This year marks the 60th anniversary of my favourite TV show. I personally started watching it a few weeks before my fourth birthday back in October 1988, and love every era of it so far.
In this thread, I'll share some suggestions for stories to check out if you want to dive into the show.
In this thread, I'll share some suggestions for stories to check out if you want to dive into the show.
09:30 AM - Feb 23, 2023
In response to Didymus.
First off: This is a big show.
There are 26 seasons in the original run (1963-1989), a US pilot movie (1996), and 13 series of the modern run (2005-present), plus various specials, spin-offs and related media.
Watching it all can seem daunting. But you don't have to!
There are 26 seasons in the original run (1963-1989), a US pilot movie (1996), and 13 series of the modern run (2005-present), plus various specials, spin-offs and related media.
Watching it all can seem daunting. But you don't have to!
09:32 AM - Feb 23, 2023
In response to Didymus.
Another thing to consider is that there are 97 missing episodes from the early years of the show. All of them exist as audio recordings, and some of them have been recreated with animation, and all of them have either official/unofficial reconstructions out there.
09:33 AM - Feb 23, 2023
In response to Didymus.
But here's the thing: Doctor Who is very much a product of the era it is made in.
The show has never had massive budgets, and this is part of its charm and its curse. And there are cultural attitudes in older episodes that can shock a modern audience.
But good sci-fi is good sci-fi.
The show has never had massive budgets, and this is part of its charm and its curse. And there are cultural attitudes in older episodes that can shock a modern audience.
But good sci-fi is good sci-fi.
09:35 AM - Feb 23, 2023
In response to Didymus.
SEASON THREE [1965-1966]
* The Ark
* The War Machines
(Note: This season is the one most hit by missing episodes so very little survives. If you really want to try a big epic adventure, the 12-part Daleks Master Plan has 3 surviving episodes plus recons and is fantastic.)
* The Ark
* The War Machines
(Note: This season is the one most hit by missing episodes so very little survives. If you really want to try a big epic adventure, the 12-part Daleks Master Plan has 3 surviving episodes plus recons and is fantastic.)
09:39 AM - Feb 23, 2023
In response to Didymus.
SEASON TEN [1972-1973]
* The Three Doctors
* Carnival of Monsters
* The Green Death
SEASON ELEVEN [1973-1974]
* The Time Warrior
* Invasion of the Dinosaurs
* Planet of the Spiders
SEASON TWELVE [1974-1975]
* Robot
* The Ark in Space
* Genesis of the Daleks
* The Three Doctors
* Carnival of Monsters
* The Green Death
SEASON ELEVEN [1973-1974]
* The Time Warrior
* Invasion of the Dinosaurs
* Planet of the Spiders
SEASON TWELVE [1974-1975]
* Robot
* The Ark in Space
* Genesis of the Daleks
09:44 AM - Feb 23, 2023
In response to Didymus.
SEASON THIRTEEN [1976-1976]
* Terror of the Zygons
* Pyramids of Mars
* The Seeds of Doom
SEASON FOURTEEN [1976-1977]
* The Hand of Fear
* The Deadly Assassin
* Robots of Death
SEASON FIFTEEN [1977-1978]
* Horror of Fang Rock
* Image of the Fendahl
* The Sun Makers
* Terror of the Zygons
* Pyramids of Mars
* The Seeds of Doom
SEASON FOURTEEN [1976-1977]
* The Hand of Fear
* The Deadly Assassin
* Robots of Death
SEASON FIFTEEN [1977-1978]
* Horror of Fang Rock
* Image of the Fendahl
* The Sun Makers
09:46 AM - Feb 23, 2023
In response to Didymus.
SEASON SIXTEEN [1978-1979]
* The Ribos Operation
* The Pirate Planet
* The Stones of Blood
(This season has an over-arching story arc but it's loose and if you're that into it, just watch the other three stories too. But they're not great. Sorry about it.)
* The Ribos Operation
* The Pirate Planet
* The Stones of Blood
(This season has an over-arching story arc but it's loose and if you're that into it, just watch the other three stories too. But they're not great. Sorry about it.)
