# Tell me about Dr. Who **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 18, 2010, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-dr-who/550635 "2010-08-18T16:58:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2010, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-dr-who/550635/21 "2010-08-18T21:57:34Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > Maybe you’ve stopped watching, but there’s now an > > **Eleventh Doctor - Matt Smith (2010- )** > > I’m too new to the Whoniverse to attempt to describe his place in the pantheon, but [his Companion](http://i.telegraph.co.uk/telegraph/multimedia/archive/01446/smith_1446520c.jpg) is hands down the most gorgeous thing ever to travel through time. No kidding. There’s this twist she puts to her mouth that just makes me bunk-ready. And I like Matt Smith far better than the previous two - he really _seems_ different, in an undefinable way. Tennant was good, didn’t care for Eccleston, but in 2016, when the thread “Who is _your_ Doctor?” rolls around again, I’ll definitely post “Matt Smith”. With Tennant and Eccleston, I watched the show because the family watched it. With Smith, I watch Dr. Who because I want to watch it. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2010, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-dr-who/550635/22 "2010-08-18T22:33:52Z")
> [@Johnny\_Angel](#): > > As a longtime fan of the original series in its many mutations, I would nonetheless also suggest watching the new show first, and then digging into the old show if you find yourself drawn to it. But, it is often claimed that people end up preferring the incarnation of The Doctor that they first encountered, in which case you had better start with Tom Baker, or else your appreciation of the show will be forever corrupted. . . [You never forget your first Doctor.](http://www.thinkgeek.com/tshirts-apparel/unisex/popculture/988c/) ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2010, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-dr-who/550635/23 "2010-08-18T22:41:52Z")
One of the distinguishing qualities of the show for me is its - for want of a better phrase - ethical tone. The Doctor famously never carries a weapon - his go-to tool is a sonic screwdriver (essentially, a magic wand). The writing is focussed on solving problems rather than annihilating enemies. For example, three episodes (_The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances_ and _New Earth_) are essentially “zombies run amok” stories. Each ends with the Doctor healing, rather than destroying, the zombies. That’s very typical of the series. Also, _Doctor Who_ is one of the most diverse series I know - the cast and the background extras are always a mix of races, ages, and sexual orientations. One of the more important relationships was between a biracial couple, and another recurring character was gay (well, “omnisexual”). None of that iwere ever a plot point, though - it was just part of those characters’ persona. P.S. Tom Baker was my “first Doctor”; but I gotta say Tennant is it, as far as I’m concerned. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2010, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-dr-who/550635/24 "2010-08-18T22:45:34Z")
Never _Dr. Who_. Always _Doctor Who_. He’s not _a_ Doctor, he’s _the_ Doctor. ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2010, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-dr-who/550635/25 "2010-08-19T00:13:23Z")
[QUOTE=KneadToKnow;12814882 I’m too new to the Whoniverse to attempt to describe his place in the pantheon, but [his Companion] ([The Telegraph US - Breaking news, opinion & analysis](http://i.telegraph.co.uk/telegraph/multimedia/archive/01446/smith_1446520c.jpg)) is hands down the most gorgeous thing ever to travel through time. [/QUOTE] True dat, but as an Old Whovian, I got give some big ups to Sarah Jane, back in the day. [http://tansyrr.com/tansywp/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/Sarah\_Jane\_Smith1.jpg](http://tansyrr.com/tansywp/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/Sarah_Jane_Smith1.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2010, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-dr-who/550635/26 "2010-08-19T01:14:41Z")
What is the current US broadcasting schedule? Do I need to go check out BBC America (and pray it is available on my cable system-Sy Fy stopped showing them awhile back)? ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2010, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-dr-who/550635/27 "2010-08-19T01:22:30Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > Never _Dr. Who_. Always _Doctor Who_. > > He’s not _a_ Doctor, he’s _the_ Doctor. The Definite Article, as it were. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2010, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-dr-who/550635/28 "2010-08-19T01:25:41Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > I’m too new to the Whoniverse to attempt to describe his place in the pantheon, but [his Companion](http://i.telegraph.co.uk/telegraph/multimedia/archive/01446/smith_1446520c.jpg) is hands down the most gorgeous thing ever to travel through time. [Rose Tyler](http://tardis.wikia.com/wiki/File:Rose_in_Series_4.png), baby. She floats my boat. ---
**Author:** ![moejoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de053/32.png) [@moejoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moejoe)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2010, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-dr-who/550635/29 "2010-08-19T02:20:13Z")
> [@Yllaria](#): > > [You never forget your first Doctor.](http://www.thinkgeek.com/tshirts-apparel/unisex/popculture/988c/) And remember, it’s ok to be a little sad when _your_ doctor goes away. ---
**Author:** ![Jenaroph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e8c25b/32.png) [@Jenaroph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jenaroph)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2010, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-dr-who/550635/30 "2010-08-19T02:26:34Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > Never _Dr. Who_. Always _Doctor Who_. > > He’s not _a_ Doctor, he’s _the_ Doctor. Knock knock. Who’s there? The Doctor. The Doctor who? No… just “the Doctor.” Thus ends my geeky and useless contribution to this thread ---
**Author:** ![antonio107](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7ea924/32.png) [@antonio107](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/antonio107)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2010, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-dr-who/550635/31 "2010-08-19T02:54:27Z")
I just started following the daily episodes of Dr. Who on Space Canada, starting with the Eccleston one a few months back. Gotten close to catching up, and I must say I like it. Watched a bit of the old series back when I was 2, but I don’t remember that at all. I’ve seen each episode of Star Trek, TNG through Enterprise eleventy-seven times. This is a nice change of pace. Is it just me though, or is there something faintly letcherous about a super ancient alien being using his time machine to pick up chicks – er, sorry, new “companions?” 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Registered\_at\_Last](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bc79bd/32.png) [@Registered\_at\_Last](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Registered_at_Last)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2010, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-dr-who/550635/32 "2010-08-19T02:57:43Z")
