Since I started the n00bTube segment, I have mostly concentrated on card & board games. However, n00bTube can be about any geek-related topic that you may be interested in getting others more involved with.
Funnily enough, hanging out with a group of geeks at MegaCon two-weeks ago and discussion turned to the good Doctor and a couple of us had to provide a crash course in the world of Who. For those of you out there needing a similar refresher, here’s a primer:
The Good Doctor
Doctor Who is a BBC program that dates back to 1963. However, when most Whovians discuss the show, they’re talking about the show since the 2005 revival – notably written by Russell T Davies and Steven Moffat.
Doctor… Who?
One running plot point through the series since the beginning is the story behind the Doctor’s regeneration. Mostly a story element which allows the show’s producers to change the actor playing the Doctor with little disruption to the series.
When the Doctor is near death he can regenerate his body to stave-off his demise. Since the 2005 revival, there have been 3 Doctors: Christopher Eccleston (GI Joe – The Rise of Cobra), David Tennant (Fright Night), and the current Doctor Matt Smith.
Time Lords, and Gallifrey, and TARDIS… oh my!
The Doctor belongs to a nearly-extinct alien species known as the Time Lords. Time Lords hail from the planet Gallifrey. Time Lords have the ability to see the past, present, and future of any reality and invented the TARDIS (Time And Relative Dimensions In Space) to help oversee the time spectrum.
Only The Doctor’s TARDIS takes the shape of the familiar British police box. The TARDIS comes with a cloaking device that is intended to help it blend into whatever environment that it sets down in. However, back in the original episode of the series back in 1963, it is said that the TARDIS lands in ‘60s London and takes the shape of the police box, then has its camouflage mechanism damaged. Thus, it has kept its distinctive look for nearly 50 years.
The exterior of the TARDIS hides an expansive internal structure which operates the machine and also serves as the home for the Doctor and his companions. Thus, the often heard joke between Whovians that “it’s bigger on the inside”.
The Companion
The Doctor often takes a human “companion”, someone who travels the Universe with the Doctor and serves as the viewers “eyes”. In the current iteration, the Doctor’s current companion is Amy Pond, played by the incredibly beautiful Karen Gillan. Unfortunately, Gillan and her on-screen husband Arthur Darvill (who plays the character Rory Williams) have stated that this will be their last year on the program.
EXTERMINATE!
While each episode of the show generally has some type of alien species the Doctor must thwart, two that you often hear about from the Doctor Who Universe are the Dalek (a traditional enemy) and the Weeping Angel, popularized from a more recent episode of the show.
Daleks are the most recognizable of The Doctor’s adversaries. The Dalek is a creature that has every emotion removed from their minds except that of hate. While the above image is what most associate with the Dalek, that is actually their robotic shell which contains the frail mutated alien which lives within it. The Daleks mission is to become the dominant lifeform in the universe through conquest, giving them they’re infamous catchphrase “EXTERMINATE!”
A more recent adversary that has taken on cult status among the Whovians is the Weeping Angels. Disguised as statues, the Angels feed on the energy of other sentient beings. However, whenever someone looks upon them, they freeze, giving them the statue-like appearance. At first considered a one-off villain for the Doctor to face, the Weeping Angels have made several subsequent appearances.
How to Celebrate Your Fandom
If you’re a fan of the series, or just interested in learning more, Heroes Landing in Clermont will be holding a special event tomorrow called the Who-tenanny! You’ll be able to see a full-size replica of the TARDIS, participate in trivia and costume contests, and take advantage of specials on Doctor Who related merchandise.
In addition is the local Doctor Who fangroup Hurricane Who. The group will be hosting their 3rd annual Hurricane Who convention at the Doubletree Orlando Resort in November.
