Doctor Who has aged well

Easily one of the most iconic shows to come out of the UK, BBC's Doctor Who has been airing off and on since 1963. The current incarnation began in 2005, but is not a re-imagining or a re-telling, it is part of the same series and a continuation of the same story. That said, one of the most remarkable things about this show is that you really don't need to "catch up" to get into the show: you can jump in any time.

Doctor Who is principally a science fiction TV show, but it can change in tone quite dramatically from one episode to the next, offering episodes such as "Blink" which is itself a brilliant example of horror/suspense, to many light-hearted and comical episodes. The variety of stories and narrative flexibility provide an engaging show that will keep you wanting more, while still being able to surprise and amaze.

One of my favourite aspects of the show is something that never changes: the TARDIS. The Doctor's time machine/space ship resembles a police call box from the 1950's. Apparently the TARDIS was once able to take any form necessary to blend into its surroundings (a convenient feature for a time machine) but at some point it got stuck and can no longer change its appearance. The result is a ship that looks ridiculous, but everyone gets used to it (characters and audience) and you end up with one of the most bizarre and iconic ships in science fiction.

If you have never seen an episode of the show, all you need to know is that The Doctor travels through time and has adventures with his human companion. Make popcorn, watch, enjoy. The current season has aired three episodes so far, and, if you needed an excuse to check the show out, the fourth episode was written by best-selling author Neil Gaiman.

If there is one thing that gives me pause when saying it's a great show, it's the fact that aliens always seem to land in the UK, usually England or Wales. American movies and television are more than guilty of the same kind homeland-centrism, but by comparison it seems more likely that aliens would happen upon the larger country. However, England is quite densely populated, so maybe that is what the aliens are targeting. It seems a silly thing to dwell on, but as a member of the international audience, it's a neat side-effect that the show makes me wonder where aliens would actually choose to land, if the circumstances of these stories were actually to come alive.

This show should at least be checked out by science fiction fans, and even fans of light science fiction, such as Lost, X-files, Medium, Heroes, Being Erica, etc, since many of the stories take place on earth and involve normal people.