I’ve watched a few of the recap specials on BBC America and I watched the new episode. But basically all I know about the series is stuff I’ve heard second hand. I watched a couple of episodes back when it was still Tom Baker.
So if I decide to make a go at Doctor Who, how far back should I start? Do I need to go back to 2005 when the series was revived? Or just back to the beginning of Series 5 when Steven Moffat took over? (I’ll point out right now that I don’t plan on starting out any earlier than 2005 and sitting through several decades of shows in an attempt to catch up.)
The best place to start is episode one of the revival, with Eccleston.
You CAN start with Moffat’s takeover last series since it was written as a “clean break” mostly, but you’ll enjoy yourself much, much more if you start from the “start.”
Cherry picking some “best of” bits of the original run is fun, but the revived show has a different pace and feel and really stands on its own without requiring viewers to have a drop of interest in the older stuff.
Starting with Series 5 is a cromulent plan. To my recollection, there’s not a lot in the Matt Smith episodes that demands knowledge of anything that came before, and they’re very good.
After you get into the 11th Doctor era, you may, as I did, want to revisit the earlier NuWho episodes made under showrunner Russell Davies. They work as a loose, long arc, but it concluded definitely – both thematically and plot-wise – at the end of his run, so you don’t need a grounding in it to watch the new stuff, and it works just fine if you go back after you’ve already watched the Smith stuff.
The Davies episodes are quite enjoyable, although Moffat surpasses him in my view. But some of the first season of NuWho was pretty rough sledding, so while it’s very enjoyable as a whole, you might lose interest if you’re not already hooked by the excellent material to follow.
The one note is that River Song, an important character in current episodes (esp. this season), originated in the David Tennant (the previous Doctor) two-parter Silence In the Library and Forest of the Dead. Not critical, but you might want to just watch those ahead of time.
–Cliffy
Edited to add: I don’t agree with typoink, obviously. Like I said, they’re good, but it’s too much prep work for someone who’s not yet a die-hard.
I just finished watching the complete Christopher Eccleston series and enjoyed it thoroughly. I may start with the first of the David Tennant series this evening. You may do as you wish, but I’ve been having a lovely time watching one episode at a time, in order, starting with the New Who.
I loved Tom Baker back in the day, but missed everything after that.
I’ve seen the odd (piece of) ep here and there of the new stuff, mostly in the last year or so. So when I decided to really watch, I started with Eccleston in Series 1.
I think it was a good choice. There is a certain … something that you get from watching the different styles and incarnations.
I believe the whole of the Tom Baker “The Key to Time” series is on there, which is supposed to be some of the best old Who. It was several different serials all tied together into one big arc. I liked what I’ve seen of it.
Start with the episode “Rose”, which is the first with our new Doctors.
However, remember. This show gets way, way better as it goes. It was a bit rough going early, to the point that Eccletson never got to shine all the way. I do think he was a great Doctor, though. Just never had the material to fully support his talent.
David Tenant(series 2-4) is amazing, though. I really liked series 3 and 4 especially.
I started watching Doctor Who for the first time this year. I saw the first six episodes of the sixth season and then went back and started with “Rose.” It was really great to watch the whole thing, and see how the Doctor takes shape from Eccleston to Tennant to Smith. I definitely agree the quality becomes much better as the series goes on, but watching the whole thing from Eccleston on is a wonderful experience.
The older stuff wasn’t anywhere near as heavy, continuity-wise, as the new series. It was mostly made up of relatively independent stories 4 to 6 25 minute episodes long, so you can start anywhere you like and go to any other era of the show if you don’t like what you’re getting. Personally, I began with the very first story of the Third Doctor’s run and went on from there, which seems to have worked for me. I wouldn’t recommend it, though. If I were you I’d start with some Tom Baker, as suggested. Some of my favorites (and of most other fans) are The Ark in Space, Genesis of the Daleks, The Pyramids of Mars and City of Death. My very favorite Doctor Who story is The Talons of Weng Chiang, but I think it’s probably better to get more used to how the old show did things before trying this one. I disagree with a previous poster’s recommendation of The Key to Time season, as I don’t like it very much.
There have been a few previous threads in which folks listed their favorite stories from the old show, and they’re a great way to find out about other stuff to watch, especially if you decide you want to try stories with other Doctors.
