Doctor Who? Part Deux
Welcome back to our two part "Doctor Who?" info-tutorial!
Part Deux!
Last time, I introduced the Doctor and the show's basic concepts.
In this post, you can use a couple of guides to either dip your toes (or a friend's) in to test the show,
or to help you decide where to just plunge right in.
I asked one of our other contributors, JOKain, to give his thoughts on which episodes he thought were best for introducing yourself or a friend to the show. Everyone has different tastes and opinions, so I figured having additional input would help make sure that there is a guide to getting started that's just right for everyone!
Without further a due, I give you John, aka JOKain, and his chosen list of beginner's episodes. This list is a great guide to sampling the show.
Now that you’ve read Part One (you can find it here if you haven’t) and have gotten to know the basics of the show, you’re almost ready to enter the wonderful world of Doctor Who. But before you jump right in, you’ve got a big question to consider: Where to start? With most shows you can just begin watching at episode one and decide from there whether or not the show is worth your time. But since Doctor Who has been around for half a century and boasts nearly 800 episodes, it’s not quite as simple as that. However, for someone completely new to the show there are a few key episodes you could start with to see if the show is really for you.
1) Begin at the Very Beginning
Episode: “An Unearthly Child”
As I said earlier, there is always the option to start from the beginning. In the case of Doctor Who the beginning is an episode from 1963 titled “An Unearthly Child.” This story, like most of the Doctor’s early adventures, is actually told over the course of several 23-24 minute episodes. Featuring the First Doctor (William Hartnell), this is the episode that introduced the world to Doctor Who, so no one would be expected to have any prior knowledge of the show in order to understand it. However, being from the ‘60s this episode is also clearly much different from how the show is today. You may want to start with episodes from the more modern incarnation of the show and come back to the earlier episodes if you like what you see.
2) Begin at the “Beginning”
Episode: “Rose”
From 1989 to 2005 Doctor Who was absent from television. When it was revived in 2005 it featured a new format of hour-long episodes that typically encompassed an entire adventure. However, this revival was not a reboot of the franchise. Instead, it picked up from where the series left off. So instead of beginning again with an all new First Doctor, the episode “Rose” features the first appearance of the Ninth Doctor (Christopher Eccleston). Being the first episode of the revival series, this episode is meant to appeal to fans of the old series as well as brand new ones. We are introduced to a girl named Rose, who meets the Doctor for the first time, just like the viewer. Because of this, there is nothing that can’t be understood by a first-time viewer, but there are plenty of things that will be familiar to old viewers. While it seems like a great starting point, this episode is actually one of the weaker early episodes and not very indicative of what the revived series goes on to become. So if you’re just testing the waters you might want to watch a different episode first. But if you’re already planning on sticking around for a while, this would be a great place to start.
3) Begin with the Basics
Episode: “The Girl in the Fireplace”
From second season of the revival series, “The Girl in the Fireplace” is an episode that covers some of the basic problems the Doctor faces in his travels through time; mainly the attachment he feels towards people who don’t live outside time like himself. This episode begins when the Tenth Doctor (David Tennant) discovers a window in time and meets a young girl. However, when the Doctor goes back through the time window and then returns only a few seconds later, he finds that months have passed for the girl, not seconds. Throughout the episode the Doctor visits the girl at multiple points throughout her life, discovering along the way that she is Madame de Pompadour. Because of the time-hopping nature and the emotional weight of this episode, it is a great candidate to be someone’s first experience with Doctor Who. It truly captures the essence of the show and conveys the fact the Doctor’s ability to travel through time can be both a gift and a curse. If you like this episode, you may want to begin watching from the beginning of season two (which is when the Tenth Doctor starts his run on the show).
4) Begin with the Best
Episode: “Blink”
The season three episode “Blink” is widely regarded as one of the best episodes of Doctor Who, and has won multiple awards. It is also one of the most accessible episodes of the series. This is due to the fact that it is what’s considered to be a “Doctor-lite” episode, meaning that the Doctor and his companion have relatively little screen time compared to most episodes. The focus of the episode is instead on a character who has no knowledge of the Doctor or time travel, which is a plus for a new viewer. In this episode the main character is a modern-day girl named Sally Sparrow (Carey Mulligan), who must help the Tenth Doctor and his companion when they are stuck in the ‘60s by following instructions that have been left specifically for her, all the while keeping safe from a dangerous alien foe. Steven Moffat, the current head writer for the show (and the writer of this episode), has said that writing a successful episode of Doctor Who means that you can no longer write a movie about that same story. “Blink” is definitely a success by those standards; it would make an amazing feature film even if it didn’t feature the Doctor. The fact that it’s set in the DW universe and features its characters only adds to its charms. So if you watch this episode and don’t care for it, Doctor Who just might not be the show for you.
