Doctor Who: Why We Should All Embrace the Younger Fans

The younger and newer fans are the future of Doctor Who. Why, then, do they receive such a difficult time in being accepted as true fans of the show?

For the most part, fanbases are an accepting lot. United through a love of the same things, there is a sense of community and fellowship through the ranks, regardless of how young or old a person is. Yet, in any long running fandom, be it for a band, a sports team or even a television show, there are always those who resent the younger or newer fans, considering them as not a true part of the fanbase, because they were not around since whatever year.

Even those who may not have experienced it personally know that this happens in each fanbase. The topic comes up in conversations and in different groups. Bands like Against All Authority have even recorded songs recognizing the disconnect between the older fans, who were there in the beginning, and new fans who are just discovering their band.

So, why is that disconnect between the old and new fans there? It likely has to do with thinking that these newer fans, regardless of their age, are jumping on a bandwagon due to the perceived popularity of the subject of their fandom. And it is a very unfortunate situation for any fan to go through.

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The problem with attacking new fans is that for any program, band or team to continue to thrive, new blood needs to come in. Fanbases continually evolve; as older fans drift away, new ones come in to take their place. Even the fans that have been around for, in the case of Doctor Who, fifty years, will eventually leave, be it on their own or due to their inevitable mortality. If younger fans are continually alienated or chastised for their thoughts, or just for being born decades later, where will the show end up?

This is why different entities try to appeal to younger or new fans. Maybe Doctor Who has played up the romantic aspects between characters at times, but those elements are not foreign to the show. If it happens to also keep those newer fans, then so be it. While we can all quibble about whether or not a season was any good (like Series Eight) there may be elements put in to appeal to the newer fans. As long as the overall quality of the series remains the same, do these little changes to draw in new fans matter?

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Every show needs new fans, and Doctor Who is no exception. Instead of chastising these fans for not being a part of the fanbase from the beginning, take the time to welcome them and bring them into the fold, helping them learn about the history of the show. Doctor Who will be stronger for it.

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