Doctor Who as Role Model?

Doctor Who (Tennant and Piper)

David Tennant as Doctor Who

Call me a nerd, call me a sci-fi geek, or call me just plain weird, and you’d probably be right, but I just can’t help it. Doctor Who is one of my favorite TV shows. The Doctor is the perfect role model: He’s opposed to violence, he’s smart, he’s funny, yet he still sometimes screws up and makes mistakes. He doesn’t, however give up, and when he stumbles, he learns from it.

The show might be a tad too scary for those younger than 7 or 8. Sometimes there are also slightly suggestive innuendos in the dialogue, but most of them will likely sail over kids’ heads. All in all, Doctor Who is the perfect family TV show. And when The Doctor occasionally strays into grey areas morally, it provides a good leaping off spot for conversation with your kids.

Plus it encourages imagination. Ask your child, “If you had a TARDIS and could go anywhere in space and time, where would the pick?” There’s a new Doctor this season and Steven Moffat is now at the helm of the show. It should be an interesting year, and this geeky daddy’s going to be tuning in… after he puts his 20 month baby girl to bed, that is. So… are you a fan?

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  1. I can’t help it either. I am huge fan of the doctor myself. While my kids are still a bit young (ages 4 and 3) I can’t wait until they are old enough to be introduced to the doctor.

    1. We’re in the same boat age wise… so the doctor must wait a bit. I watched a little bit of the “Girl in the Fireplace” last night. The new head guy on the show wrote that one and also “Blink” among others; two of my favorites. That bodes well for the show’s future.

  2. My husband and I watched this show. He loved it, I wasn’t too fond of it. Haha. He’s way into Sci-Fi.

    I’m cruisin’ through from the blog party. Nice to meet you.

    1. Thanks for dropping by, Jasmine. Sci-fi seems to be a bit more of a guy thing, though my wife likes some of the shows to which I’ve introduced her. Love your daughters name. I tried to leave a comment on your blog, but not sure if it worked. Anyway, have a great weekend.

  3. I love Blink…It may be my favorite episode despite very little of the Doctor. However, my wife is scared to death of this episode and often calls it the most terrifying thing she has ever seen. I think the future of the show is in good hands too.

    1. “Blink” is very scary, but also one of the best. My wife liked that one, though would probably agree with yours regarding how terrifying it is. Moffat is a great writer, not just of suspense, but also of humor. I can’t wait for to meet the new Doctor tomorrow on BBC America.

      1. I can’t wait as well…I have worked hard not to cheat by watching parts on youtube or by reading any spoilers…so far so good.

        1. I must confess I saw a little bit of the premier online. Good for you exhibiting such will power. I think it’s going to be a good season. Have a great weekend!

  4. In a discussion the other night, I said to my wife, that my heroes are Superman, Batman, the Gunslinger, Spartans…and she says to me “Well, you’re not Superman.” Let us first agree that to say to me that I’m NOT Superman is an insult. And to insinuate that their morals and standards of behaviours have no bearing on me, was equally insulting. I mean, wouldn’t my admiration of honorable men, be they fictional characters (real as ‘the guy with the beard’ as far as I’m concerned) or real life people, give some indication of my respect for their nobility and their honorable, even admirable choices? Would it stand to reason that I would try to imitate that, much the same as I did when I was 4 years old with my very first bat-cape (that I still own by the way)>?

    1. I think you are on to something. Really good art…no matter the medium, whether it is a song, poem, movie, t.v. show, or comic book has the power to help change how we view the world. When we look to our fictional heroes and villains, much the way the Greeks did with their mythology, we see all the things good and bad that makes us human. While I would personally argue for a higher authority which we should emulate…I find nothing wrong with looking at fictional characters who uphold right ideas like truth and Justice to help us live rightly.

      1. Well said, both of you. Yes, while it would be great if more of the world’s authority figures were better role models, we can absolutely look to well crafted fictional characters (whether from classical literature or comic books) to provide opportunities to learn and grow.

