Doctor Who (BBC America, Syfy)

common sense media says

Slightly silly time travel show is fine for kids.


parents & educators say
  • 61% say there are positive messages
  • 58% say there are positive role models

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this show can seem lighthearted, but underneath The Doctor's always-cool exterior and his jovial approach to even the direst circumstances are some important moral messages. Selfishness, evil, and the urge to dominate the galaxy are all frowned upon, while honesty, loyalty, and integrity will eventually win out no matter what the odds.

Positive messages: As the last of his kind, The Doctor is a true individualist, dedicated to defeating evil, whether in the form of authoritarian robots bent on galactic domination or corrupt time-traveling con artists. He's often painted as the only character who understands the true nature of the villain-of-the-week, which means he typically must subvert the well-intentioned but misguided plans of authority figures -- who usually come to realize that his plan is the best plan.
Violence: The Doctor uses his wits, not his fists, to battle his foes, though he often employs some really cool space-age tools. Some episodes feature creepy creatures.
Sex: Despite his outward appearance, The Doctor is not human and seems to have little interest in romance. His sidekick, Rose, is human, but their adventures have them skipping from place to place so quickly that there's little time for love.
Language: Despite their often-perilous adventures, The Doctor and his plucky comrades generally refrain from foul language.
Consumerism: Characters can end up on any planet in the galaxy at any point in the past present, or future, so there's little opportunity for commercial tie-ins.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: None of the characters smoke or take drugs. There are some scenes involving social drinking, but not always involving cocktails made with any liquor known on this planet.

More on Doctor Who

What to talk about

Talk to your kids

Families can talk about the basic concepts of right and wrong. Do The Doctor's actions ever fall into a gray area? Do the ends ever justify the means, even if the future of the entire world is at stake? On a more fantastical note, where (and when) would you go if you had The Doctor's abilities?

What's the story?

What's the story?

On the eve of her wedding, Amy Pond (Karen Gillan) is given an offer she can’t refuse: join the mysterious Doctor, as he likes to call himself, and set off to discover that there's far more to the galaxy than the everyday slice of England that she previously called home. The Doctor, as it turns out, is the last of the Time Lords, a race that mastered time travel and then mysteriously died off, leaving only The Doctor to carry on their important work. Now several centuries old, The Doctor’s body must periodically regenerate, a neat plot device that lets new actors assume the title role every few years. Matt Smith has become the eleventh Doctor, replacing David Tennant in this long-running sci-fi series

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 

Sort of an anti-action-hero, The Doctor uses charm and quick thinking to disarm his foes, rather than guns or fists. This makes his character appealing and ensures that the show is fun for all ages. Many actors have played the good doctor over the years (just as many actresses have played his sidekicks), and the show -- in some incarnation or another -- has been on and off the small screen since the early 1960s. But the basic concept is still unchanged: An unflappable adventurer goes where he's needed to prevent an ever-changing rogues' gallery of interplanetary villains from pursuing their evil agendas.

Although many of the plots hint at complicated concepts -- especially when you consider the inter-dimensional capabilities of The Doctor's time machine, the TARDIS (that's Time and Relative Dimensions in Space, if you must know) -- the stories are generally rather simplistic. The interactions between The Doctor and his companions are fun, but sometimes it seems like the female sidekick's main purpose is to give The Doctor a reason to explain the crisis of the day and then to get in trouble, which provides him with extra motivation to solve said crisis. Hard-core sci-fi fans might not be satisfied, but anyone looking for a basic adventure show with a cosmic theme won't be disappointed.

TV themes & details

TV Details
TV Rating: TV-PG
Network: BBC America
Cast: David Tennant, Karen Gillan, Matt Smith
Genre: Science Fiction
Where to watch: BBC America

This review was written by Will Wade
 
 

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What parents & educators say

8
Based on 33 parent & educator reviews:
  • 61% say there are positive messages
  • 58% say there are positive role models

Most useful reviews by all members

Marvin42
kid, 12 years old
 
Bow ties are cool
Omigosh I love this show it is EPIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am obsessed with it!!!!!! It's SO FUNNY AND SCARY!!!!!!!!! By the way, bow ties are cool. So are fezs. And Stetsons.

SweeneyCat
teen, 14 years old
 
Possibly one of the BEST shows on now.
Doctor Who rocks. Period. Kids will love it for the action and sci-fy adventure, Parents will love it for it's non-commericalism and witty dark humor. My only concern is that you must understand the show is on and off with scariness; all episodes are bizarre, some feature monsters and scenes, like the gasmask-wearing zombies in The Empty Child to the don't-blink-or-you're-dead Weeping Angels in Blink are downright creepy. Although the Doctor DOES have romantic interests and some kissing goes on, nothing major besides that. The Doctor himself is a great role model, relying on his wits and knowledge of good and right to set him straight, even when he gets a little tempted. Just know your kids, and if you think they can handle slightly spooky stuff, they can handle the awesomeness that is Doctor Who.

