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I feel no shame enjoying those as an adult, but I take them for what they are. Craster almost described my thoughts exactly, except I take a slightly higher view. If you are going to analyse something, such as Doctor Who, then you have to analyse it in the context in which it is presented. To start picking up on plot flaws or anything else wrong in the production is pretty fruitless when you consider the target audience.
Exactly. I do consider the target audience. I'd go as far as to guess that it's way more intelligent than the target audience for Eastenders, for example. By your argument, we should all be picking apart the latest episode of Emmerdale and ignoring things like Dr Who because it's 'for kids'. I'm sure everyone would agree that would be mad. Even fans of Emmerdale, I would imagine.
Kids are not idiots. Just because something is aimed at kids (or actually, in this case not
just kids...) doesn't make critical discourse invalid.
It's a family show - A teenager trying to grow a whispy moustache will avoid it because their little brother watches it, but it doesn't mean mum, dad and dodgy geek uncle don't watch it as well. Dodgy geek uncle, possibly dad and (if you're lucky like me to be married to an awesome geek) mum will go as far as to pick it to pieces/rave about how moving/interesting/sexy it was.
They've been doing that for nearly 50 years! In fact, the kids do too, as I've found out with my own.
The fact that it's subject to such criticism for so long is a testament to how well it stands up and how worthwhile it is. When it's crap, the fans remember who wrote it. When the BBC stick cartoons of Graham Norton over important bits, they get thousands of complaints because Dr Who is worthwhile and the next show on a Saturday night isn't.
So there! The Dr Who defense!
[Edit] - speeling and grammerr