The Doctor Is In

I first saw Doctor Who when I was very young, possibly 7 or 8. As was the case for many of my generation, the show was aired on our local PBS station and, initially, it was something my parents watched (especially my dad). I originally was creeped out by it…the time-vortexish swirl of the opening credits in the Tom Baker era episodes just felt too weird for me at that age.

But then, in 3rd grade, I made a friend who was REALLY into it. He watched it as much as he could. I said to myself, “Okay, maybe I should give it another shot. I’m one year older now, I can handle it.” And handle it I did. I got hooked, even though I sometimes thought the stories were slow and the special effects were ludicrous. I loved learning about the mythology that the show had established over the years, and that it had such a substantial history, even at that point.

Eventually, the PBS station in Oklahoma City where I lived stopped airing it. They didn’t bring enough money in during Doctor Who broadcasts in that year’s pledge drive, I guess. So I quietly moved on to other interests, things that I had access to (this was all pre-internet, of course).

Then, the show got revived in 2005. At first I wasn’t sure if I wanted to go back to it. I knew how all-encompassing my fandom had been as a kid, and I was frankly not sure if I had room for that in my life as an adult! However, a few years later I started to go back to many of the more stereotypically “nerdy” pursuits/interests I had when I was younger. Battlestar Galactica was kind of the gateway drug. And the new Doctor Who was the next series I tackled after that. And I’ve been hooked ever since.

I love all the actors that have played the Doctor in the revival, but I have to say I’m probably a Matt Smith devotee at heart. Heresy to the Tennant-ites, I know, but when I search my innermost feelings I know it to be true. Who is your favorite Doctor? How did you get into the show? Hop on social media and let’s talk about it.