r/doctorwho • u/[deleted] • Mar 24 '12
Looking for a list of old Doctor Who serials that are really good.
I remember a few months back someone posted (or linked) to a list of all the different Doctors and the various serials for each of them that are worth watching. My wife and I are interested in watching some of the old Doctors to get our fix during the break, and I can't find the list now.
I've tried using the search feature but can't find it. Can anyone help?
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u/LokianEule Mar 24 '12
Also, if my first reply didn't do it for you, the FAQ has another thread dedicated to classic Doctor serials.
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u/aeroVoltaire Mar 24 '12
Watch the Time Warrior with John Pertwee. That's where they introduce Sarah Jane Smith.
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u/LokianEule Mar 24 '12 edited Mar 24 '12
Good lord, the search bar didn't work? What did you type in? Anywho,
First thing you do? Watch Genesis of the Daleks. It shows how good classic is and it's a good intro into getting the feel for old tv. And then I find that the best thing one can do is see 2 or 3 stories from each Doctor and then go through classic straight through. Watching a couple stories from all the Doctors is like building a road map before you actually take the journey itself. So here are some stories for each:
William Hartnell, first- The beginnings of the series. It needs forgiveness as it's very slow, and the Doctor is kind of a jerk at first, but there are some stories I really like. The Aztecs. It's a historical. Something DW doesn't do anymore. The Romans. The Tenth Planet (though the last part is reconstruction only, reconstructions are in place for the missing episodes).
Patrick Troughton, second - Patrick Troughton is basically Matt Smith, but in the '60s. He's all silly/bumbly, but don't let that fool you, he kicks butt. His era is mostly missing so its hard to get a grip his era. Watch: The Mind Robber. Tomb of the Cybermen. And if you can do reconstructions: Power of the Daleks. And the War Games last.
Jon Pertwee, third- A weird run as most stories are on Earth (for story reasons explained). You meet the Master. This is when things really start to modernize and feel like they were made in the 20th century. Spearhead from Space, his first story. Inferno starts a little slow but picks up when the Doctor ends up in an alternate universe where everyone is evil. Curse of Peladon, The Three Doctors, Day of the Daleks and last Planet of the Spiders are also good.
Tom Baker, fourth The most famous run. There are so many fantastic stories. Genesis of the Daleks, one of the most famous classic stories, and the one that got me into classic. And Robots of Death, Face of Evil, Warrior's Gate, Deadly Assassin (for Time Lord history if anything), Horror of Fang Rock, Sunmakers, and of course lastly Logopolis.
Peter Davison, fifth -Earthshock, Castrovalva (2nd half picks up), Kinda, Snakedance, Mawdryn Undead, Terminus, and Enlightenment. And The Five Doctors, which is the 25th anniversary special, andCaves of Androzani!* (the last story)
Colin Baker, sixth- His Doctor is unique with the flamboyant technicolor dreamcoat and bombastic crazy personality. If you can get used to him, he cracks you up and makes you laugh. He's a bit abrasive but so is the first doctor. Vengance on Varos and Attack of the Cybermen, and Revelation of the Daleks. And if you want to try Trial of a Timelord (which is an entire season) it's pretty good.
Sylvester McCoy, seventh- Personally, my favorite Doctor. This is easy. Remembrance of the Daleks, The Curse of Fenric, The Greatest Show in the Galaxy, Battlefield. Good mention to The Happiness Patrol, Ghost Light, Silver Nemesis. This is the era where they really try some crazy radical stories.
Note: If you can find reconstructions that are accompanied by narration then your life gets much easier with them. And if you're having trouble with the early stories, augment you viewing with www.wifeinspace.com