Let's get this out of the way up front: if you are not familiar with the TV show Doctor Who, then you, my friend, are missing out. Why? Because it's a rare instance of the most popular being the best. Doctor Who has moved from cult status into one of the biggest TV shows in the world. The program has a rich (nearly 50 year) history one can delve into. Or, concentrate on the current run of programs, which just recently ended on the BBC in Britain. and BBC America over here. Missed it? Don't worry, you can buy the DVD or blu-ray box set. So why should you be bothered with some silly British show about a man in a blue box, anyway?
1. Who Isn't His Name?
The Doctor (no one knows his real name... yet) is a Time Lord from the planet Gallifrey. He's around 1000 years old. When he was a comparative youngster of 450, he stole a T.A.R.D.I.S. and fled their home planet, hoping to right wrongs that the Doctors fellow Time Lords refused to bother with. This TARDIS moves in both space and time. Which means he can be on Mars back in 102 BC at one point, and next, an alien planet in the year 5 billion. Adventure seems to find our hero, who has a fierce dedication to justice. But he achieves his goals through non-violent methods (theoretically, anyhow). It's been said that Doctor Who is the the triumph of intellect and romance over brute force and cynicism. It's not Batman, clearly, but the show still has explosions. Another handy (yet confusing for a newbie) ability the Doctor has is regeneration. Put simply, if a Time Lord is near death, they can force every cell in their body to regrow, resulting in a new body. There have, to date, been eleven incarnations of the Doctor, with the current played brilliantly by Matt Smith.