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Post by Nalkarj on Dec 29, 2019 3:26:30 GMT
I never really got into this show, though some of the plot lines are right up my alley. Anyway, I’ve been watching a few episodes because there’s a marathon on BBC America, and some of the episodes are quite good, while others have just plain awful acting. I still have to see the original series, made by the people who made The Avengers, one of my favorite TV shows.
The two “Doctors” I’ve seen are Number 10, who’s unbelievably annoying, and Number 11, who’s much better. That said, I’m watching a #10 episode, “The Girl in the Fireplace,” right now, and it’s quite good. Then again, I’ve always loved Ancien Régime France, where it’s (mostly) set.
Anyway, any episodes you particularly recommend for a newbie? So far, I’ve liked “The Time of the Doctor” and “The Girl in the Fireplace” and hated “The Unicorn and the Wasp.” I tend to like surrealism and history, two things at which the show apparently excels, and I’d prefer episodes that can stand on their own. I’m a sucker for time travel and alternate universe stories.
Some episodes whose plot synopses interest me: “Inferno,” “The Dæmons,” “The Seeds of Doom,” “The Face of Evil,” “The Robots of Death,” “Horror of Fang Rock,” “The Talons of Weng-Chiang,” “City of Death,” “Ghost Light,” “The Unquiet Dead,” “The Shakespeare Code,” “Voyage of the Damned,” “The Vampires of Venice,” “A Christmas Carol,” “The Curse of the Black Spot,” “The Doctor’s Wife,” “The Crimson Horror,” “Nightmare in Silver,” “Robot of Sherwood,” “Mummy on the Orient Express.” Anyone have thoughts on any of these?
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Post by alpha128 on Dec 29, 2019 17:08:47 GMT
Some episodes whose plot synopses interest me: “Inferno,” “The Dæmons,” “The Seeds of Doom,” “The Face of Evil,” “The Robots of Death,” “Horror of Fang Rock,” “The Talons of Weng-Chiang,” “City of Death,” “Ghost Light,” “The Unquiet Dead,” “The Shakespeare Code,” “Voyage of the Damned,” “The Vampires of Venice,” “A Christmas Carol,” “The Curse of the Black Spot,” “The Doctor’s Wife,” “The Crimson Horror,” “Nightmare in Silver,” “Robot of Sherwood,” “Mummy on the Orient Express.” Anyone have thoughts on any of these? Of the classic serials you mention, I own the following on DVD: “The Seeds of Doom,” “The Face of Evil,” “The Robots of Death,” “Horror of Fang Rock,” and “The Talons of Weng-Chiang”. I recommend them all, and the last one is my all-time favorite.
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Post by politicidal on Dec 29, 2019 18:18:42 GMT
I've only seen the season with the 9th Doctor (Eccleston) all the way through. I've watched a couple more with David Tennant but that's about it.
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Post by Feologild Oakes on Dec 29, 2019 18:45:09 GMT
I have seen all the episodes of New Doctor Who
I think its ok
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maxwellperfect
Junior Member
@maxwellperfect
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Post by maxwellperfect on Dec 30, 2019 3:41:00 GMT
I recommend:
"The Empty Child"
"Human Nature"/"The Family of Blood"
"Silence in the Library"
"The Time of the Angels"/"Flesh and Stone"
"The Pandorica Opens"/"The Big Bang"
plus most of Series 6, which is the point where the over-riding story arcs overtake standalone stories. Unfortunately, after that season there are fewer memorable episodes, continuity gets too convoluted, and stories too repetitive.
