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Everything You Need To Know To Start Watching "Doctor Who" Right Now

By Joanna Robinson | Posted Under Videos | Comments (38)

doctor-who-season-6-photo-04-550x388.jpeg

Are you tired of us nattering on about “Doctor Who,” but are too overwhelmed by the show’s history to start watching? Well BBC America has produced a handy little spoiler-free video to get you all prepared to hunker down and watch the premiere on April 23rd.


Also, earlier this week, I offered up a super nerdy “Doctor Who” T-shirt for the commenter with the best defense of “their” Doctor. Laurie wins for this impassioned case for David Tennant and because I’m afraid what she’ll do with that Dalek eye stalk if I don’t hand over that shirt.

Oh Joanna. You hard-nosed bitch. You know the heart of the eternal Doctor Who debate, and you still insist on me making a case for ONE? You have the skin of polycarbide. I love it. Matt Smith is a hard case to argue, I’ll give you that. Dude’s got the wiggly fingers, the clumsiness of trying to be cool, the awkwardness of human behaviour and niceties, while at the same time being genuinely creepy and arrogant, and masters a kickass delivery of lines.

But you’ve never seen someone lose their nerdshit like I did last week at the Doctor Who Experience. For a reference point, THIS was the very first thing I ever saw of Doctor Who. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAmEHsMu1L8&feature=related . Oh, please. I’m only a girl. “You shouldn’t have let me push all of those buttons” ???? That brief flash of Scottish accent? That shit-eating grin? That skedaddle out of there? Truly, seeing Tennant run in a suit is a special gift for all of womankind. And he did so much running. So much snogging. Fezzes (fezii?) are cool, but Tennant was suave, heartbroken and yappy. Also, did I mention - Scottish? There seems to be a misconception that love for Doctor Who should be a shameful admission. Jo, I assure you - I would be proud to nerd pwn all my friends and rub it in their stupid faces. Can I have it? Please? Or I’m shoving that Dalek eyestalk where no vortex manipulator is going back to get it.

Laurie, I’ve emailed you requesting a mailing address and will send the shirt as soon as you put…the…eyestalk…back…in…the…box.









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Comments

No, what I am tired of everyone nattering on about this new nonsense that you call Dr. Who, when it bears very little resemblance to the tacky, silly thing I adored when I was a child. You know, when the Doctor was properly aloof and never touched his companions unless it was necessary to carry them or bandage them up or something? Grumble. Why can't you people just leave my childhood alone? Peter Davison is now and will always be the hot doctor, and you can keep your damn Tennants and your Smiths and go play in your bunks with them.

No, don't try to argue with me. I don't care. You will never replace Dr. Who with this shiny new thing where the Doctor snogs his companions in my heart. Now get off my lawn.

Posted by: Samantha at April 8, 2011 3:26 PM

And you didn't disqualify her for using "pwn"?

Posted by: PaddyDog at April 8, 2011 3:31 PM

In accordance with Shadow Proclamation protocol this post is hereby approved.

Posted by: BarbadoSlim at April 8, 2011 3:31 PM

new nonsense that you call Dr. Who

*deep breath*


It wasn't called that then either.

Posted by: Jay at April 8, 2011 3:35 PM

OOh Samantha. You've done it now.

Posted by: PaddyDog at April 8, 2011 3:36 PM

Nope. Just can't watch it. I started with the Eccleston series and couldn't even finish the first episode. It was too... campy and badly acted and just AWFUL. And I love British shows, science fiction shows, campy humor and basically any other description you can think of, I'm sure I usually love it. But this show? Nope. Not gonna happen.

Posted by: MelBivDevoe at April 8, 2011 3:38 PM

I really should get around to watching that. But yeah, I feel the same way about it that I feel about comic books: sooooooo much complicated history that it feels too intimidating to tackle.

Posted by: Sassafrass Green at April 8, 2011 3:39 PM

Bravo, Laurie!

Posted by: DarthCorleone at April 8, 2011 3:41 PM

Dr. Whodites are like Whedonites on very refined English liquor.

