Dr. Who, could someone explain the deal with it to me?

[Boba Frag]

Why don't you just watch it and see for yourself if you like the show? Start with the first 2005 episode ("Rose") and continue as normal. Much easier.

Yup!
What this person (with an AWESOME Avatar) just said!


Might I ask what's preventing you from actually sitting down and watching the show?

If you want to know the big deal is, just check it out for yourself.

It's far more popular in Britain and Ireland than in the US so a North American dominated forum isn't going to help much.

Go look for the series that began in 2005 with Christopher Eccleston.

And they only change actors every so often. David Tennant was the Doctor for four seasons, but Tom Baker stayed on for seven years.

It's done very well and is part of the Time Lord life cycle- they're not human, after all, so their biology allows for a sort of 'reset' whenever they've become mortally wounded.

Anyway, just put your preconceptions to the side and watch it.

 

[newfiegirl 110]

Why don't you just watch it and see for yourself if you like the show? Start with the first 2005 episode ("Rose") and continue as normal. Much easier.

I totally agree. That's where I started watching, and once David Tennent came on board I was in love. The regreneration between Tennant and Smith was absolutely heartbreaking. If you want a fully rounded view, don't forget to check out Torchwood. Amazing spinoff with great characters and wicked storylines.

 

[Lord Krunk]

I wouldn't recommend a newbie bother with the classic series, but any episode done by Steven Moffatt will show you why it's so good.

Start with Blink.

 

[Amphoteric]

Because David Tennant.

 

[Plinglebob]

it just has a big B-Movie feel to me. It's cheesy

There you go, that's the reason why. It's something different from the typical gritty stuff you get nowadays. Mostly it's just mad, ridiculous, adventurous fun.

I appreciate it exactly for that. I have had enough "serious" Sci-Fi since neoBSG made the fad that everything needs to be shaky-cam and rusty.
I miss shows like Stargate Atlantis or Farscape that were just really good old fashioned fun!

At least Battlestar did serious sci-fi justice, and hów, but when more shows started to copy the style...yeah. Take Stargate Universe for example. SG1 and Atlantis were, mostly, cheesy fun. Going all space-drama doesn't fit at all in the Stargate universe.

Agreed, BSG was slightly over the top with its grittieness at times but at least it made sense to be that way. SGU is total dung with overly dramatic acting and contrived "dangers". It really is Stargate 90210 (the episode Earth is a prime example).

I really like my sci-fi adventures to be about ADVENTURE and FUN. The more crazy and fun, the better. SGA had the best cast in history, i mean look at the chemistry between Sheppard and McKay at cons, they are not just actors, they are friends. Same with Jackson and Tealc.

Its just a blast to see actors enjoying themselves in a show, if you can really feel that they are having fun, the quality of their performance goes up by 831029380%

I'm so glad that someone else thinks this, but I'd expand it to other programs and not just Sci-Fi. I hardly watch anything on TV now as everyones trying to be serious and so sucks the fun out of watching it.

On the topic of Doctor Who, its a TV show that is normally well acted, well scripted and never takes itself too seriously. Its a program I've always labeled as "Whipped Cream" TV. Its light, its fun, its never going to do you any good but its very enjoyable.

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

I dont see why this show is as big as it is, could someone help me out?

From what i get, a guy that changes faces every season so the studio can save money goes through time to fight what looks like trash cans with egg beaters and a head cannon on it, i know its wrong but htats about all i got, so please help me out.

*crick* Let's see what I can do.

First of all, it's a basis for any particular story you wish to tell, with the Doctor taking the position of the everyman (and viewer eyes) who has a strong moral judegement without being overly preachy or religious about it.

Secondly, it's the longest running science-fiction show ever; and has been the show many geeks have grown up with.

Thirdly, it doesn't try to out-do itself like Trek, Wars, Babylon, Galatica or all the rest. It's just a story about an alien and his travelling box. That allows it to take on Gothic Romance, Slapstick Comedy, Historical Thriller of Far-Future Opera with equal aplomb.

Fourthly, its own canon is mutable and any new watcher can pick up at the start of a new Doctor's regeneration and still enjoy it without any knowledge of the previous Doctor.

Fifthly, it can shift writers, producers and actors without the hideous "Two Darrens" problems (ask your parents) and regenerate ( ) its storylines.

Sixthly, it puts story before fx and although some of the stories are godawful, there are some stories that no-other show could properly show.

Seventhly, people KNOW the monsters. Put a Dalek in any mall across America, England or Australia and kids will know it - and be scared of it. BUT...there's always that knowledge that there's something you can do to beat it. (Stairs usually, or not blinking, or carrying gold/vinegar or staying in the light)
Fear without helplessness.

Eighthly, people know the Doctors. Every fan has their favourite, whether it's the flutist, the cosmic hobo, the professor or the lonely wanderer.

Ninthly, the TARDIS. It thumbs its nose to any sci-fi conventions by just not being real, and gloriously so.

Tenthly, 769 episodes.

Eleventhly, in-jokes. Are you my mummy?, there are no ducks in the duckpond and would you like a jelly baby?

Watch an episode like Blink (Don't worry, you don't need to know anything) and see what you think.

 

[Ampersand]

I dont see why this show is as big as it is, could someone help me out?

From what i get, a guy that changes faces every season so the studio can save money goes through time to fight what looks like trash cans with egg beaters and a head cannon on it, i know its wrong but htats about all i got, so please help me out.

