Time and Space
It’s time (haha, get it?) for me to tell you about one of my absolute favorite shows. I’m sure it will take me a few posts to fully encapsulate the wonder of this series, so bear with me.
A friend first introduced me to Doctor Who in 2013, right around the time of the show’s 50th anniversary. Because I had never seen it, my friend Shannon decided to start from the episode she had left off on- Doomsday. If you’re familiar with the show, Doomsday was the worst episode she could have started me on. Major spoilers in that one, but I digress.
Doctor Who is one of the longest-running sci-fi shows around. This British show first aired in 1963, and was so successful that it is still running today. As a way to keep the show going throughout the generations and still maintain the protagonist, the show writers found a creative way to keep it going. The Doctor, a species of alien called a Time Lord, has the ability to regenerate when he dies- that is, he can change his face into a new person. The new Doctor keeps all of the same memories, history, and friendships, but his personality traits and physical features will differ.
After a hiatus or two, the show was rebooted in 2005, much to the excitement of fans old and new. Christopher Eccleston played the 9th Doctor, and his human companion was Rose Tyler (played by the actress Billie Piper). This rebooted series is the “Doctor Who” that I started with, and I still have not had the chance to watch all of the “Old Who” episodes.
My Love for Doctor Who
So, why do I love this series so much? Well. Buckle in for a wild ride, here.
One of my favorite things about books, shows, and movies is that they allow me to disappear into a completely different universe. From my other blog posts, you know that my life is a little… wonky. I’ve grown up in a broken family, which has led to a desperate desire for me to escape the life I’m in. Back in 2013, when I first was introduced to Doctor Who, I had been going through an exceptionally rough time with my mental health. This show was my way to completely distract myself and get lost in the world of the Doctor.
In one of the episodes I recently watched, “The Next Doctor”, there was an interesting exchange between the Doctor and another character that resonated with me.
The “New” Doctor: Think of it, John. Time and space.
The Doctor: The perfect escape. Do you ever wonder what you’re escaping from?
Planet Claire
As the Doctor is using his travels through time and space as an escape, I am also using his adventures as an escape of my own. And I have been, since 2013. Eight years of escaping my wild life through the lives of all of the characters of Doctor Who. Traveling through time and space, exploring history through the eyes of the Doctor and his companions.
The Different Doctors
As I mentioned, there are multiple actors who have held the role of the Doctor. It’s hard for me to choose a favorite, but if I HAD to choose, I would choose the 10th and 11th Doctors, portrayed by David Tennant and Matt Smith, respectively. Both of them bring a personality and character to the role that is hard to beat. Of course, David Tennant was also the first Doctor that brought me into the show, so I have a little bit of favoritism toward him.
David Tennant is a very popular Doctor to a lot of the viewers of the show. According to Syfy in a recent poll, David Tennant (the Tenth Doctor) received 10,518 votes (21%). Following close behind was Jodie Whittaker, the first female iteration of the Doctor. While some fans love Jodie because she gives females an icon to look up to, others do not like that the Doctor changed genders. For me, I think that Jodie Whittaker (the 13th Doctor) gives an interesting change to the personality of the Doctor that is a welcome difference.
As the Doctors have changed throughout the years, I think that the show has become more diverse in its companions, as well. For the most part, the companions have been female, with the odd temporary male companion getting thrown in there. Let’s take a look at some of the companions of the Doctor.
The Companions
The companions of the Doctor make the show, really. I mean, in David Tennant’s tenure as the Doctor, he had a companion named Donna Noble who saved his life several times. In one of the episodes, “Turn Left”, viewers get the chance to see how different the world would be if Donna had never met the Doctor. As seen in the episode, without Donna to keep him wrangled, the Doctor does not survive. And, as the savior of the world several times over, losing the Doctor drastically changed the future of the Earth.
Companions are the friends of the Doctor, but they often are his balance. Companions like Donna keep the Doctor in check, to make sure that he doesn’t go too far. Rose Tyler, the first companion in the reboot of Doctor Who, comes into the Doctor’s life immediately after he loses his home planet in a massive war. She is the one who helps him return to some sense of normalcy, and helps him to become a better person.
My favorite companions, though, are the ones who travelled with the 11th Doctor, portrayed by Matt Smith. The entire Pond family- Amy, Rory, and a certain other someone who I won’t name- bring the show a whole new meaning. Their family dynamic makes the Doctor remember his time as a father, and it brings more character development, in my opinion.
As a long-time viewer of the show, however, it is incredibly hard to choose one particular companion as a favorite- just as it is very difficult to choose a favorite Doctor. I think that’s what makes the show so relatable- having different characters that remind me of different times in my own life.
Donna Noble (portrayed by actress Catherine Tate) is seen as sassy, with her attitude being her most defining characteristic. This attitude comes from her own belief that she is unimportant, so she feels the need to remind others that she is simply there. Her mother is often berating her and nagging her for several different things, so traveling with the Doctor gave her a sense of purpose and belonging that she never felt at home. While rewatching the series, it almost makes me want to cry.
So many times in my life, I’ve felt simply “less than”, unimportant. Not special, no one would notice if I were to disappear. However, as the Doctor reminds Donna’s family in “Journey’s End”,
“And for one moment… one shining moment… she was the most important woman in the whole wide universe.”
Taken from IMDB
I think I needed that reminder, as well. And although I did not save the universe, or anything so noteworthy, I try to find reminders in my daily life that I am important, too. Even if it means that I am important to one person, or even just myself,
I. Am. Important.
