DOCTOR WHO has been a British institution since the 1960's. Across the pond (especially in Canada) and around the world there was always a small core of fans that followed the show as well. Americans, for the most part, have always been rather cool on Doctor Who. It was always regarded as a "cult thing". Then it went away.
When it came back many more Americans began to sit up and take notice. Like a girl who goes away and then returns, blossomed into a great beauty that suddenly catches all the boys' eyes, Doctor Who came back and America began courting.
Now Doctor Who seems to have become receptive to America's advances. From Daleks in Manhatton (small bits of which were filmed in America) to The Impossible Astronaut which saw the main cast travel to Utah for extensive location filming, Doctor Who has fully embraced America.
Which leaves those of us who have been watching from the early days, Doctor Who's former suiters, standing around holding withered flowers, having been passed over for the captain of the football team. And we wonder, is our girl dressing differently for her new beau? Has she changed her style? Is she pandering to his tastes? Is she giggling overmuch and acting the coquette? Is she widening her eyes and playing the dumb blonde for her flashy new suitor with lots of cash?
In other words, is Doctor Who changing to try to appeal to the American Market?
The first episode of the new season seems to be heading in that direction, from the frenetic, action packed beginning to the ubiquitously American setting, the gushing emotions, even a little recap at the beginning to catch new viewers up to speed.
It's hard for me to watch Doctor Who tart itself up and dumb itself down to appeal to the new suitor. I stand here with my wilted flowers and my soggy jelly babies and my moth-eaten scarf and battered hat and I can't help feeling passed by.
Maybe this will just be a flavour of the week? A passing fancy? Will Doctor Who take back its mantle of Britishness that made me love it in the first place? Or will this new look, stetsons, jeans, and the American Flag be its new clarion call?
I guess, just like everybody else, I'll just have to wait until next week to see.
After all, ther's always Jim the Fish to look forward to.
