What is it with Dr. Who?

[theevilsanta]

So I just watched the first 1 1/2 seasons of the new show + a few select ones that were supposed to be good from seasons 3 and 4. And I have some big problems with that show.

Mainly, what exactly is the Doctor doing with his incredible power to traverse time and space? As far as I can tell it's picking up some pathetic younger woman (who's always from the late 20th century for some reason, whatever, I guess I get why) and go for a JOYRIDE until you get bored of her. Seriously, that's it.

I thought Firefly had a stupid motivation (they're just smugglers trying to get ahead). But at least that had an overarching storyline and being a smuggler is a LOT cooler than being a totally selfish prick that just wants to have a good time with his awesome powers.

Sure they help people. But that's never his goal. His whole pitch to these young women is that it will be totally awesome to witness every sweet thing the universe has to offer.

I guess it's a fun escapist fantasy for women. I mean, you get to ride around with this mysterious, sexy, "cursed with awesome" (see TV Tropes) time traveler and see every sweet thing ever. There's never a relationship or sex, curiously, but it's cool anyway. And of course they choose to leave behind all their family, friends, boyfriends, and responsibilities to do so. What an example.

I mean, I know they generally "do good" wherever they go, but that's never why they're there in the first place. Didn't all the Time Lord people get killed off or something? Doesn't he want revenge or to save them somehow? Nope, just to fly around in a phone booth with a woman.

So what gives? Is there some extremely subtle mission I'm missing? Does the Doctor ever even grow as a person? What gives? Anyone watch this show?

 

[Creepybard]

The doctor does grow as a character, but your right, there really isnt a reason for the time traveling, the doctor just gets a kick out of checking shit out. The women he brings along are... well, accidents most of the time. You need to watch past the first and second seasons in order to really start catching onto it though

 

[Megalodon]

I thought Firefly had a stupid motivation (they're just smugglers trying to get ahead).

What counts as a "not stupid motivation then?"

I mean, I know they generally "do good" wherever they go, but that's never why they're there in the first place. Didn't all the Time Lord people get killed off or something? Doesn't he want revenge or to save them somehow? Nope, just to fly around in a phone booth with a woman.

Actually, the Doctor killed his own people along with thier enemy, the Daleks (even if theywon't stay dead). So he can't really get revenge on himself.
The show gets increasingly annoying to me as the series go on. Too much damn fanwank, especially the end to series 4 (assuming that is indeed the Donna series).

 

[theevilsanta]

What counts as a "not stupid motivation then?"

Well, if we're talking SF/fantasy tv shows I'd say most of the Star Treks have pretty good motivations. Battlestar Galactica. Stargate. Highlander.

My point is the motivation is selfish, boring, and just a silly concept. It's sooo self-absorbed.

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

So I just watched the first 1 1/2 seasons of the new show + a few select ones that were supposed to be good from seasons 3 and 4. And I have some big problems with that show.

Ok, first I'd ask which seasons you've seen. By the sound of it you've seen the Christopher Ecclestone (9th Doctor) and David Tennant (10th Doctor). The show's premise is much better explained in The Unearthly Child. But it's likely to be far too slow for you.

I'd suggest watching the film, as although it makes true Whovians squirm with the liberties taken, it's a good introduction to who is Who.

I guess it's a fun escapist fantasy for women. I mean, you get to ride around with this mysterious, sexy, "cursed with awesome" (see TV Tropes) time traveler and see every sweet thing ever. There's never a relationship or sex, curiously, but it's cool anyway. And of course they choose to leave behind all their family, friends, boyfriends, and responsibilities to do so. What an example.

Usually, the men project themselves onto the Doctor; or in some examples, one of the companions (The Doctor has had MANY companions, given it has been going since 1963 (Just a fortnight until he's 48))

I mean, I know they generally "do good" wherever they go, but that's never why they're there in the first place.

Generally they feck around, THEN they try and "do good". The Doctor is a meddler far more than a saint.

Didn't all the Time Lord people get killed off or something? Doesn't he want revenge or to save them somehow? Nope, just to fly around in a phone booth with a woman.

Yes, in the Time War. It also killed all the Daleks, who were responsible.
Yes, but he's a pacifist. He recognises the right of everything to life.
And it's not a Phone Box - it appears as a Police Box because the TARDIS's chameleon ciruit was broken when he landed in a junk yard in 1963 - and he's only been able to get it working for brief periods of time.

The TARDIS itself is grown on Gallifrey and bonds itself to its Timelord. It's an old Type 40 model that is the Volvo of its day. Takes a licking, but keeps on ticking.

