Dr who

[omega 616]

I am curious to know why this show is loved so much. What makes you keep coming back and squeeing in anticipation of the next episode.

I have always wondered how the show justifies changing the cast so much. Am I right in saying It's not just the doc that changes, it's the whole cast?

Disclaimer, while I am not a fan of the show, I am not going to sit here and be all like "you guys are stupid for liking it".

The reasons I don't like it are: There is no sense of dread 'cos it's like watching a mission impossible film or any romcom, you know by the end of the episode (or two part-er) that everything will be right in the world.

As I mentioned the cast changing so much annoys me, imagine watching House (or something) and every season the cast changes.

That screwdriver tool the doc has is like the force or something, if there is a situation that cannot be overcome it's screwdriver to the rescue! Get rid of the doc and just have a handyman.

What are your reasons for enjoying it.

 

[JoJo]

I like the show because it's good childish fun and the very British tone resonates strongly with me. The ability to set an episode literally anywhere in any time period allows a great variety of settings to prevent the show becoming stale and the constant change in characters aids that, allowing new character arcs to be explored. I'll admit episode quality tends to vary a lot too, some are just forgettable "run away from the monster" episodes or overly sentimental (particularly Christmas specials), but then some are incredibly well-written and memorable, or dark and chilling, or poignant. Particular stand-outs for me include Don't Blink, the gas-mask child episode and the episode with Van Gough.

 

[Coppernerves]

I know everything will be right in the world, and that the screwdriver can do whatever the writers want it to do to anything vaguely technological.

But I like watching the cast change, getting to know new cast members.

Most of all I like seeing cool stuff, the sets, the aliens, the evil plans and the weird techne / bios used for said plans.

I like the fish vampires, the gas mask phone zombies, the organ harvesting clockwork guy-fawkes-o-matics, the living statue hotel timeshift battery farms, the killer shadows, the planet-wide traffic jams.

The Doctor travels around the universe in search of cool stuff to see (it's a wonder we haven't seen him in bright, tropical "tourist shirt"), and I keep with him because that's exactly what he finds.

 

[The_Echo]

I have always wondered how the show justifies changing the cast so much. Am I right in saying It's not just the doc that changes, it's the whole cast?

That screwdriver tool the doc has is like the force or something, if there is a situation that cannot be overcome it's screwdriver to the rescue! Get rid of the doc and just have a handyman.

The cast changes because Time Lords regenerate at the end of their 'life,' and the Doctor's companions obviously can't stick around forever.

I haven't watched the pre-2005 Who to any large extent, but as far as the modern Who is concerned, there's no real explanation to how the sonic screwdriver works. It's just the most convenient multipurpose tool ever.

To answer the question of its appeal: in short, it's just a goofy adventure series in the most literal sense. The setting and mythos allow for basically anything to happen (and effectively keep the series going forever).

Doctor Who is basically the TV embodiment of "it's not about the destination; it's about the journey." [small]Or however that goes..[/small]

 

[Thaluikhain]

Well, cause I liked Dr Who before, and still do.

Like, all those Star Wars fans that loved the original trilogy. Then they saw Phantom Menace, and hated it. Then they saw the next one, and hated it. Then they saw the next one, and hated it. People knew that Revenge of the Sith was going to be terrible, but they were loyal Star Wars fans and saw it anyway.

Even when it's seriously jumped the sharks, when the writers don't care or are desperately trying to convince the world they are geniuses, it's hard to give up on a beloved franchise.

(Sorta had the same thing with 40k. I remember when the Dark Eldar just came out, when necrons were better than marines and your guns stopped working if they got too close. Then the Tau came out, and that was bad, and the C'tan, and that was worse[footnote]The Tau and C'tan weren't bad ideas as such, except they didn't fit into 40k as it was. They gotten a lot better simply because the setting has adapted to them nowdays, but also gotten worse because of some awful fluff[/footnote], and then the fluff deteriorated, and CS Goto and Mat Ward got to writing and it's still hard to say "this is awful, I've had enough".)

 

[linkmastr001]

For me, I feel it's mostly the characters and the mystery found in the stories. I find the characters to be unique and entertaining and the stories to be interesting and varied.

While your complaint about the screwdriver is valid (I won't deny it is a Deus Ex Machina) as well as the cast changing (it doesn't bother me at all), your comment about "everything being right" doesn't seem too valid, there are plenty of people who have died in the series, one of whom was a companion who didn't have a "literal" death, but you could definitely count it as a loss. Unless I'm missing something about that complaint...

I have always wondered how the show justifies changing the cast so much. Am I right in saying It's not just the doc that changes, it's the whole cast?

You are right, but only the Doctor character actually changes actors. If one of his companions change, in his/her place is a new actor/actress with a completely new character. Several of these people have returned to guest start their character in later episodes. As to how the Doctor changes, it's because as a Timelord he has multiple "lives," so when he should die, his body regenerates, giving him a new body and somewhat different personality as well, while keeping the same memories. (think of that how you will, I have no issue with it personally)

 

[Lawnmooer]

While you know that all will be right in the world at the end of the episode (Except finales as there'll be a reason for the cast to change, often via unpleasant means)

It's still nice to watch the journey of it happening, it's a nice, light hearted show to watch and the situations and characters that are met in the different episodes (Things don't always go well for the non-main characters) are often amazing.

Then after watching various story arcs complete, you can see them having an effect on characters if they stay in for more than a season (Just look at the Doctor since Rose left for example)

The cast changing isn't too bad since they normally keep at least the same Doctor (Who's always the same person, just played by different people, with little differences in how the actors portray him (Some better than others)) or the same companions throughout a series (Sometimes they'll keep both)

 

[Albino Boo]

The reason why the cast changes often is because it always has. You can't apply the same rules for a series like House, which ran between 204-2012 and Dr Who which ran almost continuously between 1963 and 1989. The high turn over in cast helps to keep the show fresh and people do not want do the same character for 15 years on BBC rates.

