K9 (2009–2010) User Reviews

How Very Disappointing

[Sperry23 · 6/10 · 1 February 2014]

What could have been another excellent spin-off fails in so very many respects.

The interesting story ideas are thoroughly demolished by poor scripts. The writers were doing something that was never done in Dr. Who or any of its other spin-offs; They talk down to the audience. The writers also indulge in the use of "Hack-Writers Gambit". HWG can be best described as the practice of putting the protagonists in deadly danger, then shifting the scene to show them as having escaped with little or no explanation of how they did so.

The characters are flat. There is no depth to them at all. Worse, they are, for the most part, completely unsympathetic. There is no reason for the audience to care what happens to them at all.

Additionally, the program is hampered by poor acting. While the actors are mostly experienced, all too often they are either just running lines or chewing the scenery. It certainly doesn't look like they are having much fun on the set. It really does show, you know.

The sets and lighting are from the 60's. They are very much reminiscent of the early Dr. Who shows in their amateurishness.

I had such high hopes for this show. And I am so disappointed.

K9 was company... this is a crowd

[cold_lazarou · 5/10 · 1 April 2013]

Alright, so this makes for... what?... FOUR spin-off series from 'Doctor Who' now? (Counting the '81 "K9 and Company" pilot, "Torchwood", and the late lamented "Sarah-Jane Adventures"). Wheras the others mentioned above retained the spirit and feel of the parent series, this Australian co-production is sadly lacking that certain Gallifreyan je ne sais quois (to say nothing of any allons-y or molto bene).

Screened in the UK on the less than prestigious Channel 5 in their early morning kiddie slot, this show sadly fitted in with the pre-teen brightly coloured attention deficit disorder chaos that surrounded it. Lacking the strong (or even coherent) plot lines and - with one or two caveats - the acting of its parent and sister shows, and with special effects on a par with a scrag end Graham Williams story from 1979, this result of K9's co-creator Bob Baker's years of work to get it off the ground is sadly not worth the effort.

There are a few decent ideas at play here, and the cast isn't irredeemable: Robyn Moore as Jorjie's mother June can actually act (Moore also featured in Aussie 'zom-com' "Undead", another project which leaves me unsure whether to smile indulgently or grit my teeth whilst watching). Robert Moloney as Professor Gryffen is OK too, beneath a 'zany inventor' act that can become as wearisome as season 28 David Tennant. The alien creatures however, are worse than a bad mandrel, or even a mad bandril - the muppets populating Jabba's palace in ROTJ were better.

I hear rumblings that a belated second season may be in the works. Hopefully a total reboot with no return for the original scriptwriters, please. Kid's TV can be so much better than this.

Worst Doctor Who spin-off ever!!

[r3kidsr_gr8 · 1/10 · 4 May 2012]

I have watched all the new Doctor Who, Torchwood, and Sarah Jane Adventures and enjoyed them all. I have watched this show because it's in the Doctor Who world but it was the worst television show I have ever watched. The stories are very poorly written and the acting is just as bad. Robyn Moore who plays Jorjie's mother June Turner is the only person in the whole cast that can be considered a "good actor". Robert Moloney, who plays Professor Alistair Gryffen has been in many other roles so apparently he can also perform well but his character is so awfully written that it does not show. I understand that this show is written for young people, but so was The Sarah Jane Adventures, and that show was enjoyable. I Find it hard to believe that this show was given a whole year without being canceled. I can only imagine it was because it was a Doctor Who spin-off. I would like others to watch this and give their opinions to see what others think of this show.

Great for Kids 5 and up, OK for adults.

[watchtiger1 · 7/10 · 1 October 2017]

I really like this version of K9. I grew up with the original K9 from Doctor who.

This is a spin-off from Dr. Who. "The Doctor" is not mentioned at all and makes no appearance in this show.

First of all do not expect it to be an adult show. This was geared towards children and has some violence but death is not part of it. If you remember this you can enjoy the show.

K9 is voiced by John Lesson, the original voice of K9 from Dr. Who.

The look of K9 has been updated and is more flexible than the original from Dr. Who. Kids not familiar with Dr. Who wont notice this.

Over all this is a nice show to watch with kids 5 years old and up w/o having to explain anything.

Unbearable and Cringeworthy

[shatteredglass-53512 · 1/10 · 27 May 2017]

This show is boring, embarrassing, makes no sense and full of so much cringe.

I wish I could say K-9 (the character) was the best part of the show, but he really isn't... they have him human emotions, which makes no sense... K-9 is just a Computer, in Doctor Who, K-9 was liked for being robot-like, this is not K-9...

Even though the show is so forgettable, I could not finish the show, because of how bad this is...

There is nothing redeemable about this at all. The Characters are blamed and uninteresting cardboard-cut outs, the redesign of K-9 looks appalling, the acting is more wooden than an Oak Tree, the script are terrible and its made by Australians, but set in the UK...

If you want to watch a good spin-off of Doctor Who, then Sarah Jane Adventures or Torchwood are the best options... and maybe Class...

Some shows leave you wanting more....and this wasn't one of them.

[planktonrules · 2/10 · 23 February 2024]

I watched this TV show with my aunt, a woman who REALLY loves "Dr. Who". After we watched a bit, she said "I really don't want to watch any more"...and that probably explains why many Whovians had little to no interest in this show and it soon disappeared from TV.

The biggest problem with this show is that unlike "Dr. Who" which could appeal to all ages, "K9" clearly is something only kids about 12-15 might like...MIGHT. Having annoying kids in the lead sure alienated us and the show was very talking and annoying. The only thing good I could see in all these shows are some decent aliens...the costumes were very nice quality. Apart from that...it actually grates on you as you watch it.

One of the worst shows I've ever seen

[soap-dingo · 1/10 · 28 August 2023]

My boyfriend and I are trying to do a complete watch through of the Doctor Who universe. I know this show isn't canon, but I have always wanted to give it a shot. We had to skip from episode 3 to episode 20, just because this experience has been so awful.

No hate to anyone involved in this show and i hope them the best, but this is genuinely painful to get through. Every time we finish an episode, I feel like my body is having to process trauma. It's very few and far between to find something enjoyable about this.

If you're a completionist or are just curious, give it a watch - but I wouldn't recommend it.

Love K9!!

[positiveray · 10/10 · 5 March 2019]

Yrs, this is a kid's show, and my inner kid loves it! The fact that I love and have always loved K9 is the main selling point for me. The stories are simple but fun! IIf you are a major Dr Who fan, I think you will enjoy this series!