So what gives? Is there some extremely subtle mission I'm missing? Does the Doctor ever even grow as a person? What gives? Anyone watch this show?

The subtle mission is that the Doctor is "one of the last of his kind". He was bored stupid at Gallifrey because they're obsessed with rules, so - like a teenager - he stole a vehicle and rode out into the universe, stopping to give people the ride of their life and trying to make up for stealing it on the way.

The Doctor grows as a person every regeneration. It's just he doesn't grow forward all the time.

And yes, I think there's a few people who still watch the show. Not including most of the Escapist Staff, a large chunk of Brits/Aussies/Candians and Americans - the last show pulled in 5 million viewers.

Difficult Discussion Coming

What you have seen, as far as I can tell, is some of the earlier RTD episodes. Personally, I abhor the guys writing style, but the show was re-pitched at that time to include a far stronger element of reliance on Earth and romance. At this point it brought in a lot of viewers, especially when they had a lot of "pretty men" prancing. Then Steven Moffat took over in Season 5, the writer who created some of the best episodes of the old series. He took it back to the madcap world-saving, and those that had been following since the start cheered.
The people brought in for the "pretty Doctor" weren't impressed though, given that they'd already formed attachments to Tennant, rather than The Doctor.

IMNSHO, it's far better under Matt Smith than David Tennant, but I know there's some who will disagree violently.

What I'd do, if you don't want to follow canon, is seek out some of the really good episodes and just watch those. You don't miss an awful lot of canon because the Doctor jumps back and forth through time and awful lot.

My personal list of episodes to watch:
1. The Caves of Androzani (1984 - Peter Davison)
2. Blink (2007 - David Tennant)
3. Genesis of the Daleks (1975 - Tom Baker)
4. The Talons of Weng-Chiang (1977 - Tom Baker)
5. The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances (2005 - Christopher Eccleston)
6. Human Nature (2007 - David Tennant)
7. Pyramids of Mars (1975 - Tom Baker)
8. City of Death (1979 - Tom Baker)
9. The Robots of Death (1977 - Tom Baker)
10. Vincent and the Doctor (2010 - Matt Smith)
11. The Eleventh Hour (2010- Matt Smith)
12. Silence in the Library/The Forest of Darkness (2008 - David Tennant)

They're not in a set order, but they're all awesome.


(That's not to mention all the spin-off series, the novels (over 200), the audio books, the audio plays, the Companions etc. etc. etc. but this is only a brief introduction. Good luck!)

And remember, don't blink.

 

[AcacianLeaves]

I do not get it. I don't think I'll ever get it. Not only is the character of Doctor Who basically just a meddling doofus, the show is just awful. I can understand liking it like you would like a B-Movie, but at least most of those have violence and nudity. I mean, is it supposed to be this bad? Is it supposed to look and feel like a Soap Opera? Is everything supposed to look like a rejected set from a 70s porno?

I don't get it, and that makes me sad

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

I do not get it. I don't think I'll ever get it. Not only is the character of Doctor Who basically just a meddling doofus, the show is just awful. I can understand liking it like you would like a B-Movie, but at least most of those have violence and nudity. I mean, is it supposed to be this bad? Is it supposed to look and feel like a Soap Opera? Is everything supposed to look like a rejected set from a 70s porno?

I don't get it, and that makes me sad

Don't be sad. I think Firefly is junk and that's gonna get me killed one of these days.

It's a very British show. We have insanely low budgets for science fiction and a group of writers brought up on soap operas. The Doctor actually works against Sex/Violence because it is, after all, a children's show. But don't feel bad if you just don't get it. Watch something with more guns.

 

[theevilsanta]

Snip

Thanks for the excellent summary. The seasons I've been watching are the post 2000 ones (the ones on Netflix watch instantly). I'll have to check out the episodes you recommend. Some of the individual episodes were ok. I'll take your word that these are worth it. I still hate the new series though. For anyone to truly love the shallow concept seems just ... shallow. I don't know, I guess it just isn't for me.

Oh, and I'm sure people still watch it. For Britain to make this kind of show with this many episodes and such good production values (and solid actors) is a pretty good indication.

 

[AcacianLeaves]

Don't be sad. I think Firefly is junk and that's gonna get me killed one of these days.

It's a very British show. We have insanely low budgets for science fiction and a group of writers brought up on soap operas. The Doctor actually works against Sex/Violence because it is, after all, a children's show. But don't feel bad if you just don't get it. Watch something with more guns.

