Doctor Who: The Best Sci-Fi Show on TV

Who is Doctor Who?

Doctor Who is the longest running sci-fi TV series in history. A BBC creation launched in 1963, the British show revolves around an enigmatic space faring and time traveling alien. He looks perfectly human, but Doctor Who is a Time Lord, member of an ancient race of extraterrestrials, which manipulate time as easily as we cross the street.

Long admired for complex character interplay and quirkiness of its title character, Dr. Who was usually produced as economically as possible.. The sets, props and special effects could be politely described as severely low budget. Of course this is in comparison to American shows, which on average are usually produced at many times the cost of British shows.

Overcoming less than stellar visuals, the show employs an unusual, though quite effective plot device to propel each subsequent version into the future. After a certain amount of time, usually when each incarnation of the show ages to the point of cancellation, Doctor Who "dies", but since his Time Lord race can reincarate themselve, another takes his predecessor's place for the next series.

This unique switcheroo for a lead TV actor has occurred 10 times. The new actor who assumes the role isn't a look-alike, or even an actor who mimics a certain acting style. All Doctors are true individuals, sharing only a sense of high adventure and displaying an appealing sense of whimsy and charisma which charms the ladies, intrigues the guys and has villains either shocked or blinds them with fury at the Doctor's delightful resourcefulness.

Doctor Who's loyal fan base makes the innate experimental nature of the core premise incredibly flexible. Unlike shows like Star Trek or StarGate where fans expect a continuity with the same characters and the same actors, the Doctor Who community looks forward to new actors filling the shoes of the beloved Doctor. Obviously, certain actors connect with the public more, Tom Baker being one of the most popular to ever assume the rule, however with each successive show a new actor gains new followers.