Watched My First Classic Who

[Jim Steele]

Be aware, the classic show is from a bygone era of television production. I won't say the style's dated - it's just different to what you may be used to, and I'm not referring to things like the props, costumes or 'special' effects when I say "style."

Agreed. It's a completely different method of storytelling altogether. The format allows (or forces) the stories to have a much more sedate and patient pace than the flash-bang-wallop of the new series.

Also, going back to the production values for a moment, this a time when there wasn't even the time or the money to do a foley mix. If you hear the chinging of a wine glass toast, that's being recorded on the studio floor - not dubbed over later. Seems like such a silly thing but I often find that to me one of the most jarring things about transitioning from modern TV to Classic Who/Blakes 7/etc.

 

[Kelso]

If you try it again, I would recommend avoiding 6-parters. They tend to have a lot of filler.

 

[Aurian]

I have started from the very beginning, and I am watching all I can get a hold of, in chronological order. Have just reached Pertwee. And I love classic who so far. I am waiting for the 4th doctor though, because I have heard so many wonderful things about it. Can't wait.

 

[Ensign_Redshirt]

Just watched "City of Death". Pretty hilarious. Could possibly topple "The Caves of Androzani" as my favorite serial so far.

And OMG, John Cleese cameo!!!!

 

[ITL]

Funny, I'm trying to get into Classic Who myself right now. So far I've watched (in that order) "The Five Doctors", "The Genesis of the Daleks", "The Caves of Androzani", and "The Talons of Weng-Chiang".

At first, I was a bit shocked how low the production values and cheap the special effects were. Even Star Trek: TOS looks better. Then again, this was the BBC and this were 70ies and 80ies. So I guess I have to deal with the fact that 1980ies' BBC productions look like 1960ies' Paramount productions. They probably hadn't that much of a budget. On the other hand, I was suprised on how dark and violent some of the stories were (especially Caves of Androzani, but also Genesis of the Daleks). This made it up for me.

I would rank the serials I've seen in that order:
1) The Caves of Androzani
2) The Genesis of the Daleks
3) The Talons of Weng-Chiang
4) The Five Doctors

I mostly enjoyed the first two, while the latter two didn't do that much for me. I guess "The Five Doctors" was primarily made for long-time fans, so you'll have to be a fan to enjoy it... for me, it was pretty boring actually. Overall, I think I prefer Peter Davison (especially in "Caves of Androzani") over Tom Baker as the Doctor.

I also watched the 1996 TV movie btw. Far better production values and at times it was pretty funny actually. I would put it somewhere around "The Cavesof Androzani" (not sure whether it belongs above or below Androzani).

I'll try "City of Death" and "Inferno" next.

See, what you did there is namecheck "The Caves of Androzani" quite a lot. You were pimping it with gusto.

This is, of course, the correct and proper way to do things. It is the way of win. Yes.

 

[The]

Just watched "City of Death". Pretty hilarious. Could possibly topple "The Caves of Androzani" as my favorite serial so far.

And OMG, John Cleese cameo!!!!

My favorite all-time episode of classic Doctor Who. And why not? I mean, it is written by the legend that was and is Douglas Adams.

"You're a very beautiful woman, probably..."

 

[Kelso]

Just watched "City of Death". Pretty hilarious. Could possibly topple "The Caves of Androzani" as my favorite serial so far.

And OMG, John Cleese cameo!!!!

That's because "City of Death" is the best serial.

 

[Candlelight]

If you try it again, I would recommend avoiding 6-parters. They tend to have a lot of filler.

The last six-parter made (iirc) was Shada, thus only the first four doctors had six-part stories.

 

[Mr Light]

Much as I love Douglas Adams I didn't find "City of Death" to be that great, or that funny.

 

[DWF]

If you try it again, I would recommend avoiding 6-parters. They tend to have a lot of filler.

The last six-parter made (iirc) was Shada, thus only the first four doctors had six-part stories.

Shada was never finished so The Armageddon Factor was the last six parter. Although The Two Doctors were a three parter it was as long as six parter.

 

[The]

Much as I love Douglas Adams I didn't find "City of Death" to be that great, or that funny.

............what.......what's wrong with you?

 

[OmahaStar]

Much as I love Douglas Adams I didn't find "City of Death" to be that great, or that funny.

............what.......what's wrong with you?

*grabs popcorn*

 

[Kelso]

Much as I love Douglas Adams I didn't find "City of Death" to be that great, or that funny.

That's okay.

Well, I mean, you're opinion is obviously wrong... but nobody will hold it against you, I'm sure.

EDIT: Well, other than The, that is.