Codemaster
teen, 15 years old
 
WHAT EVER YOU DO, DON'T BLINK!
Omg, that episode gave me the chills. It still does. Anyway, best show EVER. Totally awesome. Can't wait to watch season 5!

obnoxiousm
educator and parent
 
Depth, Nuanced Themes, Bowties, and A Lot of Innuendo
Doctor Who has been around for almost my mother's entire life--and I'm an adult. That should tell you something. Since 1963 the values and appropriateness of the show has varied alot. I'll tell you that the earlier stuff is more appropriate than now for most part, and keep my commentary mostly to the new series. Doctor Who started as a family program and it still tries to be that. The story of an ancient, lonely alien who travels through time and space helping people who need it. He has trouble without someone to bounce his ideas off, and he's lonely, so he almost always has a companion, almost always a brilliant or brave young woman. If you have a teenager you needn't worry about Doctor Who. There are the odd racy comment, and a fair amount of violence, but it's nothing your teenager hasn't heard on the school bus, and is often much more elegantly phrased and genuinely funny on the show anyway. My concerns for younger, tween viewers are a few. The biggest iis its mild sexual comments. It's almost all a handful of jokes here and there, but they are subtle jokes that kids might accidentally repeat without a little clarification--and do you really want to explain the other definition of those words? They still aren't that bad, but let me tell you, being the naive kid to repeat that stuff without knowing it is not fun. The violence can be fairly intense, but is usually contained enough. Remember, this is prime time programming in the U.K. The Doctor generally avoids all but the most temporary, emergency violence, preferring to talk, scheme, or sabotage his way out of trouble. His companions do not alwayts agree and there are traditional military battles in later seasons. Creatures are occasionally killed, sometimes violently and callously, and the series features at least one suicide, on-scene but off-screen. Also, expect a lot of mild swearing. Nothing too crazy, but if you don't want your kid spouting the midlest but most religious of four letter words, talk to them before watching. On the bright side, the show features great role models like the Doctor (courageous and resourceful) and his companions (especially Martha, a brilliant and brave woman who knows when to follow along and when to stand up, and Rory, a loyal, courageous friend unafraid to speak up for his beliefs). The Doctor is a flawed role model, and his character arcs in season 2 and 5 are too complicated for younger teens without a parental explanation of deconstruction or a close watch of "The Waters of Mars" and "The End of Time." The show advocates standing up for what's right and heping others, but is also careful to remind us to be careful in our meddling and to pick our batles wisely, with the way fixed points in history cannot be changd. It is a deep, thought provoking show best saved for older teens, but fine for viewing by younger ones and a good conversation starter for tweens and parents. Plus, David Tennant rambling at fifty miles an hour and Matt Smith insisting that bowties are cool. Fun for the whole funny family!

sydneysinger101
teen, 15 years old
 
Great for Family
This is a great show. Probably my favorite. It's a good family show too.

dvdman
kid, 12 years old
 
Perfect for the whole family
Hey guys doctor who is my favourite show perfect for the whole family but sometime th doctor has his snogs and flirts

FezesAreCool
kid, 12 years old
 
Great show but some episodes are scary, 8+
This show is really good. The Doctor is a time traveller who is crazy in a good way but very clever. He uses intelligence to solve his problems and not violence. The only reason I said it was too violent is because some episodes are scary with stone statues that sneak up on you and send you back in time. One two-part episode has people being transformed into skeletons that move like zombies. A few other scary episodes. No bad language, minor flirting but nothing inappropriate.

TheOncomingStorm
parent of 12 year old
 
Good for tweens
As a Christian mother, I see Doctor Who as a complex, rich allegory without the vulgarity of other modern TV shows. Of course, some of the monsters are a bit scary for small children, but for tweens. No problem. Despite it being a sci-fi show, it is the only show I know of that shows consequences to every action and still contains superb role models. Definitely a favorite in our family.

xOAnim3Fr3akOx
teen, 14 years old
 
mmm..okay sci-fi show, but kinda lacking in special effects....
ehhhh, its doctor who...what can i say? ...but, it is a very funny show :D i like martha the best... :P and i like the 2nd doctor....the one in season 2? you know what in saying? ^_^ anyways, it has little swearing, only a handfull of "hells"...kinda violent too. My faveorite episode it BLINK...AHHH! DONT BLINK!!! THE ANGELS ARE ATTACKING *runs away*...oh..its just a statue..heh heh heh *_____*

doctorwhoplusc ...
teen, 14 years old
 
doctor who rules
i love this show my dad told me about it because he loved it as a kid and i am so dissopionted that netflix only has up to the forth season

