I’ve got a friend who’s a bit averse to things British. He resisted Eddie Izzard for quite some time before I managed to convert him with Dress to Kill. He’s a bit of a sci-fi fan, Trek particularly. I’d like to bring him into the Doctor Who fold, or at least make an attempt. As I see it, I’m entitled to try, since he subjected me to a rather painful ST: Voyager episode about the Borg.
What’s the best episode to bring a doubtful viewer to the Whoniverse? I’m partial to Tennant–though Eccleston was my first Doctor, I’ve come to love David Tennant. Eccleston’s not ruled out, though, particularly as I think Rose was probably the best companion (followed, perhaps, by Donna–Martha always struck me as a bit flat). A single episode is probably better, as there’s no guarantee I’ll get him to watch both episodes of a two parter. (However, the only two parter that’s off the table entirely is The Impossible Planet/The Satan Pit–I hated that story, and given that my friend has similar anti-religious feelings, I doubt Doctor Who versus SATAN!!! would work any better for him.)
Your help is appreciated–if I get the chance to put Who to him soon, I’ll be sure to report back.
I think The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances sums up everything that’s good about Doctor Who. A scary mystery? Check. Something that might make you hide behind the couch? Check. The doctor being super clever? Check. A strong character arc? Check.
Despite the universal love for Blink and the mention of The Girl in the Fireplace, I think The Empty Child and The Doctor Dances are really the best things Moffat has done for the Whoverse. At the very least, they set the pattern that Moffat apparently loves to follow for every other episode he ever wrote.
I would go ahead and start with the first Eccleston episode - it’s not the strongest but it is really designed to bring a new viewer in the Whoniverse.
As great as **Blink **is, the Doctor isn’t in it very much. It’s a very atypical episode and would misrepresent the series. Again, I loved the episode.
My vote goes for An Empty Child/The Doctor Dances. **pepperlandgirl **summarized my reasons pretty well.
The suggestions so far are all Steven Moffat episodes. That’s no coincidence.
I’ve been trying to convince my sister that she should be watching. I think I’ll make her watch The Unicorn and The Wasp at Christmas, as she’s an Agatha Christie fan. Maybe make a game out of it…how many Christie book titles were used?
If you can only get him to watch one, I’d suggest “School Reunion”. I had the misfortune of being a test viewer for the upcoming Battlestar Galactica prequel “Caprica”. I hated the premise, the look and every single character in it. The questionnaire afterward asked why I disliked it so much, I gave “School Reunion” as an example of SF the writers of this new series should watch to see how to writer a story with actual emotions.
Of the Rose Tyler episodes, I’d go with “The Empty Child”/“The Doctor Dances.” It’s a great blend of horror, comedy, and romance. If he’s not willing to sit through the second part, you probably didn’t have a chance to begin with. (And it’s a sneaky way to introduce him to “Torchwood,” via Captain Jack.)
I think my favorite two-parter would be the series two conclusion, but it wouldn’t work for someone who wasn’t already steeped in background.
Since he subjected you to a Voyager episode filled with a recycled plotline about evil cyborgs, why not do the same to him, and show him the Eccleston ep “Dalek”, it introduces both the Doctor and the fan-favorite villans, the Dalek race
barring that, I also agree with Empty Child/Doctor Dances for a Rose-era ep, for a Martha-era ep, either Smith and Jones, The Shakespeare Code, or 42, for a Donna-era ep, Planet of the Ood, or the Silence in the Library/Forest of the dead two-parter
Whoops, I didn’t see in your first post that you were looking for a single episode. In that case I’d say go for The Girl in the Fireplace and if he likes it then you can start with the two-parters. Another set I love are Human Nature/ The Family of Blood, though it might not be as good if you weren’t already familiar with the characters.
There seems to be a fairly broad consensus here for Empty Child/Doctor Dances. It was also the first thing out of another friend’s mouth when I put the question to him. It doesn’t have everything I’d like–no Tennant, no Cybermen, no Daaaaleks–but then, no storyline that would be beginner-friendly does. It might not hurt to have Eccleston, since my friend has at least been introduced to him through Heroes. Is EC/DD the one with the remarkably hot Doctor/Jack kiss? Not that he’d get much out of it, being straight, but I wouldn’t mind seeing it again. (Checking Wikipedia, it turns out not to be. Shame.)
I appreciate the other suggestions as well–Blink is without a doubt one of the finest episodes in the series’s history, but as a Doctor-light episode, it wouldn’t work well as an introduction. The Girl in the Fireplace is a personal favorite as well, but EC/DD just edges it out for these purposes.
Another vote, if you need it, for EC/DD, though your friend might not get the Doctor’s, “Just this once, everybody lives,” line, which is powerful, not because it’s the first episode of the new series in which nobody died, but because the Doctor is still suffering from PTSD from the Time Wars and has gone through the series as one of the walking wounded, seething with anger and regret and survivor guilt.
Oh, I wouldn’t recommend EC/DD at ALL. Not for a newcomer. Way too scary, way too intense. It’s a delicious tasty treat to share among fans, but it’s too rich for a newbie. Maybe if he was a thriller fan, but for a science fiction fan, I’d pick Planet of the Ood. It does what old fashioned Asimov/Heinlein era science fiction did - take a scientific possibility (in this case, evolution of an unusual attribute) and follow that possibility to a conclusion that says something about humanity. I love that episode more than cheese.
I also love Blink, and it might be just good enough to suck someone in, and he might really enjoy the upcoming serieses, as the **Blink **dude is taking over creative control of the show, AIUI. But if I watched the old episodes expecting a show like Blink, I’d be disappointed.
Planet of the Ood was a decent episode, but I’m not entirely sure if I would’ve appreciated it as much without having been introduced to the Ood in the Satan Pit two-parter. (Admittedly, when I saw the Ood, my first reaction was, “Oh, we’re not going to fight Satan again, are we? Maybe this time we’ll meet Jesus. :rolleyes:”)
I’ve never been truly scared by a Dr. Who episode (Blink might’ve done it, if it hadn’t been somewhat spoilered by a friend’s stray comments), and certainly wasn’t by EC/DD. On the other hand, if you’re making the point that he might be put off by the almost ‘ghost story’ aspect of the pair–I’m going off rather fuzzy memory here–I do see your point.
My first doctor is David Tennant. I’m embarassed to admit that I’m over age 40. And American. My husband is British, grew up on John Pertwee, if I’m not mistaken, and now sees Doctor Who as only “a kids’ show.” Such a shame.
Anyway, I’ve only been watching for a season, and absolutely positively fell in love with “Blink.” I’ve always been a big fan of the old Twilight Zones of the '60’s, so maybe that’s why I find this episode so intriguing. Creepy but fascinating, all at once. I know The Doctor isn’t really in this one much, but it’s great.
…and David TenInch, er, Tennant is easy to watch. As is John Barrowman. Yum.
(Checking Wikipedia, it turns out not to be. Shame.)