That's the thing though, I usually love British TV. Top Gear is the best show ever. Graham Norton is hilarious. I never miss an episode of The F Word. Torchwood? Great. The Inbetweeners? Fantastic. That Mitchell and Webb Look is one of my all time favorite skit shows.

There's something about the sense of humor in Doctor Who that is different from all those other shows that I find both fascinating and frustrating.

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

For anyone to truly love the shallow concept seems just ... shallow.

Shallow works sometimes.

Back to the Future, riddled with plot holes but goddam is it a good film. Jaws, Ghostbusters, Gremlins, Airplane!, Die Hard, All the Python films, A Night at the Opera...

And what is The Wizard of Oz apart from a time-travelling girl who picks up male companions and then drops them off? Still an awesome film - especially along with a bit of Dark Side of the Moon.

I don't know, I guess it just isn't for me.

Some people like it, some people don't, but if it's been around this long, you really owe it to yourself to watch it once.

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

That's the thing though, I usually love British TV. Top Gear is the best show ever. Graham Norton is hilarious. I never miss an episode of The F Word. Torchwood? Great. The Inbetweeners? Fantastic. That Mitchell and Webb Look is one of my all time favorite skit shows.

There's something about the sense of humor in Doctor Who that is different from all those other shows that I find both fascinating and frustrating.

Perhaps it's a focus; I find Norton, Torchwood, The F Word and the In-betweeners tedious beyond mention.
Mitchell and Webb I like, but how can you like Sir Digby Chicken Cesar and not Doctor Who? Both enjoy running around saving the world while their music plays?

I think that Doctor Who still has that Black/White morality, as it's a kids show; whatever the Doctor does, it's always for the right reasons. He's not human, so he doesn't abide by pop morality. He just does what's right. Or at least what's awesome.

That may be what breaks it for you.

 

[crudus]

Didn't all the Time Lord people get killed off or something? Doesn't he want revenge or to save them somehow? Nope, just to fly around in a phone booth with a woman.

So what gives? Is there some extremely subtle mission I'm missing? Does the Doctor ever even grow as a person? What gives? Anyone watch this show?

A. Yes the Time Lords did all die off. He is the one that did it. They tried to destroy time, so he isn't exactly eager to reverse that decision.

2. We do see him grow as a character. Not just between actors or companions but over all.

C. I do watch the show. I just got done watching a few episodes.

D. There are two categories of people regarding this show. Either people get the show and love it or they don't gt the show and don't understand why people love it.

 

[Iron Lightning]

Well, I don't watch the show myself, but the Doctor seems to do exactly what I would do if I had access to his technology. So I would have to guess that escapism is the series' primary draw.

Now don't get me wrong, I don't have any problem with the good Doctor, I simply don't watch much television.

 

[theevilsanta]

Didn't all the Time Lord people get killed off or something? Doesn't he want revenge or to save them somehow? Nope, just to fly around in a phone booth with a woman.

So what gives? Is there some extremely subtle mission I'm missing? Does the Doctor ever even grow as a person? What gives? Anyone watch this show?

A. Yes the Time Lords did all die off. He is the one that did it. They tried to destroy time, so he isn't exactly eager to reverse that decision.

2. We do see him grow as a character. Not just between actors or companions but over all.

C. I do watch the show. I just got done watching a few episodes.

D. There are two categories of people regarding this show. Either people get the show and love it or they don't gt the show and don't understand why people love it.

Well call me a part of subsection II then!

 

[Cheshire Cat]

That's the thing though, I usually love British TV. Top Gear is the best show ever. Graham Norton is hilarious. I never miss an episode of The F Word. Torchwood? Great. The Inbetweeners? Fantastic. That Mitchell and Webb Look is one of my all time favorite skit shows.

There's something about the sense of humor in Doctor Who that is different from all those other shows that I find both fascinating and frustrating.

Actually Torchwood is part of the Doctor Who canon from what I understand. It is the more adult themed side with sex and violence, then there is The Sarah Jane Chronicles which is aimed at really young children.

Personally I liked Christopher Eccleston as the Doctor, however, Matt Smith is really awesome, I couldn't have imagined a better Doctor and Ias for David Tennent, I hated him as the Doctor.

 

[Ensiferum]

So I just watched the first 1 1/2 seasons of the new show + a few select ones that were supposed to be good from seasons 3 and 4. And I have some big problems with that show.

