_______ The Ever Expanding Universe of Doctor Who
119
Traditionally airing from spring to summer. Doctor Who has
shifted its schedule for the seventh season. This new season mimics those
of typical American series, running from fall to spring with a winter
hiatus. Producers are still retaining one scheduling feature established by
the new Who in 2005, airing a Christmas Special on Christmas Day in
both the U.K. and the U.S. This holiday episode has become a part of
recent British culture, with an enormous number of households tuning in
each year; however, this year, instead of serving as an introduction to a
new season, the special will serve more as the mid-point. With over half
of the season left to go, it is difficult to predict Season Seven’s overall
tone and message. Without knowing who the Doctor will meet and where
the TARDIS will land, whether this season will continue the trend of
incorporating American culture as a way of attracting American
audiences remains to be seen.
Regardless of the future direction of the series, it is clear that the
new series of Doctor Who has been an enormous international success.
Through the adventures of a traveling “madman with a box,” the United
Kingdom has created a vehicle for international cultural exchange
{Doctor Who “Eleventh Hour”). Although this newfound ubiquity of
Doctor Who poses a dilemma for showruimers, forcing them to strike a
balance between giving the show greater relatability for fans outside the
U.K. while maintaining the Britishness that attracted global audiences in
the first place, it seems that the latest season is off to a great start. With
the premier episode of Season Seven shattering BBC Worldwide rating
records, it is clear that through all of his travels in space and time, the
Doctor will continue to delight viewers at home and abroad (Hicks).
West Virginia University
Alesa Gawlik
Notes
^ For Seasons 1, 2, 3, and 5, over 60% of the episodes are set in Great Britain or a nearly
identical society. Roughly 46% of Season 4 episodes occur in such settings.
The inhabitants of New New York all speak with a British accent.