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Post by mikef6 on Dec 30, 2019 16:31:10 GMT
Nalkarj I have a Doctor Who watcher since 1983. I was in grad school and the show was just getting widespread U.S. distribution via PBS. All my friends were talking about it so I tuned in one evening – and that was that. The titles you mention are a mix of Classic and New Who. Let’s start with the Classic Era. “Inferno” is Doctor #3 (Jon Pertwee) from Season 7. It is a little longer than most of the stories (almost 3-hours) but excellent. “The Daemons” is also Pertwee and, for me, is ruined by the ending which falls to a common sci-fi cliché which I hate. Just about the same (bad ending) spoils “The Seeds of Doom” a 4th Doctor episode. The Fourth Doctor is played by Tom Baker – he of the long multi-colored scarf. Baker was the first Doctor seen by most in the U.S. when the show first started running here and remains the favorite of most long-time Whovians. Another Fourth Doctor story which is “good but not great” is The Face of Evil. The Robots of Death, The Talons of Weng-Chiang, and, especially, “City of Death” are Must Sees. I am a contrarian concerning “The Horror of Fang Rock.” It is a fan favorite but I think it has the sensibilities of a slasher movie. The others are New Who episodes that, with one exception, I would also describe as “good but not great.” The exception is “Mummy On The Orient Express.” This is from the first season of the 12th Doctor (Peter Capaldi) while Capaldi was still finding his feet in settling what his conception of The Doctor might be but this story contains one of the great Doctor Moments of any era. The Doctor’s 66-seconds of face time with the Foretold is a truly wonderful piece. Here are my recommendations (some have already come up so I will give them a second): First Doctor: “An Unearthly Child” This was the premiere episode on November 23, 1963, 56 years ago. The BBC went to full-time coverage of the assassination of Pres. Kennedy in America on November 22. When they returned to regular programming, the first program on the air was "An Unearthly Child." The early years of Doctor Who look and feel so different from what it became just a few years later that some people find them hard to watch, but this first 24-minute premiere is a must. Second Doctor: “The Power of The Daleks” a lost episode now on DVD in an animated recreation using the original soundtrack. The first with Patrick Troughton as the Second Doctor. Also see “The Tomb of The Cybermen.” Third Doctor (The first to be broadcast in color) “Inferno” “Colony In Space” “The Curse of Peladon” “The Three Doctors” “Carnival of Monsters” “Planet of the Daleks” “The Time Warrior” “Invasion of the Dinosaurs” Fourth Doctor (in addition to the ones discussed above) “Genesis of the Daleks” “Pyramids of Mars” “The Masque of Mandragora” “The Deadly Assassin” “Destiny of the Daleks” “Logopolis” Fifth Doctor (Peter Davison) “Castrovalva” “Earthshock” “Mawdryn Undead” “Terminus” “Enlightenment” “Resurrection of the Daleks” “The Caves of Androzani” Sixth Doctor (Colin Baker – no relation to Tom) “The Two Doctors” “Revelation of the Daleks” Seventh Doctor (Sylvester McCoy) “Rememberance of the Daleks” “Silver Nemesis” “The Curse of Fenwick” “Survival” This ends the Classic Era. Must dash for now. Be back later with New Who recommends.
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Post by alpha128 on Dec 31, 2019 5:56:50 GMT
Fourth Doctor (in addition to the ones discussed above) “Genesis of the Daleks” “Pyramids of Mars” “The Masque of Mandragora” “The Deadly Assassin” I own all of these on DVD as well. "Genesis" is my #2 and "Assassin" is my #3.
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Post by Catman on Dec 31, 2019 13:17:51 GMT
The first show of the new season will be shown in the evening on New Year's Day before settling into its time slot on Sundays.
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Post by mikef6 on Dec 31, 2019 14:45:14 GMT
The first show of the new season will be shown in the evening on New Year's Day before settling into its time slot on Sundays. Thanks for the reminder.
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Post by louise on Jan 7, 2020 17:51:56 GMT
Talons of Weng Chiang is fantastic, possibly my favourite story of all, though City of Death runs it very close. Seeds of Doom is excellent. The Daemons is a great 3rd Doctor story, one of the best to feature UNIT. I would also recommend Spearhead from Space as a great 3rd Doctor story, and Claws of Axos is another one I am very fond of. The Three Doctors is great if you want to see the first three doctors all together.
However, I don't think Dr Who and The Avengers were made by the same people, Dr Who was made by the BBC, wheras The Avengers was made by ITV.
