Doctor Who's Time Travel and the Prevention of Future Diseases

One of the most intriguing aspects of Doctor Who is the character's ability to travel through time. However, the show has never explicitly addressed the issue of time travelers potentially bringing back future diseases from their journeys. This raises a pertinent question: how do the Time Lords, such as the Doctor, prevent such scenarios from occurring?

Doctor Who: The Time Travel Series

Doctor Who, a British science fiction television series, delves into the adventures of the Doctor, a Time Lord who travels through space and time in a time machine called the TARDIS. The show's premise naturally avoids the complications that might arise from traveling through time, such as the potential spread of future diseases. There are several reasons for this:

1. Systematic Protection

While it may seem logical to assume that the TARDIS has mechanisms to prevent the spread of future diseases, the show has often taken a more narrative-driven approach. For instance, in the episode "The Ark," introduced in 1965 with William Hartnell as the First Doctor, Dodo, one of the companions, accidentally brought a common cold to a future crew that had long eradicated a similar virus. This led to a near-catastrophic situation, which the Doctor had to resolve.

2. Improvised Solutions

In other instances where the spread of future diseases is necessary for the plot, like "The Ark," the show employs creative and improvised solutions. This approach is often favored to maintain the show's overall whimsical and often lightweight tone, as it allows for the fun of the narrative without delving too deeply into overly complex science.

3. Ignoring Mundane Details

Another reason why future diseases are not a primary concern in the show is the tendency to overlook mundane details. In Doctor Who, the focus is often on the exciting exploits and adventures, rather than the day-to-day concerns. This includes avoiding discussions of personal hygiene, like showering or going to the toilet, which might be necessary in a more realistic context.

4. Pure Entertainment

The show exists to provide entertainment, rather than to serve as a scientific reference. Many of the elements in Doctor Who are fantastical and scientifically implausible. For example, the numerous alien planets and the existence of wholisomes and lightsabers are all part of the show's imaginative world. Similarly, the presence of future diseases in the present day would disrupt the show's mythos and detract from the excitement of its adventures.

Conclusion

In conclusion, while Doctor Who does occasionally address the issue of future diseases, it does so in a narrative-driven manner. Typically, the show avoids these complex issues by relying on systematized prevention or improvisational solutions. The decision to prioritize fun and entertainment over scientific realism contributes to the show's enduring appeal. As viewers, we are more than ready to suspend our disbelief and dive into the adventures of the Doctor and his companions, all while enjoying the myriad of other fantastical elements the show has to offer.