Getting Started with Doctor Who: A Guide for Novice Time Travelers
Five years ago, I sat in a room of fellow law students and tried to describe a show they’d never heard of before. “It’s about an alien who travels through time and space in a police phone booth,” was as far as I got before losing my audience entirely to a much more interesting conversation about study group techniques.
A lot has changed in five years, and I’d bet most of the people in that room have since at least heard of the show. Doctor Who is everywhere these days—comic books and audio plays and t-shirts and movie rumors and adorable little Dalek figurines abound. Although sadly, it is apparently still not cool to randomly start talking in a Dalek voice at dinner parties (I’ll let you know the minute that changes).
But when a show has celebrated its 50th anniversary, it can be a little difficult to know where to start. Why are there so many lead actors? Doesn’t that phone booth get cramped? And what’s the deal with those toilet plungers, anyway?
The good news is that it’s not at all difficult to get obsessed with Doctor Who. To get you started, here’s a primer.
What is this show about?
It’s about humanoid alien called the Doctor, who travels through time and space in the TARDIS, his sentient space ship. The TARDIS happens to look like a blue police box, because its chameleon circuit broke and it got stuck like that. Fortunately, it’s a lot bigger on the inside than it looks on the outside.
There are a lot of adventures to be had in all of time and space, and the Doctor, who considers himself a protector of humanity, usually has a human companion along for the ride. Episodes range from the zany and delightful (Shakespeare! Vampires in Venice!), to the mind-bending (aliens that “kill” you and feed off of your potential energy by sending you back in time and allowing you to live out your life), to the heartbreaking (most season enders; an episode with Vincent Van Gogh that made me cry). Dialogue is fast, clever, and usually barbed; if you don’t like one episode, you’ll probably like the next; and the show will make you laugh even when there are tears dripping down your cheeks.
But why are there so many different leads? I thought you said this was about just one guy?
It’s all the same character. When a Time Lord experiences a fatal injury (mysteriously coinciding with the expiration of a BBC actor’s contract) he “regenerates,” meaning he gets a new body, a new face, even a new personality. And yes, it’s sad when a Doctor you were really attached to leaves, but the constant change has also kept the show fresh for five decades, so that’s something.
Five decades! Am I supposed to watch all bijillion episodes of this show just to catch up?
It’s a reasonable concern, imaginary questioner. But you don’t have to start with the old stuff! Fortunately, when the show restarted in 2005 after nearly two decades off the air, it did so with new viewers in mind. Jump into the timestream there, with the Ninth Doctor (played by Christopher Eccleston), and work your way forward. You’ll be binge-watching in no time, and then you can loop back to the older stuff when you’re hungry for more.
Also, a word of warning: the 2005 pilot is not for everyone. If you’ve tried it before and hated it, move on to the next episode, which is excellent.
Now that you’re caught up on the background, we can move to the second-best part of watching Doctor Who: the swag (I’m especially partial to my disappearing TARDIS mug, but I have a pretty cool Dalek WWII poster as well. It’s a good time to be a nerd, man.)
Doctor Who: The Complete Eighth Series
On this, the most recent season, Peter Capaldi debuted as the Doctor. He is fantastic. One of the awesome things about having a new actor as the Doctor every few years is that the character is never stable—you have to get to know him all over again, every time. Capaldi’s Doctor is grumpy and crusty and mean (and perhaps a little bit sexy, but that could just be me), and he’s not pleased with all these bad guys and their shenanigans. Season Eight also features the most amazing throwback villain ever, which I’m not going to say another word about, because spoilers.
Doctor Who: The Complete Eighth Series
On this, the most recent season, Peter Capaldi debuted as the Doctor. He is fantastic. One of the awesome things about having a new actor as the Doctor every few years is that the character is never stable—you have to get to know him all over again, every time. Capaldi’s Doctor is grumpy and crusty and mean (and perhaps a little bit sexy, but that could just be me), and he’s not pleased with all these bad guys and their shenanigans. Season Eight also features the most amazing throwback villain ever, which I’m not going to say another word about, because spoilers.
Doctor Who: The Daleks
You don’t even know it, but within a week of seeing these amazing villains on screen for the first time, you’re going to be acting like a fool about them. You’re going to be talking in a weird voice, and moving your arms like one of them is a paint roller and the other a toilet plunger (trust me on this one). It’s going to be awesome, and I’m so jealous of viewers discovering the Daleks for the first time. This great collection features the delightful six-part classic Who story “Genesis of the Daleks,” along with a documentary on television’s coolest baddies. Perfect for when you’re in the middle of a Dalek-light season and you desperately need a fix.
Doctor Who: The Daleks
You don’t even know it, but within a week of seeing these amazing villains on screen for the first time, you’re going to be acting like a fool about them. You’re going to be talking in a weird voice, and moving your arms like one of them is a paint roller and the other a toilet plunger (trust me on this one). It’s going to be awesome, and I’m so jealous of viewers discovering the Daleks for the first time. This great collection features the delightful six-part classic Who story “Genesis of the Daleks,” along with a documentary on television’s coolest baddies. Perfect for when you’re in the middle of a Dalek-light season and you desperately need a fix.
Doctor Who: The Cybermen
Coming shortly behind the Daleks in the coolest monster category (once you’ve watched a couple of seasons, you’ll understand that those are fighting words) are the Cybermen, cyborgs who recruit humans into their robotic army. Certainly among the show’s scariest villains, the terror of the Cybermen rests in the idea that they don’t kill you outright—they change you into a monster yourself. This collection contains “Earthshock,” a four-part classic Who Cybermen story, as well as a documentary on their creation and history.