09:47 AM - Feb 23, 2023
In response to Didymus.
SEASON SEVENTEEN [1979-1980]
* City of Death
* Nightmare of Eden
* Shada
[Shada was a story by Douglas Adams which was unfinished due to strike action. A few years ago the BBC used animation to complete the missing segments so you can now watch it in full.]
* City of Death
* Nightmare of Eden
* Shada
[Shada was a story by Douglas Adams which was unfinished due to strike action. A few years ago the BBC used animation to complete the missing segments so you can now watch it in full.]
09:48 AM - Feb 23, 2023
In response to Didymus.
SEASON EIGHTEEN [1980-1981]
* Meglos
* The Keeper of Traken
* Logopolis
SEASON NINETEEN [1982]
* Castrovalva
* The Visitation
* Earthshock
SEASON TWENTY [1983]
* Mawdryn Undead
* Terminus
* Enlightenment
[These three form a trilogy and work well together.]
* Meglos
* The Keeper of Traken
* Logopolis
SEASON NINETEEN [1982]
* Castrovalva
* The Visitation
* Earthshock
SEASON TWENTY [1983]
* Mawdryn Undead
* Terminus
* Enlightenment
[These three form a trilogy and work well together.]
09:49 AM - Feb 23, 2023
In response to Didymus.
If you've got this far, you may as well enjoy the 1983 special The Five Doctors which brings back a lot of former series regulars for a birthday shindig.
Then...
SEASON 21 [1984]
* Frontios
* Resurrection of the Daleks
* The Caves of Androzani
Then...
SEASON 21 [1984]
* Frontios
* Resurrection of the Daleks
* The Caves of Androzani
09:50 AM - Feb 23, 2023
In response to Didymus.
SEASON 22 [1985]
* Vengeance on Varos
* The Mark of the Rani
* Revelation of the Daleks
SEASON 23 [1986]
This season is all one 14-episode saga called The Trial of a Time Lord. Despite its reputation, there's a lot to love about this one, so just dive in and hope for the best!
* Vengeance on Varos
* The Mark of the Rani
* Revelation of the Daleks
SEASON 23 [1986]
This season is all one 14-episode saga called The Trial of a Time Lord. Despite its reputation, there's a lot to love about this one, so just dive in and hope for the best!
09:51 AM - Feb 23, 2023
In response to Didymus.
SEASON 24 [1987]
* Paradise Towers
* Delta and the Bannermen
* Dragonfire
SEASON 25 [1988]
* Remembrance of the Daleks
* The Greatest Show in the Galaxy
* Silver Nemesis
SEASON 26 [1989]
* Battlefield
* The Curse of Fenric
* Ghost Light
And then, there's the Wilderness Years...
* Paradise Towers
* Delta and the Bannermen
* Dragonfire
SEASON 25 [1988]
* Remembrance of the Daleks
* The Greatest Show in the Galaxy
* Silver Nemesis
SEASON 26 [1989]
* Battlefield
* The Curse of Fenric
* Ghost Light
And then, there's the Wilderness Years...
09:52 AM - Feb 23, 2023
In response to Didymus.
There was limited Doctor Who content in the 1990s and early 2000s, but the 1996 TV Movie starring Paul McGann is fun and shows what a US version of the show might have looked like.
The Richard E Grant fronted animation Scream of the Shalka is an interesting curio too.
The Richard E Grant fronted animation Scream of the Shalka is an interesting curio too.
09:53 AM - Feb 23, 2023
In response to Didymus.
From here-on in we're in the modern era of the show. The old format of serialised stories over multiple episodes is mostly abandoned, with only the occasional two parter. TBH you could just watch everything from here, but here's my top pics per series for you if you're in a rush.
09:54 AM - Feb 23, 2023
(Edited)
In response to Didymus.
