Best NuWho Episodes for a Newbie

[bigdaddy]

*Can't be from Series 5 - Needs to be on Netflix*

I'm getting together with someone on Friday who is a dork but hasn't watched a lot of sci-fi shows! So it will be a night full of sci-fi, more so if it's cold and rainy.

I'd like to show him at least a few episodes of DW through Netflix, so I'm looknig for suggestions on which ones.

Right now I'm thinking...

The Waters of Mars
Midnight
Blink

Netflix has the first four series and all the specials besides Planet of the Dead which I didn't watch yet!

 

[The Badger]

Those episodes you've suggested are all good, but if your friend is new to Who you there are better introductions. I know of at least one forum member who would disagree quite vehemently, but I'd suggest you start with Rose. That episode was always intended to grab new viewers.

 

[Sindatur]

Those episodes you've suggested are all good, but if your friend is new to Who you there are better introductions. I know of at least one forum member who would disagree quite vehemently, but I'd suggest you start with Rose. That episode was always intended to grab new viewers.

Agreed, if you plan on hooking them, start at the beggining.

If you have a Luke warm reaction, then perhaps show a later, more exciting ep (or a different style) to sink the hook in, and then go back to the second Eccelston ep if there's time

 

[bigdaddy]

I actually HATE Rose, the character, and want to ignore her for the most part. I think he knows a little about the show.

 

[Peacemaker]

Human Nature/Family of Blood
Blink
Midnight
Silence in the Library/Forest of the Dead
The Time of Angels/Flesh and Stone
A Christmas Carol

 

[bigdaddy]

A Christmas Carol

Really? You liked it that much? I found it rather pointless and boring. Can't show him that anyways, not on next.

Turns out he has never heard of Doctor Who!!! Now I will need to show him Rose...

 

[Peacemaker]

A Christmas Carol

Really? You liked it that much? I found it rather pointless and boring. Can't show him that anyways, not on next.

Turns out he has never heard of Doctor Who!!! Now I will need to show him Rose...

I found it funny and engaging. Moffat's focus for this Doctor is clearly on children. This Doctor isn't about "drama," it's about magic and fairy tale - the stuff of childhood. Smith's Doctor is particularly good with children. I also see the Christmas Specials for what they are: foretellings of the next season. Without fail, every Christmas Special to date has encapsulated the next series. I expect Moffat's will not special did the same.

 

[JRoss]

In order:
Rose
Dalek
The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances
Bad Wolf/The Parting of the Ways
New Earth
School Reunion
The Girl in the Fireplace
Army of Ghosts/Doomsday
The Runaway Bride
Smith and Jones
Human Nature/The Family of Blood
All of Season 4

 

[Shatnertage]

I think Blink is a good introduction--it lets you see the show's style and you get to learn that the Doctor is a mysterious guy who travels through time and space. It would definitely be among the first episodes I'd share.

 

[Satyrquaze]

"End of the World" is a good episode to toss into the mix... say right after he watches 'Rose'.

 

[Pseudo]

To introduce someone to the series I'd show them four episodes:

Rose, The End of the World, The Unquiet Dead and Dalek.

In that order. Rose, TEotW and TUD were designed to work as an introduction to the show and Dalek was designed to reintroduce the Daleks.

I can't think of a better way to introduce post-2005 who.

 

[23skidoo]

These are all good suggestions, though I might also suggest The Next Doctor, because it's a pretty good introduction to the concept of regeneration and the fact the Doctor becomes a new man periodically. The End of Time covers the same ground, but I don't see it as being a good introduction story because it's intended to wrap up the continuity of the first four seasons.

Alex

 

[bigdaddy]

Well I plan on telling him that DW is about an alien that travels through time, and when his body dies (aka when they need a new actor) he gets a new one.

Series 1 I think is just rather bad. I have a friend who loves sci-fi and he can't stand DW because of series 1 is all he has ever seen.

 

[bigdaddy]

We watched Rose and Blink. He seemed to think Rose was really dumb and goofy, but he loved how creepy the woman was in Blink, so I'm thinknig I'll show him Blink and then Waters of Mars next, but for the creaky factor. Then show them in order. While explaining the new Doctor he asked "Is the woman (Donna) the same (as Rose)?" I'm like "No, they are humans and humans can't regenerate, only The Doctor, who is a 900 year old alien they explain more in the horrible boring original series".

 

[Satyrquaze]

So wait... You showed him Blink, and now you're going to show him Blink again?

 

[Starkers]

He might have meant Midnight maybe?

 

[bigdaddy]

Ooppps.... I meant Rose and Midnight. I showed him Rose and Midnight and I'll probably show him Blink next time. Donna isn't even introduced yet in Blink. That was a massive double typo on my end.

 

[Timby]

From my point of view, the best way to introduce a new viewer to Doctor Who is to start with "Rose" and watch everything after that. There will be some shitty episodes, and there will be some amazing episodes, and you'll cry crocodile tears after Christopher Eccleston leaves after only one season and then cry even more crocodile tears when he's replaced by a guy who's written to be OH HEY I'M A GOOFY OVER-THE-TOP ASSHOLE WHO IS ABRUPTLY DEADLY SERIOUS WHEN THE SCRIPT CALLS FOR IT, but it's really best to watch the revival from 2005 - present.

 

[bigdaddy]

^ Nah... I'm thinking of skipping most of series 3. I really can't stand what's her name. The series 3 premiere was great and then the season just fell apart.

 

[Alpinemaps]

I didn't come to Who until after the first season of NuWho was done. The very first episode I watched was "Father's Day". I had *no knowledge* of Doctor Who when I watched this episode. I was instantly hooked.

It was a good way, for me, to dip my toe into the universe. There was enough bread crumbs in there for me to be interested in exploring more. It felt like a Twilight Zone episode, too. It worked, for me, as a standalone story. And I think that's what got me interested in more - okay, who is the Doctor, who is Rose, and what is that box? Why is there a time paradox?