Another girlie crush that reveals my geeky side

If you're a closet geek (or even a not-so-closet geek) then you know all about Dr Who. And if you've never heard of the show, or don't really care, then look away now.

Really, the rest of us won't mind.

Of you go. Shoo.

Doo-de-doo-de-dooo *hums lift music*

Right, are they gone? Those heathens who don't like Dr Who? Phew.

So, now that we're all on the same page, how cool is Matt Smith? And how awesome was the new episode?? I loved it when.... Nah, tricked ya! I won't give away any spoilers.

I've been watching Dr Who since it returned a few years back with Chris Eccleston. I've loved every version of the Doctor since then, although I have a soft spot for David Tennant. (Or Ten, if you're a true geek.) And, I will admit, it took me a while to warm to Matt Smith. (I also think it's taken a while for Matt Smith to warm to the Doctor, but that's another conversation.)

Actually, I've watched it since long before that -- way back when I was growing up in a country town with only two TV channels, one of which (ABC, of course) routinely showed Dr Who as after-school viewing.

I love Dr Who for many reasons. I'm not really one for horror shows or the like (although give me a vampire and I'm there), but part of me does like regressing to those childhood days of watching the Daleks from behind the couch, knowing I'd be hearing those metallic voices in my head later when I was trying to sleep.

It's okay -- I chose one with its eyes covered.
But probably a good idea not to blink. Just in case.

And in my adult years, Dr Who has provided some of the downright scariest moments on TV bar none: Weeping Angels anyone? Vashda Nerada? That little boy in the gas mask pleading, "Are you my mummy?"

*shudder*

Part of me loves the romance of it. Yes, of course it's a romance (and no, it's not "of course you'd say that"). The Doctor is the ultimate romantic hero -- intellectual, action-oriented, deeply troubled, overly protective of those he loves. And he's a snappy dresser in pretty much all his incarnations. (Although I didn't love the cricket whites from way back.)

This version of the Doctor (Eleven) has developed a bit of a catch cry. Well, there are a few things he says. "Run," "You are brilliant," and "Geronimo" spring to mind. But the one I want to talk about has only started appearing recently. It's simple but meaningful and affecting, like all good catch cries:

"Under My Protection."

A  non-spoilery screen grab from the latest episode.

By this he means everything from his current companion (the quirky, capable and quite loveable Oswin) to the entire planet earth.

Who doesn't love a hero who declares something like that?

I especially like the way the Dr Who writers use it. Because it doesn't disempower the other characters. Oswin (like Amy before her) isn't quivering in her boots waiting for the Doctor to save her. Often it seems an impossible task anyway -- the Doctor is almost always out-matched, out-manned, and definitely out-gunned. But he always turns up, thinks of something, and saves the day. With a little help.

I love it as a hero's cry. I want to write heroes in my books that might not necessarily say these words, but whose every actions are defined by this belief. I want to read books with heroes like that.

Personally, I'd like a world where more people were like that.

But for now, I sleep a little safer at night knowing we're under the Doctor's protection.