Posted by: Fredo at April 8, 2011 3:43 PM

Mel, the whole reason to watch Dr. Who is because it IS campy and sometimes badly acted. Tennant is a might better than Eccleston, but Eccleston WAS in Shallow Grave, which is a fantastically funny British movie. Perhaps you don't get British humor? Which is fine. Dr. Who has greatly improved since the first season, but even that first one is pretty good as a starting off point. You don't need to start all the way to the first one in 1963 to appreciate the writing and humor of Dr. Who. And sure the companions want him bad, but that's also pretty funny. I particularly like when Captain Jack hits on Dr. Who. If you don't know who that is, you don't know what you're missing ;)!

Posted by: Gina at April 8, 2011 3:44 PM

We're called Whovians, Fredo.

Posted by: PaddyDog at April 8, 2011 3:45 PM

too intimidating to tackle.

To feel grounded in this season I'd back up a year, as it's a continuing overall arc. But you really can come in anywhere and you'll pick up the important details. There's fanwank but you hardly ever need to know about something that happened long ago to understand the episode you're watching, and if you do they'll probably give you a little background, often in the form of the companion (which is you) asking The Doctor (which is the show) "the fuck is THAT? The fuck are you DOING?"

Don't worry about it.

Posted by: Jay at April 8, 2011 3:46 PM

The "pwn" was her quoting me quoting Chris Hardwick. . .the moderator of the Who event. So yes, I let it slide.

Posted by: coveredinbees at April 8, 2011 3:48 PM

I particularly like when Captain Jack hits on Dr. Who.

See, you went too far and gave it away.

Posted by: Jay at April 8, 2011 3:48 PM

@ Jay

Ooooo, okay, see that boosts me up some. It sort of sounds like the episodes are fairly self-contained then?

Posted by: Sassafrass Green at April 8, 2011 3:49 PM

Yeah, and if it's a two-parter there's always a little "previously..." backup. But yeah, they really do a good job of throwing in information to remind/introduce. Plus, in a sense, most of what The Doctor does is show up where no one knows who or what the hell he is (often because he didn't get where he thought he was going--his ship's supposed to have six people driving, not one, so he's always taking wrong turns), and they either go with it (help him with the conflict) or get their backs up (be the conflict).

Then he leaves up and turns up somewhere else next week.

"Blink" is a very good example of tone and storytelling abilities, but I'd also recommend "Midnight", which is very standalone and based around The Doctor being an unknown quantity.

Posted by: Jay at April 8, 2011 3:55 PM

See, the thing is, I LOVE British humor, from the classic Monty Python's Flying Circus to the IT Crowd and beyond.

Maybe I should try a different doctor? If I'm skipping Eccleston, where should I start?

Posted by: MelBivDevoe at April 8, 2011 3:58 PM

Posted by: Samantha at April 8, 2011 3:26 PM

Thankfully, someone placed this here sofa out on the curb just beyond the reach of your lawn. I'll be behind it for the next couple hours.


Maybe I should try a different doctor? If I'm skipping Eccleston, where should I start?

I'll acknowledge my bias in that Eccleston is my favorite Doctor, but try "Dalek" from his run as it provides a good amount of backstory plus it allows Eccleston to show his more dramatic acting chops.

Posted by: branded at April 8, 2011 4:10 PM

Two things about that header pic:

1) Alex Kingston makes me feel funny in my mid holster area.

2) Add Matt Smith to the very long list of people that should never, under any circumstances, wear a cowboy hat.

Posted by: Groundloop at April 8, 2011 4:12 PM

Who is this "Dr." Who some folks keep mentioning?

Posted by: BarbadoSlim at April 8, 2011 4:14 PM

Slim, darjeeling, this is the part where we try to lure them in. We can teach them about pedantry later.

Posted by: coveredinbees at April 8, 2011 4:15 PM

Call me old-fashioned ("An Old Fashioned? I'll have a double!"), but I like Tom Baker and Christopher Eccleston. For me, the Doctor always had a certain manic streak to him, like a rabbit on crystal meth.

Posted by: The Wanderer at April 8, 2011 4:24 PM

Yeah, seriously: can we have juxtaposed pictures of Smith and Olyphant in western hats?

In fairness, maybe Olyphant doesn't do the tweed jacket look very well....in which case he's welcome to take it off

Posted by: PaddyDog at April 8, 2011 4:32 PM

Everything You Need To Know To Start Watching "Doctor Who" Right Now:

Alex Kingston.

