Doctor Who

wandajune6

I've been hearing about Doctor Who for years but have never watched it. DH is almost done with school and it feels like a good show for shared binge-watching. So a few questions for the group:

1. Do I need to start with the 1960's episodes? Or can I start with the episodes from the 2000s?
2. If I start with the more modern episodes, do I start with the first season? Pick it up anywhere? Or does it matter?
3. What's the best place to watch old episodes? We have Netflix and Amazon Prime but someone once told me that they do something different? Specials maybe? Or additional content?

Thanks!

NowIamMrsKlein

Love Doctor Who!

You definitely don't need to start with the old ones. I would recommend starting with Season 1 of the modern ones. Give it a chance, I found season 1 was a slow burn for me, but once I got to season 2 with David Tennant I was hooked.

All the Episodes are on Canadian Netflix so I assume they would be on American to. I would just maybe google the episode order to watch in because between a couple of the season's they released 'specials' which actually do further the plot line and need to be watched in order, and I'm not sure how netflix ordered them.

bethsmiles

Start with the 2000s. Personally I would start with season 1. It's cheesy, low-budget, and there's some crap episodes but it makes me sad when people skip Eccleston because he was a great as The Doctor! You could start with Matt Smith but then you miss the perfection that is David Tennant but by then the show got a higher budget and its less cheesy but I still prefer the seasons prior to him so I wouldn't skip them.

I would watch through the seasons on Netflix and then use Amazon Prime to see some of the special episodes that Netflix doesn't have but aren't important to plot.

arrippa

I was confused when I starting watching them too. I started with Ninth Doctor in 2005 with Christopher Eccleston. That's still my favorite season.

redoryx

I started with the reboot and it was fine. I do recommend starting from the first season of that though, with Christopher Eccleston. Like others said, it's low-budget and kind of a slow burn and I didn't appreciate it the first go around but when I rewatch it I really love it. There are some fabulous episodes and he is great as Nine

flutteringinfl

I actually didn't get too into Dr. Who until the Matt Smith years, but that's just me. If you watch the Chris Eccleston episodes and they're not doing it for you, maybe try a David Tennant episode (Midnight is excellent), and Matt Smith's first episode and see if you like that better. I do think every Doctor brings his own signature to the show.

hellosweetie1015

Yep, echoing PPs here, start with Season One of the reboot. The older episodes are... more difficult to watch. Wire sightings and all that, haha. They're fun, but if you start with them you'll never move on to the new ones, and they're really good.

You will probably get hooked. It will take a couple episodes, but once you get attached, you're attached. There is no detaching. It's cheesy and a lot of the older episodes of the reboot are pretty low budget but they're generally brilliantly written. The one that really hooked me was The Empty Child. FI made fun of me for the very first time when I watched that episode... ah, good times.

What I'm hearing is that Amazon Prime may have episodes I haven't seen yet? Hum. I may have to find that out. 

mrscomposer

YAAASSS Doctor Who.  J and I first got interested in each other because of Doctor Who, so I highly recommend it to everyone.  Start with Eccleston.  It's cheesy as all get out in some spots, but once you're in you're in.  Tennant is magnificent.  Matt Smith isn't my favourite, but that's more because Amy drives me nuts.

It's rainy and chilly here today.  I think it should be a Doctor Who night.

hellosweetie1015

mrscomposer said:

YAAASSS Doctor Who.  J and I first got interested in each other because of Doctor Who, so I highly recommend it to everyone.  Start with Eccleston.  It's cheesy as all get out in some spots, but once you're in you're in.  Tennant is magnificent.  Matt Smith isn't my favourite, but that's more because Amy drives me nuts.

It's rainy and chilly here today.  I think it should be a Doctor Who night.

FI AND I TOO. I'd never seen it other than a couple episodes here and there (which I liked, but never binged on), so FI took the excuse to educate me in proper nerdism to rewatch it (eta to finish my damn sentence). It is adorable.

I will agree that Tennant is absolutely magnificent. Matt Smith I absolutely adored because he was goofy, but I can totally see why some people might not have loved him.

NowIamMrsKlein

FI and I fight over who is 'our' Doctor all the time.

