Doctor Who is a British science-fiction show that has been airing for nearly 50 years, beginning its run in 1963 and continues to this day. The show revolves around a time-traveling alien from the planet Gallifrey known only as “The Doctor” who, with the help of various Earthly companions, saves the Earth and the universe over and over again. When the Doctor is close to death, he can “regenerate” and become an almost entirely different person. This has allowed for the show to maintain production for such a long period of time, and has allowed for the show to change drastically in tone and theme between each incarnation of its main character. It is currently on the eleventh Doctor.
The first fantasy element within the show are the Doctor’s many alien tools. This includes his sonic screwdriver, the Doctor’s tool of choice which allows him to interact with various types of machinery from all over the universe, psychic paper, which shows the viewer false identification that allows the Doctor to keep from revealing his identity, and finally his most iconic tool of all. This is the Tardis (time and relative dimensions in space), which is a machine he stole from his people before they were all sealed away. It a machine shaped like a mid-twentieth-century British police box that allows him to travel through time and space. All of these tools are reused constantly throughout the show, the Tardis making an appearance in every show, and although confusing as to their specific function to new viewers, they are well known and beloved by fans, leading to the sale of sonic screwdrivers, and people attempting to recreate their own personal Tardis.
One of the most important fantasy elements created by the show is the fact that the Doctor can regenerate. This allows for the main character to stay the same yet become completely different, save for a few quirks. This would be unsuccessful in others shows, as fans would be angered that someone else is trying to play a character that they have come to like, but Doctor Who has been able to keep its fan base with viewers readily accepting of the changes, as they know it leads to new adventures and a more expanded television show. Each fan is allowed to have their own favorite Doctor, and are happy to show it, with the various incarnations of the Doctor being some of the most popular costumes at conventions like Comic-con, where it is hard not to see at least one of each version of the Doctor.
The show has created a large following that call themselves “Whovians” that is based mainly in the UK, but is has a constantly growing cult following in North America and all around the world. This rhetorical community has a deep knowledge of series, with an enthusiasm towards it similar to that of Star Wars fans or Trekkies.a
Pop Studies and Rhetoric 
Very ambitious to do a criticism of the entire series. Things I feel could have been given more attention is that more mention of setting could have given. Although the Tardis can go anywhere in time and space many of the episodes occur on earth, or at least a earth-like settlement. Episodes have taken place in the dark ages, the 1800s, the Renaissance, and the day the sun super novas. Also I would count the Tardis itself as a character. Many of the adventures that the Doctor and his companions go on occur because they do not end up in time or space where they originally intended. Evidence of the Tardis being a character on its own is reference to the Tardis as a “living ship” and the episode in the 6th season when the “soul” of the Tardis gets put in a human body and her and the doctor get to speak to one another for the very first time.