Is There a Doctor in the House?

Netflix is a terrible thing. Why would this service want to ruin someone’s social life by allowing them to view entire seasons of a show at the click of a button? Because it’s an amazing idea, of course. It’s just impractical when I need to study for finals. It doesn’t help that I began watching one of the UK’s most popular shows Doctor Who. After a few seasons, I can totally see why this show is so well received. Allow me to elaborate.

                Doctor Who is a science fiction television show which follows the adventures of the doctor. I’m going to avoid the whole “who’s on second?” reference here and tell you that he’s just called the doctor. The doctor is a “timelord,” an alien species closely resembling a human, who has the ability to travel through time and space. He’s basically the protector of the Human population.

                So why is this show good? Well, originally, the show was created as an educational program. It would be able to teach history and science simultaneously. Historic aspects are bought about by being able to travel through time, and scientific aspects by, well, being able to travel through time. Although it still has a semblance of these themes, the show has taken a definitively fictitious turn at the corner of science. Its educational properties, however, are still present and are probably the only reason this show can be called good.

                I’m just kidding, I don’t base a shows worth on its educational value. (What does that say about society?) However, the fact that it incorporates slightly historic and scientific facets does give the show a mature and generally smart feel to it. These features make you think about the possibilities within the universe and truly allow your mind to wander. To help it wander, it creates completely fictional futuristic possibilities. This allows the incorporation of a common theme, which I believe really draws me into the show. The potential of humans.

The doctor’s constant acclimation of the human race further allows our minds to wander. If you look back on the world, we’ve come a long way since horse-drawn wagons. If you were to take a smart phone to the 1800’s, people would probably burn you at the stake for witchcraft. Applying this idea and thinking about all the possibilities available to us in the future, truly makes the human race seem astounding. With this general idea in mind, it shows all the future possibilities for humanity, deviating from frequent displays of dystopian or apocalyptic futures. Thus, the show is quite unique in its outlook on the human race.

It also incorporates amorously ambiguous love plots, where true feelings are only implied and never fully elaborated on, and exciting bouts against nefarious aliens. These allow for the inclusion of suspenseful endings – often harking on the destruction of humans if failure is met. They also allow for the possibility of sympathizing with the feelings of both the doctor and his companions.

In general, this show integrates many different aspects to make an amazing and unique plot line. It appeals to the masses and teaches lessons without coming of as pompously intelligent. Its most important feature, however, is its ability to make your mind wander.