Doesn't have some thing to do with a cross dressing hare?

person who travels through time and space in a phone booth called the tardis with companions and saved the world and galaxy from evil. he regenerates occasionally when they get a new actor.

True - but Doctor Who is perhaps the most flexible show on television. Even the magic phone booth has been done away with on occasion. The Doctor can go anywhere, and take on all sorts of problems, including how to tell a new story with a decades-old show.

It can, at times be an educational adventure show, a isolated base under siege show (think the John Carpenter version of The Thing), an Avengers knock off show, Gothic Hammer Horror, an absurdest comedy (occasionally written by Douglas Addams), a straight out American action flick, a dark postwar survivor's story, and a relationship comedy (with universe-shattering consequences).

The show has survived this long because of its changeability. The series can morph into whatever its time period demands of it. It's sort of a time capsule, and watching old episodes is its own special kind of time travel. It's never made any attempt to be timeless and it's embraced changes with glee.

Also, it keeps the show from getting bogged down with canon. The only canonical fact is that the Doctor stole the TARDIS and went off to have adventures. Everything else is open to negotiation.

so, was I wrong?

Well, yes and no. The basic premise - Alien shows up in a location, theres a problem happening, alien fixes problem, rides off into sunset - is right. Just that the tone and feel of the show is all over the map The first Doctor is nothing like the 3rd Doctor which is nothing like the 7th Doctor which is nothing like the modern stuff.

Now granted the older stuff - well, depends on how much you have a tolerance for older television like The Prisoner, Blake's 7, the Shatner Star Trek, Lost in Space and so on - might be a harder pill to swallow (and yes, the show was made for a buck 98 - quite literally, the budget for the early shows was maybe 4,000 pounds), but the newer stuff is pretty comparable to modern genre shows.

Seen both the old late 70's and 80's Dr who and the modern shows and just never loved it also for the premise. The older versions reminded me of watching Land of the Lost, and the new stuff while much better written still loses me for the premise of an immortal time traveling alien picking all his companions from Earth to travel with him on adventures, adventures which largely seem only to serve the needs of that weeks plot and not some greater overriding purpose.

tone wise, I dIdn't care, but since you told me that, I gage even less of a desire to watch it. the premise already turned me away,but those old science fiction shows, *bleck*.I used to love star trek growing up. every Saturday night we would order 2 pizzas and watch next gen. when ds9 started I loved it too. I quit watching star trek after seeing 4 episodes of the original series, and I haven't fine back. I thought about it when enterprise came out, but the time traveler in the premier pushed me away.

so, the premise doesn't appeal to me. tone wise I already hate it.

I'm right there with the meh feeling on Dr Who. Crazy fans usually turn me off from wanting to watch things. I also just never got into the few episodes that I've seen. Usually it's the crazy logic jumps that get me to tune out. In one episode, a woman from the 40s was whisked to the far future and she was able to drive a spaceship and save the day because she once went into her husband's airplane.

As for Star Trek, I'm not a huge fan but I'll say that TNG and DS9 are easily the best. As a kid, TOS was just too slow. As an adult, the one time I sat down and watch the first season it was quite enjoyable. Of course, I've grown to love westerns and other films from the 60s, so I've become accustomed to the pace. I hated Voyager and never watched Enterprise.

I have been a Doctor Who fan since 1983 watching old stuff on PBS. I have realized over that time that some people will never like the show, even though, it has features they like in other media.

Doctor Who, like Star Wars is a campy idea with a simple premise that happened to accidentally stumble into greatness.

Is there a point to trying to convince someone to be a Doctor Who fan that adamantly does not want to be a fan? nope... Are they missing out? I like to think so. I have gotten several people to be fans of Doctor Who because they saw the right episodes first. One of the things that Doctor Who suffers from being such a long running show is that people think they can watch a random episode here and there and magically it sums up the whole show... They will never be convinced that they are wrong or see beyond that initial view. It is like watching Lost in the middle of the show's run... once you make that initial impression, your hope of ever being a fan is gone.

I have one friend that sat along to watch a show of Doctor Who with me. I was really excited about it as I had waited a long time for the episode and it was wrapping up a few story arcs... by the end I was very excited about where it was going and he was left confused. He had to ask so many questions he couldn't keep up... nearly 2 years later he is still struggling to get a handle on the show because he was uncomfortable with the first impression that wasn't an episode designed to bring someone into.

While I admire Desslok trying to convince people to watch Doctor Who, he is doing more a disservice than anything else trying to continue the line of communication. Without taking the effort to find where to really pick up on Doctor Who and wanting to enjoy it, nobody ever will. I honestly feel any Star Wars fan should like Doctor Who as it is fun for similar reasons but then again I am a fan of quite a lot of bad Sci Fi, Science Fantasy and Fantasy, so who am I to judge?

That is the end of my rant.

I always thought you needed to be British - or at least understand us Brits - to 'get' Dr Who.

I loved it as a girl - there was literally nothing else like it, from the great stories to the dreadful sets and the sheer imagination of the concepts. The Doctor was... so much the opposite of what a sci-fi hero was supposed to be.

