Created by Sydney Newman, C.E. Webber and Donald Wilson | 1963-1989, 2005-Present

Doctor Who is all about childhood. On the surface it’s a science fiction show about an impossibly old time travelling alien, but on the inside it’s a modern day Peter Pan. The Doctor, in his endless whimsy and wonder, escorts companion after hot companion in his blue box, off to see the world. But what they’re really seeking, each in their own way, is youth, or at least another chance to reclaim the wonder and amazement of being young. The Doctor is a perfect candidate to take them on this journey because, in many ways, he is young himself. He may have seen more of the universe than anyone else, and he may have taken tea with Gandhi and talked civilization with Plato, but still he struggles to see each of his companions grow up and move on from him. He’s the imaginary friend they’ve become too old to play with. When you think about it, Doctor Who is a happy show about a sad concept - the fragility of life, the neutrality of time and the fact that, invariably, everything must end. I think that, each in their own way, the eleven actors who’ve played The Doctor have taken this concept into account and made it their own. It’s the silly parts that make The Doctor a fun character, but it’s the sad parts that make him a great one.

Let’s talk timelines. I’ve only seen several episodes of the show pre-2005, so this entry is primarily concerning Russel T. Davies’ continuation of the show, and Steven Moffat’s subsequent takeover. Throughout the five and a half seasons that have taken place since Doctor Who reentered the airwaves, The Doctor has been played by three fine actors: Christopher Eccleston, David Tennant and Matt Smith. I’ll discuss them in order to keep things simple. The Ninth incarnation of The Doctor, played for one season by Christopher Eccleston, is a bitter war-torn Time Lord looking to return to his day-job of saving the world after a massively destructive war with his mortal enemy, the Daleks. He is accompanied by wide-eyed Rose, played by Billie Piper, past the point where he regenerates into the Tenth Doctor. Played to perfection by David Tennant, the Tenth Doctor is the Doctor I fell in love with - at once a haphazardly silly and deeply intelligent man, the Tenth Doctor balanced the bitterness and cynicism of Nine and the childlike whimsy that would come with Eleven. He was fun, but still cursed by his ability to see the whole of time; he was complex, often moody but never boring. And he brought along two new companions: capable med-student Martha Jones and sassy best-temp-in-Chiswick Donna Noble. Tennant’s character really shined once he met the latter, his first companion not to pursue a romantic relationship with him. I’ll divide some readers, but Donna Noble will always be my personal favourite companion, the friend Ten needed to keep him on his toes.

But of course, after four years Ten’s time came as well, and he was replaced by the current incumbent Matt Smith. Matt’s Eleventh Doctor began as an immensely likeable, funny and sunnily optimistic man, but soon we saw his dark side as well - it’s clear that he still carries the scars of his past, as much as he may hide them. His companions are numerous: Amy and Rory Pond, husband-and-wife team, and River Song, the Doctor’s time-travelling… lover? We think. Moffat’s takeover of the series took the show to new heights in terms of quality of writing and production, and I look forward to the end of this month, when Mr. Moffat will continue on his quest to mess with his fans’ minds. So why Doctor Who? Well, to be honest, I just love watching the show. Its characters are immensely loveable, its plots inventive and original, and its fandom hopelessly devoted. No matter how much more puzzling and frustrating Doctor Who gets, I know I’ll be hooked.

• Best Episodes: Human Nature/Family of Blood, Silence in the Library/Forest of the Dead, The Doctor’s Wife
• Favourite Character: It’s really a tough one, but I have to go with Donna Noble.
• Why You Should Watch This Show: Because it will simultaneously rekindle your sense of childish wonder and mess with your head.

thekillerwiththecolouredkite:

Myth #1 – Introverts don’t like to talk.

This is not true. Introverts just don’t talk unless they have something to say. They hate small talk. Get an introvert talking about something they are interested in, and they won’t shut up for days.

Myth #2 – Introverts are shy.

Shyness has nothing to do with being an Introvert. Introverts are not necessarily afraid of people. What they need is a reason to interact. They don’t interact for the sake of interacting. If you want to talk to an Introvert, just start talking. Don’t worry about being polite.

Myth #3 – Introverts are rude.

Introverts often don’t see a reason for beating around the bush with social pleasantries. They want everyone to just be real and honest. Unfortunately, this is not acceptable in most settings, so Introverts can feel a lot of pressure to fit in, which they find exhausting.

Myth #4 – Introverts don’t like people.

On the contrary, Introverts intensely value the few friends they have. They can count their close friends on one hand. If you are lucky enough for an introvert to consider you a friend, you probably have a loyal ally for life. Once you have earned their respect as being a person of substance, you’re in.

Myth #5 – Introverts don’t like to go out in public.

Nonsense. Introverts just don’t like to go out in public FOR AS LONG. They also like to avoid the complications that are involved in public activities. They take in data and experiences very quickly, and as a result, don’t need to be there for long to “get it.” They’re ready to go home, recharge, and process it all. In fact, recharging is absolutely crucial for Introverts.

Myth #6 – Introverts always want to be alone.

Introverts are perfectly comfortable with their own thoughts. They think a lot. They daydream. They like to have problems to work on, puzzles to solve. But they can also get incredibly lonely if they don’t have anyone to share their discoveries with. They crave an authentic and sincere connection with ONE PERSON at a time.

Myth #7 – Introverts are weird.

Introverts are often individualists. They don’t follow the crowd. They’d prefer to be valued for their novel ways of living. They think for themselves and because of that, they often challenge the norm. They don’t make most decisions based on what is popular or trendy.

Myth #8 – Introverts are aloof nerds.

Introverts are people who primarily look inward, paying close attention to their thoughts and emotions. It’s not that they are incapable of paying attention to what is going on around them, it’s just that their inner world is much more stimulating and rewarding to them.

Myth #9 – Introverts don’t know how to relax and have fun.

Introverts typically relax at home or in nature, not in busy public places. Introverts are not thrill seekers and adrenaline junkies. If there is too much talking and noise going on, they shut down. Their brains are too sensitive to the neurotransmitter called Dopamine. Introverts and Extroverts have different dominant neuro-pathways. Just look it up.

Myth #10 – Introverts can fix themselves and become Extroverts.

A world without Introverts would be a world with few scientists, musicians, artists, poets, filmmakers, doctors, mathematicians, writers, and philosophers. That being said, there are still plenty of techniques an Extrovert can learn in order to interact with Introverts. (Yes, I reversed these two terms on purpose to show you how biased our society is.) Introverts cannot “fix themselves” and deserve respect for their natural temperament and contributions to the human race. In fact, one study (Silverman, 1986) showed that the percentage of Introverts increases with IQ.

It can be terribly destructive for an Introvert to deny themselves in order to get along in an Extrovert-Dominant World. Like other minorities, Introverts can end up hating themselves and others because of the differences. If you think you are an Introvert, I recommend you research the topic and seek out other Introverts to compare notes. The burden is not entirely on Introverts to try and become “normal.” Extroverts need to recognize and respect us, and we also need to respect ourselves.

At least someone gets it, and apparently there’s a book on it. I will have to read this book. 

Where has this article been all my life.