You're not that far off actually. =)
The short answer is, "Just watch it". Either you wont like it or you'll fall in love with it.
The show itself is probably unlike anything you've seen before. And the Doctor as a character is unlike any character i've seen in any medium (also he's been played by some amazing acters over the years.)

Also one of the wierd things about the series is (in spite of the really detailed backstory and mythology) you can jump in at almost any point and do just fine.

 

[Ampersand]

I dont see why this show is as big as it is, could someone help me out?

From what i get, a guy that changes faces every season so the studio can save money goes through time to fight what looks like trash cans with egg beaters and a head cannon on it, i know its wrong but htats about all i got, so please help me out.

Watch an episode like Blink (Don't worry, you don't need to know anything) and see what you think.

Blink and The girl in the fireplace are amazing. =D

 

[KaiRai]

I utterly detest it. I have no idea why so many people love it and try to shove it down my throat at every opportunity. I just don't think it has anything good going about it.

It's probably suffering from "Land rover sydrome". That being that because something is old and been going for a while, it must remain unchanged despite the changing of times. It was probably tolerable once, but for the sake of tradition, it has carried on being shit.

 

[Ampersand]

the awesomeness can't be explained, it must be experienced

That's a really conveient excuse. I've been hearing about this tv show ever since I've been on the internet but I've never seen a single episode. I have a season set on netflix but I wouldn't know where too start. Could one at least set up some sort of guidance and where to jump into the series to at the very least see what the hubub is?

I'd say jump in at the begining of Christopher Eccleston run as the doctor, which was season 1 of the new series.

 

[crudus]

the awesomeness can't be explained, it must be experienced

That's a really conveient excuse. I've been hearing about this tv show ever since I've been on the internet but I've never seen a single episode. I have a season set on netflix but I wouldn't know where too start. Could one at least set up some sort of guidance and where to jump into the series to at the very least see what the hubub is?

In my opinion, the best season is the third season of the reboot. David Tennant is the Doctor and his companion is Martha Jones played by Freema Agyeman. Get that season if you want to see the best. If you feel like going in order I would start with season 1 of the reboot and go from there(where Christopher Eccelston is the Doctor).

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

I utterly detest it.

Have you ever seen it?

I mean, we're not trying to "force it down your throat" or suggest that it's changed eleven times already, which tends to sink the Landrover theory, but have you actually watched it?

I'd hate to think you decided that all 800 episodes were bad without seeing any, or even seeing one.

If you want a fully rounded view, don't forget to check out Torchwood. Amazing spinoff with great characters and wicked storylines.

Yeah, but miss out Crotchwood. I've watched it and it blows goats. doesn't seem to work with the idea that lesbian aliens, incessant swearing, Thunderbird ripoff and parasitic stealing off a successful series replace plot.

 

[insaneHoshi]

I utterly detest it.

Have you ever seen it?

I mean, we're not trying to "force it down your throat" or suggest that it's changed eleven times already, which tends to sink the Landrover theory, but have you actually watched it?

I'd hate to think you decided that all 800 episodes were bad without seeing any, or even seeing one.

If you want a fully rounded view, don't forget to check out Torchwood. Amazing spinoff with great characters and wicked storylines.

Yeah, but miss out Crotchwood. I've watched it and it blows goats. doesn't seem to work with the idea that lesbian aliens, incessant swearing, Thunderbird ripoff and parasitic stealing off a successful series replace plot.

Children of earth was good though

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

Children of earth was good though

Tolerable, I only really liked Small Worlds.

 

[KaiRai]

I utterly detest it.

Have you ever seen it?

I mean, we're not trying to "force it down your throat" or suggest that it's changed eleven times already, which tends to sink the Landrover theory, but have you actually watched it?

I'd hate to think you decided that all 800 episodes were bad without seeing any, or even seeing one.

Yup. And I hated it. I've watched the first ep of the last few series and that's all it's taken me to just say "No, it's still shit, and I still hate it." And as far as I can tell, it hasn't really changed at all, bar having a new doctor. If you'd have also read the rest of my post, you would have been able to work out I'd seen it.

 

[Panzer_God]

the awesomeness can't be explained, it must be experienced

That's a really conveient excuse. I've been hearing about this tv show ever since I've been on the internet but I've never seen a single episode. I have a season set on netflix but I wouldn't know where too start. Could one at least set up some sort of guidance and where to jump into the series to at the very least see what the hubub is?

Honestly, the series is constantly confusing, considering it's got like 15 years of backstory. It normally doesn't involve the history but when it does it's always confusing. For the best episodes, I'd go with series three, David Tennant and Martha (the black companion.

 

[mrF00bar]

I think you have to be high to figure it out.

You are soo right hahahaha.

 

[Sebenko]

Meh. I used to watch it. I lost interest after the series with that ***** who was supposed to be funny. She was just annoying.

 

[RewardMe]

I'd watch it over eastenders any day.

 

[Hashime]

the awesomeness can't be explained, it must be experienced

That's a really conveient excuse. I've been hearing about this tv show ever since I've been on the internet but I've never seen a single episode. I have a season set on netflix but I wouldn't know where too start. Could one at least set up some sort of guidance and where to jump into the series to at the very least see what the hubub is?

Start with the first season of the latest re imagining, the one with Christopher eccelstien, or start with season 5 of the new doctor who, the first season with matt smith.