Having watched the Concert and the Special this afternoon it is now quite clear that DOCTOR WHO has Messianic qualities.

The concert contained music which was almost religious to accompany the high points of the last few series. DOCTOR WHO frequently saves the human race and the planet from foes - but never directly interferes and does so from a standpoint of non violence.

In this Christmas's special - the Second Doctor calls for the DOCTOR to be thanked on Christmas Morn - thus attaching even more Messianic symbolism to the Character.

Although the writers of the series do not have the intention of creating this allegory - unintentionally they have created a Messianic saviour for the World within the medium of TV.

It makes you wonder as well whether GOD ( if you believe in GOD) would use the series to communicate truth to the human race ?

Interesting thoughts.........

The Messiah concept is a theme that runs throughout popular culture BR.

Yes I agree JK - of course we have SUPERMAN and so on.

What makes DOCTOR WHO more compelling is the spiritual quality which is being applied to him.

Yes we all need a Saviour - Gordon Brown has tried to put himself forward as Saviour of the World recently....without success.....but DOCTOR WHO embraces many of the Theological elements that point to a true Messiah.

I would therefore contend that DOCTOR WHO is the Messiah unless someone can correct me with another figure from popular culture who has more of those qualities.

It is rather stretching things to suggest that The Doctor (character) out of Doctor Who (the TV show) somehow compares to God, or that God is using the show to communicate. Lots of music, especially in the classical genre, helps to charge the emotions or lift the 'soul'.

The Doctor is no more Messianic than many other heroic fantasy characters, e.g. Superman.

You were just caught up in the mood, BR.

My argument Al is that the music and the character and the storyline have now been linked into this messianic ideal. If it were just one of the three then I would agree with you.

We have 1. Storyline saying that Doctor Who is to be celebrated on Christmas Day ( End of this year's special ) and 2. Usual storyline about him saving the world.

Then we have 1. Ethereal/spiritual quality to the music ( not happened before in any series of Doctor Who until the new Watson series ) 2. Performed at Royal Albert Hall as many spiritual pieces often take place.

Finally - his character has been defined as spanning space and time ( Yesterday Today and forever ) and he loves the human race yet is not one of us - and he does not interfere except to protect us.

I would say that no other "superhero" has ALL of these qualities.

I am a big fan of superheroes - but most are flawed - many are violent - and most do not possess a spiritual dimension.

Next Christmas we will celebrate Christ's birth - and watch Doctor Who......

The next SPECIAL is at.....EASTER.

He even arrives at the major Christian festivals at the moment !!!

Very entertaining view BR.

Just to bring it down to earth I think Dr Who is shown during Christian festivals because they happen to be national holidays. We are only being given specials until 2010 when Mr Moffat takes over.

Maybe the extra quality to the music can be linked to the larger budget. Good composers often cost loadsa money. The Royal Albert Hall was chosen for impact. Dr Who is a money making project after all.

But if the good old Doctor fills you with awe and inspiration, then that's good for you.

Yes of course you are right about the specials. It is just another co-incidence......

Who knows.

Will be interesting to see if the future episodes further this messianic view. I dont think it is intentional but perhaps it does flow through the writing.

Moffat in BLINK also had ANGELS turning people to stone - ref that to S & G from the old testament.... - a warning about excess ? FATHER's DAY was about time rifts centred on the wedding in church of Billie's parent..........and so on......

PS I know that within film culture NEO in the MATRIX is known as THE ONE and is discussed in messianic terms. BUT his character is violent and lacks the spiritual quality that DOCTOR WHO has.

If you want a film with amazing messiastic qualities, I give you:

Heavens Above!

Peter Sellers plays an idealistic vicar whos outward 'incompetency' to his superiors in the church is actually him doing what he believes is right. An amazing film and a comedy too.

Totally agree with the Who comments too.