Doctor Who
It’s changed a lot since it began in 1963, and one of the easiest ways to spot that change is in the first lines of the First Doctor and the Ninth. Doctor Who has had an incredible legacy that spans more than 60 years. In that time, the show has grown from a small British drama series about time and space travel to the longest-running science fiction show on TV. However, just because its roots go back to the 1960s, that hasn’t stopped the show from evolving over time.
Thanks to unique mechanics like the main character’s regeneration ability, the show was able to transform itself, as the star and title character changed their shape and face more than a dozen times. With each new regeneration, the Doctor has to find himself and assume the role of this universal protector who constantly finds himself in the middle of problems and triumphs. And despite sharing a name, each new Doctor brings a distinct new focus to the show.
“What Are You Doing Here” Shows How the Doctor Didn’t Start Out as a Friendly Character
William Hartnell’s doctor was a grumpy old man
November 1963 introduced the world to William Hartnell as the mysterious figure known only as the Doctor. However, it was much less of a world stage and more of a national broadcast through the British Broadcasting Corporation, or BBC. Despite the limitations, the show managed to capture an entire world inside a little blue police box and excite and invigorate viewers everywhere. At the start of the show, the audience is first introduced to an unusual young woman, Susan, the Doctor’s granddaughter, who appears to be at odds with her schoolmates.
Shortly afterwards, this strange young woman enters what appears to be a junkyard, being closely monitored by two teachers at the school who are worried about the young girl. They follow her to a police box and, just as they are transported to a vast cavernous control room, they find a elderly man greeting them harshly with the line above. At this point, the doctor can be described as moody, frustrated, and unwilling to interact with apparent intruders.
‘Run’ Highlights How Modern Doctor Is More of an Action TV Show
NuWho updated the formula in several ways
More than 40 years later, in 2005, the show was revived under the thoughtful leadership of visionary showrunner Russell T Davies. In the spotlight playing the Doctor, the incredibly talented Christopher Eccleston occupied this privileged position. Once again, the show begins by following a young woman, this time a store employee, who seems completely disinterested in her mundane life and longs for something more. Rose is then followed by a group of mysterious living store mannequins, before bumping into a man she noticed a short time ago, and he grabs her hand, delivering the simple but emphatic instruction, “Run!”
Between the two introductions it is clear that the tone is different and, beyond everything that may be linked to time and equipment, the 2005 Doctor Who it was much more lively and action-packed. Eccleston’s Ninth Doctor was positively cheerful, even as he ran from murderous plastic for his life. The reality is that each iteration of the Doctor must bring its own trademark for the role and finding her doctor, but it also highlights something more significant as these contrasting doctors come and go.
The more the doctor changes, the more he stays the same
Doctor who follows tradition despite decades of history
The reality is that Doctor Who has always been multifacetedjust like its main character. Despite the slower, more drama-focused story that kicked off the series in 1963, the series quickly picked up pace and introduced high-intensity, action-packed adventures. The Doctor faced a wide variety of aliens and monsters across time and space, and although his main mood was one of tedious frustration, he had a softer side.
On the other hand, Christopher Eccleston’s Ninth Doctor may have started out with a giant smile and exuberant laughs, but throughout his time on the show, signs of the old crochet appeared. The Ninth Doctor was haunted by his past, but he was also fiercely protective of his friends and could sometimes be incredibly rude and brash. Ultimately, while Doctor Who changing over time, the show always maintains a central core that makes it feel like one huge ongoing adventure, and in the words of the Ninth Doctor himself, that is simply “Fantastic.”
Even in the era of the First Doctor. there was a gradual shift to include more action. And even in the modern era, the Doctor can still be a jerk.