I’m going a bit off the beaten path from my usual approach with my confession this week. What I have to say probably counts as an Unpopular Opinion, and it may shock some of you, so ready your burning brands and pitchforks. Despite what I’ve implied plenty of times before, Doctor Who isn’t for everyone.

You heard me. Some people simply shouldn’t be brought into the fold—shouldn’t even try. “What?” I hear you say. “That’s ridiculous! Our Show has something for everyone!” Well, yes; there’s an awful lot of variety in the ~250 televised stories, never mind the vast additional oeuvre of books, audios, comics, and so on. But I argue that there are still some people for whom even this extensive selection is not enough in which to find a truly enjoyable story.

Heresy, I know.

Yet Doctor Who works best for those of us willing to overlook—or better yet, embrace—the silly or way-out-there-unbelievable to find something deeper inside. It may be a personal lesson we embrace, teaching us about tolerance or personal responsibility or the value of vulnerability. Perhaps it’s a vision of how life on Earth could be, good or bad (usually, but not always, based on how some alien culture works). Or maybe it’s just a thrilling adventure that lights a spark of joy and wonder.

But not everyone is built to “get” speculative fiction. There are folks whose entire pleasure reading list consists of non-fiction works. Some of these people may go so far as to classify any fiction, let alone spec fic, as frivolous, pointless drivel. (Okay, perhaps “drivel” is taking it a step too far…) In other words, some people simply aren’t wired to enjoy the kind of wildly imaginative, quasi-scientific storytelling that is Doctor Who‘s stock and trade.

That’s not to say the show is ever above criticism from its fanbase. Even that wildly imaginative side can fall short. Critics outside the fandom are not necessarily off base when they call the show “nonsense,” for example. Sometimes even when one is fully engaged with the show’s premise and characters, plot problems the size of small planetoids can derail one’s enjoyment. (~cough~KilltheMoon~cough~)

Feeling the need to critique something doesn’t mean one can’t still enjoy—even love—it. (I would, in fact, argue that critiquing something you enjoy is a healthy reaction, but that’s another discussion.) But if someone can’t ever see beyond the unbelievable, if they find themselves unable to suspend disbelief even for a few minutes, that’s the kind of person who simply doesn’t belong in front of a screen showing Doctor Who.

Fandom doesn’t need to be (shouldn’t be) an exclusive club—the more, the merrier! But neither should it be proselytized to the masses. By all means, share your enthusiasm with your friends/loved ones/blog readers. Just don’t expect that obsession to be universal. (Conversely, don’t expect any other fan to love the show in exactly the way you do, and definitely don’t judge the depth of their love based on the breadth of their knowledge.)

So while anyone bothering to read this post is likely to think Doctor Who is the bee’s knees, plenty of other folks out there won’t give a rat’s ass, and that’s okay. No interest is universal. That’s why, even though I adore the show and think there’s enough variety throughout its history to provide something enjoyable for nearly everyone, I’m not naïve enough to think that “nearly” is the same as absolutely.

Sometimes the best way to convince others of the merit of one’s values (or entertainment preferences) is through action; Doctor Who fans are at our best when we are embracing the lessons the Doctor teaches us (sometimes by learning them himself). There’s nothing wrong with trying to share the love and introduce others to the show. But if they don’t take to it, accept that and move on; some folks just aren’t ever going to join us, no matter how much their fannish friends harangue them.

I guess what I’m saying is, don’t be That Fan. If someone’s fandom is meant to be, it will develop in its own time. Don’t push too hard, and respect a negative result. Everyone will be better off in the end.