Doctor Who and the Quest for a Role Model

By David Hill | Jul 8, 2015

I have five year old twins, a boy and a girl. They are at the age where they are finding role models to look up to. At this point, their role models likely include Mickey the Mouse, Thomas the Tank Engine and Sofia the First. As far as role models go, they could do much worse.

They are also at the age where they are, at least to a degree, somewhat interested in Doctor Who. They play with a ‘talking’ TARDIS plush toy that we have on our bookshelf at home. They have watched the occasional episode, either because they specifically asked to or because we happened to be watching it. While they may have the attention span of a caffeinated squirrel, Doctor Who is able to capture their attention, at least for a while.

With the idea that these young children are periodically watching Doctor Who, it is fair to wonder whether or not the Doctor is the type of character that can be considered a role model. He is, at least in this incarnation, gruff and sarcastic, quite rough around the edges. He would not exactly appear to be the type of being that a younger child could relate to.

More from Doctor Who

And yet, Doctor Who and the Doctor may be exactly the type of show that can help a younger child find his way. The show champions those who stand up for those who cannot stand up for themselves, showing fearlessness and determination in the face of adversity. It is a show about never giving up, no matter how minuscule the odds would seem to work out in your favor. It is a show about support, teamwork and inclusion, traits that we should all be looking to instill in the younger generation.

Even though it was intended to be a children’s program back in the early days, Doctor Who is not exactly the type of show that one would consider synonymous with small children. The episodes can, at times, be extremely dark and potentially disturbing. The creatures can be frightening, especially for a younger audience.

Yet, through all of those pitfalls, Doctor Who teaches valuable lessons that younger children need to learn. They need to see that, no matter what, it is perfectly acceptable for them to be themselves, and to believe in who and what they are. These are valuable lessons for any child to learn.

While it may not be apparent at times, the Doctor is truly a good role model for kids to look up to. Considering the way the sports world and the way that entertainment icons have been behaving, one could do a lot worse.

Next: Rachel Talalay Says Finale 'Complicated and Different'

Home/Doctor Who