...To
this question, you might ask, “Doctor who?”
“Exactly,” I would
say. Doctor Who is one of the
greatest television shows you will ever see in your life. I kid you not. I haven't been this obsessed with something since the Harry Potter series. I know, I know. At
first you might want to just write it off because you feel a little iffy about it. Don't worry, I was too! But that’s right when it’ll get
you. Before you know it, you’re using phrases like, “Allons-y” and you've developed a strange wariness of statues. You might even
start thinking that bow ties are cool. That's how wrapped up you can become with it. This video perfectly describes the road to becoming a Whovian (yes, it’s a real word;
look it up in the Oxford English Dictionary):
What
exactly is this show about? (Warning: some minor spoilers)
Okay, I’m not going to lie to you. I’m trying to convert you
into a Whovian. The most exciting thing is when you
meet another person who is into Doctor
Who. In result, this happens:
No, really. You make this face. I have on quite a few occasions. It's like you instantly bond just because you can both appreciate the amazingness of Doctor Who.
The basic plot
So, without further ado, let me try to describe this
beautiful show to you without sounding completely insane (almost impossible, I
assure you). Doctor Who is a British show on the BBC. It’s been on since 1963 in the UK, but
it hadn’t started broadcasting over here in America until its reboot in 2005.
The show is about an alien called the Doctor (please, please, please don't make the mistake of calling him Doctor Who; that's the show's name, not his. And also, while I'm thinking about it, it's DOCTOR Who, not Dr. Who). The audience doesn’t know his real name, and to be honest, most don’t
really want to know it. The Doctor is a Time Lord from the planet Gallifrey. He
travels through time and space all over the universe saving just about
everyone. He also has the nifty trick of regeneration. When the Doctor is
dying, his body heals itself by changing into a new man (currently, we are on
the eleventh regeneration). Here is what he has looked like over the years:
His spacecraft is called the TARDIS, which is an acronym for
Time And Relative Dimensions In Space. When you become a Whovian, you're probably going to get the urge to either put the TARDIS on everything, or use TARDIS blue any chance you get. This is normal. Just let it happen.
On the inside, though…well, it’s much bigger on the inside. And just like the Doctor, the interior changes a lot. These are the most previous ones:
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The Ninth and Tenth Doctor's control room
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The Eleventh Doctor's control room
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Being the last of the Time Lords alive, the Doctor likes to have (mostly) human companions to keep him company. Usually this is someone who needs the Doctor because they're unhappy with their life, and it turns out that he needs them just
as much. Each person affects the Doctor in some way. Since the list of companions is a very long one, below are the most recent long term ones (Note: Unfortunately, Netflix only has up to series six, so I haven't been able to watch the most recent episodes. I am awaiting not-so-patiently for my library to get it, and I don't want to encounter spoilers. In result, I'm not as up-to-date with the Doctor's companions as others may be):
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Martha Jones
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Rose Tyler
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Donna Noble
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Amy and Rory Williams
(aka the Ponds)
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River Song
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What Doctor Who is actually about:
So, now that you know the basics of the show, do you want to know what it's really about? Because it's so much more than simply an alien traveling with his companions and saving the universe. This is a show about friendship and love and courage and, yes, heartache. Through the struggles that these characters overcome, we can see ourselves in them one way or another. By identifying with the Doctor and his companions you see that you're more than just a girl who works in a shop; more than just a "temp from Chiswick;" more than just someone's fiancee. You're the Bad Wolf. You're the most important woman in the universe. You're the Last Centurion. It's a show about taking a stand because you're doing the right thing no matter how difficult. The Doctor doesn't just change his companions, he changes the viewers too.
In a sense, I guess Whovians could be considered a companion as well because he really does show us a better way to live. We become so enthralled by this fictional character that we want to be more like him and his friends and proudly show that enthusiasm off. We want to be clever and absolutely brilliant and to be the best part of ourselves. So, now you know. Doctor Who is more than just a show. If what I've said hasn't made you more interested, then just watch an episode. Experience it, because then you'll realize what you've been missing.
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