Mainly, what exactly is the Doctor doing with his incredible power to traverse time and space? As far as I can tell it's picking up some pathetic younger woman (who's always from the late 20th century for some reason, whatever, I guess I get why) and go for a JOYRIDE until you get bored of her. Seriously, that's it.

-To answer your first question, The Doctor travels throughout time and space both to explore history and the universe but also to save it and help out where he's needed. The Tardis has a "sense" of the universe if you will and takes him to places where time is being re-written and it's his job to set it back on course and maintain order.

To me and to most viewers, this has always been one of the most appealing things about the show; the fact that he can go ANYWHERE in time and space, meaning the show has limitless imaginative potential.


I thought Firefly had a stupid motivation (they're just smugglers trying to get ahead). But at least that had an overarching storyline and being a smuggler is a LOT cooler than being a totally selfish prick that just wants to have a good time with his awesome powers.

-Please elaborate on why The Doctor is a selfish prick. He's sacrificed himself multiple times to save the universe, as well as his entire race.

Sure they help people. But that's never his goal. His whole pitch to these young women is that it will be totally awesome to witness every sweet thing the universe has to offer.

-Again, no his goal is to help people, he just presents the "adventure" aspect to his companions to take them out of there miserable, mundane lives and bring them along for the ride. The Doctor only takes people he knows will be up for the challenge.

I guess it's a fun escapist fantasy for women. I mean, you get to ride around with this mysterious, sexy, "cursed with awesome" (see TV Tropes) time traveler and see every sweet thing ever. There's never a relationship or sex, curiously, but it's cool anyway. And of course they choose to leave behind all their family, friends, boyfriends, and responsibilities to do so. What an example.

-It's an escapist fantasy for anyone who enjoys SciFi/fantasy, because again the series is night-limitless in where the main character can go. What separates The Doctor from characters such as James Bond is that he's not motivated by sex or greed, he's simply motivated to do good, and he does.

I mean, I know they generally "do good" wherever they go, but that's never why they're there in the first place. Didn't all the Time Lord people get killed off or something? Doesn't he want revenge or to save them somehow? Nope, just to fly around in a phone booth with a woman.

-Again, the Tardis brings The Doctor where he's "needed." It has a connection to all time and therefore knows where he's needed most. And no, he doesn't want revenge for the destruction of The Time Lords; for one thing, he's considered a "good" character and isn't motivated by revenge, and for another, he sacrificed The Time Lords himself along with The Daleks in order to save the whole universe.

So what gives? Is there some extremely subtle mission I'm missing? Does the Doctor ever even grow as a person? What gives? Anyone watch this show?

-Doctor Who is the longest-running SciFi series ever created. The reason it has so much staying power is because of the brilliant formula that the creators came up with back when it first began in the 1960s; the Doctor can go ANYWHERE and when he dies, he becomes an entirely new person, meaning the character is constantly changing. This dynamic formula is what makes the show last so long and makes the character so interesting.

I love this show. Yeah probably too much, feel free to flame me all you like. But I at least want to point out that the reason you don't "get it" is probably because of how you were exposed to it. I first saw the classic series of Doctor Who when I was 5. I wasn't bothered by the fact that the aliens were men in rubber suits or the special effects weren't as good as Star Wars, I was enchanted by this time-traveling hero who, on having a hideous alien put a gun to his face, would mock him, put his hat over his gun and offer him a jellybaby. The character of The Doctor, at least in the classic series and especially when played by Tom Baker, was so disarming, charming and fun that I couldn't help but love watching his exploits.

I'm now 24, but I still get the same child-like enjoyment from the show as I did when I was little. When it comes to the new series, trust me I get quite frustrated myself sometimes with how cheesy it is, so I can see why you wouldn't "get" the whole appeal behind it if seeing the new series as an adult was how you were first exposed to it. But the point of Doctor Who is this; it's fun. It's meant to be fun. Just try letting yourself go and enjoy it. It isn't meant to be "deep" or overly "dark," if you want that in a SciFi series then watch Caprica or Fringe. It's meant to be a wild, fantastic ride that is best enjoyed by turning off your inner censor and letting your inner child and imagination run free with The Doctor throughout time and space.

Also consider checking out the episodes listed by "The_root_of_all_evil," he's mentioned the some of the best and you might get a better feel for the show if you try those ones out.

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

The reason it has so much staying power is because of the brilliant formula that the creators came up with back when it first began in the 1960s; the Doctor can go ANYWHERE and when he dies, he becomes an entirely new person, meaning the character is constantly changing.

Gah, sorry, have to pull you up on that one.

