Doctor Who (Matt Smith)

[Sundae]

I think you've just seen Rose Tyler
And her Doctor is Christopher Ecclestone. Intense man in a leather jacket?
He's the Ninth Doctor. Ideally I wouldn't tell you that he's not the current Doctor, but this thread and the David Tennant thread immediately give it away.

Dana liked him, I was wary.

The episodes are great fun though, and you will be introduced to characters who continue into the next series. In hindsight I loved Ecclestone's series - he brought the Doctor back with a real bang. The series is the longest running science fiction show in the world - going back to 1963. Dana and Wolf might tell you otherwise, but I think you'd be crazy to go back any further than you have already (obviously the very earliest are no longer accessible anyway).

And do NOT watch the Peter Cushing films - they are ridiculous. And worse than that, not even considered canon.

Even if you start with Rose (the episode I think you saw) it's a commitment - that was 2005! Personally, I think it's worth it, because there were long breaks between the series, and the majority are well worth watching. Chill out and enjoy weekly.

ETA. The spoilers here are only really spoilers for people about to watch the new series. Weeks or maybe months behind the UK. You'll not read anything that makes sense to you now. Me, personally, in my own personal opinion... I'd start exactly where you're starting and don't worry about how many you have to go. There are story arcs and stand alone episodes and you can join at any point. So start at the start of a season.

And you have some real treats ahead of you if you start with the Ninth Doctor. Personally speaking.

[DanaC]

Originally Posted by Sundae

I think you've just seen Rose Tyler
And her Doctor is Christopher Ecclestone. Intense man in a leather jacket?
He's the Ninth Doctor. Ideally I wouldn't tell you that he's not the current Doctor, but this thread and the David Tennant thread immediately give it away.

Dana liked him, I was wary.

The episodes are great fun though, and you will be introduced to characters who continue into the next series. In hindsight I loved Ecclestone's series - he brought the Doctor back with a real bang. The series is the longest running science fiction show in the world - going back to 1963. Dana and Wolf might tell you otherwise, but I think you'd be crazy to go back any further than you have already (obviously the very earliest are no longer accessible anyway).

And do NOT watch the Peter Cushing films - they are ridiculous. And worse than that, not even considered canon.

Even if you start with Rose (the episode I think you saw) it's a commitment - that was 2005! Personally, I think it's worth it, because there were long breaks between the series, and the majority are well worth watching. Chill out and enjoy weekly.

ETA. The spoilers here are only really spoilers for people about to watch the new series. Weeks or maybe months behind the UK. You'll not read anything that makes sense to you now. Me, personally, in my own personal opinion... I'd start exactly where you're starting and don't worry about how many you have to go. There are story arcs and stand alone episodes and you can join at any point. So start at the start of a season.

And you have some real treats ahead of you if you start with the Ninth Doctor. Personally speaking.

*smiles*

Actually, the very, very earliest are available. The very first serial was 'An Unearthly Child' with William Hartnell as a strange Edwardian style figure, not entirely trustworthy and not exactly warm. Travelling with him was his granddaughter, Susan.

They'd parked the Tardis in an old junkyard, and the very first thing we see are the gates to Potter's Yard and a policeman walking the beat.

I watched it about two years ago and really enjoyed it. Very different show back then. And a very different character.

I think there's one more complete serial and a few half extant serials. Plus a few odd episodes, a single part of a serial sometimes survived.



@ V: Sounds like you watched 'Rose', which reintroduced the Doctor to TV. Just keep watching from there :p Hell of a journey, but not that much of a commitment when you consider the length of each season. With only 12-13 episodes a season and a Christmas special each year, plus one year where there was no season just four specials, the entire back catalogue of nu-Who equates to an average box set of most American series.

[Sundae]

Originally Posted by DanaC

... not that much of a commitment when you consider the length of each season. With only 12-13 episodes a season and a Christmas special each year, plus one year where there was no season just four specials, the entire back catalogue of nu-Who equates to an average box set of most American series.

I see anything I can't catch up with over a weekend as a commitment, especially as I get burnout if I watch more than three episodes of something back to back. Even something I love like Torchwood or Queer as Folk.

I know YMMV