I've never really tried to convert anyone because the show either clicks with you or it doesn't, really.

And 'Blakes 7', Desslok? Are you an honorary Brit or something? Boy, that was different. Grim and dark and gritty at a time when that was simply unheard of, AND going out well before the watershed. Completely amoral anti-heroes, and sets that were actually WORSE than Dr Who! And that final ending where...

****SPOILERS****

.... the entire cast just gets shot and killed....!

I've always been more into British comedy. Monty Python, Two Ronnies, Benny Hill, Carry on movies, Blackadder et al. I have enjoyed some limited series in the sci-fi vein. Hitchhiker's Guide, Red Dwarf, Jekyll, Ultraviolet and others I have probably forgotten. The benefit of being Canadian is that I have been able to enjoy stuff from both sides of the pond.

I always thought you needed to be British - or at least understand us Brits - to 'get' Dr Who.

Nah, you just have to have the right mindset.

Being brought up on PBS which showed a hell of a lot of British TV shows doesn’t hurt….

And 'Blakes 7', Desslok? Are you an honorary Brit or something? Boy, that was different. Grim and dark and gritty at a time when that was simply unheard of, AND going out well before the watershed. Completely amoral anti-heroes, and sets that were actually WORSE than Dr Who! And that final ending where…

I thought the final ending was there the snake ate its tail and the younger versions of themselves steal the ship from the older version of themselves. Or, maybe the older version of themselves decided that they needed to let the younger version think that they stole it.

But Avon was definitely the amoral anti-hero. I didn’t care much for Orac, though.

I am also a fan of Red Dwarf. I think I prefer the original Christine Kochanski, however. The Lister/GELF version was pretty cool, though. I did like the later Kochanski, but she was much too smart for the rest of the crew.

However, I seriously loved CarBug!

I, as a German, love Doctor Who, so does my sister, alter I showed it to her, but I get why many people don't like it.

It's just weird.

Well, to all the DW fans in this thread:

How do you like Peter Capaldi as the Doctor?

I think he's one of the best Doctors out there.

But I have to admit that I've never seen the old episodes, so I only have seen Echelston, Tennant, Smith, Capaldi and Hurt as the Doctor.

And I get that most people think Tennant is the best new Doctor, but personally, I like Smith and Capaldi better.

I just think it's a good thing that Moffat took over as showrunner, I just like his style more.

Though one of the best episodes was 'Don't blink', which was Tennants and the old showrunners time, but the episode itself was written by Moffat.

PS: I know I'm new here, but let me just say I love this forum.

I've never seen another forum where you can hijack some morons thread and noone cares.

I, as a German, love Doctor Who, so does my sister, alter I showed it to her, but I get why many people don't like it.

It's just weird.

Well, to all the DW fans in this thread:

How do you like Peter Capaldi as the Doctor?

I think he's one of the best Doctors out there.

But I have to admit that I've never seen the old episodes, so I only have seen Echelston, Tennant, Smith, Capaldi and Hurt as the Doctor.

And I get that most people think Tennant is the best new Doctor, but personally, I like Smith and Capaldi better.

I just think it's a good thing that Moffat took over as showrunner, I just like his style more.

Though one of the best episodes was 'Don't blink', which was Tennants and the old showrunners time, but the episode itself was written by Moffat.

PS: I know I'm new here, but let me just say I love this forum.

I've never seen another forum where you can hijack some morons thread and noone cares.

I like Peter Capaldi.

I have enjoyed watching all of the Doctors, though Tom Baker is my favorite. I even went to a Doctor who convention in Portland as a kid.

I have to say the direction they took this season was a bit weird. It was like they spent most of the season making the audience think Clara was a jerk/whiner/bastard only to make a whole 180 in the Christmas episode. I am not sure I liked that.

That being said I am super excited that my local comic con (Emerald City Comicon) Jenna Coleman and John Barrowman will be there this year, so obviously I can't hate the story sticking with her too much.

Welcome to the forum Kaidan.

Now as a longer term Whovian I would warn you about asking such a splitting question anywhere near a gathering of fans. Would be better to do the Kirk vs Pickard debate.

Now to answer your question. I like early Matt Smith, he got to waffling towards the end. Although dinosaurs? On a spaceship? After that from the new doctors I really liked Eccleston. Capaldi seems ok but I do not think the current plots have done him justice.

Arrrgggg double post so I will just add Red Dwarf is great. Favorite episode is DNA. Who would not like a giant curry monster and a mini robo cop.

Welcome to the forum Kaidan.

Thank you.

Well, I wasn't aware that's such a hot topic. Most people I asked that just explained to me why Tennant or the guy with the vegetable (that one was Tom Baker, wasn't he? Sorry, as I said, I never watched the old series) is the best doctor peacefully. And they never tried to stab me for not agreeing with them.

I have to say the direction they took this season was a bit weird. It was like they spent most of the season making the audience think Clara was a jerk/whiner/bastard only to make a whole 180 in the Christmas episode. I am not sure I liked that.

Really? I thought season 8 was trying to convince me that the Doctor was the jerk/bastard and even a little bit whiny.