I am Tennant all the way. He is Matt Smith. I loved Matt Smiths goofiness, but ah. Just cant compare to the brilliance of the 10th Doctor.

hellosweetie1015

I'm not going to lie. When I was lurking over a year ago here and on The-Forums-That-Shall-Not-Be-Named, your snark and straightforwardness drew me in. It was the number of Who / HP / nerdy gifs I saw that was what kept me here.

bethsmiles

mrscomposer said:

YAAASSS Doctor Who.  J and I first got interested in each other because of Doctor Who, so I highly recommend it to everyone.  Start with Eccleston.  It's cheesy as all get out in some spots, but once you're in you're in.  Tennant is magnificent.  Matt Smith isn't my favourite, but that's more because Amy drives me nuts.

It's rainy and chilly here today.  I think it should be a Doctor Who night.

I couldn't stand Amy but so many of my Doctor Who friends love her. She really got on my nerves.

arrippa

bethsmiles said:

mrscomposer said:

YAAASSS Doctor Who.  J and I first got interested in each other because of Doctor Who, so I highly recommend it to everyone.  Start with Eccleston.  It's cheesy as all get out in some spots, but once you're in you're in.  Tennant is magnificent.  Matt Smith isn't my favourite, but that's more because Amy drives me nuts.

It's rainy and chilly here today.  I think it should be a Doctor Who night.

I couldn't stand Amy but so many of my Doctor Who friends love her. She really got on my nerves.

I only could stand Amy because I loved Rory. It was worth being annoyed by her so I can watch him.

NowIamMrsKlein

arrippa said:

bethsmiles said:

mrscomposer said:

YAAASSS Doctor Who.  J and I first got interested in each other because of Doctor Who, so I highly recommend it to everyone.  Start with Eccleston.  It's cheesy as all get out in some spots, but once you're in you're in.  Tennant is magnificent.  Matt Smith isn't my favourite, but that's more because Amy drives me nuts.

It's rainy and chilly here today.  I think it should be a Doctor Who night.

I couldn't stand Amy but so many of my Doctor Who friends love her. She really got on my nerves.

I only could stand Amy because I loved Rory. It was worth being annoyed by her so I can watch him.

Agreed. Rory is by far my favorite character. 

bethsmiles

arrippa said:

bethsmiles said:

mrscomposer said:

YAAASSS Doctor Who.  J and I first got interested in each other because of Doctor Who, so I highly recommend it to everyone.  Start with Eccleston.  It's cheesy as all get out in some spots, but once you're in you're in.  Tennant is magnificent.  Matt Smith isn't my favourite, but that's more because Amy drives me nuts.

It's rainy and chilly here today.  I think it should be a Doctor Who night.

I couldn't stand Amy but so many of my Doctor Who friends love her. She really got on my nerves.

I only could stand Amy because I loved Rory. It was worth being annoyed by her so I can watch him.

I didn't mind Rory. He would've been alright as a companion by himself. My favorite Matt Smith episodes are the ones with Craig. Craig was the best.

chibiyui

I just want to second/suggest that The Empty Child and The Doctor Dances are what makes it totally worth watching Season 1. My friend had me watch those episodes first and I then binged the rest of Season ! when I got home. But at the very least, you need to watch those two episodes.

bethsmiles

chibiyui said:

I just want to second/suggest that The Empty Child and The Doctor Dances are what makes it totally worth watching Season 1. My friend had me watch those episodes first and I then binged the rest of Season ! when I got home. But at the very least, you need to watch those two episodes.

Truth. Those are two of my favorite episodes out of all the seasons!

NowIamMrsKlein

bethsmiles said:

arrippa said:

bethsmiles said:

mrscomposer said:

YAAASSS Doctor Who.  J and I first got interested in each other because of Doctor Who, so I highly recommend it to everyone.  Start with Eccleston.  It's cheesy as all get out in some spots, but once you're in you're in.  Tennant is magnificent.  Matt Smith isn't my favourite, but that's more because Amy drives me nuts.

It's rainy and chilly here today.  I think it should be a Doctor Who night.

I couldn't stand Amy but so many of my Doctor Who friends love her. She really got on my nerves.

I only could stand Amy because I loved Rory. It was worth being annoyed by her so I can watch him.

I didn't mind Rory. He would've been alright as a companion by himself. My favorite Matt Smith episodes are the ones with Craig. Craig was the best.

Craig was amazing. He should have had way more episodes. Stormageddon was one of my favorite episodes because it was just so fun and quirky.