  5. I Love Dr. Who!!! I wouldn’t mind having one of those TARDIS for weekend travels to Texas! That would be totally perfect!

    1. Hi, Mitzi. Thanks for stopping by. Have you seen the new season of Doctor Who with Matt Smith as the new Doctor? He’s not bad, and the new show runner and lead writer, Steven Moffat, is excellent; so I expect it will be a great season. Now… if I had a TARDIS I think I’d want to do more than visit the adjacent state. LOL. Instead of coming to Texas and attending Scarborough Faire, you could go to the real middle ages! On second thought, Scarborough has toilets that flush… maybe that is a better idea. 😉

  6. Hi Michael, Thank you for stopping by as well. Haven’t seen the latest/greatest Dr. Who, but I will try to find the LPB channel it comes on out here. We have like 3 different LPB stations and the programming does not coincide with that of TX. Ah yes, I definitely would use the TARDIS to visit Ireland for certain; but the adjacent state holds many treasures for me, as you well know; Scarbie only being one of them. 😉

  7. I grew up watching Doctor Who. I started watching when I was probably about 11. The Doctor, in my opinion, is a terrific role model. (With the exception of the Christopher Eccleston Doctor. Wasn’t a fan of heartless, vindictive Doctor.)

    My kids are still a little young for the Doctor but I look forward to sharing him with them when they are a little older. In the meantime my nephew, nieces, and sister-in-law join me and my husband for Doctor Who viewings each time a new episode airs.

    It’s great to be able to share and pass on my love for Doctor Who. Especially after years and years of the same conversation. Who? Yes, Doctor Who. Who? Yes.

    1. That’s great. I think Tennant is most peoples fav of the new lot. I actually didn’t mind Eccleston myself, but he was a rather dark, unapproachable doctor. How do you like the new one?

      1. I am really liking Matt Smith. I was a little apprehensive but I think he does the quirky Doctor well. David Tennant really did an awesome job. He is in my top three favs with Tom Baker and Peter Davidson. I think it helps to have a love for the character which Eccleston clearly did not. My husband also liked Eccleston. I didn’t mind the dark broodiness so much. Just another Doctor quirk. I wasn’t a fan of going against a long history of established character. The Doctor would never willingly let anyone die. Friend or enemy. Of course that’s on the writers not the actor.

        1. Yeah, Matt’s growing on me. He’s quirky as you say. I had limited exposure to original doctors, but I do know the actors Tom Baker and Peter Davidson from other work, and as such would pick them as past fav’s as well. Now the bigger change of late of course is Steven Moffatt taking over as show runner, etc. He wrote several shows, “Blink” for example, a great episode before taking the reins. I’ve been a fan of his for some time, so am looking for great things. He’s very good with comedy as well as suspense.

  8. I love Doctor Who, too! Even got a t-shirt with all 11 doctors on it! If I had my very own TARDIS (or had a good friend who owned one) I could put the kids down for bedtime, board the TARDIS and spend the next week catching up on lost sleep/errands, and come back 1 second after I left!

    That would be the greatest thing in the world for a sleep-deprived mommy of twins!

    I’ve watched DW since the seventh Doctor – Sylvester McCoy (ran into him in an elevator at a sci-fi convention once) and really like the series ‘re-boot’. Blink was pretty good, but I thought the final ep of the 10th Doctor had a bit of a rip-off from Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan, towards the end.
    Sometimes during the 11th Doctor eps, I can’t quite figure out what’s going on, but that could just be because I’m pretty sleep-deprived these days. One of my 3yr old twins had decided that if she keeps howling in the middle of the night, that I’m going to crack and let her do whatever she wants. I’m beginning to think she just might win this one!

    Like your blog! Stopped by on the Ultimate Blog Party 2011!

    1. I’m with you; it’d be pretty cool to have your own TARDIS. I saw someone with an android phone case, and thought I’d design one for my iPhone. I’ll need to find where I can have it printed on a case. I know i’ve seen ads for places that do it. Thanks so much for dropping by, Lara!

      Doctor Who TARDIS iPhone Case

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