# I've never seen Dr. Who **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 17, 2006, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-never-seen-dr-who/348810 "2006-03-17T21:06:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![robdavsuss](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/58956e/32.png) [@robdavsuss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robdavsuss)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2006, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-never-seen-dr-who/348810/1 "2006-03-17T21:06:48Z")
That’s right. I haven’t seen any Dr. Who, in any of his incarnations. Is the new show on SciFi a good place to start? ---
**Author:** ![Operation\_Ripper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/34f0e0/32.png) [@Operation\_Ripper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Operation_Ripper)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2006, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-never-seen-dr-who/348810/2 "2006-03-17T21:25:41Z")
Was just thinking of asking this same question, I was always under the impression the fourth incarnation with Tom Baker was the most popular amongst fans, but I really don’t know. ---
**Author:** ![Nonsuch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nonsuch/32/2922_2.png) [@Nonsuch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nonsuch)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2006, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-never-seen-dr-who/348810/3 "2006-03-17T21:26:32Z")
The episodes I’ve seen of it are very good, and since it’s going to be on anyway you might as well start there. If you really like it, check out some of the DVDs from the previous series, but be aware it’s a very different beast. It was made on next to no budget, filmed essentially live in the studio like a soap opera; it doesn’t look or feel like any sci-fi series that’s ever been on American TV. Nevertheless, it’s often terrifically witty and original. If you’re looking for specific recommendations, check out “Robots of Death,” “Caves of Androzani,” or “The Green Death” (which will introduce you to Doctors 4 (Tom Baker), 5 (Peter Davison) and 3 (Jon Pertwee), respectively). ---
**Author:** ![Logan\_5](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/fbc32d/32.png) [@Logan\_5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Logan_5)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2006, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-never-seen-dr-who/348810/4 "2006-03-17T21:30:29Z")
Guess it depends on who you talk to. But I say “why not?” I will however just say that if you watch this latest incarnation first, you might have difficulty getting past the low-budget look of some of the older stuff. Maybe not. Sometimes it’s cheesey, sometimes it’s quite brilliant. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2006, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-never-seen-dr-who/348810/5 "2006-03-17T22:54:35Z")
> [@robdavsuss](#): > > Is the new show on SciFi a good place to start? There’s a new Doctor Who on the scifi channel? I used to find that show scary, back when I was between 3 and 5. Especially the creepy robot. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2006, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-never-seen-dr-who/348810/6 "2006-03-17T23:01:53Z")
> [@Operation Ripper](#): > > Was just thinking of asking this same question, I was always under the impression the fourth incarnation with Tom Baker was the most popular amongst fans, but I really don’t know. When an image of Dr. Who was included in an episode of _The Simpsons_, Tom Baker’s was chosen. When _Saturday Night Live_ did a parody commercial involving the Doctor, Tom Baker’s was chosen. There’s just something about that enormous scarf! ---
**Author:** ![Dragonblink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Dragonblink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dragonblink)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2006, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-never-seen-dr-who/348810/7 "2006-03-18T02:15:17Z")
> [@Snooooopy](#): > > There’s just something about that enormous scarf! Oh hell yeah, it’s all about the scarf. Plus, a lot of people just like the particular flavor of quirkiness and randomness that Baker brought to the role. This is where I proudly mention that my mom knitted me [a scarf](http://home.earthlink.net/~marteb/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/blinkscarf2.jpg) just like the Doctor’s, from a pattern I found on the internet. Alas, few people recognize it when I wear it … ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2006, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-never-seen-dr-who/348810/8 "2006-03-18T03:55:06Z")
I believe I’ve seen every single episode for Doctors 1-5, most for Doctor 6, and quite a few of Doctor 7. I saw the Paul McGann TV special. I am totally looking forward to watching the new series tonigh…in several minutes. ---
**Author:** ![Operation\_Ripper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/34f0e0/32.png) [@Operation\_Ripper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Operation_Ripper)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2006, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-never-seen-dr-who/348810/9 "2006-03-18T04:02:49Z")
> [@Dragonblink](#): > > This is where I proudly mention that my mom knitted me [a scarf](http://home.earthlink.net/~marteb/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/blinkscarf2.jpg) just like the Doctor’s, from a pattern I found on the internet. Shut up! Is that you? Oh my, all of a sudden I have some real Tom Baker / Dragonblink issues to resolve later this evening when I take my usual scented bath. ---
**Author:** ![Alan\_Smithee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/2acd7d/32.png) [@Alan\_Smithee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alan_Smithee)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2006, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-never-seen-dr-who/348810/10 "2006-03-18T05:26:29Z")
> [@Rhiannon8404](#): > > I believe I’ve seen every single episode for Doctors 1-5, most for Doctor 6, and quite a few of Doctor 7. I saw the Paul McGann TV special. I am totally looking forward to watching the new series tonigh…in several minutes. Every single episode? Really? I was under the impression that most of the early William Hartnell Episodes don’t even exist in BBC archives anymore, let alone VHS or DVD. Do you mean you’ve seen every available episode, or were you watching from the beginning? Please tell us what you thought of the new series [here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=363368)! ---
**Author:** ![mamboman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecb155/32.png) [@mamboman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mamboman)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2006, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-never-seen-dr-who/348810/11 "2006-03-18T05:31:48Z")
> [@Rhiannon8404](#): > > I believe I’ve seen every single episode for Doctors 1-5, most for Doctor 6, and quite a few of Doctor 7. I saw the Paul McGann TV special. I am totally looking forward to watching the new series tonigh…in several minutes. Every single episode for Drs 1-5 or just every single one available? There’s a long list of Hartnell and Troughton episodes which have been [destroyed](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doctor_Who_missing_episodes) by the BBC and can’t be found anywhere. But of you have seen every epsiode - well done! There’s a theory that you’re “first” Doctor tends to be your favourite - which might explain why for me Patrick Troughton is the only _real_ Doctor. I didn’t care much for the new BBC series -my kids, however, loved it. - but I have cared less and less for the series since the Nathan-Turner era began and not at all since the excellent Davidson left. mm ---
**Author:** ![Alan\_Smithee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/2acd7d/32.png) [@Alan\_Smithee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alan_Smithee)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2006, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-never-seen-dr-who/348810/12 "2006-03-18T05:40:02Z")
Ah, Davidson! He’ll always be Siegfried’s little brother to me, but he was good for a bit of cosmic angst. In keeping with your theory, however, I never did think he could hold a candle to Tom Baker. ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2006, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-never-seen-dr-who/348810/13 "2006-03-18T06:12:47Z")
Ok, yeah, make that every episode available. I probably shouldn’t have been so all inclusive. I started watching on PBS in the late 70’s. I own tons of VHS and DVD episodes. That’s how I saw most of the William Hartnell and Patrick Troughton episodes. I’m fairly confident I’ve seen all the Jon Pertwee episodes and I know I’ve seen all the Tom Baker and Peter Davison episodes. As for my first Doctor? Well, that would be the charming Peter Davison. As a matter of fact the very first time I watched, it was because I was changing channels and saw “Tristan” in a weird outfit coming out of a police box. I was 10 yrs old.