If you have a Whovian (aka Doctor Who fan) in your life, you know they are hard to shop for. Depending on what type of fan they are. There are many types of fans, and there is something out there for every one of them.
Are they fans of the current or recent Doctor? Or are they more a fan of a classic Doctor? Do they like the show for its wide scope of science fiction and fantasy? Or are they more a fan of the personal relationships and drama?
FOR THE NEW FAN
One thing every Doctor Who fan needs is their own trusty sonic screwdriver, and there are a few to choose from. American retail Who North America (WhoNA.com) has quite a few variations of the Doctor’s amazing multitool available on their website. A selection of which can be found on Toynk.com ranging from $16.99 to $32.99 depending on which one you want.
FOR THE CLASSIC FAN
While the modern series has been collected on Blu-ray and DVD as complete seasons and even complete Doctors, the classic series were released on DVD one story at a time for the most part.
Just recently, though, Seasons 10, 12, 14, 19, 22, and 26 have received full season Blu-ray releases. These sets cover a wide range of the show’s long history and feature Doctors 3-7. They also include new features, improved, and in some, new updated special effects for chosen stories.
Just announced, The Third Doctor’s second year, Season 8 will be coming in 2021. It features some notable firsts of the series. Terror of the Autons, the first story to feature the Master (Roger Delgado) and Jo Grant (Katy Manning) leads the season off. The story also includes new 5.1 surround sound and new and improved special effects.
Released sets are available at many retailers, including Who North America.
FOR THE BINGE AT HOME FAN
As the weather has gotten colder, and the nights longer, there’s nothing quite like snuggling up on the couch with someone special and watching an episode (or 12) of your favorite show on Netflix
Binging Doctor Who could be a full-time job, with the show’s 57-year history and combined 38 seasons. But there is no one place to see it all. Sure if you are in the UK, you can see the modern series via the BBC Iplayer, but if you’re not you have to find other places to stream.
In the US, the modern era (2005 – the present) can be streamed on HBOMax. From Rose to The Timeless Children, it’s all there, along with a great deal more for $14.99 a month.
Britbox has been home for the classic series ever since its launch in 2017. It is now available in the US, the UK, Canada, and just recently launched in Australia. All the complete stories and episodes are available, including the few that have been reconstructed or animated.
Britbox is $6.99/month in the US, $8.99 in Canada and Australia, and £5.99/month in the UK. Gift subscriptions are available.
Of course, you can’t binge watch without being warm and comfy with a fleece throw like this Van Gogh inspired TARDIS one, available through Walmart.com and other retailers from $39.99.
FOR THE ON THE GO FAN
Maybe you have a Doctor Who fan in your life who is always on the move. It’s not easy for them to watch Doctor Who when you’re driving, biking, or out exploring the universe. Lucky for them, the Doctor has become a lot more portable. No eyes needed, just ears.
Big Finish Productions produces new, original feature-length audio plays based on Doctor Who and its vast universe of characters. Licensed by the BBC in 1999, they currently have the rights to tell stories set up to and through the 12th Doctor’s era. To date, all the living classic Doctor Who actors, and almost all of their companions, have returned to the TARDIS. The modern Doctors have just begun to join in the aural adventures.
There are a lot of Big Finish stories, so where to begin? Fans of the tried and true should check out the Fourth Doctor, alongside Leela, K-9, and Romana series. Only know the Nu-Who series? David Tennant has returned to do episodes with Rose, Donna, and River Song. (Who also has a series of her own!) Fan of the 11th Doctor’s era? Well, check out the spin-off series starting everyone’s favorite Victorian alien sleuths, the Paternoster Gang.
Big Finish has even been able to breathe new life into the Sixth and Eighth Doctors, who had such limited screen time. They both meet new companions and become much fuller and compelling versions of the Doctor. There is even a series of stories starring John Hurt’s War Doctor.
Doctor Who isn’t the only universe Big Finish creates new stories for. There’s Torchwood, Doctor Who‘s steamy post-watershed companion piece. But there are a lot of non-Who franchises available, like Space 1999, Dark Shadows, The Avengers (the swinging 60’s spy ones, not the Marvel movie ones), and The Prisoner just to name a few.
Downloads are as cheap as $1.99, through deluxe CD or Vinyl sets that run higher.
FOR THE WELL ARTICULATED FAN
Where you have sci-fi fans and collectors, you have action figure collectors, and Doctor Who action figures are definitely out there. There are many types to choose from vintage 70s or 80s figures, which can be found on places like eBay or Amazon, to those from the new series produced by English toy company, Character Options.
Though all the Doctors have been made into figures, and most of his enemies, they are not all readily available, especially outside of the UK. For some older figures, again eBay is a place you can look. And WhoNA has some sets in stock. But for the latest figures available in the US, you have one place you can find them: The Official North American Doctor Who Store (not to be confused with WhoNA). They are an online store that sells through Amazon, so you can get them with free shipping from Prime! Figures and sets there range from $12.99 to $39.99
FOR THE YOUNG (OR YOUNG AT HEART) FAN
When Doctor Who launched back in 1963, it was aimed as a show for young children. For 57 years it continues to delight kids from 3 to 333. For those young (and young at heart), there are many great gifts available.
Activity books, coloring books, Funko Pops, and Titan Vinyls are all on Amazon and direct retailers like WhoNA.
FOR THE FASHIONABLE FAN
The Doctor’s sense of fashion causes heads to turn on whatever planet or time he/she materializes in. With an 18′ long scarf, 3-D glasses, decorative vegetables, or technicolor dream coats, you’re sure to notice the Doctor on the street.
Fans now can dress to celebrate the Doctor, or even dress like the Doctor, if they want to.
Brands like Her Universe have a line of everyday fashion inspired by Doctor Who. They sell everything from hoodies to classic T’s to vintage-inspired dresses that make geek chic.
Of course, there is plenty for the guys too. And not just celery for your lapel. You can find t-shirts featuring all the Doctors at sites like Boxlunch.com. But you can’t miss with the classic Fourth Doctor Scarf, available in various lengths and colors at places like – you guessed it – WhoNA.
So Happy Wholidays! We hope you all have a wonderful and safe holiday season with all of your favorite people from across time and space as best you can! Be sure not to fly your TARDIS too far from Geek Anything so you can keep up with all of the latest Doctor Who updates!
