Important Doctor Who stories

izlear · Sep 17, 2004

What would be a viewing list of stories for people who are not very familure with Doctor Who. I say Tomb of the Cybermen is a must as well as the five doctors and maybe parimids of mars. What are some more?

Leovinus · Sep 17, 2004

1) Genesis of the Daleks 2) The entire "Key to time" series <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

wmdragon · Sep 17, 2004

I'm eager to revisit Dr Who, but have yet to find a place to rent the videos. I will keep this list in mind, thanks <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> The only laws of matter are those which our minds must fabricate, and the only laws of mind are fabricated for it by matter. --- James Clerk Maxwell </div>

a_lost_packet_ · Sep 17, 2004

Dr. Who Question: Ok. I've never watched more than a few minutes of a Dr. Who episode. I'm familiar with some of the "aliens/whatevers" in some of the stories just because Dr. Who info runs around in many Sci-Fi Fanzines. (I used to subscribe to Starlog years ago. <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" />) But, the thing is, I know almost nothing about what "Dr. Who" is about. So, I'd like someone to give me a Readers Digest Condensed Version of the basic "Dr. Who" back-story. What is it about? How do they get around all the different "Dr. Who" actors? Who are the protagonists and why? What motivates the stories? I've always considered Dr. Who to be somewhat.. silly. Sorry, I know that is terrible pre-judgement. Maybe it has something to do with the costumes. However, so many people are "die-hard" fans perhaps there is something to this "Dr. Who" phenomenon that I might enjoy. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> I put on my robe and wizard hat... </div>

Leovinus · Sep 17, 2004

Dr. Who FAQ Tip #1: It's bigger on the inside than the outside <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

Leovinus · Sep 17, 2004

Dr. Who #4 on The Simpsons: <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

CalliArcale · Sep 17, 2004

<blockquote>In reply to:<hr />I've always considered Dr. Who to be somewhat.. silly.<hr /></blockquote> Nothing wrong with that. <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /> "There's no point in being grown-up if you can't be childish sometimes." - the Doctor, "Robot" There are two major reasons why Doctor Who has that atmosphere: 1) Low budget. It received the same funding the BBC gave to soap operas, which usually only had one or two sets, no special effects, and could get their costumes off the rack at any store, or even ask the actors to bring their own. Doctor Who had to stretch that same budget to cover not only actors, production staff, and scripts, but also to cover special effects, a lot more costumes, and considerably more sets. 2) It's really a kid's show, which is why it used to air on Saturday afternoons. (Oddly, American PBS stations rarely seem to realize this, and often run it very late at night.) The scares and surprises are meant to send five-year-olds running for cover behind the sofa. This is why despite it being comparatively tame, it did earn its fair share of complaints about excessive violence. This is also part of the reason for the Doctor-Companion relationship, and why so many of the companions are only in their teens. They're meant to be someone for the kids to identify with. The occasional laughs and the techniques for exposition are also geared towards children. Doctor Who also borrows heavily from the British panto tradition. Panto is a style of theater aimed at children with heavy melodrama and a fair bit of silliness. Most Americans find it difficult to understand, but the fact that it's aimed at children really explains a lot of it. So Doctor Who probably seems a lot less silly to Brits than to Americans, simply because Brits are more likely to be used to the atmosphere of it. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "People assume that time is a strict progression of cause to effect, but actually from a non-linear, non-subjective viewpoint it's more like a big ball of wibbly wobbly . . . timey wimey . . . stuff." -- The Tenth Doctor, "Blink" </div>

wmdragon · Sep 17, 2004

It's really a kid's show, which is why it used to air on Saturday afternoons. really? some of the ancient images I remember from that show are a bit creepy, part of hte reason I want to see the show again. those Brits! <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> The only laws of matter are those which our minds must fabricate, and the only laws of mind are fabricated for it by matter. --- James Clerk Maxwell </div>

