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Where should I start?

Archaeologist

Lieutenant
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Alright, if I want to try to get into Doctor Who, where exactly would you recommend that I start off? I have been watching Star Trek: The Next Generation on BBC America, and I frequently see those Doctor Who commercials. Now the show is beginning to intrique me. I feel as if I should start off with the original, 1960s series rather than recent adaptations of it, however. Would you recommend this route?
 
If you watch the old eps online (link removed -- Timby), it would be a lot less expensive than trying to collect all those overpriced DVD's. It also keeps you from ending up with episodes that may not be worth owning.

I watched the old series in the 80's. Saw Tom Baker over & over before they finally showed some Pertwee, then eventually Davison, other Baker & McCoy.

Have to say, I'm glad I saw as much of the old series as I did, even if it's not too important before seeing the current series'.

I recently watched Unearthly Child at the above website. Found it more interesting than I thought I would, being as it's the very first serial.

Also, I watched Robot the other day. The first Tom Baker episode, and still quite funny, if a little cheesy compared to the current stuff. Tom really was the first Doctor to start off as a total goof.

There's a lot of others here who could be more help with what episodes to watch and which ones to avoid.
 
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Personally, I'd recommend you start with the modern version. Rose, the first episode of the new series, is intended to introduce new audiences to the show.

If you like what you see, then you should certainly try some of the older stories. There's a lot of good stuff, some not so good stuff, and some downright awful stuff, but people's tastes differ and you may enjoy something I hate!
 
Personally, I'd recommend you start with the modern version. Rose, the first episode of the new series, is intended to introduce new audiences to the show.

Have to agree — the 21st Century reinvention is a totally different breed to the original & much more in keeping with modern sensibilities.
 
You could easily start with the new season premiere since it's a new character, new writer, new Companion, new story. I don't think you'd be missing much of anything.

Or going further back, start with the series revival in 2005.
 
Personally, I'd recommend you start with the modern version. Rose, the first episode of the new series, is intended to introduce new audiences to the show.

I definitely agree - although I love the classic series, it's quite possible to enjoy the new series without any knowledge of what has come before.

That said, once you love Doctor Who, go back for the classic stuff :)


ETA: Welcome to the TrekBBS, by the way :)
 
I feel as if I should start off with the original, 1960s series rather than recent adaptations of it, however.

Just a point of semantics, there is no such thing as a "recent adaptation". What's being produced today is the same series as what started in 1963. This also goes for the infamous 1996 TV movie, regardless what you might hear. The only "adaptations" are the two movies made in the 1960s starring Peter Cushing. Otherwise it's no different than, say, watching a Michael Moriarty episode of Law & Order from 1990 and then one of the later ones with Sam Waterston. Same series.

As noted, however, the series has evolved over the years. SFX have gotten better, the serial format has been mostly dropped, and the individual episodes are longer (though the original serials themselves told longer stories for the most part). The "classic series" was more about the characters than about the SFX. That's why people love it so much. The new series has kept much of that spirit - just the special effects toys are easier to use so there's a bit more "wham pow" in the visuals than there used to be.

I personally think there's nothing wrong with starting at both ends of the rope. That is, watch the newer ones and dip into the early history. In fact, from what I hear in doing so you'd be replicating the experience of the current stars: Matt Smith researched the role by watching 1960s classics like Tomb of the Cybermen (which he continues to rave about) and Karen Gillan made a point of watching the very first episode, An Unearthly Child, which she thought was brilliant, too. And as noted, the series doesn't demand you gave an intimate knowledge of what has come before, as it usually does a good job bringing people up to speed. The Eleventh Hour, the beginning of the current season, is as good a place to start initially as An Unearthly Child, the story that started it all nearly 47 years ago.

I would say that if you want an idea of how the series started, get hold of the DVD box set The Beginning, which has the first 3 stories from 1963-64 - An Unearthly Child, The Daleks, and The Edge of Destruction. All three set the scene very well. The first story, Unearthly Child, begins with a fantastic, Twilight Zone-worthy half hour introducing the characters, and then slows down a bit for the remaining 3 episodes, but they're still important in terms of seeing how the Doctor was originally conceived. The Daleks, of course, introduces the longrunning villains and if you're one of those "modern" viewers who wonders what the big deal is, try to imagine yourself a child or teen in the 1960s to whom this is all brand new. I get myself in that frame of mind and the introduction of the Daleks is still chilling. The Edge of Destruction was a "bottle show" but has some fantastic character work, establishes the TARDIS as a character in her own right, and was the first episode to get the show into trouble with parents groups (something to do with using scissors as offensive weapons).

I'd also recommend The Aztecs as an example of "historicals" - the non-SF storylines the show often told in the early days. The current series has tried to revive the spirit of the historicals, though with more overt SF storylines than the straightforward ones told here.

Dalek Invasion of Earth is notable for being the first "alien invasion of earth" storyline. Everything done since, particularly in the Russell T. Davies era, but also the Patrick Troughton and Tom Baker eras, too, owes something to this story, which set the template.

Once you've seen these you'll have a good feel for the early show. Of course many episodes are lost from this time, but BBC Video's done a great job putting them out on DVD. There's even a box set called Lost in Time that samples stories that no longer exist in complete form.

After you've sampled Hartnell, if the early era still interests you, moving on to Troughton makes sense. Sadly only a few of his stories still exist, but Tomb of the Cybermen, The Invasion (which introduced UNIT), and the epic 10-episode War Games (which introduced the Time Lords) are the real essentials, and they're all available on DVD.

Alex
 
I'd go with The Eleventh Hour, as its probably the easiest to get currently. If you find you like it, Then I'd go looking for Rose and carry on from there.

Once you've gotten well and truly hooked, THEN go for the classic series.

We'll just wait wait here in the meantime. :)

Youtube's probably a good sourse for finding episodes. Assuming the BBC hasn't had them pulled.
 
I feel as if I should start off with the original, 1960s series rather than recent adaptations of it, however. Would you recommend this route?

Good god no. If you enjoy the modern version go ahead and watch the classics. Despite being the true pilot, An Unearthly Child just isn't a good start for the series.

I'd suggest starting with Rose, but the Eleventh Hour would be fine too.
 
I'd star with Rose up till the ending of the recent season under Matt Smith. Then I would go back to watch Classic Who to see if you like it or not...

Let me stress that the 2005 season is the weakest since the shows revival but I would stick with it if you have trouble with that season. The show probably does get better every year overall with IMO 2008 and 2010 being simply sensational.

The specials start off weak but get better in 2009.
 
Start with any of the following -

The Unearthly Child (very 1st episode)
Spearhead from Space (mild reboot by Barry Letts when the show made the switch to colour)
Doctor Who The Movie (rebooted again in 1996)
Rose (reboot by Russell T Davies in 2005)
The Eleventh Hour (mild reboot by Stephen Moffat in 2010
 
If you want to sample the old show, go with City of Death. But keep in mind that that's as good as it gets.
 
Don't watch Rose as your introduction, because it's rubbish. IMO the worst doctor and the worst companion.

I say Aboo to those of you that say don't watch an Unearthly Child.
 
Don't watch Rose as your introduction, because it's rubbish. IMO the worst doctor and the worst companion.

I say Aboo to those of you that say don't watch an Unearthly Child.

If you choose the non 60's route then Rose is the best place to start for non classic Who fans, same stage for me back in 2005, it does help understanding the show more.
 
Rose is fine as a starting point.

The stickied thread in here is pretty informative, or of courser Wikipedia. That might give you an idea of where you want to start.
 
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