 

[Mr Light]

I haven't seen it in about ten years so I don't remember it that well. Maybe I would enjoy it more today. But I much prefer "The Pirate Planet" which is just about my favorite Who serial. It's a hoot.

 

[The]

I haven't seen it in about ten years so I don't remember it that well. Maybe I would enjoy it more today. But I much prefer "The Pirate Planet" which is just about my favorite Who serial. It's a hoot.

*Whew!*

Okay. We're okay. Man...wow....you scared me...








Try City of Death out again. Really. I think you'll dig it. Maybe.

 

[Captain Pike]

My only real gripe with City of Death is all that tedious running around Paris - it really drags it down a bit. But then, that wasn't Douglas Adams' fault.

I think it's a bit of a problem with them going to overseas locations to film. I was watching Eric Saward talk about Arc of Infinity recently and how the on-location footage ended up alot of shots of them running around Amsterdam - because they weren't allowed to film inside anywhere, they didn't have permission to do anything else.

Still they could've edited down City.. a bit - would make it more bearable.

 

[Samson88B]

Depends on what you're looking for, man. If you're looking for technical and creative mastery on par with the modern show, you will be disappointed every single time. If you want a good story, roll the dice. They aren't all perfect. But, some are just right. In other words, if you didn't like Genesis of the Daleks, then who is to say you won't love The Talons of Weng-Chiang? You might loathe The Deadly Assassin, but find The Horns of Nimon irresistible. Who knows? Really is up to you to decide if you want to try and get into the show's history.

Also, there have been/are Eleven Doctors to choose from. Each one brings their own flavor and chemistry to the show. Wit, humor, and a bizarre, bohemian energy? Watch Tom Baker's 4th Doctor in The City of Death. Want a super-Doctor that effortlessly commands his surroundings, and taught David Tennant the core of his Doctor to come? Watch the 4th Doctor roll over every other character in the season-opener to The Key to Time saga titled The Ribos Operation. Want tension and despair where Phantom of the Opera meets intergalactic gun-running? Try Peter Davison's 5th Doctor in The Caves of Androzani. Need something mad and mean and just too bizarrely 80's to give you a sensory-overload buzz? Walk straight into any episode of Colin Baker's 6th Doctor. Need a calculating savant with the soul of Charlie Chaplin and the devious nature of the Norse godling Loki? Sylvester McCoy's second season as the 7th Doctor. Need some 60's Adventure Team with James Bond-a-go-go? Jon Pertwee as the 3rd Doctor spends his exile on Earth with UNIT. Try The Time Warrior.

To sum it up, Doctor Who is the ice cream shop of science fiction: if you don't find a flavor you like at first, there are still plenty of others to try...

THE - I could not have stated that any better. Absolutely perfect. There are so many episodes with so many interpretations by the different Doctors. I think that there are definitely good "Classic Episodes" to be seen by the Newbies brought in by the New Series. Personally I have favorite episodes of each of the Doctors except 6 and 7 (only because I never saw any of their episodes.) I'm sure if I was to see 6 and 7 in their entirety I would find favorites in them to.

By the way THE, My son and I loved the avatar that you had of Doc Ten holding his hands out... Just something about it.

To the original poster.... Trust me. There are very good story lines to some of the episodes of the original series. But as THE said.... The special effects have alot to be desired compared by todays standards.

I'm sure you will find something to be desired in the original series. There are many of them. Minus the Special effects... I'm sure you will find something worth your tastes sooner or later..

Happy Hunting.

 

[FalTorPan]

I love classic Who. Favorite stories include...

"The Dalek Invasion of Earth"
"The Mind of Evil"
"Tomb of the Cybermen"
"The Pirate Planet"
"The Stones of Blood"
"City of Death"
"Logopolis"

 

[Starkers]

Agreed. It's a completely different method of storytelling altogether. The format allows (or forces) the stories to have a much more sedate and patient pace than the flash-bang-wallop of the new series.

And sometimes this works, building up tension and developing characters, and often it just neccesitates an episode of running

More than a few classic serials would have benefited from being shorter, but by the same token plenty of new series episodes needed longer to allow their stories to breathe so its hourses for courses I guess.

 

[Jim Steele]

Agreed. It's a completely different method of storytelling altogether. The format allows (or forces) the stories to have a much more sedate and patient pace than the flash-bang-wallop of the new series.

And sometimes this works, building up tension and developing characters, and often it just neccesitates an episode of running

More than a few classic serials would have benefited from being shorter, but by the same token plenty of new series episodes needed longer to allow their stories to breathe so its hourses for courses I guess.

Yup!

Just to clarify I wasn't saying that made classic who inherently better, just inherently different.