SERIES ONE [2005]
* Rose
* The End of the World
* Dalek
* The Empty Child / The Doctor Dances
* Bad Wolf / The Parting of the Ways
SERIES TWO [2006]
* The Christmas Invasion
* School Reunion
* The Girl in the Fireplace
* The Impossible Planet / The Satan Pit
* Army of Ghosts / Dooms
* Rose
* The End of the World
* Dalek
* The Empty Child / The Doctor Dances
* Bad Wolf / The Parting of the Ways
SERIES TWO [2006]
* The Christmas Invasion
* School Reunion
* The Girl in the Fireplace
* The Impossible Planet / The Satan Pit
* Army of Ghosts / Dooms
09:58 AM - Feb 23, 2023
In response to Didymus.
SERIES THREE [2007]
* The Runaway Bride
* Smith and Jones
* Human Nature / The Family of Blood
* Blink
SERIES FOUR [2008]
* Voyage of the Damned
* Partners in Crime
* Planet of the Ood
* Silence in the Library / Forest of the Dead
* Turn Left / The Stolen Earth / Journey's End
* The Runaway Bride
* Smith and Jones
* Human Nature / The Family of Blood
* Blink
SERIES FOUR [2008]
* Voyage of the Damned
* Partners in Crime
* Planet of the Ood
* Silence in the Library / Forest of the Dead
* Turn Left / The Stolen Earth / Journey's End
09:59 AM - Feb 23, 2023
In response to Didymus.
SERIES SIX [2011]
* The Impossible Astronaut / Day of the Moon
* The Doctor's Wife
* A Good Man Goes to War / Let's Kill Hitler
* The Girl Who Waited
* The Wedding of River Song
SERIES SEVEN PT 1 [2012]
* Asylum of the Daleks
* Dinosaurs on a Spaceship
* The Power of 3
* The Angels T
* The Impossible Astronaut / Day of the Moon
* The Doctor's Wife
* A Good Man Goes to War / Let's Kill Hitler
* The Girl Who Waited
* The Wedding of River Song
SERIES SEVEN PT 1 [2012]
* Asylum of the Daleks
* Dinosaurs on a Spaceship
* The Power of 3
* The Angels T
10:02 AM - Feb 23, 2023
In response to Didymus.
SERIES SEVEN PT 2 [2013]
* The Bells of Saint John
* Cold War
* The Crimson Horror
* The Name of the Doctor
* The Day of the Doctor
SERIES EIGHT [2014]
* Deep Breath
* Time Heist
* Mummy on the Orient Express
* Flatline
* Dark Water / Death in Heaven
* The Bells of Saint John
* Cold War
* The Crimson Horror
* The Name of the Doctor
* The Day of the Doctor
SERIES EIGHT [2014]
* Deep Breath
* Time Heist
* Mummy on the Orient Express
* Flatline
* Dark Water / Death in Heaven
10:03 AM - Feb 23, 2023
In response to Didymus.
SERIES NINE [2015]
* The Magician's Apprentice / The Witch's Familiar
* The Zygon Invasion / The Zygon Inversion
* Face the Raven / Heaven Sent / Hell Bent
* The Husbands of River Song
SERIES TEN [2017]
* The Pilot
* Thin Ice
* Oxygen
* World Enough and Time / The Doctor Falls
* Twic
* The Magician's Apprentice / The Witch's Familiar
* The Zygon Invasion / The Zygon Inversion
* Face the Raven / Heaven Sent / Hell Bent
* The Husbands of River Song
SERIES TEN [2017]
* The Pilot
* Thin Ice
* Oxygen
* World Enough and Time / The Doctor Falls
* Twic
10:04 AM - Feb 23, 2023
(Edited)
SERIES ELEVEN [2018]
* The Woman Who Fell to Earth
* Rosa
* Demons of the Punjab
* The Witchfinders
* Resolution
SERIES TWELVE [2019]
* Spyfall
* Fugutive of the Judoon
* Can You Hear Me?
* The Haunting of Villa Diodati
* Ascension of the Cybermen / The TImeless Children
* The Woman Who Fell to Earth
* Rosa
* Demons of the Punjab
* The Witchfinders
* Resolution
SERIES TWELVE [2019]
* Spyfall
* Fugutive of the Judoon
* Can You Hear Me?
* The Haunting of Villa Diodati
* Ascension of the Cybermen / The TImeless Children
In response to Didymus.
10:06 AM - Feb 23, 2023
