I can’t help it. In the face of an upcoming season of shows that retread long standing sci-fi ratings hits like Heroes, The X-Files and even Firefly, there’s few things with consistency that I want to lock onto. That is, of course, but for the most consistent man in television, the Doctor.

Three regenerations in, the current version of Dr. Who remains some of the most compelling dramatic television that’s available to us today. Thought provoking, stirring, exciting? Sure, but I can get that on CNN. Dr. Who is also retardedly gross and enough to make a teenage school boy very happy. So at the end of the day there’s a delicate appeal to both sides of the coin no matter were you lie.

There’s something glorious about this current incarnation, likely the free spirited nature of the Dr. himself, but also an approach to making TV that could only be definitive of the BBC. V is close but not there and Hollywood still has this thing for ensemble work, so they’re more likely to go in the direction of a Lost, Fringe or Heroes.

I think my appreciation of Matt Smith‘s tripping around comes from an appreciation of legacy. Few modern television shows outside of Star Trek have transcended generations in the way that Dr. Who has. A continuation of compelling characters can and does work over a thirty year-plus span. It also helps that Chris Eccleston, Billie Piper, David Tennant and Freema Agyeman are all good actors in their own right.

Dr. Who has a magic that I keep coming back to and will continue to do so. Where else can you fight aliens, travel through time and see attractive ladies?