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human
I have been trying hard to appreciate and enjoy Dr. Who, but it continually disappoints. CMV

I moved in with a new roommate back in January who is a big Who fan (though he's only watched the newer, rebooted series), and because we are buddies I've tried to gain an appreciation for the show myself. But the more I watch it, the less I like it. I've watched up through the first episode of the 4th series. Here are my major problems with the show:

1) There is no suspense. The Doctor and his companion are in trouble again? Don't worry! Only throwaway, one-off characters ever die. The Doctor can't die and the Companions have plot armor (this may change in the series I haven't watched). So while the Doctor and Co. are running around like chickens with their heads cut off, the only emotion I feel is boredom.

2) Should I be concerned about the latest convoluted plot by some (ludicrous looking) alien criminals to destroy the earth and all of humanity? No dice. Just more boredom. You can always count on the Doctor to make some last minute play to save everyone in the nick of time.

3) Speaking of Deus Ex Machina, the Doctor's plans to save everyone are never particularly clever or interesting. They all essentially boil down to making some big speech to the bad guy and then pressing some random buttons (don't forget the lovely Sonic Screwdriver, which is literally a pocket-sized Deus Ex Machina). Talk about lazy writing.

Ultimately I'm left wondering why I should care about anything that's happening on the screen. The Doctor is generally charming and I occasionally enjoy the British humor when it's not too over the top (Aliens that constantly fart? Good one.), but nothing is at stake and it basically feels like I'm watching a bunch of people play elaborate dress up while random shit happens left and right. The rare revelation (like Captain Jack being the face of Boe) does not make up for all of the other convoluted, random plot points that just feel pointless and silly.

Perhaps I'm taking it too seriously. I'm a big fan of television and movies and it's likely I'm putting too much thought into the whole thing, but that's only because I'd like to be able to enjoy the show. Please CMV, help me see the show in a new light so I can bro out with my roomie.
gpt
You miss the point. It's not meant to be suspenseful. The world will always be doomed. The world will always be saved. The sun rises. The sun sets. And so it goes. Our doctor and his companion rush hand in hand from one apocalypse to another, smiling like children...

And that's your hint that you're not meant to take any of this too seriously. It's all about the fun.

The real suspense, comes from how the world is in danger. For example, the only time the Earth is destroyed, our heroes are crashing a party where everyone from around the entire universe came to say goodbye to the Earth. Some of those someones are intelligent memes. Another is a rather attractive tree. The last human is a nasty, evil, joke. 

And the punchline to it all? The Earth being destroyed actually meant something to Rose Tyler. Think about that. The writers actually gave the viewers credit enough to be jaded about the end of the world, but gave their characters enough credit not to be able to just blow it off. 

There's another episode, where people wait in traffic jams that last their entire lives. And they fully explore this insane concept. 

Or the angels that kill you by sending you back in time with a touch, so you're forced to live out a brand new life...it may even be a wonderful one. But there's the separation from those you love...

Is it a punishment, or a reward? The answers to that question are as unique as fingerprints.

That for me, is the appeal. The chase, the suspense, all the action - that's just one step from a shameless dance number. It's fun for the sake of fun. But the creativity? The formula forces them to come up with new ways of making each episode unique, in a way that shows with more creative freedom never, ever touch...