There is still often
a tendency to dismiss television as a serious medium, but this is
clearly foolish – it is a powerful cultural phenomenon – it holds
the greatest audience, even with the increasing numbers of channels
and new competition for attention with social media.
Therefore it is
right to reflect on Dr Who, it has a long running place in many
British hearts, and when it speaks of matters of faith it speaks to
far greater numbers than the Church.
As a collection of
essays some spoke to me, others didn't (in part because I have not
really seen much “classic” Dr Who, it was taken off the air just
at the point when I reached the age to start watching).
Some of the most
interesting reflections were those that compared the treatments of
faith in different eras of Dr Who. There have been subtle and yet
profound shifts – it is clear that the most recent stories have a
much less comfortable relationship with faith – and yet ideas
about the power of belief remain core to many of the narratives, but
that power is as often corrupt as it is life affirming.
The status of the
Doctor is clearly another key point to examine – there are times
when there is a strong Messianic role placed on the Doctor, often by
others but at times the Doctor seems to position himself in
this way. This relationship is unresolved – as so many questions
within Dr Who tend to be.
I am no Dr Who
fanatic but I was still able to engage with these essays and find
much of interest.
