Why Did I Stop Watching Doctor Who and Why I Returned

Doctor Who has a unique place in the hearts of many science fiction enthusiasts, and its history is vast and diverse. Personal preferences and changes in the show's direction were significant factors in my own journey with the series.

My Journey with Doctor Who

My love affair with Doctor Who dwindled when Jon Pertwee took over the role. The switch to Earth-centric storylines alienated me. I longed for the adventures that took the Doctor to different galaxies and worlds, as seen in the classic series of Tom Baker. However, it took me until Tom Baker's later years and finding a girlfriend before I relapsed into regular viewing.

Quality and Consistency

Quality, as with many television series, can be inconsistent. Episodes of Doctor Who can vary wildly in terms of production values, storylines, and character development. This variability is part of the charm for many viewers, but it certainly wasn't enough to persuade me to stop the show entirely. Why would I choose to stop watching when a minuscule fraction of episodes didn't meet my expectations? It just didn't make sense.

Technical and Mechanical Changes

A major factor in my decision to stop watching was the network change. When the show shifted to a network that was costly to access, I found myself unable to continue regularly. This technical barrier alone was enough to make me pause my viewing experience.

The Darlek Epidemic and Star Trek

Another significant reason I put the show on pause was the excessive appearance of the Daleks. The Daleks are one of the show's iconic enemies, iconic enough to become a blanket for all things negative about Doctor Who. Star Trek, with its vast exploration of space and its well-developed alien species, became a better alternative for me in those years.

Series 7 and 9 and Moffat’s Era

I returned after a brief hiatus during Series 7 and 9. At the start of the revived era under the direction of Steven Moffat, Doctor Who showed great promise. However, as Moffat's run continued, the show began to feel repetitive and less gripping. Even so, I stayed to see if it could recover. Unfortunately, Series 11 brought with it a severe case of boredom, the quality of which just couldn't be salvaged by passion.

Core Beliefs and Commitment to the Show

Regardless of the dips in quality, I feel strongly that Doctor Who has always had periods of brilliance and is far too big to be pigeonholed as a whole. Even if I come across an episode or a season that doesn't resonate with me, I am confident that the show will continue to have more episodes that will captivate me. That's a testament to the show's longevity and the myriad of stories it can tell. I am committed to the show, and my love for it is too strong to be dismissed by purely personal preferences against a genre or a particular era.