I would have watched the heck out of a season with craig as the companion.

mrscomposer

SoontobeMrsKlein said:

arrippa said:

bethsmiles said:

mrscomposer said:

YAAASSS Doctor Who.  J and I first got interested in each other because of Doctor Who, so I highly recommend it to everyone.  Start with Eccleston.  It's cheesy as all get out in some spots, but once you're in you're in.  Tennant is magnificent.  Matt Smith isn't my favourite, but that's more because Amy drives me nuts.

It's rainy and chilly here today.  I think it should be a Doctor Who night.

I couldn't stand Amy but so many of my Doctor Who friends love her. She really got on my nerves.

I only could stand Amy because I loved Rory. It was worth being annoyed by her so I can watch him.

Agreed. Rory is by far my favorite character. 

My favourite companions list is as follows: Rose & Donna tied for first, Rory, Captain Jack, Clara.  The end. 

So J and I had just FB friended each other last year right before Impossible Astronaut day.  Well, April 23rd rolls around and my cousin posts a picture on my wall of herself covered in tick marks with her finger over her mouth going 'shhh.'  So I sent one back with tick marks all over my arms, saying 'spoilers!'  J saw the pictures, and next time we saw each other, he made sure to wear his 'bowties are cool' tshirt.  That was the night he asked me out.  Two dates later, he came over to watch Doctor Who and we decided we were dating.

His cufflinks said Bowties are Cool.  And my garters had TARDIS and bowtie charms on them.

redoryx

River Song is my spirit animal. 

I admit, I watched the first Tennant episode just to see if this was something I'd like and loved it and then went back and watched all of Nine. I think that's why I didn't appreciate him the first time around, I was anxious to get back to Tennant. But I know knowing the back story of Rose is important before you get to Tennant. 

I adore Matt Smith -- I think I self identify with him a bit more than Tennant which is why he's my favorite. Don't get me wrong, Tennant is amazing but Smith is MY Doctor.

anjemon

Yay Dr Who!

We started with the 2000's episodes and just watched on Netflix. I don't know if they do anything differently. Because of the nature of the show and the fact that it was off the air for awhile, the reboot in 2005 is a good place to start. They know there are people who aren't filled in on the backstory and they start to work it in. There are some places that are more impactful if you're more familiar with the series, but it didn't stop H and I from enjoying it. So I would start at the reboot.

I haven't ever seen any of the 1960's episdoes, so I'm not a good resource. But I have heard that a lot of the beginning ones are hard to get into. It was very campy and aimed at kids in the beginning and the production values aren't very good. So I've been told it's better to go back and watch them after you already like the show. But that's all second hand.

NowIamMrsKlein

mrscomposer said:

SoontobeMrsKlein said:

arrippa said:

bethsmiles said:

mrscomposer said:

YAAASSS Doctor Who.  J and I first got interested in each other because of Doctor Who, so I highly recommend it to everyone.  Start with Eccleston.  It's cheesy as all get out in some spots, but once you're in you're in.  Tennant is magnificent.  Matt Smith isn't my favourite, but that's more because Amy drives me nuts.

It's rainy and chilly here today.  I think it should be a Doctor Who night.

I couldn't stand Amy but so many of my Doctor Who friends love her. She really got on my nerves.

I only could stand Amy because I loved Rory. It was worth being annoyed by her so I can watch him.

Agreed. Rory is by far my favorite character. 

My favourite companions list is as follows: Rose & Donna tied for first, Rory, Captain Jack, Clara.  The end. 

So J and I had just FB friended each other last year right before Impossible Astronaut day.  Well, April 23rd rolls around and my cousin posts a picture on my wall of herself covered in tick marks with her finger over her mouth going 'shhh.'  So I sent one back with tick marks all over my arms, saying 'spoilers!'  J saw the pictures, and next time we saw each other, he made sure to wear his 'bowties are cool' tshirt.  That was the night he asked me out.  Two dates later, he came over to watch Doctor Who and we decided we were dating.

His cufflinks said Bowties are Cool.  And my garters had TARDIS and bowtie charms on them.

I was JUST looking into Tardis Garters! and Tardis Cake toppers. Definitely want to find a way to sublty incorporate it into the wedding. FI got me into watching the show, we were long distance for a year and a half and we would have long distance dates and watch the show together. So it's definitely special to our relationship too.

anjemon

Adding: When H and I first watched Dr Who (he was just BF then) Netflix had all the Christmas movie/episodes. They are either in order  when watching instantly or easy to figure out which one comes next, because we had it figured out no problem. 