CalliArcale · Sep 17, 2004

Important stories....wow. There are lots. How about presenting episodes in collections geared towards some crucial element of continuity? I'm going to omit unavailable episodes and those with only a brief passing reference to the particular item. DALEK EPISODES The Daleks The Dalek Invasion of Earth The Chase The Power of the Daleks Day of the Daleks Planet of the Daleks Death to the Daleks Genesis of the Daleks Destiny of the Daleks Resurrection of the Daleks Revelation of the Daleks Remembrance of the Daleks GALLIFREY EPISODES OR EPISODES INVOLVING TIME LORD HISTORY The War Games The Three Doctors The Brain of Morbius The Deadly Assasin The Invasion of Time Shada (reconstructed to fill in unfinished portions) Arc of Infinity The Five Doctors Trial of a Time Lord (if desired; it's quite long) Remembrance of the Daleks CYBERMAN EPISODES (sadly, several crucial episodes are lost) The Tenth Planet (unfortunately, this is a heavily reconstructed episode) The Tomb of the Cybermen The Invasion Revenge of the Cybermen Earthshock Attack of the Cybermen Silver Nemesis REGENERATION EPISODES (where the Doctor regenerates or recovers afterwards) The Tenth Planet The War Games Spearhead from Space Planet of the Spiders Robot Logopolis Castrovalva The Caves of Androzani The Twin Dilemma Time and the Rani FOX movie "Doctor Who" EPISODES WITH THE MASTER Terror of the Autons The Mind of Evil The Claws of Axos Colony in Space The Daemons (this and the above are a solid season of the Master!) The Sea Devils The Time Monster Frontier in Space The Deadly Assassin The Keeper of Traken Logopolis Castrovalva Time-Flight The King's Demons The Five Doctors Planet of Fire The Mark of the Rani The Ultimate Foe (fourth <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "People assume that time is a strict progression of cause to effect, but actually from a non-linear, non-subjective viewpoint it's more like a big ball of wibbly wobbly . . . timey wimey . . . stuff." -- The Tenth Doctor, "Blink" </div>

CalliArcale · Sep 17, 2004

<blockquote>In reply to:<hr />really? some of the ancient images I remember from that show are a bit creepy, part of hte reason I want to see the show again. those Brits!<hr /></blockquote> Like I say, they did get complaints! But obviously they got more compliments than complaints. <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /> Kids can stomach more horror than we tend to think. One example was at the end of I think the third episode of "The Deadly Assasin". The Doctor is fighting for his life with the Master's crony (in the interests of not ruining it for anybody, I won't divulge the identity of this crony, who is also the titular assasin) in an unreal swamp created in the dreamworld of a massive computer called the Matrix. (Yes, the Wachowski brothers swiped the name!) The bad guy gets the upper hand and dunks the Doctor's head underwater. The Doctor thrashes around, unable to breathe, and then they go to the credits with viewers unsure of the Doctor's fate. (Though of course we all know he'll live, right?) Actually, the whole of Part Three is pretty violent, with the Doctor and this other guy basically trying to kill each other. EDIT: If you're looking for creepy episodes, those produced by Philip Hinchcliffe have a particular notoreity for being creepy. He brought a strong gothic element to the series. ("The Deadly Assasin" was one of his.) I'll have to compile a list of good horror episodes. <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "People assume that time is a strict progression of cause to effect, but actually from a non-linear, non-subjective viewpoint it's more like a big ball of wibbly wobbly . . . timey wimey . . . stuff." -- The Tenth Doctor, "Blink" </div>

