“Doctor Who” is one of my favorite television shows. Growing up, I remember following Doctors Smith and Capaldi during their initial runs, but it’s crazy to think that the “New Doctors” aren’t quite “new” anymore. “Doctor Who” is over 60 years old; it premiered on the BBC on Nov. 23, 1963. “Classic Who” ran until it was canceled in 1989 by the BBC; however, the time-traveling alien could not be stopped! In 2005, “Doctor Who” triumphantly returned, and unlike its often cheesy low-budget predecessor, “New Who” modernized to meet contemporary standards. For many, especially Americans, this was their “Who.” The first season of the reboot starred Christopher Eccleston as the ninth Doctor and Billie Piper as his companion, Rose Tyler. The series was spearheaded by Russel T. Davies, current showrunner of the 2025 season, airing in April.
“Rose,” the reboot’s first episode, is a perfect introduction to the show. Audiences don’t need any knowledge of “Doctor Who” coming into this season; it is a fresh start and a perfect jumping-in point. Audiences follow Rose Tyler going about her daily routine in London, until, by mere circumstance, she encounters living store mannequins and a mysterious man with extraterrestrial technology who merely tells her: “Run.” Rose gradually unravels the mystery of the mysterious man known only as “the Doctor” in a masterfully paced setup and reveal. One of the most rewarding moments in the episode is when the TARDIS, the Doctor’s spaceship and time machine, which has the exterior form of a blue police box but is bigger on the inside, is finally revealed. Having been teased throughout the episode, it is shown in its entirety when Rose enters. In the climactic finale, the Doctor identifies living mannequins as Autons, a monster from the 1970s era of the show. By the end of the episode, audiences have been introduced to aliens, the TARDIS and the Doctor himself. What makes the episode great, in my opinion, is that it’s told from the companion’s perspective; the audience uncovers the mystery with Rose. The build-up to the Doctor is intense but rewarding, prompting curiosity and excitement for the rest of the season.
Following “Rose,” the Doctor and Rose travel to the far future – the end of the Earth – crashing an alien spaceship party. In the next episode, the duo travel to Earth on Christmas Eve 1869 where they meet ghost-like aliens and author Charles Dickens. The setup of going from the present to the future and then the past is a perfect series statement and hook. Audiences are treated to both aliens and historical figures, which is quintessential “Doctor Who,” setting the tone and expectation of what is to come (20 years of time travel, alien planets and monsters).
For a show with such a deep history, it is daunting to try and bring back monsters from the past to an audience with no knowledge of them. “New Who” tackled this challenge masterfully, not relying solely on the past, but introducing new characters and villains amidst the retro monsters. It walks the narrow bridge of nostalgia and innovation, finding a healthy balance between the two. Arguably, the most important classic villains introduced in this season are the Daleks, who serve as the main antagonists in the series finale. The Daleks, in the show’s run, have been a staple and fan-favorite since 1963, fighting every single Doctor.
Eccleston only had one season driving the TARDIS, regenerating into David Tennant’s tenth Doctor at the end of the finale. Eccleston has not returned to “Doctor Who,” rejecting appearances in anniversary specials. However, in recent news, Eccleston and Piper will reprise their roles as Doctor and Rose via “Big Finish” audio dramas. While not the main program, it does provide some hope for his return to the TARDIS one day.
The 2005 “Doctor Who” revival is classic television and revitalized the “Who” brand and image. Managing the difficult task of bringing a nerdy low-budget sci-fi show mainstream and to international audiences, it was successful in building a fandom as “Doctor Who” is going strong into its twentieth modern year.
