I don't know if there's been a specific thread on this subject but it has been discussed in others. Is Dr Who a children's programme? A couple of minor celebrities have voiced their opinions recently (for whatever reason) and Moff himself has spoken of it -

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/cult/s7/...who-focus.html

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/cult/s7/...kids-show.html

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/news/...elevision.html

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/cult/s7/...criticism.html

This thread isn't to slag anyone off for their opinion but I'm more interested in how ordinary fans of the show feel. Personally I don't see Dr Who as a children's show but more of family show/drama.
Last edited by Facepalmer : 09-09-2010 at 15:24

well steven moffat has stated that the show is a family show, who cares what a few celebrities think, it's what you think that matters, personally I see it as a family show but my opinion shouldn't have any effect on what you think.

At its heart I do believe it is a Childrens' show.....but this isn't anything to be ashamed of.....the best Children stories and books and films are the ones that catch the imagination of the Adult too...like Roald Dahl, or Harry Potter.....at the heart of these things.....they have soemthing which makes the adult relive their childhood again....takes them into this make believe world again.....

So on the surface while the show can deal with adult issues as well....it does it with an ability to attract both the child and the adult.....but this idea of a hero travelling in a magical blue box is one of fairytale...and therefore in its heart a child's story...that will forever last when that child grows up, and shares it with other children.....



EDIT: Just to add to what I've just said....Amelia and Amy are something that epitomise what I have tried to say above.....Its Amelia who meets the Doctor...she believes and accepts who he is because she is a child who has the ability to believe all this can be possible...this idea that a strange man who loves fish custard, can travel in Time.....
But then she grows up...she stops believeing....because the world arpund her has made her into an adult....and it takes the Doctor ages to make her trust in him, which he didn't have much of a problem when she was 7 years old....
And then when she finally accpets....it is because the Doctor says that he will soon fix the fact that she has now grown up....
And Peter Pan style...of she flys away in her nightie...with a mad man.....

I couldn't really care who it is aimed at. I enjoy it which is all that matters to me.

Its a family show with the odd torchwood joke but its light enough to go to the adults axbut I watch sarah Jane too and I am 39

I know what you mean. I'm not that bothered about about what they think so much, it's subjective isn't it? Other peoples opinions interest me rather than effect me.


That's a lovely way of putting it On the "ashamed" front, I used to get stick at school for liking Dr Who when I was younger. Not so much bullied but a lot of ribbing. I don't know what it's like for todays youth but I do see a lot more Dr Who merchandise in the school bus que so I think it's probably more socially acceptable. Certainly for the younger ones. In that respect it would seem like a children's show. Are we just trying to recapture our childhood?

It has never been made by the childrens department, always by the drama department, therefore it is a family sci-fi drama, not a childrens show.

It's human nature to label, define and categorise but how do you put a show which can produce episodes as various in their content and tone as Midnight, The Lodger, Vincent and The Doctor, Blink, to name but a few, in one box.

The show is in many ways unique and trying to force it into one container will always leave you with an arm or a leg dangling over the side. So yes it's children's tv but it's also much much more than that.

At it's heart yes Doctor Who is a Children's show. That's how it started out in 1963 and throughout the Classic Series.

BUT

Some or most of the Children who watched Doctor Who in the 60's, 70's and 80's now have Children of their own who are into it, like me.

My Dad was a massive fan of the show when he was a child in the 60's and watched the original series until it finished in 1989. My Mum has told me how her parents stopped her from watching it because the Cybermen and Daleks gave her nightmares!

The point is that because the Children who grew up watching the original series now have Children who are into it, watch it together. Ok you could still argue it's a children's show but it's ALSO a family show now, much more than it ever was before. I'm not saying this is intentional, it's just what has happened.

I don't really see what the problem is with that.

David Mitchell is an intelligent man, if he wants an adult show that kids can watch too then i'm sure he can write one.

Again,, it was never made by the childrens department but by series' and serials, so it wasn't a childrens show.
Not seeing this: it was always a family show, if anything for the last few years it has catered for the younger viewers more than it did throughout the eighties.

Who cares what David Mitchell thinks.

After all, he probably thinks Mitchell & Webb is a comedy show.

I agree with all of that, which explains its wide appeal. It appeals to children, teenagers, adults, grandparents (so definitive a family show). It appeals to science fiction and fantasy fans. However, I think especially now it also appeals to people who might have watched soaps, or non-science fiction drama. I think (I don't have evidence for it) it has attracted a whole new audience, because of its wide appeal. I really don't know what the original intention was when it was first introduced, and because the sixties' TV culture was very different from now, I couldn't even guess based on what constitutes a children's programme today.

You can put it in a box but it's bigger inside.

Personally speaking I think agree with most of the statements of Doctor who is a Sci Family show. It has to be able to appeal to in reality three types of people, the children, Students and Adults.

I can only comment on my family and friends experience however once Who is being aired during a typical series all my friends and family are talking about it (So that's a mixture of people ranging from 8 years old to people in the late 50's early 70's)

I cannot think of a show which can branch out and touch a vast range of viewers.

It's family show designed to be suitable for children, but also has much for all age groups.

i couldn nt agree more

Why is the drama department incapable of/forbidden from making a drama aimed at children?

I happen to think Mitchell & Webb is funny and Peep Show too. Oh and Soapbox.

Soapbox is Mitchell acting as the grumpy, intellect man, who finds fault with everything. I wouldn't pay too much heat to it.

Anyway, it's a FAAAAAAAAAAAAAMILY SHOOOOOOOOOW!

Its a show that kids must be able to watch, so in its roots it has to be a kid's show! It isn't exclusive to them, obviously. Grown-ups can watch if they like it - however, it wasn't made specifically for them in mind. Kids get the most out of it - the wonder, the magic, the morality and the scares. The totally grown-up adult-y adults only get the one-liners and the capacity to find faults with the plot/science.

Steven Moffat gives Doctor Who the best category, though: "If you watch Doctor Who, then its for you"

DW certainly began as a children's show, and maintained that position for much of its history. But then, along came the Ecclestone and Tennant eras, where DW had gravitas and the writing was often geared toward an older audience, the millions who had grown up with DW, and now wanted something smarter than the usual bunkum. It was sometimes brilliant. Then came Matt Smith, an actor convinced that DW is for 12 year-olds. Suddenly the show was dumbed down, and that's when I gave up.

Yes.

Next question!

Spot-on.

this i tend to disagree with i certainly believe that the Moffat era is just as smart and has the same gravitas and writing that The RTD era had

i personally see it as a Family show,as it has something for everyone

I'm sorry you gave up, but I certainly disagree with your reasons. Firstly, it wouldn't be Matt Smith's fault if the show had been dumbed down. He is not the writer or producer, a actor delivers lines that he has been given.

Secondly, the show hasn't been dumbed down, and it hasn't become cleverer either IMO. During the first series we had farting aliens, do you really think they were solely aimed at an adult audience? No, of course not. Similarly the whole eating scene in The eleventh hour wasn't aimed at adults "beans are evil" indeed. In fact, during each era of New Who the writers have managed to aim the content at both adults and children IMO and for that I'm grateful.

What is with all these celebs bashing who all of a sudden anyway they seem to be new reports every week now.