Best of Original Doctor Who

[Erin]

So, I've been watching Doctor Who for well over a year now.  In that time, I've covered all the reboot episodes and am trying to watch the old ones as well, but it's a little hard to know where to start.  There's so much content, it's pretty daunting.  Therefore, I was wondering, what's your favorite old Doctor Who episode(s)?  Which do you consider required viewing for all Doctor Who fans?  If there's anything else you'd like to say about original Doctor Who, say it!

Cool.  Thanks.

--Erin

[Erin]

Alright, thanks.  Tom Baker is definitely the doctor I've seen the most of so far (I was really ambitious once awhile back and watched the entire Key to Time series).  I appreciate your help!  Thanks a billion!

[Alix Cohen]

I would start from the beginning. The Hartnell era has a lot of good stuff (the first episode, The Meddling Monk, The Chase, even a lot of the stuff that doesn't exist is worth watching), and I'm in the middle of the Troughton era, which of course has Jamie in it. So even what isn't worthwhile is worthwhile...but I'm sort of crazy about the whole thing. Favorite Two stories are "Tomb of the Cybermen," "Evil of the Daleks," and "The Mind Robber".)

[Erin]

Great!  Thank you!  The only of one of those they have instantly on Netflix is The Mind Robber, so that will probably be the next episode I watch.  I'll remember the others ones for when I have time to order episodes, though, so thanks for suggesting them!!

[Erin]

Okay, cool.  I've never seen any original Daleks and that seems extremely not-okay, so I think I'll try and watch that as well.  Thanks again!

[Greg H]

I miss the old daleks.

[Alix Cohen]

The Aztecs is on Netflix too. Forgot to mention it. The First Doctor gets married by accident.

[Erin]

That's always a great storyline!  Thank you!  I really appreciate all the help!

[Alix Cohen]

You're expecting the Doctor to always be the hero of the story. That implies a failure to notice basic plot elements. In the first season or so of Doctor Who, Ian is the hero, the noble one, the action guy. In this story, he's fighting for his life. And he gets to use the Vulcan neck pinch and be extremely badass about it. Why are you complaining?

[Alix Cohen]

I really never thought he was sexist; if he was, remember that the show was made in the early 1960s and they're playing to the archetypes of the time. Be glad you're not watching Mad Men. And being told to shut up is something the Doctor needs from time to time. As far as I know, Jamie and Donna are the only other Companions that ever figured that out.

[Alix Cohen]

And the best part is that Barbara proves everyone wrong. So does Vicki, starting in "The Space Museum." Susan on the other hand... :P

[Greg H]

I recommend you start at the beginning, but please don't think that means you have to watch all of the old who episodes because that would just be crazy, at least watch all of the old who Dalek episodes because pretty much all of them are great, William Hartnell's the Chase might be a good place to start, it's the Doctor and the Daleks playing cat and mouse across time, some of the epsiodes are missing though which is kind of sucky but it's still awesome. All the cyberman episodes to or at least all of the earlier ones, after Earthshock they get a little crappy, but definitely watch all of Troughton's Cybermen episodes because those are all great, especially Invasion. So I'd say start early because the early ones are always the best.

[Erin]

Thanks for the advice!  I really haven't seen any of the classic monsters from the original episodes, so I'll try to see some of those as soon as I can.  The only episode of the First Doctor's I've experienced is the very first episode ever and I've never seen the Second Doctor, which is a real shame, I think.  Thank you a ton!