The Doctor Is In...

[DanaC]

I doubt it's escaped the attention of many regular dwellars that I am completely and unreasonably attached to Doctor Who. I am, let's face it, a total fangurl. Recently I posted a youtube vid of the Doctor Who music as played at the BBC Proms. One of our regular dwellars mentioned that whilst they had heard a lot about Doctor Who they had never seen it. Whilst explaining the distinction (and connection) between Old Who and New Who, it occurred to me that for many people, and Merkins in particular Who is a rather mysterious tradition.

For Brits, however, it is all but impossible not to have heard of the Doctor and be at least semi-aware of what the show is, even if you've never followed it. It's been a part of our culture for nearly half a century. Most of us have grown up with it to some extent. So...mainly for the Merkins, I've decided to do a potted history of the Doctor. Since the obvious place to start is at the beginning...let me introduce you to the first Doctor, as played by the redoubtable William Hartnell, an actor who was born in 1905.

When the series first started it was anticipated that it would run for 6 episodes. The first episode aired the day after Kennedy was assasinated. For many people watching it was something of a surprise, as there had been a number of 'Doctor' based shows running (Dr Finlay's casebook for example) and people tuned in expecting something medical. Instead they watched a drama in which a strange young girl with knowledge far in advance of her age drew the concern of her teachers. The two teachers followed her 'home' only to find that her home was a Police Call Box hidden in the corner of a junkyard. A CallBox that was much bigger on the inside than it was on the outside...in which the girl lived with her aged Grandfather: The Doctor.

This first doctor was at times unsympathetic, by turns avuncular and menacing. This first pair of 'companions' were not so by choice. Once inside the box, they would not be allowed to leave.

An Unearthly Child :