10 Reasons Doctor Who Is Better When You're An Adult
Eccleston, TenRose, Torchwood – what other Doctor Who delights did we miss as children?
With the New Year special fresh in our minds, there’s no time like the present to revisit all of the NuWho era episodes and be lost in childhood nostalgia. But are we actually re-watching a fondly-remembered classic? Or are we finally experiencing the series in its full glory now that we’ve faced the true horrors of the modern world? (Tax returns, anyone?)
The mere phrase “Are you my mummy?” tainted a generation of British children’s nightmares in 2005, not to mention their appreciation of the show’s revival. Leaving Doctor Who banned and forgotten in many households in favour of a good night’s sleep for weary parents.
But now with the existence of streaming services, ungodly ‘bedtimes’ and plenty to procrastinate from, the only ones putting us at risk of sleep deprivation is ourselves; with clever plots and fantastic performances making us want to binge one episode after another.
So join us in discovering how our mature age impacts our time in the TARDIS – and whether it’s gaining more wisdom, courage or an increased need for escapism that now allows us to appreciate the show on a higher level. Allons-y!
10. Not Being Scared Senseless
Perhaps an obvious one, but not being terrified of the monsters and aliens wanting to destroy the planet may finally enable us to see the show in sequence, unrestricted by episodes deemed ‘too scary’.
Arguably the most terrifying episode of all, The Empty Child, may have deterred many young viewers from watching the show when it first aired in 2005. But why exactly was this episode so spine-chilling? Well, it seems Steven Moffat borrowed many techniques from classic horror films to ensure this episode was as haunting as possible.
Moffat largely intimidated viewers through the fear of the unknown, most notably by obscuring the child’s human features with a gas mask. Leaving viewers unable to read its emotions, or know what it was capable of.
This made what we were presented with – a lost child – something far more sinister. The feelings of being lost, alone and misunderstood failing to resonate with children who were more terrified of the faceless monster than the situation it was in. But as adults with younger family members, imagining a child subjected to such a fate is heart-breaking, making the episode far more impactful.