5) Begin with the Big Eyeball
Episode: “The Eleventh Hour”
This episode is the first episode of the show’s fifth season and is the first appearance of the Eleventh Doctor (Matt Smith), which is the current incarnation of the character. This episode also features the introduction of one of the Doctor’s most popular companions, Amy Pond (Karen Gillan), another instance in which a person is learning about time travel and who the Doctor is. The Doctor and Amy must locate an escaped alien prisoner before an intergalactic police force called the Atraxi (who are in the form of giant eyeballs) destroy the Earth in order to stop it. This episode is a great place for a new viewer to start because not only is it the start of the current Doctor’s tenure on the show, but it is also the first show with Steven Moffat as showrunner, marking a slight change in style which the show still maintains.
6) Begin at the Bells
Episode: “The Bells of Saint John”
If you just want to jump right into the show and see if you like where it’s at now, you can always start watching when the newest episode, “The Bells of Saint John,” premieres on March 30. However, be warned. If you plan to do this, you’ll most likely be confused. This next batch of episodes promises to continue a storyline that has already been established. I’d recommend starting at one of the other episodes on this list and getting at least the Eleventh Doctor’s adventures under your belt before watching the newer ones as they premiere.
Hopefully this little list has been a help to you. With the background knowledge you already have about Doctor Who, any of these episodes should be a good starting point to help you decide whether or not the show is for you. But if you enjoy these, you’re sure to enjoy the rest of the series. Happy viewing!
If you've already decided you are going to watch the show, that's where I come in! Let me recommend some great places to cannon ball in.
The Ideal Spot
Episode 1, Series 1, 2005
Ideally, the best place to start is at the beginning of the adventure so that you can emotionally connect with all the ups and downs that the Doctor goes through. It's a deep part of the show. Not only do you travel time and space with him, but you grow to appreciate all of his personal experiences and how they become a part of who he is and who he becomes in each regeneration. Additionally, the varying adventures become smarter and the time travel more complex, so it's easier to keep up with everything when you've started from...well, the start! That would be Episode 1 of Series 1 of the revived Doctor Who show. ie not "Classic Who". If you start here, you'll enjoy the continuity of the show and all of it's nuances. It only gets better and better.
However, some find the slightly smaller budget effects and alien costumes from the earlier seasons difficult to adjust to. It's not that they're rubbish; on the contrary, they are pretty great since it's actually costume instead of CGI, it's that they are just a little... different. The pacing of the show is also a tad slower. If sci-fi shows are not your number one favorite thing in the universe, then you may find this is not the right place for you to start; it could come off as cheesy before being able to connect with the show. Some of the fans of the older series also found this incarnation of the Doctor difficult to embrace as he was so different to the Doctor from the classic series. Thus, the pickier classic Doctor Who fans may not find this the best place to start either.
The Current Story
Episodes 8 & 9, Series 4 2008
Episode 1, Series 5, 2010
Right now, we are on the Eleventh Doctor. By now, the budget has grown and the show is filmed in High Definition and has a movie quality tone to each episode. So, if the first option wasn't right for you, maybe this spot is a better place to plunge in.
While his regeneration and introduction is at the start of Series 5, his story arc actually begins while he was still the Tenth Doctor in Series 4. I won't say why, I'll just state that the episodes 8 & 9, Silence In The Library & Forest of the Dead, are where his story really begins. NOW, please remember that the Tenth Doctor and the Eleventh Doctor are the same person; they are just slightly different externally due to regeneration. That is where you could begin the current saga of the Eleventh Doctor. There is so much to each Doctor, that it would be great to begin from the start of at least one Doctor's story lines. In other words, if starting from the very beginning of Series 1 isn't for you, perhaps try to start from the beginning of our current incarnation of the Doctor. Get to know this whole adventure first. You might fall so in love with the show that'll you go right back to the beginning like I did.
The downside is that you'll still miss quite a few nuances related to how he adapts emotionally from not knowing his entire tale as the Ninth and Tenth Doctor. There's a lot of depth established in the prior seasons along with some concepts of time that may not be as well understood without viewing those episodes. Otherwise, this is a really great place to start if the beginning just wasn't the right fit. A lot of fans of the Third and Fourth Doctor from the classic series found this Doctor to be very much like the classic Doctor Who show of their youth; thus classic Who fans may find this to be an excellent place to transition from the older show to the new.
Right Now
Episode 1, Series 7, 2012
OR
Episode 6, Series 7, 2010 (Christmas Special: The Snowmen)
Right now, the Eleventh Doctor has just taken on a brand new companion. If you are highly impatient and want to jump in like NOW, this is the time to do it! You have just enough time before the series resumes on the 30th of March to watch the introduction of our newest companion, Clara. Her "official" introduction was in the Christmas Special, The Snowmen. That is the perfect spot for the impatient newbie to start as there aren't any older story lines to interfere too much as you embark on your new journey with the Doctor. You'll meet the Doctor yourself through Clara as she comes to meet him for the first time. Alternatively, if you want to know a little more about her through the Doctor's perspective, then you can watch Episode 1 of Series 7. This is when the Doctor first meets Clara....without her knowing it. The only thing is, the Doctor's previous companions are still with him and that may or may not be something you want to navigate as a new viewer. You could then go on to watch Clara meet the Doctor in the Christmas Special in Episode 6.
