Essential Series Two Episodes

[TyberiusDeAngelo]

Hello Everyone:

Back before Christmas I had a couple of friends over to watch a few episodes of Series One Doctor Who. They had never watched an episode but knew of the show. Both said they really enjoyed it and looked forward to watching Series Two (which I received for Christmas). My friends are coming back over this Saturday to watch the new season. We will have about 8 hours probably to work with. I am thinking of showing them the following "essential episodes

Christmas Invasion
New Earth
School Reunion
Rise of the Cybermen
The Age of Steel
Army of Ghosts
Doomsday

What do you all think of my selection? Any episodes I should add or replace? Thank you for your comments.

 

[Stevil2001]

Add in "The Girl and the Fireplace" and you're set.

 

[Winterwind]

I'd swap out "New Earth" for "The Girl in the Fireplace".

I watched "New Earth" once. That was enough for me.

 

[Captain Pike]

In the interests of consistency...

The Dalek Invasion of Earth
The Rescue
The Romans
The Chase
The Time Meddler

 

[Piper]

In the interests of consistency...

The Dalek Invasion of Earth
The Rescue
The Romans
The Chase
The Time Meddler

The Crusade, man, The Crusade!

 

[Captain Pike]

Yeah, you're right. I was trying to keep it short though..

 

[Joy]

I third "Girl in the Fireplace". While "Impossible Planet/Satan Pit" was my introduction to DW, GitF was the third episode I ever saw, and that was the one that finally got me interested enough to start looking into the show online, and the rest is history.

 

[Starkers]

I'd add in The Satan Pit/The Impossible planet and lose New Earth.

 

[Bones2]

I think New Earth and The Christmas Invasion can go. I've not got further than Tooth and Claw in my rewatching, but at a guess I'd go for:

School Reunion
The Girl in the Fireplace
The Impossible Planet/The Satan Pit

And, erm, I suppose the Cybusman two-parter if you need more. Though personally, I think you should watch The Caves of Androzani, The Twin Dilemma, and the 1996 movie instead.

 

[Timby]

Christmas Invasion
New Earth
School Reunion
Rise of the Cybermen
The Age of Steel
Army of Ghosts
Doomsday

Drop "The Christmas Invasion" and "New Earth." Add "The Impossible Planet / The Satan Pit" and "The Girl in the Fireplace." Seek medical attention if you contemplate adding "Love & Monsters" and "Fear Her."

 

[23skidoo]

It's tough to omit Christmas Invasion as this was the introduction to the new Doctor. However there is a way around that by tossing in the Children in Need Special.

Otherwise my votes would be

School Reunion
Girl in the Fireplace
Rise of the Cybermen/Age of Steel
The Sound of Drums/Doomsday
with New Earth recommended as an option on the basis it sets the scene for Season 3's Gridlock

I chose these both for quality and their contribution to the ongoing arc. School Reunion reestablishes Sarah Jane Smith but, more importantly, was the episode that officially confirmed that the new series is part of the same continuity as the original series (there were shouting matches over this issue up to that point, and some people still grumble about it).

Girl in the Fireplace was the big Hugo winner that year, and established that Moffat's previous Hugo win for Series 1 wasn't a fluke, and likely firmed up the likelihood of him being invited to succeed RTD. It also remains high on lists of people's favorite episodes and was in my opinion the best DW episode of all time until Blink came along.

The other 4 form a single storyline, reestablishing the Cybermen, evolving Mickey into a competent companion, setting up Torchwood, etc.

Alex

 

[diankra]

Hello Everyone:

Back before Christmas I had a couple of friends over to watch a few episodes of Series One Doctor Who. They had never watched an episode but knew of the show. Both said they really enjoyed it and looked forward to watching Series Two (which I received for Christmas). My friends are coming back over this Saturday to watch the new season. We will have about 8 hours probably to work with. I am thinking of showing them the following "essential episodes

Christmas Invasion
New Earth
School Reunion
Rise of the Cybermen
The Age of Steel
Army of Ghosts
Doomsday

What do you all think of my selection? Any episodes I should add or replace? Thank you for your comments.

In plot terms, New Earth is skipable for season two, but leads on to stuff in season three(/29). (Similarly, The Impossible Planet/The Satan Pit leads into stuff in season four). Tooth and Claw sets up plot for later in the second season so probably ought to be in there.

In quality terms, you have to include Girl in the Fireplace.

 

[Bones2]

To be honest, just because some of them lead to other stories doesn't mean you have to watch them. Watch good episodes instead.

 

[Worf2DS9]

All I'll say is not having "The Girl in the Fireplace" on your list should be some sort of crime.

 

[Winterwind]

"Tooth and Claw" has it's moments but the "Matrix" style fight scene always felt out of place in DW.

 

[Starkers]

Luckily the fight scene is pre credits. I hated it and thought the episode was going to suck but aside from that I loved it!

 

[Turbo]

If they've seen Series 1, I'd actually skip The Christmas Invasion. It's good, but not as good as some of the other episodes.

School Reunion
The Girl in the Fireplace
Rise of the Cybermen/The Age of Steel
The Impossible Planet/The Satan Pit
Army of Ghosts/Doomsday