For the past few years, and especially the past few months, Doctor Who’s popularity has been resurrected. “Whovians” are having a blast flooding the Internet with memes and merchandise while those who are not yet fans are wondering what television show could bring so much excitement. It’s time to introduce you to the world of Daleks and Weeping Angels in order to change your life forever.
Doctor Who is a British Broadcasting Corporation, or BBC, show about the last Timelord, an alien race from the planet Gallifrey. He travels in a spaceship called the TARDIS, an abbreviation for time and relative dimensions in space, which looks like an old police box on the outside but is much bigger on the inside. He can travel anywhere at any time in existence, but the earth is his favorite place to visit. It is on those trips that he finds a companion, typically a woman, who travels around the universe, saving it from destruction.
Ok, so the Doctor is an alien saving the universe in a blue box. What’s the big deal?
The Doctor first made his appearance in 1963 as William Hartnell. The show ended with the seventh Doctor in 1989, with the exception of a TV movie in 1996. The concept of regeneration is what keeps this show going. Instead of dying, the Doctor’s body undergoes a transformation where he gets a new appearance, which typically comes with a difference in personality.
In 2005, the show kicked off again with Christopher Eccleston as the ninth Doctor. Since then, there have been two other Doctors, David Tennant and Matt Smith, and seven seasons. This cycle of bringing in new actors with regeneration has placed Doctor Who on the Guinness World Records as the longest running science fiction TV series, with 769 episodes as of June 2010.
Ok, the show has almost 800 episodes therefore it must be somewhat good to keep it going for so long. What else?
Well, do you like humor? How about romance? Suspense? Mix all that with science fiction, add some awesomeness and what’s the result? It’s epic. That’s what it is. Plus, it appeals to kids and adults alike.
On June 1, 2013, BBC announced that Matt Smith would be leaving Doctor Who, leaving fans to wonder who would take his place. They didn’t have to wait long. On Aug. 4, 2013, Peter Capaldi was announced as the 12th Doctor, causing an abundance of speculation and debate as to whether or not the right choice was made.
The bulk of the comments have been that Capaldi, 55, is too old. Compared to Smith, 31, Capaldi does seem old. In retrospect, however, most of the past actors have been older. Besides, the Doctor is 1,000 years old. He can’t always be young and spunky like the past two incarnations have been.
None of us like change, but it’s a continual thing that we all have to deal with. When Smith started, many didn’t like him. Gradually though, people came to love him. Capaldi is a great actor and will bring new life to the show. In time, I’m sure he’ll be just as great as the others have been. BBC hasn’t done us wrong yet!
Why yes, I am a Whovian, and I’m proud of it. I didn’t start watching the show until the 11th Doctor came around, but I started with the ninth and instantly fell in love with the show. I watched almost the entirety of what was out in just a couple weeks. I have yet to see the classic episodes but I plan to fill my spare time with catching myself up.
Give it a shot at least. If you don’t get into it at the beginning, hold on a little longer. I have many friends who weren’t sure about the show until they finally listened to me and started watching. Now they are hooked. The show is that good.
If you give the show a chance and still don’t like it, that’s fine—to each his or her own. While you enjoy other fandoms, we Whovians will mind our own business and slowly turn our homes into a TARDIS with all of the merchandise on the Internet and Pinterest do-it-yourself projects.
Just remember: “Don’t blink. Blink and you’re dead. They are fast. Faster than you can believe. Don’t turn your back. Don’t look away. And don’t blink. Good luck.”- The 10th Doctor.
