# What's wrong with me? I'm finding Doctor Who boring

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-wrong-with-me-im-finding-doctor-who-boring/957046>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Tags:** tv-shows-scripted\
**Created:** [January 1, 2022, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-wrong-with-me-im-finding-doctor-who-boring/957046 "2022-01-01T21:42:40Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 3

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**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\
**Post date:** [January 8, 2022, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-wrong-with-me-im-finding-doctor-who-boring/957046/41 "2022-01-08T23:00:54Z")

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> [@Knowed\_Out](#):
>
> > [@GreenWyvern](#):
> >
> > To what extent is Dr Who meant to taken seriously? How much is it just light fun, the modern equivalent of the old Saturday movie serials for kids?
> 
> Well, it’s difficult to explain. It’s had awesome, mind blowing moments that hook you in for more, and it’s been laughably terrible, but still entertaining in its badness. It has plenty of kid appeal and pseudo-scientific intrigue for nerds. Some people may dig it and not take it seriously at all, while others take it at blood oath-level seriousness. So, the answer is “it depends.”

I’ve heard Doctor Who described as a “children’s show”, but it seems a bit violent for that at times. I would describe it as equivalent to American sci fi shows like Star Trek, Farscape, Stargate SG-1, or Firefly. Basically “adventure serial” sci fi. Most of the time, it’s not taken as seriously as some of the events might suggest, except when it is:

Chris Eccleston’s doctor was dealing with a lot of PTSD from the events and his actions in the “Time War” that kind of defined his character throughout his run.

or

[This clip](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHjr4JusPA8) from Classic Who is probably one of the few times I can remember a companion (Tegan with the Fifth Doctor) showing that it might not actually be “fun” dropping out of space and time into the middle of various interstellar wars and meeting new and interesting people minutes before they are murdered by Daleks, Cybermen, Sontarans, or some other monster of the week. If you think about it, traveling with the Doctor actually sounds pretty freakin terrifying!

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**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\
**Post date:** [January 9, 2022, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-wrong-with-me-im-finding-doctor-who-boring/957046/42 "2022-01-09T00:17:12Z")

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Sarah Jane also had a long rant on how she was tired of traveling with the Doctor just before she left.

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**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:** [January 9, 2022, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-wrong-with-me-im-finding-doctor-who-boring/957046/43 "2022-01-09T01:04:29Z")

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> [@msmith537](#):
>
> I’ve heard Doctor Who described as a “children’s show”, but it seems a bit violent for that at times.

There is a famous phrase associated with early Doctor Who which is “hiding behind the sofa”. When kids under 7 watched the show, they used to do so while cowering behind the couch whenever the villains appeared. I include myself in that. The creepy synth music and the slow plodding portentous approach of the Cybermen or whatever would send kids reeling.

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