CalliArcale · Sep 17, 2004

These episodes are just a few with a nice touch of horror in them: The Tomb of the Cybermen (because what isn't creepy about being turned into a Cyberman?) The Daemons (a devil-worshipping cult is reviving a Daemon, proving that demons are real after all) Terror of the Zygons (people are mysteriously vanishing, and Nessie may be real after all) Pyramids of Mars (if you're looking for classic creepiness, it really doesn't get any better than walking mummies) The Brain of Morbius (very cheezy; this is heavily inspired by Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein: the Modern Prometheus") The Seeds of Doom (carnivorous plants take over people on their quest to conquer and devour everything on Earth) The Masque of Mandragora (a creature made of energy stows away in the TARDIS to travel to Renaissance Italy, where its human servant awaits, leading a devil-worshipping cult to prepare for its arrival) The Hand of Fear (a disembodied hand found in a quarry controls people's minds to bring it into a nuclear reactor, where it will be reborn) The Deadly Assasin (let's face it; the horribly decayed Master is creepy enough all by himself to make this episode scary) The Robots of Death (the android servitors always seem calm and content -- sort of like HAL when he killed the crew of the Discovery in "2001") The Talons of Weng-Chiang (borrows heavily from "The Phantom of the Opera" and also Sherlock Holmes; young ladies are disappearing, and there's a vampiric mad scientist hiding beneath a theater) Image of the Fendahl (yet another story involving devil-worshippers who inadvertently aid an alien terror) The Stones of Blood (this one has a four-thousand-year-old goddess and vampire boulders, and it doesn't get better than that!) State of Decay (vampires!) Terminus (in the far future, a disease similar to leprosy causes its victims to become pariahs, and t <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "People assume that time is a strict progression of cause to effect, but actually from a non-linear, non-subjective viewpoint it's more like a big ball of wibbly wobbly . . . timey wimey . . . stuff." -- The Tenth Doctor, "Blink" </div>

wmdragon · Sep 17, 2004

your episode descriptions brought back some specific memories: The Seeds of Doom - seeds found in the Antartic no? (nod to The Thing?) creepy creepers The Masque of Mandragora - just remember sparking ball of light frying a peasant with a pitchfork The Talons of Weng-Chiang - was there a giant rat in the sewers? eeeew! <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> The only laws of matter are those which our minds must fabricate, and the only laws of mind are fabricated for it by matter. --- James Clerk Maxwell </div>

izlear · Sep 17, 2004

The general idea is that the Doctor is a time lord from the planet Gallifrey. He is tired of the rules of his society, that they will not help or interfere as they call it other places. He leaves in a stolen, broken Time machine called a TARDIS (Time And Relitive Dementions In Space) Basicly the BBC was not done with the series when the first actor wanted to leave so they developed the concept of regeneration. When the doctor dies he simply changed apearance (tissue make up) and maybe personality but he was the same person same mind same memories. The doctor has traveled through time and space to protect all that is right fighting cybermen Daleks etc... This is brief but I'll write more later

izlear · Sep 17, 2004

These are all great stories but what stories are good for people who may not be familure with Dictir Who... to get them hooked

JonClarke · Sep 18, 2004

Ah the memories!!!! They are rerunning the good doctor where I am from the earliest episodes. It is interesting how the styles have changed. The scripts of the first doctor were generally fairly clunky, with the second the started to improve, and the third and fourth doctor were excellent. Towards the end of the fifth doctor they began to deteriorate again. What is the appeal? For me having several hours to develop each story and character rather than 40 minutes is a definite plus. There are some interesting SF ideas in many of the episodes, some excellent dialogue and characterisation. The female companions was generally very pleasant and many of them were far from the stereotypical bimbos and played a keyrole in the stories. My favourites were Liz, Jo, Sarah, Leela and Romana (both of them), Nyssa wasn't bad either. Cheers Jon <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> Whether we become a multi-planet species with unlimited horizons, or are forever confined to Earth will be decided in the twenty-first century amid the vast plains, rugged canyons and lofty mountains of Mars Arthur Clarke </div>

quasar2 · Sep 21, 2004

Was "Inferno" (Pertwee era) the one where there was alternate reality, except for The Doctor? This similar to the Trek original series "Mirror, Mirror". & i`d imagine both were taken from "It`s A Wonderful Life". <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

CalliArcale · Sep 22, 2004

Yes, that's "Inferno". I don't know that it's a ripoff of "It's a Wonderful Life", though. I suspect the concept predates "It's a Wonderful Life". In any case, it's become a bit of an archetype of science fiction -- what would the world be like if one particular event were changed, or if one particular person weren't in it? The most blatant rip-off of "It's a Wonderful Life" that I've seen on a sci-fi show was the series finale of "Highlander: the Series". It was a two parter: "To Be" and "Not to Be". Duncan MacLeod fulfills the Jimmy Stewart role, and the Clarence role is portrayed rather amusingly by Hugh Fitzcairn (played by Roger Daltrey -- the character was killed off fairly early in the series, but this only seemed to increase his popularity and he came back many times in flashbacks). <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "People assume that time is a strict progression of cause to effect, but actually from a non-linear, non-subjective viewpoint it's more like a big ball of wibbly wobbly . . . timey wimey . . . stuff." -- The Tenth Doctor, "Blink" </div>

