This past weekend, I had a golden opportunity in this heyday
of modern Doctor Who. I was able to get my kids, ages 7, 9 and 14, to watch a
full 4-episode story of the Classic series. Understand, all three of them have
seen various episodes of New Who, and my son (14) has a VERY passing
familiarity with the Classic series. Key though, is that he hadn’t ever sat
down to watch a full story, and my 2 girls had never seen ANY Classic story.
On Thursday night, my wife was in a rare (for her) mood to
watch some Old School Doctor Who. OK, I suggested it and she agreed to it. She
is a massive fan of Leela, and we have already seen most of her run, leaving
few choices that wouldn’t be repeats or Underworld. Surprisingly, one we hadn’t
yet watched was Image of the Fendahl, so there was our choice. We watched the
first two episodes, then needed to call it a night. However, on Saturday she
asked if we could finish it. Well, of course! Once the girls are in bed, we’ll
fire it right up! Then the moment came that will ever warm my heart. “Why don’t
we all watch it?” YES! Family Doctor Who night! I was giddy, the wife was
amused, and the kids were excited… even the 14 year old who just agreed to
watch an almost 40 year old TV show with his family on a Saturday night.
We settled in our family room and it began – and I was maybe
a minute into it before my parental warning sirens went off. Monsters? Check. Mysterious old ladies?
Check. Oh yes, the Doctor assisting a suicide in the fourth episode? Check and
double check. What on earth had I done?? Now my kids aren’t completely innocent
to filmic violence and scary things – we’ve already done the Star Wars films
(yes, all 6), the Avengers, Labyrinth, even ET which still makes me tear up 23
years later. But I felt this was different. To a degree I was right. My older
daughter wasn’t scared by the Fendahleen which I thought she would, but LOST
HER MIND over Ma Tyler’s fright in the woods. The suicide of Stael? Nobody
blinked. But when Thea became the full Fendahl Core, her golden eyes unnerved
all three of them.
Then, it was over! Cute scene in the TARDIS with K9, theme
song and done. I was worried what scars I may have given my kids so I asked
what they thought. The 9-year old hated “when the old lady was screaming”, the
7 year old just “liked it”, and my son thought it was cool that Smaug’s mom was
in the story. Bedtime came, everyone slept through the night, and no reports of
nightmares from the two younger ones. I wouldn’t have expected the boy to admit
to one even if he had stayed awake with the vision of a Fendahl over his bed.
I feel that as both a Dad and a Doctor Who fan, I had done
my proper diligence by presenting this story. Sure it was a little scary,
although not in the ways I could have predicted. I mean, not one was disturbed
by the glowing skull? I’ve seen it before and Eustace always seems creepy to
me! Gentle reminders that “it’s just a show, remember” seemed to be all that
were needed to comfort the girls. My wife’s girl-crush on Leela remains
unabated, while I’m pretty sure my son has a “crush” crush on Louise Jameson.
As is right and proper, frankly. My only concern now is…. What episode should
be next for family Who night?
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