The regeneration wasn't built into the character at first, it was added towards the end of William Hartnell's stretch.

But apart from that, good points.

(Oh, I'm 40 but I still squeal at certain points. Like Ensiferum says, go with your inner child)

 

[Ensiferum]

The reason it has so much staying power is because of the brilliant formula that the creators came up with back when it first began in the 1960s; the Doctor can go ANYWHERE and when he dies, he becomes an entirely new person, meaning the character is constantly changing.

Gah, sorry, have to pull you up on that one.

The regeneration wasn't built into the character at first, it was added towards the end of William Hartnell's stretch.

But apart from that, good points.

(Oh, I'm 40 but I still squeal at certain points. Like Ensiferum says, go with your inner child)

Shoot you're right; I forgot about that. But thanks!

 

[Aurgelmir]

So I just watched the first 1 1/2 seasons of the new show + a few select ones that were supposed to be good from seasons 3 and 4. And I have some big problems with that show.

Mainly, what exactly is the Doctor doing with his incredible power to traverse time and space? As far as I can tell it's picking up some pathetic younger woman (who's always from the late 20th century for some reason, whatever, I guess I get why) and go for a JOYRIDE until you get bored of her. Seriously, that's it.

I thought Firefly had a stupid motivation (they're just smugglers trying to get ahead). But at least that had an overarching storyline and being a smuggler is a LOT cooler than being a totally selfish prick that just wants to have a good time with his awesome powers.

Sure they help people. But that's never his goal. His whole pitch to these young women is that it will be totally awesome to witness every sweet thing the universe has to offer.

I guess it's a fun escapist fantasy for women. I mean, you get to ride around with this mysterious, sexy, "cursed with awesome" (see TV Tropes) time traveler and see every sweet thing ever. There's never a relationship or sex, curiously, but it's cool anyway. And of course they choose to leave behind all their family, friends, boyfriends, and responsibilities to do so. What an example.

I mean, I know they generally "do good" wherever they go, but that's never why they're there in the first place. Didn't all the Time Lord people get killed off or something? Doesn't he want revenge or to save them somehow? Nope, just to fly around in a phone booth with a woman.

So what gives? Is there some extremely subtle mission I'm missing? Does the Doctor ever even grow as a person? What gives? Anyone watch this show?

You my friend haven't watched enough... because most of your questions are generally answered in the new seireis.

So let me try and recap some of your questions:

Does the Doctor want ot avenge the Time Lords?
Not really, ever since the original series the Doctor has been an outcast from Time Lord sociaty.
He does bare a great deal of pain and feeling of responsibility for what happened to the Time Lords. But revenge isn't something he generally do.
PS: Time Lords are not dead, just stuck in a time bubble thing.

Does the Doctor grow as a character?
Um yes...
Every new actor brings a new character. And David Tennants 10th doctor grows quite a lot over his three seasons. And 9th VS 10th doctor are very different characters. 9th would maybe have gone on a more revenge trip, but Rose calmed him down, and his reincarnation changed him.

Is there a plot?
Well yes and no. The later seasons have a bigger plot then the first two.
In general the plot of Doctor Who is 'Exploration'.
The Doctor is 900 years old... He cnows he cant, and shouldn't mess with hiostory, so he jsut hitch along for the ride. And thats the fun of it. Where will the Doctor and his companion go next?

Whats up with the young girls?
Well its a good way to get a female character in there. But not all companions are young 20 somethings. Seaoson 4s Donna is a bit older (And my favorite Tennant companion)
The Current Doctor started traveling only with Amy Pnd, but later picks up her fiance.

Why you not hit dat Doctor, bro?
In the UK it's also markeded for children.
Finnish Season 2 though.



All in all you haven't watched enough

 

[ConnorCool]

Whereas I do love Dr Who, I have always thought the show's premis is completely waste. This is why I like Torchwood a lot more than Dr Who (even though it is equally cheesey.)
Some of the story lines are so convoluted and irritating too. Why do they have to keep bringing back characters and enemies? If you do it once or twice over the course of such a long show then the fan service is there, and it would make for an interesting reunion, but when they come back every single series, it just gets ridiculous. The daleks aren't even that scary, and don't oarticularly seem like a threat most of the time.
I also have a problem with them basing nearly every episode around Earth or a human colony (although the Earth from the past/future episodes are good). The Dr always hints at visiting different planets, but we see very little of them most of the time.
I hate that they are making light of such a great idea, and not even giving the chance for a spinoff by having another time lord.

/rant.
I still watch every episode, mind.