Last of the Time Lords

(The first season of the regenerated Dr. Who starts tonight on WTTW, one of Chicago's PBS stations. Check your local listings to see if it's coming to you.)

As a child I remember stumbling upon the Doctor occasionally on PBS. (We didn't have cable and I was (and remain) a bit of a couch potato, so I watched a LOT of PBS.) I always watched Dr. Who with fascination, utterly confused. I knew it was the same program but every time I caught it it's appearance had wildly changed.

At first I stayed away from the new series of Dr. Who. I would see commercials for it when I watched Battlestar Galactica, but thought it just looked a little silly. The fact that Christopher Eccleston was playing the 9th Doctor was intriguing, but not enough for me to tune in.

This changed when I was at my parents and I caught an episode of the second season with David Tennant this winter. The episode was "The Girl in the Fireplace" and I was completely hooked. I did what I could to catch myself up on what I was missing. (To be perfectly honest, I am currently harboring a huge crush on Tennant.)

The effects on the show remain slightly silly, as do some of the aliens, but that is part of Dr. Who's charm. The effects are balanced by the great acting by the main characters. There is a balance of seriousness and fun. Billie Piper does such a wonderful job as Rose, the Doctor's companion. Honestly, I didn't think I was going to like her. I was put off by the bleached hair and former child pop star-ness of Piper, but I'm glad I was wrong. I'm going to miss her when I finally see the third season.

Both Eccelston and Tennant are marvelous. They give different shadings to the Doctor, but there is a unity between their performances. Plus they play the Doctor as they should. He's a traveller who is fascinated by, and often gleeful about, the new peoples and places he encounters. He has all of time at his fingertips and he just wants to learn more.

Rose is the Doctor's most tangible connection to the human race, and he so dearly loves humanity. The Doctor revels in humanity. He loves humans' curiosity and perseverance, even when both cause major problems for everyone involved. All of the episodes are suffused with with this love and appreciation for humanity's strength and weaknesses. It's this love and giddiness that must be how the two actors tie their performances together. Both have wonderfully warm, wide grins.

Remember to check your local PBS listings on when Doctor Who airs and check it out, if you haven't already.

Cross-posted.

Comments

[Adorable Girlfriend]

I too do not have cable. I will have to check this out. Thanks for the heads up!

[Chuckles]

I have seen the Eccleston season, but I missed the first Tennant. I had a plan to watch all of the prior episodes but that plan dissolved under the harsh reality of history. The show was on the BBC for 20 years. I looked it up on Netflix and they don't have all of the episodes yet.

Nor do they have a "Send me this series in order" selection.

[Claire]

Good lord! You were going to catch up on all of the back history first?? Because that's ridiculous. They do have some of the old stuff on Netflix, though, right?

Check out Season 2, though. Tennant is great.

[Adorable Girlfriend]

Wow indeed! AG doesn't love TV that much to get a Netflix account.

[Claire]

AG, knowledge of the classic Dr. Who is totally unnecessary for enjoying the new.

[amy]

I used to watch quite frequently as a small fry (no cable here, either), and remember writing an angry letter to my local PBS station when they decided not to air further episodes (I was 11).

To this day, I still really love Tom Baker - and think he was the best doctor ever. I haven't seen an episode in almost 20 years, either :) Now that we're cable-less again, I'll have to check it out!

[Claire]

My roommate apparently used to watch Dr. Who as a small child, too. Somewhere there exists a video of her dancing and singing, "Dr. WHOOOOOOOOO!!"

Tom Baker is definitely the Dr. Who that comes to my mind. Amy, you should totally check out the new seasons. They are netflixable if your PBS doesn't show them. I think you'd really like them.

[Chuckles]

Maryland Public Television runs SciFi Saturdays and starts an episode of Dr. Who at Midnight or 1 am. I watched a few of them the last time I lived in Maryland and was going out on Saturday nights. The last few weekends, I have been remiss and gone to sleep before midnight.

[Chuckles]

The Eccleston season started this past Saturday on MPT. I will be watching the rest, as I am saving up for my summer trip to somewhere.

[Claire]

Oooh, where do you want to go? I am already scheming about two trips that probably won't happen this summer. (Well, one might, and the other will probably not work out logistically, but a girl can dream.)

I dream of the day when I'll have more paid time off...

[Adorable Girlfriend]

AG is going to Alaska, if anyone cares. And to the family cottage to kayak.

[Claire]

When are you going to Alaska? That sounds like fun. Where's the family cottage?

I'm hoping to go to Scotland and San Francisco. Not sure if either will come together. I would also like to get to DC while a friend is still there this summer.

[Jennifer]

Alaska!! I've always wanted to go there. Take lots and lots of pictures, AG, or better yet, take me with and I'll take the pictures for you... one less thing to worry about.

[Chuckles]

I am hoping to go to Slovakia this summer. It is not on the Euro yet and the scenery is amazing.

[Claire]

Very cool, Chuckles. I studied in Prague in college, but didn't get to Slovakia. Before you go, I'll send you what I remember of Czech. (It's not that different from Slovak.) One phrase you should know, "Jedno pivo prosim."