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Post by Nalkarj on Jan 9, 2020 12:55:56 GMT
Wow, thanks for the replies, everyone—to be honest, it’s kinda overwhelming for me with how much Dr. Who there is and how well-known it is. Then again, I felt that way about Star Wars too and ended up liking that. mikef6, thanks for all the detail; I knew you were a fan and hoped you’d chime in! Will keep your comments in mind. louise, Sydney Newman created both shows (co-creator on Who)—and I think they had several other crew members in common. |
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Post by alpha128 on Jan 9, 2020 13:59:08 GMT
...to be honest, it’s kinda overwhelming for me with how much Dr. Who there is and how well-known it is. You may find the following list helpful: Classic Doctor Who recommended viewing listI don't agree with all of the author's ratings, e.g., I much prefer Terror of the Zygons (Normal Serial) to The Brain of Morbius (Recommended serial). But for a new viewer trying to get their arms around the institution that is Classic Who, I recommend that list.
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Post by Nalkarj on Sept 10, 2020 2:01:20 GMT
Long after I first posted this thread, but I forgot to note here that I watched and enjoyed “An Unearthly Child”—particularly the first segment, which has a sense of the mysterious and the bizarre that, alas, the rest of the episode lacked. William Hartnell, however, was excellent as Dr. Who himself. The later color ones, however, just seem so…cheap-looking, and without that kind of “what is going on here?” sense of wonder.
Will check again; despite all the good advice here, the sheer amount of Who material I still find overwhelming.
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Post by President Ackbar™ on Sept 10, 2020 2:08:38 GMT
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Post by Nalkarj on Sept 10, 2020 2:18:04 GMT
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Post by MCDemuth on Sept 10, 2020 3:07:19 GMT
I recommend that you watch the 4th Doctor story: "Genesis Of The Daleks" (1975) BEFORE you watch the 10th Doctor's stories: "The Stolen Earth"/"Journey's End" (2008)...
It helps in understanding & appreciating the Davros & Sarah Jane Smith dialog in the 2008 episodes.
I also recommend that you watch the 4th Doctor story: "The Hand Of Fear" (1976) & Sarah Jane Smith's spin off story: "K-9 and Company: A Girl's Best Friend" (1981) BEFORE you watch the 10th Doctor's story: "School Reunion" (2006).
Again, it will help you understand Sarah Jane's departure from the original series & how K-9 joins her, before she returns to the new series.
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Post by Prime etc. on Sept 10, 2020 4:58:14 GMT
This guy sent me some Doctor Who on video (Pertwee and Baker) and I also watched a couple of Troughton ones.
Previously the only Who I recall watching was the 1990s Fox movie. I may have caught a little on tv way back in the Baker years but I only recall it vaguely.
The Fox movie one seemed to me a more romantic leading man version of Baker.
I remember reading about the series in Starlog and they had a picture of The Five Doctors (Baker was a wax figure).
Talons of Weng Chiang was the Baker one I watched on VHS.
It's easy to see why Baker became the most popular-the previous Doctors are grandfatherly while he is younger and more like an alien Sherlock Holmes. I like when he is telling his assistant about rats "they are very cunning" and grins in a cryptic way.
I doubt I would ever get into the show--just too much.
I did watch the Peter Cushing film though. The first one.
Daleks need a vocoder.
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Post by alpha128 on Sept 10, 2020 13:04:34 GMT
This guy sent me some Doctor Who on video (Pertwee and Baker) and I also watched a couple of Troughton ones. Pertwee and Tom Baker are my two favorite doctors. And they had some similarities, and I don't just mean Tom Baker's first story "Robot", which was essentially a Pertwee story with Tom Baker as the lead. Both the Third and Fourth Doctors had this air of authority, where they could come into almost any situation and take charge. And there are similar lines of dialogue in both "Time Warrior" (Third Doctor) and "The Masque of Mandragora" (Fourth Doctor): THIRD DOCTOR: Yes, that's right. And my people are very keen to stamp out unlicensed time travel. You can look upon them as galactic ticket inspectors, if you like. ' FOURTH DOCTOR: Well, you see, that's a great pity because I can't allow you to interfere with Earth's progress... It's part of a Time Lord's job to insist on justice for all species. And Nalkarj , once again I direct you to Classic Doctor Who recommended viewing list to help you get your arms around the institution that is Classic Who.
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