Who?

I discovered a new television show, Dr. Who. Well, that's not true. The series is new to me, and The Young One had asked if I wanted to watch it. I think I grimaced when she asked because when the series was first on sometime back in the 70s, I had tried to watch it. Just couldn't get into it. I didn't know much about the show beyond having a vague recollection of a character wearing a colorful scarf.

That was the old series. She was pretty sure I would like the show. BBC America was broadcasting the new series (done in 2005) beginning with the first episode.

The show was ok as low budget, low special effects sci-fi shows go. Not as good as Lost in Space or Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea.  For me, the experience was more about being asked to share in something The Young One liked. And then...

Somewhere along the line, I became very interested in the show. I admit it took me nearly the entire first season to follow the story line of the Ninth Doctor (Christopher Eccleson). I didn't particularly like the ninth Doctor, but he grew on me. And then I found myself trying to figure out who is the Doctor?  That's the hook, the appeal.

I always thought the character's name was Dr. Who, but it isn't. More like Doctor Who? That phrase becomes a running gag through the show as the Doctor just introduces himself as The Doctor. He keeps his real name hidden.  He's  enigmatic. A Time Lord from the planet Gallifrey. He stands in the middle of time. He can see time as it was, as it is, it's potential, and as it will be. His planet and all he knew was destroyed in a Time War. He survived, and as the last of his race, The Doctor travels through space and time in his ship, the Tardis (Time and Relative Dimension in Space) disguised as a 1960's Police Call Box. A lonely soul, he picks a companion to travel with him as he battles evil, and aliens bent on Universal domination.

He talks a lot, but says very little about himself. He just drops a hint or two along the way. I find myself picking up the hints like bread crumbs and trying to piece together his story. I can't watch the show while I'm doing something else. I'll miss something. A seemingly small bit turns up in later episodes, as do monsters, villains, and other characters. This is one of those series where you can't start in the middle and figure out what's going on. Especially when episodes end in a cliffhanger.

If you'd like to watch the series from the beginning go to  http://www.yourtvseri.es/series/doctor-who/episodes/

Are you a fan of The Doctor?