# Recommend some Doctor Who **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 6, 2007, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-doctor-who/410724 "2007-07-06T13:34:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![TheMerchandise](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b487fb/32.png) [@TheMerchandise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheMerchandise)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2007, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-doctor-who/410724/1 "2007-07-06T13:34:54Z")
In one marathon session, I watched the most recent incarnations of Doctor Who on DVD. Billie Piper is stunning. Chris Eccleston is wonderfully intense. David Tennet is a tightly wound ball of sexy. But aside from all that, the show is really great. Needless to say, I’m hooked. I’d like to familiarize myself with some of the older Doctors and adventures. Anyone care to recommend some must-sees for me? ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2007, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-doctor-who/410724/2 "2007-07-06T14:00:50Z")
I suggest [the Pertwee era](http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/classic/episodeguide/index_third.shtml). [Carnival of Monsters](http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/classic/episodeguide/carnivalmonsters/) was my first exposure to the good Doctor. Then there’s the [Baker era](http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/classic/episodeguide/index_fourth.shtml) “Key to Time” meta-storyline that covered [the entire 16th season](http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/classic/episodeguide/season16.shtml). Douglas Adams, Mr. Forty-two himself, contributed to the script editing for the season finale. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2007, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-doctor-who/410724/3 "2007-07-06T14:09:37Z")
[The McCoy era](http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/classic/episodeguide/index_seventh.shtml) also had some interesting stuff going on, including a self-referential [25th anniversary storyline](http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/classic/episodeguide/remembrancedaleks/), [killer candy](http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/classic/episodeguide/happinesspatrol/), [killer robotic custodians](http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/classic/episodeguide/paradisetowers/), and [a malevolent clown](http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/classic/episodeguide/greatestshow/). ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2007, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-doctor-who/410724/4 "2007-07-06T14:13:53Z")
The Romans (1st) The Aztecs (1st) Carnival of Monsters (3rd) The Green Death (3rd) Genesis Of The Daleks (4th) The Deadly Assassin (4th) City Of Death (4th) A trilogy: The Keeper Of Traken (4th) Logopolis (4th) Castrovalva (5th) Caves Of Androzani. (5th) (I’ve not seen many second Doctor stories, the ones I have seen I can’t recommend. As for the 6th and 7th doctors, they were universally awful. \*Battlefield \* (7th) is about the best of a bad bunch, if you really want to see it.) ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2007, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-doctor-who/410724/5 "2007-07-06T14:16:22Z")
For the past two years, these stories have been voted as the top three by the inhabitants of Doctor Who fansite Outpost Gallifrey: 1. The Caves of Androzani - featuring the fifth Doctor Peter Davison and his pneumatic assistant Peri 2. The Talons of Weng-Chiang - featuring the fourth Doctor (and consistent fan favourite) Tom Baker and the scantily-clad warrior Leela (3. The Power of the Daleks - the first story of the second doctor Patrick Troughton. Of course, only fragments of this story still exist, but that’s fandom for you.) Some of my favourites (although I can recommend the top two above) are: Inferno - featuring doctor number three Jon Pertwee, and his companion Liz Shaw - a civilian member of UNIT. The Ark in Space - again with Tom Baker, and one of the best-loved companions Sarah Jane Smith (who you’ve just seen in School Reunion), and Royal Navy man Harry Sullivan The Pyramids of Mars - again with Tom and Sarah Jane, and I think one of the most sinister (and yes, the Baker years were mine when growing up) The BBC [Classic Who site](http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/classic/episodeguide/) along with the [Outpost Gallifrey](http://www.gallifreyone.com/epguide.php) are invaluable sources of information. [The BBC shop](http://www.bbcshop.com/icat/doctorwhodvdvideo?bklist=icat,4,,doctorwhonew,doctorwhodvdvideo&) has all the DVD’s for sale, or at least the details if you are getting them from Netflix. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2007, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-doctor-who/410724/6 "2007-07-06T14:30:21Z")
Just thought of another one: [The Time Warrior](http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/classic/episodeguide/timewarrior/), the storyline that indroduced Miss Sara Jane Smith. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2007, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-doctor-who/410724/7 "2007-07-06T14:33:53Z")
