Doctor Who is a  science fiction drama television program created by Sydney Newman, C. E. Webber, and Donald Wilson. The series follows the adventures of a Time Lord called “the Doctor”, an extraterrestrial being, who explores the universe in a time-travelling space ship called the TARDIS, accompanied by a number of companions and helping people in need while combating a variety of foes.

Positives:

• Great stories
• Good score
• Great performances
• Good writing
• Tons of great characters
• Fantastic cast
• Special effects are awesome

Negatives:

• Special effects can be cheesy at times
• Dated visuals here and there

Plot: The series follows the adventures of the time-traveling Time Lord known as the doctor and his companions as they explore the universe while stopping villains who wish to destroy and conquer. There are numerous subplots that both serve to develop and flesh out characters as well as expand upon the universe.  Over the years, there have been a lot of memorable stories including The Key to Time (Season 16), The Medusa Cascade (Series 4), Cracks in Time (Series 5), The Master (Season 8), and Bad Wolf (Series 1) are some examples of extended arcs. Even when it comes to the smaller stories, they can be epic, or incredibly emotional.  There are several developing arcs for the Doctor as well as the numerous characters (including companions, side characters, and even the villains). (4 out of 5)

Characters: It is safe to say that this series has one of the largest roster of a characters in television, some good, some bad, some straight up detestable. A lot of the characters are very memorable with a lot of great backstory, lot of great personality, and serve a lot of importance. The show focuses on four types of characters: the different incarnations of the Doctors, the various companions, the villains, and the supporting cast. The Doctor is a very complex character and every incarnation brings an unique personality, motivation, and ideal to the character.  Throughout the series the Doctor recruits dozens of companions who all bring their own identity and surprisingly are just as good or even better than the previous character. One example of a memorable companion is Rose, a very strong and courageous woman who shows that she can hold her own as much as the Doctor. Her resourcefulness and kind heart are a perfect contrast to the ninth Doctor’s stoic and harsh personality. Every companion contributes to the overall journey bringing their unique skills and perspective.

The villains are just awesome and there are a lot of them to keep the Doctor and his companions on their toes.  Whether it’s villains like the genetically engineered Daleks, the cybernetically augmented Cybermen, the religious order the Silence, renegade Time Lord the Master, or even the quantum-locked Weeping Angels.  Some of their motivations range from galactic conquest, to revenge, to the preservation of their species, to even financial profit. Sure, some of the thought processes are a bit cliched but they manage to accomplish their goals in very ingenious ways.  Even when it comes to the various side and supporting characters, the episodes always introduce more interesting characters.  (5 out of 5)

Cast: The show features a fantastic cast who give great performances.  The Doctor has been portrayed by several characters including William Hartnell (1st Doctor), Patrick Troughton (2nd Doctor), Jon Pertwee (3rd Doctor), Tom Baker (4th Doctor), Peter Davison (5th Doctor), Colin Baker (6th Doctor), Sylvester McCoy (7th Doctor), Paul McGann (8th Doctor), John Hurt (The War Doctor), Christopher Eccleston (9th Doctor), David Tennant (10th Doctor), Matt Smith (11th Doctor) and Peter Capaldi (Twelfth Doctor), each giving their incarnation a unique persona. Eccleston does come off as a tough guy but he can be goofy and sympathetic. Great chemistry with Billie Piper. She’s brilliant, beautiful and a fun actress. Can definitely tell she enjoyed her role.  Other main characters include Freema Agyeman (Martha Jones), Nicola Bryant (Peri Brown), Catherine Tate (Donna Noble), Janet Fielding (Tegan Jovanka), Karen Gillan (Amy Pond), Sophie Aldred (Dorothy “Ace” McShane), Arthur Darvill (Rory Williams), Katy Manning (Jo Grant), Alex Kingston (River Song), and Jenna Coleman (Clara Oswald).  Two standout performances go to John Simm and Michelle Gomez for their most modern versions of the Master. (5 out of 5)

Score: This show has a phenomenal soundtrack that has definitely evolved over the ages. The character and background themes are deep. Love the “Doctor Who Theme” intros and outtros in its many incarnations. (4 out of 5)

Visuals: The visual effects are up for debate and it mainly has to do with the time and progression of special effects. In older episodes the CGI, practical, makeup, and costume designs are seem outdated. However, being as long running a show as it has been.  There is the obvious gradual progression of the special effects over time and they do look really good. But what’s impressive with the series perhaps isn’t the presentation but the creative aspect.  The presentation of the various worlds, numerous species, and variety of futuristic technology is really creative and appealing to look at.  The TARDIS, for example, undergoes several upgrades, becoming less bio-mechanical and more futuristic in design. (5 out of 5)

Writing: Not only is the writing for the series unique but it is highly creative reflecting a lot of themes and ideals of our modern day such as life, freedom, money, politics, genocide, and war are just a few to name. Each episode is as imaginative and diverse as the previous, whether the episodes are part of the continuity or stand alone. And thumbs up to the dialogue, the dialogue is witty, it’s humorous and at times can be very deep and emotional. But there is the back and forth dialogue, whether it’s between the Doctor and his companions, or the Doctor and his nemesis.

The show is actually written to incorporate a variety of different elements (which normally depends on the episode and incarnation of the Doctor) which the show handles really well.  There is a lot of action, humor, and drama, which can make for some really moving moments (especially when it comes to the Doctor and his companions going their separate ways). Even the characters are balanced where the various other characters have just as much importance as the Doctor himself. The unpredictable nature of the shows’ writing does give it space to be creative.  So every episode can be a stand alone with random stories, but somehow manages to still contribute to the bigger picture.(4 out of 5)

The Verdict:  In the end, Doctor Who is probably best science fiction series of all time.  It’s random, it’s unpredictable, it keeps itself fresh, not afraid to dive into new territory.  Despite the lackluster special effects of the old days, the series has definitely stepped up its visuals, the characters are just awesome, the stories engaging, the soundtrack is awesome, the fantastic cast, witty dialogue, and the writing deserves a big thumbs up.  Doctor Who easily deserves a 5 out of 5.