How to Watch Doctor Who

Doctor Who is the most popular and longest running science fiction television show in the world. And the latest incarnation of the Doctor (number 11, played by Matt Smith) has been getting more popular in America than ever before in the history of the show. And since the second half of Season 6 will premier on BBC America August 27^th, it might be useful for whovians and non-whovians alike to get ready for the spate of new shows by thoroughly prepping for what promises to be a brilliant kick-off episode. But how do you prepare for Doctor Who? Here are some ideas.

1) Know the Basics

Thoroughbred whovians already know the history of the doctor, but it can’t hurt to brush up on some of the finer nuances of the show by memorizing the names of all 11 actors who have played the Doctor since 1963. Added points for memorizing the names and order of all the companions as well. For non-whovians, you can get the basics from Wikipedia, or this nifty little article about the basics of Doctor Who.

2) Get off work

I know the 27^th is a Saturday, and most people will be off work anyway. But you might need all day Friday to prepare as well. An event like this only comes a few times a year. So it’s important that you get proper rest and make sure you are thoroughly prepared by memorizing the doctors, watching old episodes, knitting a ridiculously long scarf, and more.

3) Get some Jelly Babies

If you live outside the UK, this might be a hard task. But Gummy Bears might do the trick in a pinch. Jelly Babies were a favorite treat of the iconic 4^th Doctor (played by Tom Baker), and a classic Who trope. If you want to thoroughly immerse yourself in the mythology of the Doctor while you watch, having Jelly Babies on hand is a must.

4) Wear a fez and/or ridiculously long colorful scarf

Some people may go for the full cosplay Doctor outfit, but that is unnecessary. All you really need to show you allegiance to the Doctor is a token clothing item like the 11^th Dcotor’s fez or the 4^th Doctor’s ridiculously long multi-colored scarf. Maybe you can even wear a stalk of celery on your lapel in solidarity to the 5^th Doctor.

(Bow ties are also acceptable.)

5) Watch the first half of season 6

For reasons unknown to the Whoniverse, Executive Producer, Steven Moffat, decided that the 6^th season would be broken into two parts (7 episodes in the first part, and 6 in the second). Episode 7 was a whopper where many details of the Doctor’s life and future were revealed, so it’s important to go back and watch the first half of the season, keeping those revelations in mind. Getting in that state of mind is vital to keeping up with the revelations that are sure to follow in episode 8.

6) Follow the official Doctor Who Tumblr

Get news, pictures,videos, and other fun stuff to help prepare you for the second half of season 6 by following Doctor Who on Tumblr.

7) Record it

Queue the Tivo or DVR, and record the show, so you can immediately watch it again when the credits start to roll.

James Ged is an enthusiastic Whovian, sci-fi geek, and social media marketer. He blogs about TV, movies, and just about anything else you can find on Comcast cable. Follow him on Tumblr at TV Buzzer.