I'm in Love with a Doctor

I remember the first time I watched an episode of Doctor Who. Unlike those lucky enough to have grown up in the time of Who, I wandered into Doctor Who fandom after the show had become an obscure footnote. I saw my first episode as a late night re-run on PBS. It was interrupted midway by a thirty minute pledge drive, had no discernable back-story, and was full of cheap sets and poor costumes. I couldn't take my eyes off the screen.

Doctor Who is a British science fiction television series featuring the unpredictable antics of a time traveling stranger and his companion as they gallivant throughout space and time. The series enjoyed an unfathomable twenty six years on BBC One before moving into retirement. The first time I watched Doctor Who I didn't know about its iconic past or its illustrious history, but I did know that I was in love.

Doctor Who combined the best elements of science fiction all into one neat little package. Complex, engaging plots full of enigmatic characters, high technology, dry humor, and sharp wit made every episode a buffet for the science fiction enthusiast. A laughable production budget ensured that special effect technology never overpowered the impressive writing and quality acting while at the same time imbuing the series with an undeniable charm.

But, it wasn't just the plot lines or sets that made me tingle, I was in love with the Doctor himself. Well,... as much as a person can be in love with a fictional character. The Doctor was a renegade in the way that most great science fiction characters are renegades, but he possessed an additional charm and charisma that set him apart from the crowd. He was like a science fiction James Bond amplified and made perfect. Not only was the Doctor hyper intelligent, but he was well mannered, sophisticated, witty, and constantly waging the battle for good. On the other side the Doctor's past was shrouded in secrecy and there always seemed to be the possibility that one day the Doctor's good nature would rip away to expose a dark, troubled, and undoubtedly sinister being.