Blame Canada (and BitTorrent)

Doctor Who: The Complete First Series will be released in the USA (in Feb '06). Yaaaayyy!

That BBC is releasing this even though it's never aired here fascinates me.

Two reasons I can gather. First, Region 1 includes USA and Canada, and the new Doctor Who aired there, so if they wanted to sell it there they might as well market it down here as well. Second many American Who fans probably tasted the forbidden fruits of the torrents that proliferated after each week's show (The Christmas special should be available by Dec 26th, not that anyone would download it).

It's a great show, if a bit British (filmed in beautiful Cardiff, Wales), why no US outlet picked it up is beyond me. (I'm talking to you NBC/Universal owners of the SciFi channel, it would have been a perfect fit).

Series Two begins in March, with many old friends and foes appearing (K9!) and a new Doctor. Plus in the summer the Spin-off Torchwood (featuring Captain Jack) kicks off.

Since it would have been illegal and a copyright infringement for me to have downloaded and watched all the episodes from Series One, let's just say that judging from the recaps online that the new Doctor Who are great fun, Rose (played by pop singer Billie Piper) is sexy and plucky, Chris Eccleston made a great Doctor, and if you like this sort of thing, buy the DVD so as to clue in the management at the various media conglomerates that SciFi can be fun, literate, kid friendly, yet with a hint of menace. (and that Americans aren't afraid of real British accents)