SPRING ARBOR, Mich.— The smell of buttered popcorn wafts in the air as a glowing screen provides light to the devoted students around the television. What draws these individuals to the plush couches in the Gainey lounge? Who else than Doctor Who.
About a dozen students watch the science fiction hit show Doctor Who Saturday nights at 9:00 p.m. The campus Facebook members’ group consists of 34 “Dr. Who” fans.
Whovian Sadie Tubbs says, “It’s just really interesting and it pulls you in especially if you like sci-fi. It can be really corny sometimes but it also has a good plot line.”
Doctor Who debuted on November 23, 1963 in the United Kingdom. It was introduced to the United States on September 29, 1975. The main premise of the series surrounds a “doctor” from a different planet who survived a war or “time lock” and now travels around in a blue British Police Box battling the obvious villains that mess with him.
This is the seventh series of this show and it is showcasing its 11th doctor. Whenever the “Doctor” is about to die, his body changes into another being. This allows the show to keep producing more episodes. His alias is a code name because no one knows this Time Lord’s real name.
Doctor Who unites random people just by knowing about the show says Tubbs. “It brings people together.”
Fellow Whovian Heather Lamb says there is a strong following of English majors but it is not necessarily tailored to one specific group of people; it is a diversity of majors and interests. “That’s the beauty of Dr. Who, that it has a little something for everyone,” Lamb says.
The season has taken a brief break but there will be a Christmas special. Full episodes will resume sometime next spring.
To watch full episodes, find biographies on cast members, and get the latest news on the show, please visit: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006q2x0.
