As mentioned in my first post, I’m still somewhat new to the world of Science Fiction and Fantasy television. I never watched the X-Files, and I was never home when Buffy was on. I had a brief flirtation with Star Trek: TNG in my early teens (due to a crush on Wil Wheaton), but it didn’t last. The only show that I did watch religiously that was even remotely sci-fi or fantasy was Charmed.
Fast forward to present day. I’m hooked on Battlestar Galactica, loony for Lost, and mad about Torchwood. Last night, I started watching the first series of the new Doctor Who, courtesy of my friend Sheryl. Before I knew it, I plowed through 5 episodes, and I’m still processing what I saw.
For those of you who don’t know, Torchwood is a spinoff of Doctor Who. Without giving too much away, it’s about a team in Cardiff, Wales that monitor a rift in time and space, making sure that aliens, displaced persons, and space junk don’t wreak havoc on Earth as we know it. Torchwood’s a clever, witty, well-written series laced with sarcasm and sexual innuendo. The chemistry between the characters is some of the best I’ve seen, and the story lines are very compelling. It’s become one of my favourite shows, so it’s only logical that I take a step back and watch Doctor Who.
So far, it’s not bad. I haven’t found myself instantly hooked, as I was with Torchwood. I kept watching it hoping that it would turn a corner and truly reel me in, but it hasn’t happened yet. I think my main issues with Doctor Who are its childish appeal, the farcical nature, and not feeling a connection to any of the characters yet. I did have fun playing “Spot the Torchwood People” (I’ve seen 2 so far). Don’t get me wrong, I’m going to keep watching. I’m a patient girl, and I’m curious to see where it goes. I would like to know if any other Doctor Who viewers out there had the same initial reservations. Do you Who? I’d like to know what your experiences were when you first started watching the series.
