Witnessing a somewhat mysterious alien that travels through space and time in a blue police box as a television pitch for Doctor Who back in 1963 would be a sight to see. Flash-forward 50 years later, Doctor Who is a series that has produced nearly eight hundred episodes and gone through eleven different alternations. Spawning several spin-offs throughout its long history, and building a gigantic fan base titling themselves “Whovians,” Doctor Who has contributed to a huge part of British culture. With the primiere of the 50th  anniversary special this month, and the 12th reincarnation of the Doctor being introduced at the end of this year, it is important to highlight what makes the series special.

Doctor Who first premiered on BBC on Nov. 23, 1963, the day after Kennedy’s assassination. The show was intended to teach children about history and science through the use of time travel, but quickly caught on with all British audiences. By 1979, the show would hit its peak of 16 million viewers, and  was internationally syndicated across several countries with the same amount of success. By the mid-1980s, the show’s ratings had fallen from its golden age. With its 26th  season and seventh incarnation of the Doctor, the show was canceled in 1989. Hints went around in the early 90s about reviving the series in some form. In 1996, a television movie was made as a gateway towards continuing the series and as an introduction of the eighth Doctor, but the movie did not catch on with audiences or critics.

In 2005, the series was revived once again by Russel T. Davies. The reintroduction proved to be a success and was modernized with more action. Since then, the show has cycled through three different actors portraying the Doctor. The current and 11th  Doctor portrayed by Matt Smith has been present since 2010. He will be ending his time as the Doctor with the Christmas special this winter, and will be replaced with Peter Capaldi.

The Doctor, a time lord and the last of his kind still remains a mystery amongst many fans. Simply named The Doctor, he keeps his real name a secret. While he may look human, he has several qualities that suggest he is beyond human. The Doctor is over a thousand years old and has two beating hearts. Many viewers are surprised when the Doctor dies and then regenerates into an entirely different person. Retaining the same memory, the Doctor has a new personalityand style. With eleven Doctors so far, each have had their own clear differences. The 11th and current Doctor, for instance, is known for being brash and childlike, but he is generally a great friend to any of his companions. He is also known for his bowtie and catchphrase “Geronimo!”

The new Doctors keep the show interesting by presenting the audience with new actors with varying characteristcs.

One of the main elements of Doctor Who that keeps the show so captivating is the companions that accompany the Doctor on his journeys. As a sort of surrogate for the audience, the Doctor always travels with a human companion to keep things humane. Many times, the Doctor loses control and his companion helps bring him down a level. More than 50 official companions have become an important aspect of the series through the duration of the show. The current companion is Clara Oswald, a young girl in her mid-20s that reappears wherever the Doctor goes. She will continue on the show when the 11th Doctor is brought in.

The villains in Doctor Who are just as important to the audience. For a show targeting kids, many of the the Doctor’s enemies carry a frightening aspect to them. The oldest and best known foe of the Doctor are the Daleks. They are cyborgs that have no other emotion besides anger and hatred. Obsessed with their superiority, they show no sympathy towards any other race. Episodes that featured the Dalek’s usually end up with the highest ratings, spawning the catchphrase “Exterminate!” The Master, the Doctor’s strongest and most admirable foe, has challenged the Doctor more than half a dozen times. As a renegade time lord, he matches the intelligence and abilities of the Doctor.

The 50th anniversary special with air on Nov. 22, and is an extended 75 minute special that will appear on on television and even in some selected theaters. According to current show runner Steven Moffat, the special is an “event drama,” a “love letter to the fans,” and will be presented in both 2D and 3D.  “The Day of The Doctor” is a highly anticipated special that many fans are looking forward to. With 50 years behind him, the Doctor shows no end to his adventures.