Doctor Who (2005)

Kernel Score: 85% · 3,301 ratings

Genres: Action & Adventure, Drama, Sci-Fi & Fantasy

First aired: 2005-03-26

Seasons: 13 · 153 episodes

Is Doctor Who worth watching?

Worth watching. The revived Doctor Who sends a time-travelling alien and companions through space and history. Quality varies across Doctors and eras, but at its best it's inventive, emotional and charming, and it's easy to dip into.

Watch it if you

  • like inventive British sci-fi
  • enjoy time-travel adventures
  • want a family-friendly series with heart

Skip it if you

  • want tightly serialised storytelling
  • dislike low-budget effects and variable episodes

Best for: Family adventure watching

Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.

Where to watch Doctor Who

  • Stream: Philo, AMC+, Kanopy, Spectrum On Demand
  • Free with ads: Hoopla, The Roku Channel
  • Buy: Prime Video, Google Play, Fandango At Home

US availability, updated 2026-10-23.

Overview

The Doctor is a Time Lord: a 900 year old alien with 2 hearts, part of a gifted civilization who mastered time travel. The Doctor saves planets for a living—more of a hobby actually, and the Doctor's very, very good at it.

Doctor Who parents' guide: ages 8+

Parents need to know that this TV-PG sci-fi adventure features a time-traveling alien hero facing scary monsters and peril, with some viewers noting preachier tones in later seasons.

  • Violence & scariness: Moderate — The Doctor faces alien threats and monsters, with peril and scary creatures that can frighten younger viewers despite the TV-PG rating.
  • Sex, romance & nudity: A little — Romantic elements are mild and infrequent, in keeping with the TV-PG rating.
  • Language: A little — Language is mild throughout.

Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official TV-PG rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.

Shows like Doctor Who

If you liked Doctor Who, these are the shows we'd watch next.

  • Doctor Who (1963) — 88%: The original series, with the same Time Lord and spirit
  • Quantum Leap (1989) — 88%: Time-hopping adventures where each episode is a new world
  • The Twilight Zone (1959) — 91%: Classic anthology with brilliant stories and clever twists
  • Farscape (1999) — 87%: Quirky space adventure with colourful aliens and big heart
  • Life on Mars (2006) — 88%: British sci-fi mystery with a time-travel hook
  • Firefly (2002) — 90%: Ragtag space crew with great characters and sharp dialogue

Cast

  • Jodie Whittaker as The Doctor
  • Mandip Gill as Yasmin 'Yaz' Khan
  • John Bishop as Dan Lewis

Doctor Who FAQ

Is Doctor Who worth watching?

Worth watching. The revived Doctor Who sends a time-travelling alien and companions through space and history. Quality varies across Doctors and eras, but at its best it's inventive, emotional and charming, and it's easy to dip into.

Where can I watch Doctor Who?

In the US you can stream Doctor Who on Philo, AMC+, Kanopy and Spectrum On Demand, watch it free with ads on Hoopla and The Roku Channel and buy it from Prime Video, Google Play and Fandango At Home.

Is Doctor Who OK for kids?

Doctor Who is rated TV-PG. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 8+. Parents need to know that this TV-PG sci-fi adventure features a time-traveling alien hero facing scary monsters and peril, with some viewers noting preachier tones in later seasons.

What shows are like Doctor Who?

If you liked Doctor Who, try Doctor Who, Quantum Leap, The Twilight Zone and Farscape.