@wandajune6 - There are "Christmas Specials" that usually occur between seasons. They are in universe/timeline and often important to the overall story. I wouldn't skip them, but if you're having trouble figuring out what's next I'd google. Or ask us

hellosweetie1015

SoontobeMrsKlein said:

mrscomposer said:

SoontobeMrsKlein said:

arrippa said:

bethsmiles said:

mrscomposer said:

YAAASSS Doctor Who.  J and I first got interested in each other because of Doctor Who, so I highly recommend it to everyone.  Start with Eccleston.  It's cheesy as all get out in some spots, but once you're in you're in.  Tennant is magnificent.  Matt Smith isn't my favourite, but that's more because Amy drives me nuts.

It's rainy and chilly here today.  I think it should be a Doctor Who night.

I couldn't stand Amy but so many of my Doctor Who friends love her. She really got on my nerves.

I only could stand Amy because I loved Rory. It was worth being annoyed by her so I can watch him.

Agreed. Rory is by far my favorite character. 

My favourite companions list is as follows: Rose & Donna tied for first, Rory, Captain Jack, Clara.  The end. 

So J and I had just FB friended each other last year right before Impossible Astronaut day.  Well, April 23rd rolls around and my cousin posts a picture on my wall of herself covered in tick marks with her finger over her mouth going 'shhh.'  So I sent one back with tick marks all over my arms, saying 'spoilers!'  J saw the pictures, and next time we saw each other, he made sure to wear his 'bowties are cool' tshirt.  That was the night he asked me out.  Two dates later, he came over to watch Doctor Who and we decided we were dating.

His cufflinks said Bowties are Cool.  And my garters had TARDIS and bowtie charms on them.

I was JUST looking into Tardis Garters! and Tardis Cake toppers. Definitely want to find a way to sublty incorporate it into the wedding. FI got me into watching the show, we were long distance for a year and a half and we would have long distance dates and watch the show together. So it's definitely special to our relationship too.

I didn't know these were things. I am going for it.

I did know about the cake toppers though. I'm trying to figure out how to make it work.

wandajune6

Wow. This is a very popular subject!

I'll start with the first season of the reboot. This seems like an easy decision. I'll probably watch on Prime since the specials fit in there nicely.

Can't wait!

jacques27

Start with the reboot.  However, I'm going to say you should not start with Season 1, Episode 1 if you're looking to really understand why this show is so beloved.  I know it's a little unconventional and it might confuse you, but there are a few episodes that are just outstanding standalone episodes that make the show worth the time and effort.  I would start with those episodes, which should get you properly hooked, and then go back and start from the beginning (of the reboot that is). 

Must see episodes:
Blink (S3, Ep 11)
Midnight (S4, Ep 10)
The Girl in the Fireplace (S2, Ep 4)
Love & Monsters (S2, Ep 10)

I would also maybe add The Eleventh Hour (S5, Ep1)  and The Girl Who Waited (S6, Ep 10).  But I would definitely watch Blink and Midnight, and then start the series from the beginning.

mrscomposer

hellosweetie1015 said:

SoontobeMrsKlein said:

mrscomposer said:

SoontobeMrsKlein said:

arrippa said:

bethsmiles said:

mrscomposer said:

YAAASSS Doctor Who.  J and I first got interested in each other because of Doctor Who, so I highly recommend it to everyone.  Start with Eccleston.  It's cheesy as all get out in some spots, but once you're in you're in.  Tennant is magnificent.  Matt Smith isn't my favourite, but that's more because Amy drives me nuts.

It's rainy and chilly here today.  I think it should be a Doctor Who night.

I couldn't stand Amy but so many of my Doctor Who friends love her. She really got on my nerves.

I only could stand Amy because I loved Rory. It was worth being annoyed by her so I can watch him.

Agreed. Rory is by far my favorite character. 

My favourite companions list is as follows: Rose & Donna tied for first, Rory, Captain Jack, Clara.  The end. 

So J and I had just FB friended each other last year right before Impossible Astronaut day.  Well, April 23rd rolls around and my cousin posts a picture on my wall of herself covered in tick marks with her finger over her mouth going 'shhh.'  So I sent one back with tick marks all over my arms, saying 'spoilers!'  J saw the pictures, and next time we saw each other, he made sure to wear his 'bowties are cool' tshirt.  That was the night he asked me out.  Two dates later, he came over to watch Doctor Who and we decided we were dating.

