Following a somewhat divisive (and challenging for many) episode, I thought I’d set up a thread for people to simply share the joy about Doctor Who stories that make them happy. Basically, the sole aim here is to remind ourselves what we love about Doctor Who stories and why, therefore, (regardless of duffers, stories that do not compute, or simple blips) this remains “The Greatest Show in the Universe” (pun very much intended ).
Perhaps you want to mount a passionate defence of a favourite story that has a less than stellar reputation?
Maybe you feel the need to wax lyrical about a favourite character?
It could be that you want to highlight elements you like in a story that otherwise doesn’t work for you?
Or is it simply that you wish to revel in the opportunity to show the love to a recognised classic?
RULES FOR THE THREAD:
1. All Doctor Who media is welcome
This thread is for celebrating any Doctor Who story — whether it comes from the TV series, Big Finish audios, Target novelisations, original novels, comics, or beyond. If it makes you love the Whoniverse a little more, it belongs here.
2. Focus on what you enjoy
This is a space for sharing joy, not tearing things down. If a story doesn’t work for you, that’s okay — but save deeper critiques for other threads. You’re welcome to say, “I’ve never quite connected with this one — can someone share what they love about it?” Open-hearted curiosity is always welcome; snark and negativity are not.
3. Respect each other’s favourites
You might not understand why someone adores a particular episode or character — but that’s part of the fun. Avoid dismissive or mocking language, and engage with genuine interest (I think we already do this really well on TARDIS Guide, but it bears saying, anyway). Let’s celebrate the richness and variety that Doctor Who offers.
4. Celebrate with creativity
Feel free to post in any form that brings your love for a story to life — a personal anecdote, a piece of fan art, a favourite quote, a mini-review, even a gif or meme. Enthusiasm is infectious, and variety keeps things vibrant!
The entire “Dean Grey” American Edit mashup album was great, but the Doctor Who themed one that mixes in KLF/The Timelords “Doctorin’ the TARDIS” is always a favorite!
I want my first post in this thread to simply acknowledge the show and the franchise itself. I didn’t get into it until after high school in the middle of Matt Smith’s run, but oh when I did it immediately filled a void I did not realize I was missing. I love sci-fi, action, and cross media franchises and Doctor Who is all of that rolled into one. There’s so much I can explore and so many great characters I can follow who I’ve grown to love over the years. Even the show itself is so long that going through Classic will still take my a few years so I keep having new episodes (for me) to look forward to and I love that.
This whole series is just so lovely and I’m glad it has such an expanse of stories, and also such an expanse of fans who keep it alive in talking about it and in projects of their own. It’s so nice and I just really wanted to acknowledge that. I get great joy from Doctor Who as a whole and I’m happy I can share that love with others.
My kind of thread and indicative of our community’s entire reason for existing so thank you @realdoctor for setting up this thread and reminding us about why we should be here.
I’m going to start by sharing these three videos that just make me smile and remind me how much I love this show:
Fantastic! Thank you so much for sharing! You are so right.
Got to ask, what was your very first stand out amazing story that really made you sit ip and go “Wow!” (or, as the Eleventh Doctor might say, “Yowzer!”)?
Oh man! Considering Matt Smith’s first season was my first season, I don’t know I really loved that Weeping Angel two-parter, but that season finale two-parter is to this day still my favorite finale in the show. So one of those two I will say, it’s been so long since I watched them. Though the Eleventh Hour was excellent as well.
I want to share what I think makes Rose such a great companion. For me, it comes down to a couple of things. The first is that she has a life that feels like a real life, which makes her feel like a real person. I think that Jackie is the best-written family member of a companion that the show has ever had. Rose also seams to be living a life that doesn’t seem that fun, with a job that doesn’t feel that fulfilling and a boyfriend that doesn’t seem to care that much about her, and she doesn’t really care about him. Then she gets into a life crisis when her workplace blows up, and she is out of a job. This, and the situation with Mickey, makes it so reasonable why she wants to flee this life and go on an adventure with the Doctor.
I also love that she is working class and how that affects her adventures. She is so good at connecting with working-class people wherever the TARDIS lands. This makes stories with her directly so much more interesting because it gives a perspective that we see too little of in these kinds of shows (especially in the early 2000s).
I love Doctor Who. I love so much about it. I love the fans, the people I have gotten to know since I started watching this wonderful, silly show. I wouldn’t have thought it possible how much love has come into my life because of it. I love all my favourite companions like Leela and Romana and Ace and so many more. I can never ever decide on least favourites with this show because there’s something to love about everything. I love a lot of the stories often seen as less good or too silly or whatever. I love how wide this universe is. I love my counter measures. All of it has been helping me a lot lately while I’ve been struggling quite a bit with my mental health. I love the creativity it’s sparked in me. I don’t even know what specifically to talk about here because I just love doctor who. I’m so glad I stumbled upon this show, and then this website.
You absolutely need to tell us more. That’s the whole point.
What is it that makes 13 so perfect as the Doctor for you? How does she embody those quintessentially Doctorish traits? How does she stand out from the other incarnations as unapologetically her own wonderful (brilliant) person? What about on a personal level? Why does she resonate specifically with you?
This is very unorganised, but here are some reasons why I love Thirteen
You can tell how much Jodie loves the role, and she plays the Doctor so well.
The way Thirteen displays (and sometimes doesn’t display) her emotions is very relatable and something that we maybe haven’t seen before with previous Doctors.
I just love Jodie’s accent, can’t wait for the audios so I can hear more of her voice.
Her relationship with the fam is adorable, I love how she cares so much about them, and also how she relies on them to support her all the time as she has to go through a lot over the course of her adventures.
I latches onto her the moment I first saw her on screen, I enjoy any story wirh Thirteen, she’s such a comforting Doctor to me and I will always watch a Chibnall ep when I’m feeling down.
raaaggrrgrggrgrhhrgrhhr Remembrance Battlefield Husbands of River Song Matt Smith SERIES 5 AND 6!!! Bambera Rachel Jensen ALLISON WILLIAMS haha chunky gilmore AUDIO DRAMA PAUL MCGANN Lucie Bleedin Miller 13 Bannerman Road is where Sarah Jane Smith lives Narvinectralonum!!! LEEEELAAAAAAAAAAAA and Veega GALLIFREY
Think that about covers it! More coherent thoughts later [1]
In recent threads, I may have been a little bit venomous towards certain episodes and I do admit, I have a tendency to be hyperbolic, but I genuinely do love this show.
The perfect idea. A concept in which any story can thrive with a decent writer at the helm. A bastion for hundreds of different forms of creativity and expression, with a thousand different perspectives and outlooks to choose from.
This show is very special to me because I think there are very few things like it, very few things with such range and scope of imagination and I don’t think it’s possible for me to ever stop loving it.
Absolutely! I’m sure we all have favourites that other people just can’t get their heads around (I know I do). There are many reasons why a given story may gel with us, and it’s ALWAYS a beautiful thing when it happens.
This is so important. I agree. Doctor Who, for me, is a touchstone by which I can establish calm and feel at one with myself. It’s a head-space where I feel truly me and can allow my imaginings to run riot. It is more than good for me. It’s the mental equivalent of water or oxygen. It maintains my equilibrium and gives me joy.