Doctor Who: The Cybermen
Coming shortly behind the Daleks in the coolest monster category (once you’ve watched a couple of seasons, you’ll understand that those are fighting words) are the Cybermen, cyborgs who recruit humans into their robotic army. Certainly among the show’s scariest villains, the terror of the Cybermen rests in the idea that they don’t kill you outright—they change you into a monster yourself. This collection contains “Earthshock,” a four-part classic Who Cybermen story, as well as a documentary on their creation and history.
Doctor Who: The Secret Lives of Monsters
Hardcover $45.00
Doctor Who: The Secret Lives of Monsters
In Stock Online
Hardcover $45.00
Doctor Who: The Secret Lives of Monsters, by Justin Richards
It’s probably clear by now that the bad guys are almost as much fun as the good guys on Doctor Who. Find out all about them with this visual guide (including removable artwork), covering all our favorite villains: the Daleks, the Cybermen, the Sontarans, the Weeping Angels…the list goes on. Learn about their strengths and weaknesses, their biology, and even how to tell if a human is actually a Zygon in disguise. A great book to give yourself once you’re successfully hooked on the show.
Doctor Who: The Secret Lives of Monsters, by Justin Richards
It’s probably clear by now that the bad guys are almost as much fun as the good guys on Doctor Who. Find out all about them with this visual guide (including removable artwork), covering all our favorite villains: the Daleks, the Cybermen, the Sontarans, the Weeping Angels…the list goes on. Learn about their strengths and weaknesses, their biology, and even how to tell if a human is actually a Zygon in disguise. A great book to give yourself once you’re successfully hooked on the show.
Doctor Who: The Vault: Treasures from the First 50 Years
Hardcover $45.00
Doctor Who: The Vault: Treasures from the First 50 Years
By Marcus Hearn
In Stock Online
Hardcover $45.00
Doctor Who: The Vault, by Marcus Hearn
This beautiful book contains the entire history of Doctor Who, from the original show documents from 1963 to interviews with Steven Moffatt, the current showrunner. Jam-packed with interviews, photographs, scripts, and more, Doctor Who: The Vault takes the reader on her own journey through time and space. A fascinating look into the longest-running science fiction show of all time, and perfect for fans both new and old.
Doctor Who: The Vault, by Marcus Hearn
This beautiful book contains the entire history of Doctor Who, from the original show documents from 1963 to interviews with Steven Moffatt, the current showrunner. Jam-packed with interviews, photographs, scripts, and more, Doctor Who: The Vault takes the reader on her own journey through time and space. A fascinating look into the longest-running science fiction show of all time, and perfect for fans both new and old.
Doctor Who TARDIS Journal 6″ x 8″
Like any good TARDIS, a journal is bigger on the inside (just, you know, with words and ideas and stuff rather than physical space). Write your thoughts down in style, on pages featuring special Doctor Who designs, and enjoy the adorable TARDIS-inspired cover.
Doctor Who TARDIS Journal 6″ x 8″
Like any good TARDIS, a journal is bigger on the inside (just, you know, with words and ideas and stuff rather than physical space). Write your thoughts down in style, on pages featuring special Doctor Who designs, and enjoy the adorable TARDIS-inspired cover.
Doctor Who Disappearing TARDIS Mug
Make drinking tea a delight with this completely awesome mug. When you pour a hot beverage into it, the grounded TARDIS disappears from one side, and reappears, flying in space, on the other! I defy you to drink out of this mug without making the appropriate TARDIS sound effects.
Doctor Who Disappearing TARDIS Mug
Make drinking tea a delight with this completely awesome mug. When you pour a hot beverage into it, the grounded TARDIS disappears from one side, and reappears, flying in space, on the other! I defy you to drink out of this mug without making the appropriate TARDIS sound effects.
Doctor Who TARDIS Projection Alarm Clock
Item $39.95
Doctor Who TARDIS Projection Alarm Clock
Publisher Underground Toys
Item $39.95
Doctor Who TARDIS Projection Alarm Clock
It’s a sad truth that most of us do not have a time machine, meaning that when the alarm clock goes off way too early in the morning, we usually have to get up. But you can at least make the instrument of your exhaustion adorable! This TARDIS alarm clock has all the classic sound effects and flashing lights, and projects the time and Doctor Who logo onto the ceiling.
Doctor Who TARDIS Projection Alarm Clock
It’s a sad truth that most of us do not have a time machine, meaning that when the alarm clock goes off way too early in the morning, we usually have to get up. But you can at least make the instrument of your exhaustion adorable! This TARDIS alarm clock has all the classic sound effects and flashing lights, and projects the time and Doctor Who logo onto the ceiling.
Doctor Who TARDIS Talking Cookie Jar
Item
$7.48
$29.95
Doctor Who TARDIS Talking Cookie Jar
Publisher Underground Toys
Item
$7.48
$29.95
Doctor Who TARDIS Talking Cookie Jar
Get ready to travel the universe with this awesome TARDIS cookie jar. Every time you lift the lid, you’ll hear the siren call of the TARDIS landing or departing, and you’ll see the lamp on top pulse as well. When paired with your new Disappearing TARDIS mug, this cookie jar really makes teatime out of this world.
Doctor Who TARDIS Talking Cookie Jar
Get ready to travel the universe with this awesome TARDIS cookie jar. Every time you lift the lid, you’ll hear the siren call of the TARDIS landing or departing, and you’ll see the lamp on top pulse as well. When paired with your new Disappearing TARDIS mug, this cookie jar really makes teatime out of this world.