A well timed thread as I am just working my way through the new Doctor series since I missed a few episodes the first couple of seasons when I was watching it in real time. The one thing I would add, since you mention trying to decide which episode to watch, is that there is an overall season arc that makes more sense if you watch it in order. Each episodes stands alone, but the season finale makes more sense if you have seen the whole season. And definitely the first episode of the new Series is the place to start if you are not yet familiiar with the Whoniverse. I just watched the short Christmas special between season 3 & 4 “Time Crash” and cracked up when David Tennant told Peter Davidson “You were always MY doctor” Even The Doctor has a “My Doctor” … FTR mine is Jon Pertwee. ---
**Author:** ![Oregon\_sunshine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/50afbb/32.png) [@Oregon\_sunshine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oregon_sunshine)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2010, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-dr-who/550635/33 "2010-08-19T03:07:47Z")
For the love of all that is right and good, _watch the Tom Baker eps first!!!_ ---
**Author:** ![Jenaroph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e8c25b/32.png) [@Jenaroph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jenaroph)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2010, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-dr-who/550635/34 "2010-08-19T03:31:00Z")
> [@antonio107](#): > > Is it just me though, or is there something faintly letcherous about a super ancient alien being using his time machine to pick up chicks – er, sorry, new “companions?” 😃 No kidding. It works though; I loved that the line Nine used to convince Rose to [del]dump Mickey[/del] come travel with him was essentially, “Hey, baby, how’d you like a ride in my time machine?” Then there was the episode this season where he came back to pick up Rory; they played up the “stealing your girlfriend-well, no, it’s not really like THAT” angle hilariously. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2010, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-dr-who/550635/35 "2010-08-19T03:39:39Z")
> [@Jenaroph](#): > > > [@GuanoLad](#): > > > > Never _Dr. Who_. Always _Doctor Who_. > > > > He’s not _a_ Doctor, he’s _the_ Doctor. > > Knock knock. > > Who’s there? > > The Doctor. > > The Doctor who? > > No… just “the Doctor.” > > Thus ends my geeky and useless contribution to this thread I’ll go one geekier… “Knock-knock” “Who’s there?” “The Doctor” “Doctor Who?” \ “… I don’t get it.” ---
**Author:** ![penultima\_thule](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penultima_thule/32/3833_2.png) [@penultima\_thule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/penultima_thule)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2010, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-dr-who/550635/36 "2010-08-19T03:41:56Z")
My first Doctor was Patrick Troughton. Liked Baker and I prefer Eccleston of the newer regenerations. Favourite companion was Leela, until Amy Pond showed up! Had wondered which would prevail in a contest between the Darleks and the Cybermen (with Doctors 1-8), though it became no contest since in the newer series e.g. the episode Doomsday: > [@](#): > > **Cyberman:** Daleks, be warned; you have declared war upon the Cybermen. > **Dalek Sec:** This is not war. This is pest control! ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2010, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-dr-who/550635/37 "2010-08-19T05:31:06Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > > [@KneadToKnow](#): > > > > I’m too new to the Whoniverse to attempt to describe his place in the pantheon, but [his Companion](http://i.telegraph.co.uk/telegraph/multimedia/archive/01446/smith_1446520c.jpg) is hands down the most gorgeous thing ever to travel through time. > > [Rose Tyler](http://tardis.wikia.com/wiki/File:Rose_in_Series_4.png), baby. She floats my boat. The problem with her is that I met a girl who looked exactly like her and she was 12.If we’re going to do this, I might as well put my hottest Companion: [Dr. Martha Jones](http://classic-horror.com/index.php?q=img_assist/popup/10588) (now Smith-Jones). She’s also one of those weird characters that is hotter than her actress. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2010, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-dr-who/550635/38 "2010-08-19T06:46:30Z")
> [@antonio107](#): > > Is it just me though, or is there something faintly letcherous about a super ancient alien being using his time machine to pick up chicks – er, sorry, new “companions?” 😃 This is nicely subverted in the episode where they meet Shakespeare. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2010, 7:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-dr-who/550635/39 "2010-08-19T07:22:23Z")
My first Doctor was Baker; and I hated hated hated him. The 'rents loved the show, made me watch. It was not until Tennent showed up that I liked it. Matt Smith is showing potential and on the issue of Amy Pond… lets just say The Doctor must be gay. Turning her down It should be noted that another companion became an escort and had a Doctor for a client. ---
**Author:** ![Bites\_When\_Provoked](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bites_when_provoked/32/18073_2.png) [@Bites\_When\_Provoked](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bites_When_Provoked)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2010, 7:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-dr-who/550635/40 "2010-08-19T07:30:21Z")
I really like Matt Smith think he’s one the best; he did a brilliant job of making the character his own. Plus the story arc was great for this series! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-dr-who/550635.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-dr-who/550635.md?page=3)