[QUOTE=Lute Skywatcher] Just thought of another one: [The Time Warrior](http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/classic/episodeguide/timewarrior/), the storyline that indroduced Miss Sara Jane Smith. [/QUOTE] Ooh that’s a good one, and I love the tag-line from your link - “A Sontaran warrior brings exciting weaponry to the Middle Ages.”. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2007, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-doctor-who/410724/8 "2007-07-06T14:38:42Z")
More with Douglas Adams’ influence: [The Pirate Planet](http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/classic/episodeguide/pirateplanet) (a Key to Time story) (writer) [Destiny of the Daleks](http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/classic/episodeguide/destinydaleks/) (script editor) [City of Death](http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/classic/episodeguide/cityofdeath/) (script editor) [The Creature from the Pit](http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/classic/episodeguide/creaturefrompit/) (script editor) [Nightmare of Eden](http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/classic/episodeguide/nightmareofeden/) (script editor) [The Horns of Nimron](http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/classic/episodeguide/hornsofnimon/) (script editor) [Shada](http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/classic/episodeguide/shada/) (writer) ---
**Author:** ![Ximenean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/aca169/32.png) [@Ximenean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ximenean)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2007, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-doctor-who/410724/9 "2007-07-06T14:39:40Z")
I think the OP should be warned that old Who is very different from the current version. They’re almost different programmes. I was never a fan before but, curiosity piqued by the new version, I have watched a couple of what are apparently classic stories on YouTube. I really enjoyed “City of Death”, co-written by Douglas Adams (and you can tell - it’s very funny in places). “Talons of Weng Chiang” was very good apart from an incredibly unsubtle performance form the villain. I hated “Genesis of the Daleks”. ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2007, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-doctor-who/410724/10 "2007-07-06T14:52:46Z")
[QUOTE=Lute Skywatcher] [Shada](http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/classic/episodeguide/shada/) (writer) [/QUOTE] Bit difficult to actually _watch_ that one though, isn’t it? Though you could always read the book… I never enjoyed the Douglas Adams episodes much myself (though I’m a fan of _Hitchhikers_ and all) - he never really seemed to catch the feel of the series for me - too close to descending into slapstick. I have a particular fondness for the first three Tom Baker episodes ( **Robot** , **Ark in Space** and **Sontaran Experiment** ). **Face of Evil** (the first Leela episode) is good too. My all-time favourites would have to be **Genesis of the Daleks** , **Pyramids of Mars** and **Deadly Assassin**. Oh, and the Krynoid one (someone help me out here, my brain’s turned to mush) Someone may be spotting a common theme in my picks right about now… ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2007, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-doctor-who/410724/11 "2007-07-06T14:55:53Z")
[QUOTE=Aspidistra] Oh, and the Krynoid one (someone help me out here, my brain’s turned to mush) [/QUOTE] Seeds of Doom. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2007, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-doctor-who/410724/12 "2007-07-06T15:01:12Z")
Having watched it from the start :eek: , I echo Usram’s warning. From ‘behind the couch’ decades ago, I saw cheap simple effects (no CGI, obviously), wobbly scenery, monsters consisting of a man in a rubber suit and lots of scary music before the monster ever appeared. It was great being gently scared as a kid 😃 , but quite different from the current shows. My impressions from all those episodes: - Tom Baker was the best Doctor, because he had an alien air about him - some fine-looking assistants, especially Leela (Louise Jameson) and Romana2 (Lalla Ward) - wildly varying standards in terms of script, plot and monsters - Sylvester McCoy was crap :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2007, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-doctor-who/410724/13 "2007-07-06T15:09:35Z")
[QUOTE=Struan] Seeds of Doom. [/QUOTE] Thankyou! I knew it wouldn’t take long… ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2007, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-doctor-who/410724/14 "2007-07-06T15:13:41Z")