However, you will eventually come across a very important character in the Eleventh Doctor's timeline. I won't name who this character is. Just know that there will be someone who's interaction with the Doctor may leave you scratching your head. It's possible that there may be spoilers as a result for when you inevitably *do* go back to watch all of the Eleventh Doctor's saga or back to Series 1.
There you have it, my friends! Between these two guides, you should be able to decide where to sample the show or splash into the deep end! I hope this helps bring you into the Whovian ranks!
I want to keep writing more and more, but if I do, you'll never get the chance to get started!! As the Tenth Doctor liked to say, Allons-y!!!
Yours through all Space and Time,
Heather
The Incredible Dork
The Ideal Spot
Episode 1, Series 1, 2005
Ideally, the best place to start is at the beginning of the adventure so that you can emotionally connect with all the ups and downs that the Doctor goes through. It's a deep part of the show. Not only do you travel time and space with him, but you grow to appreciate all of his personal experiences and how they become a part of who he is and who he becomes in each regeneration. Additionally, the varying adventures become smarter and the time travel more complex, so it's easier to keep up with everything when you've started from...well, the start! That would be Episode 1 of Series 1 of the revived Doctor Who show. ie not "Classic Who". If you start here, you'll enjoy the continuity of the show and all of it's nuances. It only gets better and better.
However, some find the slightly smaller budget effects and alien costumes from the earlier seasons difficult to adjust to. It's not that they're rubbish; on the contrary, they are pretty great since it's actually costume instead of CGI, it's that they are just a little... different. The pacing of the show is also a tad slower. If sci-fi shows are not your number one favorite thing in the universe, then you may find this is not the right place for you to start; it could come off as cheesy before being able to connect with the show. Some of the fans of the older series also found this incarnation of the Doctor difficult to embrace as he was so different to the Doctor from the classic series. Thus, the pickier classic Doctor Who fans may not find this the best place to start either.
The Current Story
Episodes 8 & 9, Series 4 2008
Episode 1, Series 5, 2010
Right now, we are on the Eleventh Doctor. By now, the budget has grown and the show is filmed in High Definition and has a movie quality tone to each episode. So, if the first option wasn't right for you, maybe this spot is a better place to plunge in.
While his regeneration and introduction is at the start of Series 5, his story arc actually begins while he was still the Tenth Doctor in Series 4. I won't say why, I'll just state that the episodes 8 & 9, Silence In The Library & Forest of the Dead, are where his story really begins. NOW, please remember that the Tenth Doctor and the Eleventh Doctor are the same person; they are just slightly different externally due to regeneration. That is where you could begin the current saga of the Eleventh Doctor. There is so much to each Doctor, that it would be great to begin from the start of at least one Doctor's story lines. In other words, if starting from the very beginning of Series 1 isn't for you, perhaps try to start from the beginning of our current incarnation of the Doctor. Get to know this whole adventure first. You might fall so in love with the show that'll you go right back to the beginning like I did.
The downside is that you'll still miss quite a few nuances related to how he adapts emotionally from not knowing his entire tale as the Ninth and Tenth Doctor. There's a lot of depth established in the prior seasons along with some concepts of time that may not be as well understood without viewing those episodes. Otherwise, this is a really great place to start if the beginning just wasn't the right fit. A lot of fans of the Third and Fourth Doctor from the classic series found this Doctor to be very much like the classic Doctor Who show of their youth; thus classic Who fans may find this to be an excellent place to transition from the older show to the new.
Right Now
Episode 1, Series 7, 2012
OR
Episode 6, Series 7, 2010 (Christmas Special: The Snowmen)
Right now, the Eleventh Doctor has just taken on a brand new companion. If you are highly impatient and want to jump in like NOW, this is the time to do it! You have just enough time before the series resumes on the 30th of March to watch the introduction of our newest companion, Clara. Her "official" introduction was in the Christmas Special, The Snowmen. That is the perfect spot for the impatient newbie to start as there aren't any older story lines to interfere too much as you embark on your new journey with the Doctor. You'll meet the Doctor yourself through Clara as she comes to meet him for the first time. Alternatively, if you want to know a little more about her through the Doctor's perspective, then you can watch Episode 1 of Series 7. This is when the Doctor first meets Clara....without her knowing it. The only thing is, the Doctor's previous companions are still with him and that may or may not be something you want to navigate as a new viewer. You could then go on to watch Clara meet the Doctor in the Christmas Special in Episode 6.
However, you will eventually come across a very important character in the Eleventh Doctor's timeline. I won't name who this character is. Just know that there will be someone who's interaction with the Doctor may leave you scratching your head. It's possible that there may be spoilers as a result for when you inevitably *do* go back to watch all of the Eleventh Doctor's saga or back to Series 1.
There you have it, my friends! Between these two guides, you should be able to decide where to sample the show or splash into the deep end! I hope this helps bring you into the Whovian ranks!
I want to keep writing more and more, but if I do, you'll never get the chance to get started!! As the Tenth Doctor liked to say, Allons-y!!!
Yours through all Space and Time,
Heather
The Incredible Dork
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