When I was a young boy of ten or eleven I lived in a small town in England. I remember eating the black berries on the country lane on my way home from school and I remember my father and I watching Doctor Who. Each week the Doctor would venture into mystery and danger and as the tension rose I would boil with greater and greater excitement until suddenly the Doctor would confront the Cybermen or even worse the Daleks! Just then, of course, the episode would end. Total agony! I could not wait for the week to pass and I was a devil to tuck into bed those nights as I trembled with speculation and trepidation about whether the Doctor would survive.
"My Doctor," was primarily the fourth, played by Tom Baker. His unique signature was a very long scarf–so enthralled was I that I asked my grandmother to knit me a similar scarf which I then wore everywhere I went… even when I returned to Canada and nobody understood the reference.
Recently I have been watching Doctor Who again, now with David Tennant playing the tenth doctor–the best since Baker in my view.
Only now, more than a quarter century past my childhood, I have been watching Doctor Who with my son. My eldest is a young boy of ten or eleven and he boils with greater and greater excitement as the Doctor ventures deeper into mystery and danger. He too jumps out of his chair in total agony when an episode ends with a cliffhanger and calming him after such an episode isn't easy!
In the last episodes of the latest season the Doctor teams up with his old companion, Sarah Jane. The very same Sarah Jane played by the very same actress as accompanied "my Doctor" some thirty years ago–now aged and older just like me. As I watch Doctor Who with my son, just as I watched with my father, I reflect on time and age and how a dream of my childhood has been fulfilled–my living room darkened and flickering with light has transformed and become my own TARDIS…my own time machine.
We must be of the same age. Although I now think of Tennant as My Doctor because he was just brilliant in the role. Shame to see him leave so quickly.
Alex, I too enjoyed Dr. Who — seen on PBS here in the US. However, I only enjoyed the Tom Baker series. Once I had seen that I could never relate to any of the other Dr. Whos.
Am I the only one who experinced it this way. Or are there others who share this viewpoint.
The power of good television too goes unnoticed or mocked.
Tom Baker was easily the best. The introductory theme music still terrifies and thrills me.
Time is a motherfucker. Not often, but sometimes, when I’m holding my baby daughter I think about the day I’ll exist only within her head, memories and stories.
Usually plop down and listen to See These Bones:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvNI-EKGubo&feature=player_embedded
wow. i’m rarely moved by blog posts and comments, but this worked for me (particularly the duke’s comment, given that i’ve got a baby boy). thx all.
“even when I returned to Canada and nobody understood the reference.”
I’ve always said Canada is the psuedo-Commonwealth. Sure they go on about the Queen (mostly to distinguish themselves from some republic to their south) but they drive on the wrong side of the road and play all the wrong sports (totally hopeless at cricket), and now you’re telling me that television when you were growing up wasn’t just the rehash of BBC fare that I remember from my childhood in Australia. Sheesh.
I grew up on Pertwee. Spent 5mo in NZ last Xmas and introduced my four girls (5,6,8,9) to the Doctor. They loved it. But got a little concerned after a few episodes that it might be a little scary for them (as it was for me as a kid). But really relate to feeling of sharing a part of one’s childhood with one’s kids.
Tom Baker was my doctor. I remember mimicking the voices of the daleks by talking with my window fan. I also remember this bad techno song from clubs in the 80s.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5YA0Uq2wXM
I love the Doctor! I still get the chills when I think about Captain Jack telling the Doctor that he used to be called “the face of Bo”!
I’ve been having a bit of this experience with my children and a set of Bonanza discs. I was worried that they wouldn’t like a show 50 years old, but they enthusiastically embrace watching the Cartwrights stick together and get in fist fights and gun fights with everyone.
Just so you folks who are fans of David Tennant are aware, he will be starring in an upcoming (I have no idea when) pilot called “Rex Is Not Your Lawyer”, a show about “Rex, a top Chicago litigator who becomes so crippled by anxiety that he takes to coaching his clients into representing themselves”. I personally see potential.
Reading this post was like watching roman candles on the 4th of July pierce the sky and explode in showers of gently falling colors.
Thank you.
The doctor I was most fond of was Jon Pertwee too! (the one who introduced me to Doctor Who).
I used to wear a largish long coat and when I used to pick my (small) daughter up from childcare one of the other children used to come up to me and say Doctor, Doctor. It wasn’t clear why until her father told me that she used to watch Doctor Who with her parents…
Just so you folks who are fans of David Tennant are aware, he will be starring in an upcoming (I have no idea when) pilot called “Rex Is Not Your Lawyer”, a show about “Rex, a top Chicago litigator who becomes so crippled by anxiety that he takes to coaching his clients into representing themselves”. I personally see potential.
Sadly, “Rex Is Not Your Lawyer” wasn’t picked up, so no Tennant doing an American accent.
David Tennant is My Doctor. I somehow missed the series growing up (I thought it was scary) and recently discovered it. It was like, “where have you been all my life!” I can’t wait until my kids are old enough to see it (oddly enough, here in the US, it’s not promoted as a kids’ show at all).
Now as I sit at my desk, I can see a TARDIS USB hub and a sonic screwdriver pen. I’ve been upgraded.
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