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Post by nucleusofswarm on May 27, 2022 22:56:04 GMT
Say someone's coming over from NuWho and wants to get into the original. Of course, there's lots of it, so it can be daunting (certainly I've seen that flagged up many times over the years). If you had to recommend a starting point, what would it be?
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Post by mark687 on May 27, 2022 23:27:24 GMT
Power of the Daleks
Spearhead
Robot
All re-aquanaut the viewer the key facts of the show and key supporting characters/reference they would be aware of.
For general flavor of each Doctor
Dalek Invasion of Earth
Tomb of the Cybermen
Terror of the Autons
Prymid of Mars
The Visitation
Mark of the Rani
Remembrance of the Daleks
Regards
mark687
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shutupbanks
Castellan
There’s a horror movie called Alien? That’s really offensive. No wonder everyone keeps invading you.
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Post by shutupbanks on May 28, 2022 0:40:12 GMT
The Ark In Space.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 28, 2022 0:49:12 GMT
I think Power would be a solid choice since a modern audience member would essentially be Ben - unsure if this IS The Doctor they know and like, and over the story they may become more like Polly. Yet the 6 eps may be an issue. As an intro, 2 and a half hours of 60s pace may not be for all.
I also would not pick one I think would be their absolute fave as potentially its downhill from there. A few friends who were Adams fans loved City Of Death and then felt let down by other stories of the season.
I think for a really solid, fun classic story just (but not far) below total classic status, it would be Brain Of Morbius. It ticks a few boxes a New Who fan would be able to anchor with - Sarah Jane, the Sisterhood, Gallifrey mythos, the Doctor they are most likely to know, a combo of horror and dark comedy. And the FANTASTIC Philip Madoc with one of his most fun turns ever.
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Post by grinch on May 29, 2022 11:05:12 GMT
Definitely The Tomb of the Cybermen and Remembrance of the Daleks. I would normally suggest The Mind Robber but as great as that story is it might be a bit too out there for an introductory story.
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Post by nucleusofswarm on Jun 11, 2022 22:48:53 GMT
So some good choices above, but I'll be a little contrarian and say I'd recommend Six's first and Seven's second and third (C. Masterplan) series - S22 has the 45 mins format and emphasis on action closer to NuWho, while the later McCoy series have a lot of the groundwork that would become integral to NuWho's identity. Plus, it has some of the shorter stories, which I think would help those not used to the rhythmn of retro tv.
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Post by mistfall on Jun 13, 2022 13:19:26 GMT
Always thought survival comes across as a pilot episode for nu who.
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Post by Kestrel on Jun 15, 2022 9:05:55 GMT
If they're already familiar with New Who, then Genesis of the Daleks, no question. They get to see the origin story of the most iconic villains, as well as the opening shot (roundabout as it is) of the Last Great Time War. Nevermind Sarah Jane, who they'll remember from School Reunion (or the SJA spin-off), who also happens to be one of the most modern-feeling companions in all of Classic. I can't think of a single other story that would even be half as good of a starting point.
(Oh, and also Tom Baker from the 50th Special.)
Beyond that, or rather after that, I'd point to An Unearthly Child. The full story itself is pretty... not great, but that first episode? Phenomenal. You can easily see why Doctor Who captured the imaginations of a generation and endured as long as it has. It's basically the perfect opener to the series.
And then maybe... Spearhead? Terror of the Autons? I don't remember the title, but whatever Pertwee's first episode was. That was how I first got into Classic Doctor Who, as a fan of New Doctor Who, several years ago. And I was hooked pretty quickly. The 3rd Doctor's era is just... really solid, sometimes quite campy, fun. This is the era that gave us the Brigadier and SJS and the Master... an absolutely incredible time.
I only recently (these last 6 months) gone back to watch the Classic Who I missed (basically a lot of 1/2/6/7). And while a lot of it is excellent stuff, I really don't think I'd recommend much of it to someone unfamiliar with the rest.
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Post by tuigirl on Jun 16, 2022 10:13:48 GMT
Well, as I am a recent convert to Who in general and only have dared to watch Classic a few years ago....
I can give a pretty good account of what did work and what did not.
I first tried some of the absolute classics, Tom Baker.
Horror of Fang Rock- which I thought was amazing. Fang Rock was the very first classic episode which I watched!
Ark in Space is basically Alien with bubble wrap (even the people who made this said so).
I also liked Pyramids of Mars and City of Death.
Some of the other considered Classics took me more time to get into, like Deadly Assassin, which I think took me 3 tries to get into.
I still do not like Genesis of the Daleks, and if I had watched that one first, would have turned be off Classic for sure. I think it is just too dire. I have not re-watched it since.
In general, I have found out that I am just not a big fan of the 4th Doctor era.
Not really my cup of tea.
I am much more at home in the 3rd Doctor era and have nearly all of the 3rd Doctor DVDs. The 3rd Doctor era I think is the era that is somehow closest to NuWho, at least for me.
I love Mind of Evil, Sea Devils, and the interaction of Master, Jo and the Doctor.
I also quite like the 2nd Doctor stories, and started out with Tomb of the Cybermen (which I found a bit dry to be honest), but I am totally amazed by Enemy of the World and War Games.
As for the other classics that were recommended to me as I started out:
1st Doctor:
Unearthly Child- yeah, might be a classic and full of amazing first steps in TV history, but I am no expert and I just did not get into it.
Someone said I should instead try Time Meddler, because that is the first time the Doctor acts as the Doctor we know, and I liked that.
I have not watched yet any other 1st Doctor episodes.
5th Doctor:
Caves of Androzani- yes, this is good, but also VERY hard and difficult to get through, it is hard on one's psyche. Ideal to scare new fans away, to be honest
Generally, I just could not really get into the 5th Doctor era at all, and only very recently, after meeting Davison, appreciated him more in BF.
7th Doctor:
Curse of Fenric I hated, I have re-watched it and am none the wiser what is going on.
However, I really liked Survival.
Funnily enough, NOBODY recommended any Colin Baker episodes to me.
I only warmed up to him with Big Finish.
And for his first TV episode, I went with Two Doctors.
Two Doctors is to this day my favorite classic multi-Doctor story.
It is just fun, with lots of fun vibes and does not take itself seriously.
So what is my recommendation to new fans who want to see Classic episodes?
Ask them what their preferences are.
Do they like horror and goosebumps? Set them off with Horror of Fang Rock. Or another of the 4th Doctor creepy episodes.
Do they like big philosophical questions and are they not afraid of difficult time watching? Genesis of the Daleks, or Fenric, or Androzani.
Do they like fun and games? Time Meddler, City of Death
Grand Adventure with a bit of fun and Games, along the lines of James Bond: Enemy of the World, Pyramids of Mars, Mind of Evil, Sea Devils, Two Doctors (this is MY alley where I like to run around in)
The general recommendation of certain classics without asking what the preferences are can be pretty hit and miss, I do not think recommending Genesis of the Daleks and Androzani as a general point of reference is ideal- it would have scared me away for certain if this had been my first start.
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