[QUOTE=glee] monsters consisting of a man in a rubber suit [/quote] [Alpha Centauri](http://www.doctorwhoworld.org.uk/alpha.html) from the [Peladon](http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/classic/episodeguide/curseofpeladon/) [stories](http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/classic/episodeguide/monsterofpeladon/). 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Sean\_Factotum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/50afbb/32.png) [@Sean\_Factotum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sean_Factotum)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2007, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-doctor-who/410724/15 "2007-07-06T15:23:21Z")
Don’t forget that Season 3 of the current incarnation is starting tonight in the US on SciFi channel. ---
**Author:** ![TheMerchandise](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b487fb/32.png) [@TheMerchandise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheMerchandise)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2007, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-doctor-who/410724/16 "2007-07-06T15:26:59Z")
[QUOTE=Usram] I think the OP should be warned that old Who is very different from the current version. They’re almost different programmes. [/QUOTE] Warning duly noted. But I hear people on the boards and IRL talk about the old Doctor Whos so lovingly that I’s like to give them a shot. [QUOTE=Sean Factotum] Don’t forget that Season 3 of the current incarnation is starting tonight in the US on SciFi channel. [/QUOTE] I know! I’m sad Billie Piper’s gone, but I’m excited nonetheless. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2007, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-doctor-who/410724/17 "2007-07-06T15:34:37Z")
[QUOTE=Aspidistra] Bit difficult to actually _watch_ that one [Shada] though, isn’t it? [/quote] Not impossible: I have a video of it. They released the completed scenes with Tom Baker describing what was missing. I’ve been a fan since the mid-80s, and have seen all the existing videos. The show does change over the years, but was consistently good throughout. My favorites: **First Doctor** _The Chase_ – good adventure overall, with an appearance by the Beatles (!), a bizarre scene at the Empire State Building (check out the guy’s accent) and the teddy bear. **Second Doctor** \*The War Games \*(many of the Second Doctor’s episodes have been lost, so it’s hard to get a feel for him. _The Mind Robber_ is good primarily for seeing the Doctor’s battle. **Third Doctor** _The Three Doctors_ _Planet of the Spiders_ **Fourth Doctor** _Genesis of the Daleks_ – essential _Pyramids of Mars_ _The Brain of Morbius_ _The Hand of Fear The Talons of Weng-Chiang The Pirate Planet_ – made me a fan. Just a great script. _City of Death_ – Adams co-write (under a pseudonym). My favorite: witty, but with a great space opera theme. _The Keeper of Traken_ **Fifth Doctor** _Earthshock_ – for the shock ending. _Mawdrin Undead_ – spectacular episode; one of the best for dramatic content alone. **Sixth Doctor** _Trial of a Time Lord II: Mindwarp_ – another great shock. _Trial of a Time Lord III: Terror of the Vervoids_ **Seventh Doctor** _Paradise Towers_ – not for everyone, but a terrifically well-thought out situation and good story. If you like off-beat, this is a gem. _The Happiness Patrol_ – one of my favorite Dr. Who villains: Helen A. ---
**Author:** ![kingpengvin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9dc877/32.png) [@kingpengvin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kingpengvin)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2007, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-doctor-who/410724/18 "2007-07-06T15:43:44Z")
I’m a fan of Genisis of the Daleks…which in current continuity was likely the first shot in the Time war that ultimately (ok not really) Destroyed the Time Lords and Daleks. It introduced Davros who was great until he was overused. ---
**Author:** ![mamboman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecb155/32.png) [@mamboman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mamboman)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2007, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-doctor-who/410724/19 "2007-07-06T15:55:46Z")
My top 5 Dr Whos: 1/ The Daemons - just unbeatably good. The first two Pertwee seasons are classic Who and this one has it all - including the best line of dialouge ever spoken in the series Lethbridge-Stewart - “Right. Benton - chap with wings - five rounds, rapid!” 2/ Pyramids of Mars - delightfully silly and sinsister and scary 3/ Inferno - Epic Pertwee - great pacing 4/ The Caves of Androzani - best cliff hanger ever at the end of episode 3 5/ Spearhead from Space ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2007, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-doctor-who/410724/20 "2007-07-06T17:26:32Z")
[QUOTE=kingpengvin] I’m a fan of Genisis of the Daleks…which in current continuity was likely the first shot in the Time war that ultimately (ok not really) Destroyed the Time Lords and Daleks. It introduced Davros who was great until he was overused. [/QUOTE] More like overacted. The original Davros was a great subtle villain; but the actors who played him later turned him into a ranting maniac. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-doctor-who/410724.md?page=2)