The Doctor is in! Here’s my take on stepping into the TARDIS far too late in life.
Do you wanna come with me? ‘Cause if you do then I should warn you, you’re gonna see all sorts of things. Ghosts from the past; Aliens from the future; the day the Earth died in a ball of flame; It won’t be quiet, it won’t be safe, and it won’t be calm. But I’ll tell you what it will be: the trip of a lifetime. – The Ninth Doctor
Maybe it’s the TARDIS, the Sonic Screwdriver, or my undying desire live across the pond, but I am stuck on Doctor Who. Let me preface this editorial by saying to all Whovians out there that this piece really only covers the “revival”, if you will, beginning with The Ninth Doctor. [At some point in time I’ll get caught up on Classic Who, but don’t rail on me, m’kay?]
I always tell people that I am the least geeky out of my our regular cast of Geeks each week on the show; the other guys are the real talent, I just help get us from the start to the finish. I’ve always loved sci-fi, and have a huge tendency to pick up things that are prevalent in the geek community and pop culture world only to put them down again. I credit Jared for giving me the Whovian itch several months ago when he began to watch the show, and it wasn’t until recently that I found the time to actually sit down and properly introduce myself to The Doctor.
By all means this is not a show for everyone; geeky or not. The storytelling and sense of adventure reminds me quite a bit of Star Trek, especially those episodes of ST:TNG where the crew would venture off into the Holodeck into some fantastical made-up Western or 1940’s New York. You also really need to be fond of British humor, and have some desire to watch this series with subtitles.
While some aspects of this show aren’t for everyone, The Doctor IS for everyone. No matter which Doctor or showrunner you encounter this character, portrayed by many actors, has this incredible way of connecting to you in a way that you could not possibly understand. He’s fantastical, intelligent, and somehow finds his way into history’s greatest mishaps.
This is why the geek community around the world connects with the Doctor: he can be all the things you are, want to be, and never will be all rolled up into one single character.
To be incredibly honest here, before really sinking in to Doctor Who I didn’t really understand the love and depth Whovians went to for cosplay/roleplay into this universe. I didn’t understand what was so special about a random TARDIS in the middle of a convention room, sonic screwdrivers aplenty, and just why a bow tie made you any more special than people who had spent hours and years perfecting the right costume.
Yet again, this is what’s brilliant about the Doctor. ANYONE no matter sex, race, creed, size, or shape could be the Doctor and you Whovians out there embrace that and make it your own. It’s incredible to read and see images of people who have just as much passion about this mythos coming together with people who sink entire paychecks in to the most incredible superhero costumes. And it doesn’t matter if you’re a Tennant Man or a Smithian, there is something to love and want to live-out in each iteration of The Doctor.
As we approach the holiday season, and prepare to say goodbye to Matt Smith, and hello to Peter Capaldi, now is the perfect time to switch on your Netflix and give the Doctor a go if you never have before.
I wish that I hadn’t taken so long to get immersed in this world. The Doctor has unlocked an incredibly geeky portion of me that I had forgotten I had, and I guarantee he will for you as well.
Allons-y!
RT @joshsteen: The Doctor Will See You Now – My @JustUsGeeks Editorial http://t.co/O4QKZSCLZ5: #doctorwho
@joshsteen @JustUsGeeks great article Josh really encompassed my feelings on the show.
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