The flexible format is behind the show’s longevity from the start
Escaping from cavemen, being embroiled in a genocidal war on a distant planet, experiencing time distortion aboard the spaceship, meeting Marco Polo, landing on the shore of a sea of acid, experiencing the brutality of the Aztecs, saving humans from aliens aboard a spacecraft in the Twenty Sixth Century, avoiding becoming victims of Madame Guillotine during the French Revolution… What on earth is ‘Doctor Who’ about? The very first season offers viewers stories based on all of the aforementioned premises. Combining hard science-fiction with historicals, both intended to aid children’s education, but also offering dark and scary stories and others with elements of humour, ‘Doctor Who’ has always been able to adapt its tone and remain true to itself. The aspects that remain the same are the Doctor, the TARDIS, and any companions that may be in tow. But the ship can land anywhere, any time, and in any scenario. There are literally endless story possibilities, as the show’s many years in production has proved. Besides the Doctor’s life on screen there are countless spin-offs in other media. Has anybody ever kept a tally of all of the ‘Doctor Who’ stories ever produced? Right from the get-go, the show is keen to flex its muscles of adaptability and constantly surprise the viewer.
