BFI produces in-depth critical readings of films and television series. Here, Kim Newman delves into the history of Doctor Who. Starting from the very beginning in 1963, to the probably welcomed ending in 1989, even including the attempted revival TV movie in 1996, and continuing through to the newest series revival starting in 2005, Newman hits the high points, and the very low points of this show that has captivated audiences for decades.

There have been whole series of books focusing on the production on Doctor Who over the years, so Newman is quick to simply reference these and list them for anyone interested in further reading, but he takes a look at the show as a whole, looking into the story peaks and inevitable valleys hit when certain writers and producers either ran out of creative steam or just didn't care enough to make it work.

As a definite fan of the show, Newman spares no punches when it comes to his least favorite Who moments through the years (especially when it comes to K-9).

If you are a fan of Doctor Who, new or old, and enjoy deep critical analysis of film and television, this is definitely a book worth picking up.

I would be interested in an updated version that explored Newman's thoughts on the rest of the revival series, however, especially how he thinks Moffat has held up as showrunner after Davies. ( )

http://nhw.livejournal.com/701832.html ( )