# Why didn't any of you bastards tell me how wonderful DOCTOR WHO is? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 15, 2011, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-any-of-you-bastards-tell-me-how-wonderful-doctor-who-is/589178 "2011-07-15T21:24:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2011, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-any-of-you-bastards-tell-me-how-wonderful-doctor-who-is/589178/21 "2011-07-15T23:27:39Z")
Don’t knock it. It worked for the Monarch. ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2011, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-any-of-you-bastards-tell-me-how-wonderful-doctor-who-is/589178/22 "2011-07-16T01:09:20Z")
I fully intended to tell you about Doctor Who years ago. But just as I was going to type in the e-mail, a mysterious man knocked on my door. He told me you were not ready to know, and if I spilled the beans too early in your development, you would go insane and destroy the planet. He didn’t look familiar at the time, but now that I think about it, he kind of looked like Justin Bieber pushing 40. ---
**Author:** ![ShelliBean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f9ae1b/32.png) [@ShelliBean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShelliBean)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2011, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-any-of-you-bastards-tell-me-how-wonderful-doctor-who-is/589178/23 "2011-07-16T03:15:51Z")
To echo the others, you MUST go back and watch the start of the revamp. I love The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances, but the real payoff will be when you see Bad Wolf written across the universe. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2011, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-any-of-you-bastards-tell-me-how-wonderful-doctor-who-is/589178/24 "2011-07-16T03:21:22Z")
> [@foolsguinea](#): > > We thought you knew. This. Really, how could you have missed it? We didn’t hide it. Next thing you’ll tell us is that you haven’t seen Firefly. ---
**Author:** ![Lobelia\_Overhill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/54ee81/32.png) [@Lobelia\_Overhill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobelia_Overhill)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2011, 10:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-any-of-you-bastards-tell-me-how-wonderful-doctor-who-is/589178/25 "2011-07-16T10:50:20Z")
> [@StGermain](#): > > No, no, no! You have to start with the Christopher Eccleston Who, and have your miniscule heart broken. > > Really, you need to start with season one of NuWho, especially so you can see The Empty Child and The Doctor Dances. Totally agree! > [@](#): > > Are you my mummy? **phone rings** > [@foolsguinea](#): > > We thought you knew. > [@dropzone](#): > > This. Really, how could you have missed it? We didn’t hide it. Next thing you’ll tell us is that you haven’t seen Firefly. and these… ---
**Author:** ![Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Attack_from_the_3rd_dimension)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2011, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-any-of-you-bastards-tell-me-how-wonderful-doctor-who-is/589178/26 "2011-07-16T11:40:49Z")
There are a surprising number of references to prior shows and events, so the payoff is greater if you watch it in order. Start with the reboot with Christopher Eccleston. Plus any time spent watching Rose Tyler is time well spent. ---
**Author:** ![Shakester](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shakester/32/437_2.png) [@Shakester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shakester)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2011, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-any-of-you-bastards-tell-me-how-wonderful-doctor-who-is/589178/27 "2011-07-16T11:47:43Z")
Sorry, Skald, it just never occurred to us that you wouldn’t know. Personally, I started watching it as a child back in the 1970s with Jon Pertwee. It’s very old news to me. However, I will echo the others here and insist that the first thing you should do is start at the start of the 21st century version. Later on, when you’ve digested all the modern episodes, I’d say start on the 70s Jon Pertwee episodes, then follow them through Tom Baker and Peter Davidson. After that it declined IMHO. I envy you Skald. You get to see all that good stuff for the first time. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2011, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-any-of-you-bastards-tell-me-how-wonderful-doctor-who-is/589178/28 "2011-07-16T14:04:30Z")
> [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](#): > > There are a surprising number of references to prior shows and events, so the payoff is greater if you watch it in order. Start with the reboot with Christopher Eccleston. > Plus any time spent watching Rose Tyler is time well spent. Do you realize how much of a minority you are? Nearly every list I’ve seen places Rose at the bottom of the new Companions for what happens in Season 4, if not Season 2 (and even Season 3 when he won’t shut up about her.) ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2011, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-any-of-you-bastards-tell-me-how-wonderful-doctor-who-is/589178/29 "2011-07-16T14:22:43Z")
> [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](#): > > Start with the reboot with Christopher Eccleston. Nitpick: not a reboot. Eccleston is the Ninth Doctor, not a new First Doctor. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2011, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-any-of-you-bastards-tell-me-how-wonderful-doctor-who-is/589178/30 "2011-07-16T15:07:20Z")
> [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](#): > > **Skald the Rhymer** --you _really_ need to get the DVDs of the Tom Baker years. > > Lousy FX, totally nerd candy. Especially if you’re a Douglas Adams fan! ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2011, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-any-of-you-bastards-tell-me-how-wonderful-doctor-who-is/589178/31 "2011-07-16T15:32:02Z")
A question: if you start with Eccleston knowing nothing (or at least very little) of the series before then, can you keep up? What’s always been intimidating to me about Who is “Where do you start with a series that’s almost 50?” aspect.) ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2011, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-any-of-you-bastards-tell-me-how-wonderful-doctor-who-is/589178/32 "2011-07-16T15:36:48Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > A question: if you start with Eccleston knowing nothing (or at least very little) of the series before then, can you keep up? What’s always been intimidating to me about Who is “Where do you start with a series that’s almost 50?” aspect.) Completely. The first season of NuWho was intended for new viewers who’d never watched before. I was one of them. Any time a new old character/species is introduced, you’re told all you really need to know (snerk) to appreciate their role in the larger scheme of things, though as I understand it the writers have often slipped in sly references to past events such that longtime viewers will have little bonuses to appreciate as well. One brilliant thing that they did in Eccleston’s run was to have the Doctor be carrying the guilt of a horrible thing that had happened before we met him, which gets revealed about (IIRC) halfway through the first season. It was (to me anyway) very well done. ---
