, much like a pack marking its territory. It’s a clever inversion of lycanthropic tropes—instead of humans becoming wolves, we had words becoming prophetic warnings, language itself transforming under the influence of temporal manipulation.
The Bad Wolf entity’s significance extended far beyond Series One, making a crucial cameo in “The Day of the Doctor” (2013) as The Moment’s interface. Here, the lupine metaphor evolved into something even more profound—a consciousness that transcended time and space, embodying the weight of impossible choices. The interface appeared to the War Doctor as Rose Tyler, but spoke with the wisdom and burden of the Bad Wolf entity, bringing lycanthropic mythology full circle from predator to protector of time itself.
This appearance reinforced the idea that lycanthropic themes in Doctor Who aren’t just about transformation—they’re about the responsibility that comes with power, the burden of making choices that affect entire universes. The Bad Wolf entity, having evolved beyond its original form, became a guardian of temporal stability rather than an agent of chaos.
Beyond Television: The Extended Lycanthropic Universe
The show’s lycanthropic themes extend well beyond the main television series. Doctor Who: Operation Werewolf was produced as part of the Lost Stories range by Big Finish, exploring what might have been a much more direct engagement with lycanthropic mythology during the classic series era.
The universe was home to several types of werewolf, including Lupine Wavelength Haemovariforms, with their condition usually called lycanthropy, and one source treating “lycanthropes” as a broader category encompassing werewolves. This expanded universe approach allows the show to explore lycanthropy from multiple angles—sometimes as alien invasion, sometimes as curse, sometimes as metaphor for transformation.
The Continuing Howl
What’s particularly clever about Doctor Who’s approach to lycanthropic themes is how they’re woven into the fabric of the show’s mythology rather than treated as standalone horror elements. The werewolf in “Tooth and Claw” isn’t just a monster to be defeated; it’s the catalyst for creating Torchwood, which becomes central to the show’s ongoing narrative.
This integration reflects a mature understanding of lycanthropic mythology. Rather than relying on tired tropes about silver bullets and full moons, the series uses the concept as a springboard for exploring themes of identity, transformation, and the thin line between civilization and savagery.
The Technical Lycanthrope
As the Doctor explained to Queen Victoria: “You’d call it a werewolf, but technically it’s more of a lupine-wavelength haemovariform.” This line perfectly encapsulates the show’s approach to lycanthropic themes—taking familiar mythology and subjecting it to scientific scrutiny whilst maintaining its essential mystery and terror.
The pseudoscientific terminology doesn’t diminish the horror; it enhances it by suggesting that lycanthropy might be explainable but not necessarily controllable. It’s a typically Who-ish approach that satisfies both the need for explanation and the desire for the unknown.
The Lupari: When Lycanthropy Meets Comedy
Speaking of the show’s unserious approach to lupine mythology, we absolutely must discuss the Lupari from Series 13’s “The Flux.” Here we had an entire species whose name literally refers to wolves—yet the show treated them more like anthropomorphic dogs than the fearsome lupine warriors their etymology suggested.
Karvanista, the sole surviving Lupari after the Sontarans wiped out his species, found himself subjected to every possible dog joke the Thirteenth Doctor could muster. Despite being a member of a proud warrior race charged with protecting humanity, he was reduced to fetch gags and “good boy” comments. The cognitive dissonance is remarkable: here’s a species with a Latin name meaning “of wolves,” yet the show leaned entirely into canine domestication tropes.
It’s particularly tragic when you consider the broader context. Karvanista had his entire species killed by the Sontarans whilst he was literally saving the entire universe from The Flux. This should have been a moment of profound lycanthropic gravitas—the last wolf-warrior standing against cosmic annihilation. Instead, the Doctor was making dog jokes.
This perfectly encapsulates modern Doctor Who’s relationship with lycanthropic themes: simultaneously reverent and irreverent, treating cosmic horror and domestic comedy as equally valid responses to lupine mythology. The show’s willingness to subvert its own serious moments with absurdist humour is both maddening and endearing.
Looking Forward
As Doctor Who continues to evolve, its lycanthropic themes remain relevant. In an age where transformation—personal, social, technological—dominates our cultural consciousness, the werewolf serves as a potent metaphor for change beyond our control. The show’s post-2005 treatment of these themes demonstrates how classic horror archetypes can be reinvented for contemporary audiences without losing their essential power.
Whether it’s alien parasites masquerading as mythological beasts or temporal paradoxes manifesting as lupine warnings scattered across space and time, Doctor Who’s lycanthropic legacy continues to howl through the corridors of television history. And honestly? Long may it continue. After all, every good story needs a bit of bite.
The technical terminology and expanded universe elements demonstrate that even in science fiction, some monsters are too good to leave buried. Sometimes the best way to honour lycanthropic mythology is to drag it kicking and screaming into the future—which, when you think about it, is exactly what lycanthropy is all about.