Though Clara really did cry a lot.

How do you like Peter Capaldi as the Doctor?

Capaldi as an actor is brilliant - really good stuff. The characterization of the Doctor? Yes, he's always been a little bit of a arrogant jerk - but to be out-and-out assholeish like that? It's taking some getting used to.

My favorite - I really love the Doctor/Companion dynamic between 7 and Ace. Great stuff. But really, I like them all! Just depends on my mood at the time.

Deep Breath ruined all the built up credibility her character had. Destroyed everything about season 7 and the extra episodes where she was seen before she was a companion.

Listen she created a neurosis for the Doctor ... great job.

Kill the Moon she was acting like a brand new companion all over again.

Dark Water .... total fail as a companion. She got her "reward" for that behavior at the end of Death in Heaven so it was handled with her going her own way.

Then Last Christmas magically redeemed her whole season of issues?

Deep Breath ruined all the built up credibility her character had. Destroyed everything about season 7 and the extra episodes where she was seen before she was a companion.

Listen she created a neurosis for the Doctor ... great job.

Kill the Moon she was acting like a brand new companion all over again.

Dark Water .... total fail as a companion. She got her "reward" for that behavior at the end of Death in Heaven so it was handled with her going her own way.

Then Last Christmas magically redeemed her whole season of issues?

original comment deleted. nothing to see here. this is not the comment you are looking for. I can go about my business. move along

Deep Breath ruined all the built up credibility her character had. Destroyed everything about season 7 and the extra episodes where she was seen before she was a companion.

Listen she created a neurosis for the Doctor ... great job.

Kill the Moon she was acting like a brand new companion all over again.

Dark Water .... total fail as a companion. She got her "reward" for that behavior at the end of Death in Heaven so it was handled with her going her own way.

Then Last Christmas magically redeemed her whole season of issues?

so this is what nerd rage looks like from the outside

I am not sure there is a way to respond to a comment like that without being as rude, so i will leave the thread and report the comment.

Another local? Seattle* represent!

*In this instance, "Seattle" means the greater Puget Sound area, since HappyDaze is from down south.

I miss the gaming from that area. Great community for it. Lived there in the mid 2000's.

Well, to all the DW fans in this thread:

How do you like Peter Capaldi as the Doctor?

I liked Christopher Eccleston right away. I was sad that he only lasted one season.

I liked David Tennant right away. And felt a special kinship with him, because he was the first actor to play that role who had himself grown up as a huge fan of The Doctor. Overall, he’s still my favorite Doctor.

It took me a while to warm up to Matt Smith. I think they had to find the right style and tone to the stories to better fit the character as it was evolving for him.

I’m not yet sure about Peter Capaldi. He was a fan of The Doctor as a kid, so that is a plus. But I’m not sure that they have yet found the right style and tone for the stories as his character is evolving.

With regards to the earlier Doctors, my first was Tom Baker. But I didn’t actually like him that much, and I came to like him even less over time.

Peter Davison was my favorite Doctor, of the original series.

Colin Baker seemed much more abrasive, and I didn’t like him nearly so much.

Sylvester McCoy was quite silly, and definitely my second-favorite Doctor from the old series.

I didn’t see any of William Hartnell’s work until much later. TV was completely different back then, so I don’t think I can give him fair judgement. Same with Patrick Troughton, who was quite a bit sillier. I did quite like John Pertwee as the Doctor, but not as much as Sylvester McCoy and Peter Davison.

I never saw Paul McGann as the Doctor, except when they brought him back for the War Doctor arc. I did like John Hurt as the Doctor, but he was the War Doctor and not really the Doctor, right?

What kills me to this day is that our old friend Peter Cushing still is not credited as one of the official Doctors, regardless of his starring in the two movies back in the mid-60s.

And so … we now bring the story back to Star Wars, thanks to PC.

Well, I wasn't aware that's such a hot topic. Most people I asked that just explained to me why Tennant or the guy with the vegetable (that one was Tom Baker, wasn't he? Sorry, as I said, I never watched the old series) is the best doctor peacefully. And they never tried to stab me for not agreeing with them.

Tom Baker was the curly-headed guy with the ridiculously long scarf.

Peter Davison was the one with the piece of Celery on his lapel.

Deep Breath ruined all the built up credibility her character had. Destroyed everything about season 7 and the extra episodes where she was seen before she was a companion.

Listen she created a neurosis for the Doctor ... great job.

Kill the Moon she was acting like a brand new companion all over again.

Dark Water .... total fail as a companion. She got her "reward" for that behavior at the end of Death in Heaven so it was handled with her going her own way.

Then Last Christmas magically redeemed her whole season of issues?

so this is what nerd rage looks like from the outside

Outside? You are in a forum about a roleplaying game regarding a fantasy scifi genre. I think just entering here garners you the nerd label. I think most of us here wear it as a badge of honor having come to accept what we are long ago. You are apparently still resisting such a title for yourself? Relax and let the nerd flow through you.

Mishelle I'm hoping you didn't mean that sentence to be as offensive as it comes off. If not, you might want to consider the thread title wasn't actually asking for such, "art".