**Author:** ![nashiitashii](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7c8e57/32.png) [@nashiitashii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nashiitashii)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2011, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-any-of-you-bastards-tell-me-how-wonderful-doctor-who-is/589178/33 "2011-07-16T16:07:24Z")
I’ve never seen the old series, and I did fine starting at Eccleston. Mind you, I still have to catch up and watch the rest of seasons three, four and five, but I had no trouble keeping up with any of it. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2011, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-any-of-you-bastards-tell-me-how-wonderful-doctor-who-is/589178/34 "2011-07-16T16:29:52Z")
Pardon a continuing hijack, but how does _Torchwood_ tie in? Does it take place in the Dr. Who’verse, and if so is it specifically related to the current reboot? ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2011, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-any-of-you-bastards-tell-me-how-wonderful-doctor-who-is/589178/35 "2011-07-16T16:37:27Z")
> [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](#): > > Plus any time spent watching Rose Tyler is time well spent. I totally agree with this. **Big T** , I don’t care what polls you’re reading, Billie Piper is amazing looking and a decent actress to boot. I love every second she’s on screen! And as someone who grew up on the old Doctor Who, I have to say that this continuation does an excellent job of being both accessible to new viewers and offering tie-ins to those of use who spent the '70s and '80s watching the show. To anyone just starting out, like friend **Skald** , I’ll add my voice to starting with the Chris Eccleston shows. It’s kind of like Futurama: you can start anywhere and enjoy it, but you’ll get even more out of later shows if you start at the beginning. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2011, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-any-of-you-bastards-tell-me-how-wonderful-doctor-who-is/589178/36 "2011-07-16T16:46:23Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > Pardon a continuing hijack, but how does _Torchwood_ tie in? Does it take place in the Dr. Who’verse, and if so is it specifically related to the current reboot? _Torchwood_ is a spin-off. (It’s worth noting that _torchwood_ is an anagram of _doctor who_.) The full story would be filled with spoilers for several Doctor Who episodes, but briefly, an former monarch of Great Britain established the Torchwood Institute after an encounter with aliens made it clear that some sort of government body should be looking into these things. The _Torchwood_ TV series follows the adventures of Torchwood 3 (one of 4 Torchwood installations we know of), based in Cardiff. ---
**Author:** ![NAF1138](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naf1138/32/3245_2.png) [@NAF1138](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NAF1138)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2011, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-any-of-you-bastards-tell-me-how-wonderful-doctor-who-is/589178/37 "2011-07-16T16:47:45Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > I totally agree with this. **Big T** , I don’t care what polls you’re reading, Billie Piper is amazing looking and a decent actress to boot. I love every second she’s on screen! She also has more charisma and chemistry with her fellow actors than I have ever seen in an actor before. It’s nuts. I loved Donna, and I like Amy, but Rose is far and away the most interesting of the companions. Also, with the exception of exactly two episodes, all my favorite new Who episodes are from the Rose years. (Exceptions are Blink, and Midnight. People really like Turn Left, but it felt very forced to me.) Martha can go jump in a lake. She is good looking but doesn’t have a whole lot else going for her. ---
**Author:** ![Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Attack_from_the_3rd_dimension)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2011, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-any-of-you-bastards-tell-me-how-wonderful-doctor-who-is/589178/38 "2011-07-16T18:32:41Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > _Torchwood_ is a spin-off. (It’s worth noting that _torchwood_ is an anagram of _doctor who_.) The full story would be filled with spoilers for several Doctor Who episodes, but briefly, an former monarch of Great Britain established the Torchwood Institute after an encounter with aliens made it clear that some sort of government body should be looking into these things. > > The _Torchwood_ TV series follows the adventures of Torchwood 3 (one of 4 Torchwood installations we know of), based in Cardiff. Further, we see the original Torchwood more or less destroyed as part of a Doctor Who episode, and a recurrent DW character then remakes it - and spins it off as its own branch of the Whoniverse. > [@NAF1138](#): > > She also has more charisma and chemistry with her fellow actors than I have ever seen in an actor before. It’s nuts. I loved Donna, and I like Amy, but Rose is far and away the most interesting of the companions. Also, with the exception of exactly two episodes, all my favorite new Who episodes are from the Rose years. (Exceptions are Blink, and Midnight. People really like Turn Left, but it felt very forced to me.) Think how good Blink would have been with Rose, even for just those few seconds that required a companion. For that matter, Rose’s appearance was the best part of Midnight. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2011, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-any-of-you-bastards-tell-me-how-wonderful-doctor-who-is/589178/39 "2011-07-16T18:34:32Z")
> [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](#): > > Further, we see the original Torchwood more or less destroyed as part of a Doctor Who episode, and a recurrent DW character then remakes it - and spins it off as its own branch of the Whoniverse. Yes, the destruction of Torchwood 1 was one of the spoilers I was attempting to avoid. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2011, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-any-of-you-bastards-tell-me-how-wonderful-doctor-who-is/589178/40 "2011-07-16T18:56:32Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > Yes, the destruction of Torchwood 1 was one of the spoilers I was attempting to avoid. Heh-heh. 😛 Thanks anyway. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-any-of-you-bastards-tell-me-how-wonderful-doctor-who-is/589178.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-any-of-you-bastards-tell-me-how-wonderful-doctor-who-is/589178.md?page=3)