Getting to Know You: Doctor Who (2005 onwards)

With so many series running here in America it is really difficult to imagine a series being quite central to popular culture as DOCTOR WHO is to Britain. Certainly there are popular shows that many people watch, but a scripted series, that is watched and beloved by nearly the whole population is certainly unheard of. Especially if that show is science fiction.

Before I jump into this, I want to throw out the disclaimer that I am not nearly an expert on this series. I am just really enjoying it, and I think it is the kind of show that lots of other people would greatly enjoy. I'm just going from skimming Wikipedia and what I've seen in the first series and the first 3 or 4 episodes in the second series. I'm also trying not to spoil anything for you because it is really fun to watch the show unfold.

The original run of DOCTOR WHO was from 1963 until 1989. You may wonder how a series with a central character would be able to run for 26 years, uninterrupted. So, let's get into the basics of this show.

The show is about a nameless doctor who travels through space and time in a machine called the T.A.R.D.I.S. (Time And Relative Dimension In Space). The Doctor is of an alien race known as Time Lords who appear Human (or we look Time Lord, since they were around first). Time Lords have a neat little trick where if they are mortally wounded to the point of dying, they can transform. This has allowed for a revolving cast of actors to play the Doctor (eleven and counting to date). Each transformation turns the Doctor into a whole new person who is really the same person. His personality and demeanor may change, but he has the same memories and basic ethical outlook as "previous" Doctors.

In 1989, due to drastically diminished quality, DOCTOR WHO was canceled. Though attempts were made through the 1990's to bring the series back (some TV movies and an apparently ill-conceived American version) to no success. Then, in 2005, Russell T. Davies was tasked with starting a post-watershed Sci-Fi series for the BBC. Davies wound up putting together a new DOCTOR WHO. It still holds the same continuity from the 1963-1989 run of the series, but is very easily accessible to new viewers.

So, here's where I got acquainted with the series. The 2005 series stars Christopher Eccleston as the 9th Doctor. Eccleston is probably best recognized in America for turns as the villains in the GONE IN 60 SECONDS remake and GI JOE: THE RISE OF COBRA, and as the enigmatic invisible man Claude in the first season of HEROES. His companion, Rose, was Billie Piper (who can currently be seen in the BBC/Showtime series SECRET DIARY OF A CALL GIRL).

The leads for the first series bring us along on their adventures over the course of 13 episodes that take us from a supernatural visit with Charles Dickens all the way to the end of the planet Earth (and many places in between). The guest stars from episode to episode are probably more recognizable in Britain, though there are certainly some familiar faces here and there (Simon Pegg is quite entertaining as the creepy/sleazy head of a space station).

An episode of this show can be about almost anything. There are episodes that are truly terrifying (the 2 part featuring "The Empty Child" and "The Doctor Dances" comes to mind), while others can be highly satirical (the penultimate series 1 episode "Bad Wolf" does a fun riff about competitive reality TV shows). The show jumps from engaging story to engaging story with what appears to be great ease. The actors inhabit their characters, and we are drawn into their journeys from different places throughout history and the future (though they are predominantly in Britain when set on Earth).

The first series sets the tone well for the series as it rockets back into the public consciousness, and shows a great arc as the Doctor and Rose get to know one another. Of course their relationship is definitely rocked as the series closes in the 13th episode. I won't spoil it for you, but series 2 had an interesting task and has thus far by my viewing lived up to its preceding season admirably.

This year marks the debut of a new status quo for DOCTOR WHO. Not only is there a brand new Doctor (played with great charm by Matt Smith) and new companion (Amy Pond played by Karen Gillen), but the T.A.R.D.I.S. has a new interior, and more importantly, Steven Moffat has taken over as head writer from Russell T Davies. I'm watching the current series, while also catching up on the previous 4.

The bottom line is the series is just plain fun. The show has many notable characteristics, one of which being its somewhat poor special effects. The T.A.R.D.I.S. is disguised as a blue Police Box for example, and the Doctor's greatest enemy, the Daleks, look like giant salt/pepper shakers. The effects aren't what is important on this show, it's about the story. The show finds a great way to balance goofy humor with dire seriousness. It is definitely worth checking out if you enjoy Sci-Fi, or programs that act as an institution for TV. You can check it out on Netflix streaming if you have the capability. The 13 episode seasons will set you back nearly $60.00-$75.00 for an individual set, so it may not be economically practical.

If you are interested in further reading about the history of the series, you should check out the AV Club's primer on the series.

Keep an eye peeled for some more getting to know you's in the coming weeks. I, at least, am planning some for THE VENTURE BROS., PARTY DOWN, and FRINGE.