You have a fair point in the fact the story is resolved in 42 minutes every week. You have the US television market to thank for that. Old Who always used to be 6 to 8 20-30 minute episodes but the convention in the US is for 1 hour long (with ads)shows, so the BBC had to fall in line to make enough money to justify the cost. The old format allowed for the Dr to meet new people in each story and those new people to have some character development.

 

[gazumped]

There is no sense of dread 'cos it's like watching a mission impossible film or any romcom, you know by the end of the episode (or two part-er) that everything will be right in the world.

Gosh, that's one of the reasons I *do* like it. Don't forget, it's a family show, it's not supposed to be a dark, thrilling suspense, it's just a fun adventure. Although occasionally there are unpredictable variables thrown into the mix - you might know that the Doctor will survive and the universe won't be destroyed, but the people he's travelling with or helping might die. If I remember correctly, his shortest running companion lasted one episode on the Tardis before she sacrificed her life to help a bunch of strangers.

And the change of cast is fun. This series has been going on for fifty years. In most T.V. shows the characters have usually reached the end of their character development and become stale after four seasons. Sometimes old characters are brought back or at least referenced to and old fans get to go 'Yay, that person that I remember!' It makes the world of Doctor Who feel more expansive - which it ruddy well ought to as its potential characters include everyone in existence in all of time and space.

... Don't think anyone can argue that the screwdriver's become a bit ridiculously overpowered, though. It is, in a sense, the Doctor's lightsaber.

 

[Rylot]

Why I like Doctor Who in bullet form:

-There are infinite places for the Doctor to have adventures and they've explored some pretty cool ones.
-When done well the time travel is interesting and mind bending.
-The Doctor takes the more difficult route of trying to save everyone, even the bad guys if possible.
-Since Syfy's decline into shit it's one of the few interesting Sci Fi shows.
-It's got a good sense of humor
-It's got a ton of different writers, directors, and actors to keep the show fresh and usually interesting.

 

[Thaluikhain]

You have a fair point in the fact the story is resolved in 42 minutes every week. You have the US television market to thank for that. Old Who always used to be 6 to 8 20-30 minute episodes but the convention in the US is for 1 hour long (with ads)shows, so the BBC had to fall in line to make enough money to justify the cost. The old format allowed for the Dr to meet new people in each story and those new people to have some character development.

Well, depends what you mean by "Old Who". Towards the end of the original run they moved to 45 minutes, I think that was with Davison.

Having said that, yeah, 4 or 6 parts were the norm. 2 parters happened like 3 times in the whole run of original Doctor Who

 

[Owyn_Merrilin]

For me, I feel it's mostly the characters and the mystery found in the stories. I find the characters to be unique and entertaining and the stories to be interesting and varied.

While your complaint about the screwdriver is valid (I won't deny it is a Deus Ex Machina) as well as the cast changing (it doesn't bother me at all), your comment about "everything being right" doesn't seem too valid, there are plenty of people who have died in the series, one of whom was a companion who didn't have a "literal" death, but you could definitely count it as a loss. Unless I'm missing something about that complaint...

I have always wondered how the show justifies changing the cast so much. Am I right in saying It's not just the doc that changes, it's the whole cast?

You are right, but only the Doctor character actually changes actors. If one of his companions change, in his/her place is a new actor/actress with a completely new character. Several of these people have returned to guest start their character in later episodes. As to how the Doctor changes, it's because as a Timelord he has multiple "lives," so when he should die, his body regenerates, giving him a new body and somewhat different personality as well, while keeping the same memories. (think of that how you will, I have no issue with it personally)

Heck, I can think of at least three fourcounted two of them as one at first, since it was kind of a package deal. in the new series alone who have, if not literally died, been permanently lost to the Doctor in one way or another, with one case in particular being a fate worse than death, or at least arguably so. It's definitely not always sunshine and roses at the end of the day, especially not in the season finales. Also, the last episode makes me feel like the writers are getting ready to get rid of the sonic screwdriver, and were foreshadowing it pretty hamfistedly. They did it in the old series for a while, mainly because the writers then were getting the same complaints about it that they are now, so it's not exactly without precedent.

As for why I like the show: it's a fun adventure show with sci-fi trappings, three things that are sorely lacking on TV in general these days, and American TV in particular. I miss fun shows.

 

[TimeLord]

"There are worlds out there where the sky is burning, and the sea's asleep, and the rivers dream; people made of smoke and cities made of song. Somewhere there's danger, somewhere there's injustice, and somewhere else the tea's getting cold. Come on. We've got work to do."

That's why. There's always something new and different. Always a new adventure, threat to face and a companion to show the stars to.

 

[Albino Boo]

You have a fair point in the fact the story is resolved in 42 minutes every week. You have the US television market to thank for that. Old Who always used to be 6 to 8 20-30 minute episodes but the convention in the US is for 1 hour long (with ads)shows, so the BBC had to fall in line to make enough money to justify the cost. The old format allowed for the Dr to meet new people in each story and those new people to have some character development.

Well, depends what you mean by "Old Who". Towards the end of the original run they moved to 45 minutes, I think that was with Davison.

Having said that, yeah, 4 or 6 parts were the norm. 2 parters happened like 3 times in the whole run of original Doctor Who

Well my 1st Dr was Tom Baker and I remember hiding from the 1st appearance of Davros and I stopped watching in the McCoy years.