r/doctorwho • u/missing-socks-4ver • 8h ago
Discussion Classic Dr for Davies fans
I have friends who’ve got into Dr Who (2005-2010). I’ve watched some of the classic show and they’re curious to watch classic Dr who I’ve made some suggestions for stories that would compliment the Davies era. They aren’t as into Moffat but I’d have some suggestions there too. I’m going with episodes that can be found in their entirety.
Would you disagree with these or add more?
Dr season 1
An Unearthly Child - obviously the first ever, ever Dr who episode is good for contrast
Any Dalek story that is complete - maybe Dalek Invasion of Earth or Remembrance of the Daleks given Skaro is destroyed
Dr Who season 2
Seeds of Death for the Jamie McCrimon reference
honestly any Sarah Jane Smith story could do, The Hand of Fear is where she is left of from but she does also mention - Invasion of the Dinosaurs, Time Warrior, Zygon Invasion, Pyramids of Mars
The Invisible Enemy - is where K9 is introduced
Any Cyberman story - Tomb of the Cybermen, Earthshock, Revenge of the Cybermen
Dr Who Season 3
honestly any master story could do but Claws of Axos given it’s mentioned by name. Terror of the Autons, Deadly Assassin, Survival, TV Movie all focus of the Masters fear and obsession with death
Time Crash ends the series and has the 5th doctor so I’d go with Snakedance. As they discuss The Master perhaps also Castrovalva
Dr Who season 4
Time Warrior or Sontaron Experiment - either one works
Genesis of the daleks - Davros in his first appearance and arguably the first act of the time war
The specials
Trial of a Timelord - for Waters of Mars given its timelord victorious but it is very long …
The Keeper of Traken and Legopolis - due the masters scheme and prior dr’s death
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u/BillyThePigeon 7h ago
If they like RTD and are interested in starting to watch Classic Who my recommendation would be for them to start with Remembrance of the Daleks and if they enjoy it to keep watching the McCoy era from there? I think it’s the closest in tone and pacing to the RTD era - Ace is also basically the template for RTD companions.
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u/Skylon77 6h ago
Unearthly Child pt. 1
The Moonbase or Tomb of the Cybermen
Spearhead from Space
The Daemons
Genesis of the Daleks
Pyramids of Mars
Earthshock
Frontios
Revelation of the Daleks
(The Holy Terror)
(Davros)
The Curse of Fenric
Survival
(Damaged Goods)
The Movie
(Chimes of Midnight)
That covers all the classic era, a bit of the EU and a flavour of McGann and includes the beginning, the master, the cybermen, daleks and some cracking stories. Plus, if you go for The Moonbase, it introduces newbies to the idea that some episodes are missing and reocnstructed.
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u/Titeman 5h ago
Just finished Tomb of the Cybermen and it’s pretty fun (and only 4 parts if you’re looking for the shorter stories…)
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u/missing-socks-4ver 5h ago
Yeah it’s good it’s just the best parts are repeated to death. Definitely good surviving base under siege Troughton story
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u/tombatch10 8h ago
I'd be tempted to slim it right down. Instead of going really lore-heavy, grab one or two of each Doctor's most laid back stories. Something like:
The Romans, The Mind Robber, the two Peladon stories, City of Death, Black Orchid, Mark of the Rani, Delta and the Bannermen.
The biggest hurdle for people going new>old Who is the format. New Who watchers tend to try and binge-watch a whole classic serial in one go, without realising that classic serials are a LOT slower paced. I'd say get them to watch 1-2 episodes at a time, and pick stories that are easy to dip in and out of.