Why Everyone Should Watch 'Doctor Who'

The very first time I watched Doctor Who, I was sitting in my English class my freshman year of high school. I was in the back corner, as always, seeing as it was the one place where I could pay attention and generally be left alone. I don't remember why the teacher was showing it to us, but she turned off the lights and played Season 3 Episode 11, "Blink."

I could barely sleep for days. I was terrified of these creatures, the Weeping Angels, that can only move when not being seen.

That being said, I was fascinated by the concept of the Doctor and his adventures in time and space, so I decided to continue watching the show on my own. As I began at the beginning of the most recent incarnation of the show, with the 9th Doctor played by Christopher Eccleston.

I quickly fell in love with the Doctor, quirky and silly, but also old and deep, and his companions, all of whom were able to help the Doctor grow and change through his regenerations.

First, there was Rose. She was wonderful, and to this day she is one of my personal favorite characters in the show. When she and the Doctor met, the doctor was in pain, reeling after a war that took his people, his livelihood, everything he had grown up with. He was angry and he hated himself and so much else. So it was wonderful to watch Rose's love change him, helping him become kinder, more loving during her time with him.

After Rose, the Doctor travels with a number of people, Martha, Donna, Amy and Rory, Clara, Bill, with several other characters, such as River Song, Madame Vastra, Jenny, Strax, and the Master/Missy regularly appearing as close friends of the Doctor.

Although they don't all know each other, and generally have little in common, they all are focused on one common thing: protecting and caring for the Doctor.

And they do. Throughout the Doctor's life, though it is much longer than any of us could imagine, we watch him change, as his friends have effects on him such as Rose did. Each time the Doctor regenerates, there is a very different personality carried into the new person, though the basic beliefs and traits—a belief in the good of people, a knowledge that all life is important, as well as a certain jokester attitude—are all carried across through his different selves.

This ability to be different and yet the same is surprisingly familiar, since we, as people do that too. In all likelihood, most of us can look back five or ten years and realize that we are not at all the same people now that we were then, even though we might have the same values and beliefs, some of the same base traits. Life events and people change us. How different is an alien that is over 2,000 years old different from us in that way?

He's not that different from us, and that is one of the most wonderful things about this show. Sure, the Doctor might have a lot more adventures then the average human, saving and killing more than most of us can imagine. But he also has feelings, pain and joy as deep as any of ours, and it took him a lot of time and work to move past his pain.

Not only is the Doctor relatable on a personal level, his adventures across time and space show an awesome array of life, and although it is fictional, it allows for the Doctor to teach his human companions acceptance about all kinds of people.

The Doctor's acceptance and love extends to everyone new he meets, and he allows people to prove how they are. Therefore, if he particularly likes or hates someone, there is usually a specific reason.

This love that the Doctor has for the people of the universe leads to a lot of adventures as he works to save people in the show. He doesn't always like doing so, but he works to save as many people as he can from threats, usually from other aliens or technology. Throughout the show, it's easy to see how he works to spare the lives of the innocent, and although he can't always save everyone, it's a reason to celebrate when he can. Not to mention, his adventures are always full of excitement and creativity, helping the viewer believe in adventure.

Doctor Who is a fantastic show. All of the episodes of the new reboot (2005–present) are on Amazon, and it's possible, though difficult, to find scattered episodes of the classic show that ran between 1964 and the 1980s across Amazon and the internet.

It is easy to love, with fun characters and storylines that also teach love, acceptance, and the idea that imagination and fun don't have to go away with age. And, hopefully, it will stay that way as it continues on.

But in the meantime, if you aren't sure and want to know where to start? Here are some good episodes to watch if you're just looking to try the show out:

• Season 1, Episode 1, "Rose" (for obvious reasons)
• Season 2, Episode 5, "The Girl in the Fireplace"
• Season 3, Episode 11, "Blink" (if you're ok with something scary for your first episode)
• Season 4, Episode 8, "The Unicorn and the Wasp"
• Season 5, Episode 10, "Vincent and the Doctor"
• Season 7 part 2, Episode 2, "The Rings of Akhaten"
• Season 10, Episode 3, "Thin Ice"