CrazySense
teen, 16 years old
 
An apple a day keeps the - Oh nevermind
BBC's "Doctor Who" is one of my favorite shows, and for alot of reasons. It follows the adventures of "The Doctor", an alien travelling in a time machine called the "TARDIS". The show is action packed, with suspenseful plots and horrible alien monsters, but usually the Doctor will usually come up with a solution or invent something rather then confront it with violence, despite the overeagerness of the Human organizations "Torchwood" and "UNIT" The Doctor himself is actually one of the scarier characters, as we know his race was wiped out in a war with the Daleks, the war ended by the Doctor himself. No Time Lords survived. This shows some of the deeper themes of the show, and it often explores other moral issues as the Doctor goes up against the next alien or monster. Overall, a dazzling show with witty characters, great monsters and an simple, yet engrossing plot. And if I had my own TARDIS, I'd probaly go....World War Two...the Sixties.....and of course, whenever we get Mar's. Hope I dont see any Daleks D:

Mountain Eyes
teen, 13 years old
 
Good Show, not Inapropriate
I love Doctor Who, and even if some episodes are a little scary (Silence in the Library, Forest of the Dead; Blink; Time of Angels, Flesh and Stone; The Impossible Astronaut, Day of the Moon) but they're not inapropriate...

Panda Incognito
teen, 15 years old
 
Clever, deep, and thought-provoking fantasy
I love Doctor Who! It's clever, funny, exciting, and mostly clean. However, it's a niche thing; you either hate it or love it. I'm very difficult to please when it comes to entertainment because I have high standards for morals and for quality, but love this show. Still, I'm a geek, others might not like it as much even though it is very good quality. Most all of the shows are brilliantly clever, well plotted, and deep. This is probably one of the only shows on which shows that there are consequences for actions and has solid role models. And they're not just role models- they're people like us. Believable. They don't always do the right thing, but they almost always learn a lesson when they don't. But more than that, there are rich, complex themes to mull over and dwell on, and ethical tangles where you have to think through the grey areas. What would I do if I were so-and-so? The show can be enjoyed passively, but is far, far, greater when you take time to think through it. Every show has laugh out loud moments and tender, sad times. I've cried in numerous episodes, which is saying a whole lot for me! The situations which come up may be "unrealistic", set on a planet far away with a mad man and his box, but at the heart of it, there are truths and realities which every one of us can relate to. The characters really grow on you, because they are so realistic. I approved this for ages twelve and up. Some younger kids may be able to watch it, but the episodes are very scary. I was a sensitive child who would have been scarred for life had I watched these as a kid. However, some kids can handle it. It all depends. Violence isn’t a big deal. There’s nothing remotely gory, just scary monsters. One thing which delights me is that the Doctor doesn’t use force and weapons to save the day, he uses his wit. This makes the shows cleaner, more interesting, and more ethical. In the shows, there are a handful of words which I don't approve of, and God's name is taken in vain, but there are no plug-your-ears-and-run-for-the-hills moments. Sex is an issue to be considered. While there is nothing remotely explicit, there are some innuendos. While they're not so bad that I feel affronted, they're the kind of thing where some naive, unsuspecting kid might quote something inappropriate and have no clue. As another reviewer said, they're no worse than what you would hear on the school bus. And sometimes... they're actually kind of FUNNY, as much as it gals me to admit it. Also, some females dress in a revealing way. However, you’d be confronted with far worse images just by taking your kids shopping at the mall, so I don’t feel that it’s such a big deal. I wouldn’t dress that way, but it’s not a major turn-off because it isn’t worse than anything someone might be wearing at the grocery store. All in all, Doctor Who is a delightful, brilliant, funny, and overall enjoyable show with surprisingly decent content.

veils
teen, 16 years old
 
the doctor
I love the show's creativity and originality but i think many kids would be confused because of the technological stuff and sometimes even I get confused as to what's going on

MovieWizard
teen, 14 years old
 
Best show EVER!!!
Doctor Who is great. The show expresses good morals and lots of creativity. I love it!

Alice
teen, 13 years old
 
Fun Science Fiction Show
This is a very fun show! Kids and adults alike can enjoy it. The special effects are a bit cheesy in the beginning episodes, but it's still a great show.

mattbellamy
kid, 10 years old
 
This is great for younger kids who like adventure
This show is perfect for the the younger boys (and girls) who love a bit of action and adventure. There is some moments(as the Weeping Angels and the Vashta Nerada) where your child may get a little frighened. But overall this is a great show.

starryeyed
teen, 13 years old
 
love it ive benn whatchich it sine the siries on so i was about 4 or five. 4 might be to young but five is fine if there only five then i surrgest you watch it with them untill there about 7-8 just because somtimes they can be qutie scary like siries 3 the weeping angel one the worst sex relatd thing is snoging so you dont need to worry about that!!!!!!!

bookranda
teen, 18 years old
 
Doctor Who is a great show, IMHO. The Doctor and his companions are often witty, and although I disagree with a few of his political opinions, he's mostly a fun character. The aliens are not okay for younger kids. They are often very scary, and the episodes themselves are often too dark for preteens. If I were a parent, I would watch this with or before my kids.

RiverSong
teen, 15 years old
 
Doctor Who- 13 and up
The best TV show ever but not for the light hearted!

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