Doctor Who: 10 Lessons It Can Learn From The Thick Of It

8. A Pantry Is Not An OfficeScreen Shot 2013-08-10 at 1.38.18 AM As Julius Nicholson outlines his plan to Malcolm of taking the adjoining office and connecting it to the Prime Minister's study, Malcolm has to point out the absurdity of Julius' plan as he reveals that the adjoining office just so happens to be a pantry. The revelation does not deter Julius' enthusiasm for his plan, and viewers begin to see Malcolm's point about Julius' ineffectiveness as well as that some of his seemingly-reasonable suggestions are surprisingly frivolous. Doctor Who is no stranger to frivolity. Technically, it is a show aimed at children. The Doctor travels all over the universe, and everywhere that he lands, the air is breathable and everybody speaks English (yes, I know about Nine's explanation of the TARDIS modifying brain chemistry, but still). Nevertheless, it is important that a show such as Doctor Who never takes itself too seriously. The general lightness and humor are what make the losses so incredibly tragic, and if this show is too serious for too long, viewers might find that it's not all that much fun to watch anymore. Doctor Who is not a drama, and a pantry is not an office.

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Contributor

Fiction buff and writer. If it's on Netflix, it's probably in my queue. I've bought DVDs for the special features and usually claim that the book is better than the movie or show (and can provide examples). I've never met a TV show that I won't marathon. Follow on Twitter @lah9891 .