Imagine if you will a science fiction children’s show debuting on British television just days after the assassination of John F. Kennedy – 23 November 1963. Now imagine that program becoming one of the longest running shows of it’s kind on television – spanning over 25 years and 8 separate actors playing the lead role of the time traveling, mysterious man known only as “The Doctor”. Now, more than forty years after it’s debut, the 10th actor to play the lead role in a new version of the show is about to do what 9 others have done before him – take a bow and pass the role onto a new actor.
Welcome to the world of what many consider to be the most successful science fiction show on television – The world of “Doctor Who“
An Unearthly Child
It all began when two teachers went to investigate the home life of an odd student, only to stumble across her grandfather and a time machine that appeared to be a British “Police Box” – an emergency phone system used in the UK many decades ago. The blue box – not much larger than a telephone booth – was far larger inside than out. Inside was a huge time machine powered by technology that the human brain can hardly even comprehend. It’s owner, an elderly man known only as “The Doctor”, was a wanderer in time and space. The machine could go anywhere, and so it did.
At first, no one knew anything about The Doctor – even if he was a good man or a bad one. He claimed to be from another time and planet, but was sharp with anyone who asked too many questions. And so, for years almost nothing was known about the character.
Then He Died
When the first actor to play The Doctor – William Hartnell – became to ill to continue the role, another actor was found. But this new actor was younger and looked nothing like the original. It was determined that The Doctor would “Regenerate”. He would somehow change his body when it became to weak to go on, and when The Doctor regenerated he not only looked different – he acted differently too.
Throughout the first Doctor’s time on the show, he had gone from being a curmugenly old man to a clearly caring (if fiesty and ill-tempered at times) older man. Now The Doctor was a younger man. Still a genius, and still fighting for justice in a universe full of strange and twisted alien menaces, but with a clownish persona that hid his brains and often caught people off guard.
In this second incarnation actor Patrick Troughton became the first man to prove that the show – which had become a hit by this time – could continue without staying exactly the same. So when it was his time to leave, he too was replaced… and so on.
Then the Show Died
By the mid 1980′s the show had fallen in the ratings and was receiving less and less money from the BBC to make it. Eventually it was canceled. Ten years later an American television movie tried to revive it, but it failed.
Then…. ten years after that… another revival was tried. This time, television writer Russel T. Davies – writer for the original British version of the hit show “Queer as Folk” – recreated the series with the 9th actor to play the part, and with a new format and style that made it a hit. The series was back on the air and more successful than ever.
But What Is It About?
The program is an adventure program. It was designed for, and still caters to kids, but also to adults. The show is a unique blend of adventure, horror, science fiction, fantasy and…. pretty much whatever else they want to put into it. The Doctor is an anti-establishment figure that often butts heads with those in authority whether on earth or alien worlds. In whatever time and place he finds himself in, he usually stands up for those who are not rich or well-connected. His brilliance and knowledge usually make him the first to know (or eventually figure out) what is going on.
As the show progressed, the audience learned more of who the mysterious stranger was. The Doctor was revealed to be from a race known as the Time Lords. They were the only race to fully understand and oversee time travel, but had become complacent. They refused to interfere in events for the most part. The Doctor, on the other hand, considered interference almost a duty when he saw people being hurt or enslaved.
But Then They All Died
In the 2005 revival of the show The Doctor had become the last Time Lord; the last survivor of a horrible war across time and space. His loneliness and his ability to pick up new companions in his travels became more important than ever on a show that became more emotionally powerful and less a simple action adventure program. Modern dramatic elements like romance began to be introduced, and audiences seemed to love it.
Now, the last of the Time Lords, played by Scottish actor David Tennent is about to “die”, to be replaced by the youngest actor to ever play the role: 28 year old Matt Smith.
The Big Answer…. Why You Should Care
Because the show is a huge success in England? No? Ok, well…. let me say this. Besides the obvious love I have for the show, it is an institution that has influence young people for generations. People who watched it as a child are now working on the show! They describe the show as unique and quite special to them, and I couldn’t agree more.
In the great science fiction triumvirate (group of three) of influences, there is Star Trek, Star Wars and Doctor Who; and of those three Doctor Who stands apart as something oddly down-to-earth and heartfelt in a way the others are not. Both the original Star Trek and the first three Star Wars films (from the 1970′s) focused on great and special characters interacting and powerful levels of the military, politics and society. The Doctor, as brilliant as he is, prefers to quietly change things and move on. He is drawn far more often to ordinary people and to comment on their ability to keep going even in difficult times. The Doctor is a champion of the common man in many ways.
the 9th actor to play the part (the first in the 2005 revival) made the point that he thought it important to play the character because he believed that children deserved to be told powerful and interesting stories. They deserved not to be spoken down to. Imagination is one of our greatest resources. It has powered generations of scientists, actors, lawyers…. and yes, Doctors.
And as Popular Culture spins out, one of the most important questions we can ask is “Who are our heroes?”
I, for one, have 10 of them, and soon I’ll have one more.
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My dad and I used to watch this show. Thanks for the memories. I got lots of good memories of him and the doctor.
Goodbye david!