I sat through an episode of Private Practice last week because she was in it.

~~~

Posted by: Meander at April 8, 2011 4:35 PM

Actually, I wish Matt Smith would quit wearing that seethru v-neck undershirt. It skeeves me out.

I'm still a fan of Patrick Troughton's Doctor:

1. He made the idea of regeneration work.
2. He made the Doctor "doctory" if that makes any sense.
3. He had bottomless pockets.
4. I loved his companion, Jamie. Actually, I used to live for "Jamie up a ladder" shots on a windy day. It wasn't until years later that I found out that he sewed weights into the hem of his kilt so it wouldn't blow up, and he bribed the cameraman to stop down the aperture so the screen would go darker and you couldn't see up his kilt.
5. He was the first one to work with the Brig (may he rest in peace) and UNIT.

Posted by: BWeaves at April 8, 2011 4:54 PM

This may offend but lets face facts, Alex Kingston >> Karen Gillan

Posted by: Lady Lobo at April 8, 2011 4:58 PM

Karen Gillan is more physically attractive than Alex Kingston. Alex Kingston is more [every other positive descriptor in the universe] than Karen Gillan.

Posted by: Todd at April 8, 2011 5:11 PM

Tood, I can't even agree with the first part of your statement - Karen is hella cute, and I love that red hair and those long legs [not GREAT legs, mind you, just long].

But she is decidedly underbaked, ESPECIALLY next to Alex Kingston. The "River is Future Amy" seems much more plausible if you can imagine Amy taking a level or 30 in awesome.
~~~

Posted by: Meander at April 8, 2011 5:21 PM

Oh dear, you've all taken this to the pedantic edge today...

All you really need to know about who summarized by the excellent writer himself, Neil Gaiman, at a recent conference:

"The bit I think I was happiest with is about 16 minutes in, when I was asked what I would say to someone worried about having to know 47 years of backstory before watching Doctor Who, and I said:

“No, look, there’s a blue box. It’s bigger on the inside than it is on the outside. It can go anywhere in time and space and sometimes even where it’s meant to go. And when it turns up, there’s a bloke in it called The Doctor and there will be stuff wrong and he will do his best to sort it out and he will probably succeed cos he’s awesome. Now sit down, shut up, and watch ‘Blink’.”

Grokked? Good!

Posted by: jmd at April 8, 2011 5:26 PM

For film proof of why I'm learning to love Matt Smith and why I will never love Amy Pond:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UeJ4Ak2xCkw&feature=related

Posted by: Patty O'Green at April 8, 2011 5:31 PM

This may offend

If it does I don't wanna know 'em.

Posted by: Jay at April 8, 2011 6:47 PM

"I'm like a Space Gandfalf". Brilliant.
Thatnks Patty.

Posted by: Odnon. at April 8, 2011 6:47 PM

Patty, that was awesome. Thank you!

Posted by: MyySharona at April 8, 2011 7:06 PM

@MelBivDevoe

Start with the fifth series (Matt Smith's first season) as everything is new and, thus, it'll be real easy to catch up because there's New Doctor, new Companion, new TARDIS, new head writer, etc, etc.
Plus, much of the sixth series' story lines (if you do watch it) is overarched from the fifth series so it'll be nice to understand exactly what they're talking about.

Posted by: Ellie at April 8, 2011 8:39 PM

Lookit:

THIS RIGHT HERE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9P4SxtphJ4

is all the non-initiated need to know about the Doctor.

You're welcome.
P.S. I though Eccleston was fantastic, but I will be a Tom Baker girl until I die, and probably afterwards as well.

Posted by: Jerce at April 8, 2011 10:50 PM

This thread proves EXACTLY why I am "tired of us nattering on about 'Doctor Who,' but are too overwhelmed by the show’s history to start watching?"

Posted by: lurker erin at April 9, 2011 9:23 AM

moral injustice.. and he must do something...??


again, i say.. what about all the frozen people in the xmas special?

Posted by: kikz at April 10, 2011 11:00 AM

You can't argue with the fury of a Time Lord.

Posted by: duckandcover at April 10, 2011 7:08 PM