JonClarke · Sep 22, 2004

Inferno was one of the best, I especially like the 1984 ambience of the alternate world. Genesis of the Darleks was also very good too, as was the key of time series. Meanwhile, back on the small screen, the good doctor has just returned to Peladon.... Jon <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> Whether we become a multi-planet species with unlimited horizons, or are forever confined to Earth will be decided in the twenty-first century amid the vast plains, rugged canyons and lofty mountains of Mars Arthur Clarke </div>

earth_bound_misfit · Sep 24, 2004

Calli, is this Roger Daltrey the one and same guy, lead singer of the "WHO"? Typed in caps, cos in my mind, one of the best bands under the sun! <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> ----------------------------------------------------------------- Wanna see this site looking like the old SDC uplink?Go here to see how: SDC Eye saver </div>

detriech69 · Sep 24, 2004

One episode I really likes was about this alien from a race called the Jagoroth. He was on Earth before life evolved and became split into several different forms of himself in different times in Earth's past. The Doctor and Romana have to thwart his effort to go back in time and prevent the explosion which caused his fracturing and which also caused the beginning of life on our planet. I have a lot of Doctor Who epeisodes on tape and this is one of my favorites.

JonClarke · Sep 24, 2004

Isn't that "Time flight"? I think Douglas Adams wrote the script for that one. Isn't there a wonderful cameo role by Jon Cleese as an art critic at the end? Or is that another series? The TARDIS is in the Lourve and dematerialises before Cleese and his companion's bemused eyes. Jon <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> Whether we become a multi-planet species with unlimited horizons, or are forever confined to Earth will be decided in the twenty-first century amid the vast plains, rugged canyons and lofty mountains of Mars Arthur Clarke </div>

izlear · Sep 25, 2004

Acually it's city of death. It was the first story taped outside of england. it was done in parris, and some scenes were shot at the louvre. Kinda neat. you're right john clease and douglas adams were both involved

jmilsom · Sep 25, 2004

I thought some of the episodes in the first two seasons of Tom Baker were quite ground-breaking. Introduced a sort of film noire feel: The Seeds of Doom, The Ark in Space, the one with when they realised all the people were androids. I also thought the Jon Pertwee "Carnival of Terror" - is the name right??? The one where they emerge inside the carnival machine. (I have a Dr. Oo on my staff. I asked him the other day if I could look at his Ardis and he just stared at me blankly) /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

CalliArcale · Sep 27, 2004

[qutoe]Calli, is this Roger Daltrey the one and same guy, lead singer of the "WHO"? <hr /> The one and the same! <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /> His character on "Highlander" has a lot of comic relief elements, and he does it superbly. This is probably why his character's prominent death did little to stop his popularity. <img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" /> In order to stay ontopic with Dr Who, Roger Daltrey was at one time considered for a cameo appearance in "Revelation of the Daleks" (with Colin Baker). He was one of several popular rock stars considered for the role of the rather strange DJ at "Tranquil Repose". Ultimately, the role went to a stage actor, as is the case with most Dr Who roles. A rock star would probably have been much too expensive for the series. <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "People assume that time is a strict progression of cause to effect, but actually from a non-linear, non-subjective viewpoint it's more like a big ball of wibbly wobbly . . . timey wimey . . . stuff." -- The Tenth Doctor, "Blink" </div>

quasar2 · Sep 28, 2004

thanks Calli, i missed that one. thot i`d seen all the highlanders. my personal hands-down favorite Dr Who is "Logopolis", even tho i`m just slightly partial to Pertwee. perhaps cuz i`m partial to "Betsy" & Jo Grant. have you ever noticed a similarity between i believe "The Face of fear" or maybe Evil, where he meets Leela, (who `im also partial to) & the film "Forbidden Planet"? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

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