Doctor Who?

It seems as if television is running out of ideas. All the old, old series are popping back into mainstream television and coming back into our lives. First, it was Battlestar Galactica, now, Dr Who.

I've never watched a complete episode of Dr Who, bits and pieces of it maybe, but never a complete episode. I think mainly because the stories, at that time, were really overly fantastic and me being so young, at that time, didn't take too well with stories with too much imagination and the dry British humour, which I was never accustomed to. However, I do remember the blue police box TARDIS and Tom Baker walking around in with his scarf and coat, before switching channels.

I guess in those days, the 1980s, props and TV tech weren't as fantastic to sustain my interest, either that, or my interest and imagination wasn't so wild yet and has only recently matured with age. The latest season has good techs and visual effects.

I have to say that in this latest series, the storylines stretches your imagination beyond its limit. There were times when I expected the hopeless situation to be so utterly hopeless that nothing will do, when something new gets injected into the story, be it a character or some sci-fi gadget to get them out of that painful situation. Of course, the writers have it well thought out and don't make the escape too ridiculous.

Morales and ethics are explored throughout the series and also how to enjoy life and live it to the fullest. Not so much like Star Trek, but just as well. The aftermath and consequences of what the Doctor did in an episode are reflected upon in a later episode. You will see that the Doctor did what was right to correct the mistakes and helps humanity out of slavery (for example), but doesn't stop to consider that in doing so, he leaves them vulnerable to attack and outside suggestion and right back into the "slavery" he got them out of.

This new series is loaded with British wit and humour, at times, I didn't see it, but it's there and it's hilarious once you spot it and soon I learnt to appreciate it.

I enjoyed the concept of a time traveller travelling backwards and forward in time and is over 900 year old. At the same time, the concept that the Doctor can talk to any race and have a decent conversation with them is most refreshing. The Doctor is also exceptionally knowledgeable of all things in the universe, which is most helpful in his travels when he can recognise technology from different species.

The venerable science fiction program Doctor Who returned to British televisions in 2005 after a 15-year absence and delighted the majority of fans and critics with its adherence to the adventure and charm of the original series, while making admissions for a new generation of viewers (hipper editing and score, CGI effects). Thirteen episodes were generated, all starring Christopher Eccleston as the ninth Doctor and pop-singer-turned-actress Billie Piper as his companion Rose; acclaimed writer/producer Russell T. Davies (Touching Evil, Queer as Folk) oversaw the show as chief writer and executive producer. The new series proved so popular that the BBC agreed to revive the program for second and third seasons - though without Eccleston, who has since been replaced by David Tennant. This six-disc set comes with all 13 episodes plus the battery of supplemental features now customary to all Doctor Who DVD releases.

Eccleston is very engaging in the title role, bringing a manic curiosity tempered by occasional bouts of gravity (which befit a personality with a long and dramatic a lifespan as the Doctor's) that hew closely to the (arguably) most popular Doctor, Tom Baker. Piper is equally adept as department store clerk Rose--she's afforded more of a back story than most of the Doctor's sidekicks have received in the past, and she more than handles her own alongside Eccleston. Highlights among the 13 episodes include the season opener, Rose (which sees the return of an old foe, the Autons, and their controlling force, the Nestene Consciousness); the revamped Daleks in Dalek and the two-parter Bad Wolf and The Parting of the Ways; a trip to Victorian England to aid Charles Dickens in The Unquiet Dead and of course, the arrival of the tenth Doctor at the conclusion of the action-packed Parting of the Ways. The episodes strike the right blend of quirk, excitement, and imagination, thanks largely to the engaging performances and the guidance of Davies, whose admiration for the show and its history is evident throughout.

Christopher Eccleston's Doctor is wise and funny, cheeky and brave. An alien and a loner, his detached logic gives him a vital edge when the world's in danger. But when it comes to human relationships, he can be found wanting. That's why he needs Rose. From the moment they meet, the Doctor and Rose understand and complement each other. As they travel together through time, encountering new adversaries, the Doctor shows her things beyond imagination. The only quarrel I had was that the storyline where Rose ended up back with her mom and boyfriend Mickey was rather irritating. But I guess, in every show, family always play an important role in guiding the character.

I was impressed with the series, which sustained my interest throughout. At the same time, I was very impressed with the Daleks. I've been often told by friends that they were one of the Doctor's most deadly nemesis. I didn't believe that the Daleks were anything more than metal dustbins shooting light rays. Boy was I wrong! In this series, the creators have made them utterly deadly. Their disembodied mechanical voice will send shivers up your spine exclaming their favourite phrase "EX-TER-MINATE". The reintroduction of the Dalek Emperor and how it now thinks of itself as a God is extremely interesting.

At present, I'm awaiting the DVD release for season 2, although Amazon.com and some other websites are selling it at a hideously expensive price for the number of episodes in the complete season collection!

I highly, highly recommend this series to anyone (not just Dr Who fans) who are willing to just jump in, sit back and let imagination do the rest, for the fantastic storyline and script-writing and of course, for the fun and excitement of travelling to the when and where in the universe and losing yourself there.

9 out of 10 stars