The Doctor (Who?) is in this House

I've been just a wee bit distracted these past few days and it has happened completely by accident. So basically I was wandering around Netflix, looking for something to watch when I just happened to give Dr. Who a try. I mean, I've heard of it before and know it has a cult following and I knew the basics--time-traveling alien with a blue police box called the TAR-something. Heck, I even had a t-shirt that featured the good Doctor on it though I didn't know it was the Eleventh Doctor until very recently.

But I digress.

I started out slowly, an episode or two every few weeks but these last couple of days, I've become sort of hooked. Now it's like an obsession. It's killing me to go to work and have to stop watching and I can't wait to get home and continue.

On my down time, i.e. when I am working, I've read up on the show. I wanted to understand what these numbered doctors mean so I went to Wikipedia and starting reading. For those of you who don't know, this show was started 1963 and went through 26 seasons plus a whole slew of specials. Then it was canceled and didn't reappear until a made-for-tv movie in 1996 that was supposed to revive the series though this didn't happen. Finally, the series was revived in 2005 and is still going strong today. What these numbered doctors are is a clever way to keep the show going but to "pass on" the role of the Doctor to different people.

Basically, in the show they have given the Doctor the ability to regenerate himself when he is dying so that he will have an entirely new body (thus giving someone else a chance to play the Doctor). I think this is beyond genius because they have created a potential never ending show since they will never lose their main character. So that is where the numbered doctors come from. The Doctor has had 11 reincarnations so they label the Doctor by his reincarnation. So the 2005 show started with the Ninth Doctor and it is currently broadcasting the Eleventh Doctor.

I think this might be the most genius thing I've ever heard of. It allows the show to go into whatever direction it wants to go in and can change actors (or give them the ability to leave) at the drop of a hat. I'm also obsessed with this idea that the Doctors pick up "companions", that is to say people/aliens/robots to travel with them for company.

I'm currently in Season 2 which has just introduced the Tenth Doctor played by David Tennant whom I think I am really going to like. It's funny because my first memorable encounter with this actor was him playing Barty Crouch Jr in Harry Potter so it's hard for me to look at him as the good guy. However, his sexual tension with Rose is absolutely delicious and as I continue watching, I'm finding it hard not to love him. This is particularly impressive since the Ninth Doctor forced me to like him even though I didn't find him all that handsome (which for me made me like him all the more).

I like that he his witty and talks very fast, especially when working something out, but it also gives him just a bit of untrustworthiness because he could very well be insulting you in the middle of it and you might never know. I also like that he doesn't realize he's being rude and has to often ask.  He sort of like a fast talking New Yorker who is actually British.

Basically, I'm hooked. I really like watching this show that combines good old fashioned horror with strong sci-fi elements, time traveling, a dash of romance and lots of fast paced dialogue ala Joss Whedon. So that's my update. I plan on blogging about how Doctor Who is like my other favorite childhood tale Peter Pan in a few days so keep your eyes peeled if you are a fan of the show or are thinking about getting into it. I'm also going to post some fun merchandise I love soon too!

So what about you guys? Seen it? Plan to? Love or hate (but if you don't care for it, keep the comments respectful--not that you guys won't since you are all wonderful)?