His cufflinks said Bowties are Cool.  And my garters had TARDIS and bowtie charms on them.

I was JUST looking into Tardis Garters! and Tardis Cake toppers. Definitely want to find a way to sublty incorporate it into the wedding. FI got me into watching the show, we were long distance for a year and a half and we would have long distance dates and watch the show together. So it's definitely special to our relationship too.

I didn't know these were things. I am going for it.

I did know about the cake toppers though. I'm trying to figure out how to make it work.

This was my garter set <CLICK>.  I got her to switch the 'you're next' charm for a bowtie instead.

TrixieJess

Canadian Ladies, do any of you remember that they used to show the old episodes of Dr Who as Children's programming? Or does that make me very old I can't remember but it was either CBC or TVO.

VulgarGirl

wandajune6 said:

I've been hearing about Doctor Who for years but have never watched it. DH is almost done with school and it feels like a good show for shared binge-watching. So a few questions for the group:

1. Do I need to start with the 1960's episodes? Or can I start with the episodes from the 2000s?
2. If I start with the more modern episodes, do I start with the first season? Pick it up anywhere? Or does it matter?
3. What's the best place to watch old episodes? We have Netflix and Amazon Prime but someone once told me that they do something different? Specials maybe? Or additional content?

Thanks!

1. Go ahead and start with the new episodes. You can watch the old ones later.

2. Start with season 1 (refferred to as series one cause that's how brits roll), you'll meet number 9.

3. The ones from the 60s? They can be a little hard to find but my local library has a ton of them. And Netflix has the reboot.

WATCH THEM. BECOME ONE OF US.

redoryx

jacques27 said:

Start with the reboot.  However, I'm going to say you should not start with Season 1, Episode 1 if you're looking to really understand why this show is so beloved.  I know it's a little unconventional and it might confuse you, but there are a few episodes that are just outstanding standalone episodes that make the show worth the time and effort.  I would start with those episodes, which should get you properly hooked, and then go back and start from the beginning (of the reboot that is). 

Must see episodes:
Blink (S3, Ep 11)
Midnight (S4, Ep 10)
The Girl in the Fireplace (S2, Ep 4)
Love & Monsters (S2, Ep 10)

I would also maybe add The Eleventh Hour (S5, Ep1)  and The Girl Who Waited (S6, Ep 10).  But I would definitely watch Blink and Midnight, and then start the series from the beginning.

Midnight is hands down one of my favorite episodes ever. Tennant is so fucking good in it. 

Actually that set of episodes -- from Silence in the Library up through Turn Left -- are all masterful. And now I'm pretty sure I'm having a mini Who marathon when I get home.

Also, for those who love Donna (and who doesn't?), actress Catherine Tate and Tennant did a stage production of Much Ado About Nothing where they played Benedick and Beatrice and it was fabulous. 

http://www.digitaltheatre.com/production/details/much-ado-about-nothing-tennant-tate

arrippa

redoryx said:

jacques27 said:

Start with the reboot.  However, I'm going to say you should not start with Season 1, Episode 1 if you're looking to really understand why this show is so beloved.  I know it's a little unconventional and it might confuse you, but there are a few episodes that are just outstanding standalone episodes that make the show worth the time and effort.  I would start with those episodes, which should get you properly hooked, and then go back and start from the beginning (of the reboot that is). 

Must see episodes:
Blink (S3, Ep 11)
Midnight (S4, Ep 10)
The Girl in the Fireplace (S2, Ep 4)
Love & Monsters (S2, Ep 10)

I would also maybe add The Eleventh Hour (S5, Ep1)  and The Girl Who Waited (S6, Ep 10).  But I would definitely watch Blink and Midnight, and then start the series from the beginning.

Midnight is hands down one of my favorite episodes ever. Tennant is so fucking good in it. 

Actually that set of episodes -- from Silence in the Library up through Turn Left -- are all masterful. And now I'm pretty sure I'm having a mini Who marathon when I get home.

Also, for those who love Donna (and who doesn't?), actress Catherine Tate and Tennant did a stage production of Much Ado About Nothing where they played Benedick and Beatrice and it was fabulous. 

http://www.digitaltheatre.com/production/details/much-ado-about-nothing-tennant-tate

I don't. She was my least favorite companion. I found her annoying and loud.