I'm probably going to regret this:
theevilsanta said:
Here are my opinions summed up in a previous topic:
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. Will he try to help people across all of space and time? Nope, just to fly around in a phone booth (the "TARDIS" i know) 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?
The Doctor is an extra-terrestrial -- a Time Lord -- from the planet Gallifrey. Although the specific history is never related in detail, time travel was discovered and perfected by a Time Lord named Rassilon (and with help to some extent by Omega). After a brief flirtation with helping various races throughout the galaxy, the High Council of Gallifrey decreed a strict policy of non-intervention. Observing all the suffering throughout the universe, the Doctor sharply disagreed with this decision, stole an obsolete Type 40 TARDIS timecraft, and has been on the run ever since.
Conveniently, Earth is the Doctor's favorite planet, which he has saved from alien (and domestic) menace countless times over. However, there is nowhere and no-when the Doctor can't go (through traveling back to Event One can fairly ruin the TARDIS). The Doctor has no "mission" as such, and is not especially interested in finding trouble -- it often seems he would be happy just traveling throughout time and space, seeing the sights. Trouble seems to follow him around, however, and he and his TARDIS will often materialize into the onset of some crisis.
In the original series, the High Council of Gallifrey seemed to be divided on what to do about the Doctor. Though the Doctor has twice been prosecuted for meddling (convicted and exiled first time; acquitted second time), the Council has at turns studiously ignored him, used him clandestinely to address some inconvenience, and elevated him to President. Gallifrey itself has been saved more than once by the Doctor.
In the current series, Gallifrey and the Time Lords are, for all intents and purposes, gone, the victims of a brutal Time War with the Daleks (it's actually more involved than this). The Doctor is one of only two Time Lords remaining in this universe (the other being The Master, his ethical and moral opposite, who is currently MIA). As a result, the Doctor has become understandably emo, being the last one of his kind.
As for companions, they arrive and depart haphazardly. Some arrive when he invites them, some stumble/barge their way in, and a few are imposed on him. Most depart of their own accord. Some leave involuntarily. In [em]very[/em] rare instances (only two I can recall), they die. In the original series, there was never any suggestion of romantic entanglement with or between any of the companions. In the current series, romantic interests have developed (rather abruptly with Amy Pond), but never been consummated. And frankly, I think that's for the best.
As for why anyone would abandon family, friends, job, and other Earthly ties to jump in a timecraft with a space alien -- well, the Doctor's got a really compelling selling point: "I can have you back before you even left."
Despite it all, his behavior remains the same -- knock around through time and space and see what there is to be seen. It's the life he's chosen for himself. If you'd like to tag along... Well, all right, but [em]don't touch anything![/em]
