The Doctor Who Primer
Two long-time fans share their views on how to jump into the world of The Doctor
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So You Want to Watch Doctor Who
We have been long-time fans of the BBC series Doctor Who and it is one of our favorite shows. Over the years, people who have not seen the series have asked us for recommendations on how to start watching the show. With the Classic series (1963-1989), the Revival series (2005-2022) and a new Modern series (2023-present), all with stories spanning multiple episodes there is a lot of material to sort through. To give people a good start on Doctor Who in general, we developed two lists of episodes for the Who curious.
The Doctor Who Primer are stories that allow the someone who has never seen the series to jump into the Doctor Who Universe. These stories introduce the concepts and story types you will see.
If you like what you see after watching the primer stories, move on to the Doctor Who Foundation. These are stories we feel best represents each incarnation of the Doctor. Keep in mind that this is a small sampling of all the Doctor Who episodes and is limited to the BBC television episodes. There is a much larger world of Doctor Who with novels, comics, audio plays, fan fiction, and much more.
The Doctor Who Primer
The Eleventh Hour - Revival Series 8 Episode 1
This is a great introduction to the series in general as it introduces a new Doctor and shows who he is and what he does. The episode has action, comedy, and just a bit of horror. Something for everyone.
"Box falls out of the sky, man falls out of the box, man eats fish custard! And look at you...just sitting there."
The City of Death - Classic Series 17 Episodes 5-8
Written by Douglas Adams, City of Death will give you a good impression of the Classic Series. The production values are not what modern audiences are used to, but the fast moving plot and location filming in Paris make up for the old fashioned film/video combinations.
"I suppose the best way to find out where you come from is to find out where you're going, and then work backwards."
The Fires of Pompeii - Revival Series 4 Episode 3
A very good introduction to a "historical" story. Some of the actors in this episode also go on the play main characters in later series.
"Pompeii. We’re in Pompeii. And it’s Volcano Day."
Terror of The Autons - Classic Series 8 Episodes 1-4
Terror of the Autons introduces The Doctor's long term nemesis The Master and references some of their background. This episode also includes U.N.I.T, a United Nations defense group that The Doctor works with.
"You are incorrigibly meddlesome, Doctor, but we’ve always felt that your hearts are in the right places."
Eve of the Daleks - Revival Series 13 - Episode 7
The Daleks are almost more famous than Doctor Who and our primer would not be complete without at least one Dalek episode. Eve of the Daleks is a good introduction to the series greatest monsters and also includes a clever time-loop inspired plot.
"Congratulations. The most evil creature in the universe has successfully vanquished an old door."
An Unearthly Child - Classic Series 1 Episodes 1-4
This episode is where is all began. Although it introduces The Doctor, it does not explain much of the background of the character. However, it is a great example of how the series always reaches for the boundaries of what could be done on television at the time. Consider this your graduation test. If you want to continue watching the series after this story, you have become a true Doctor Who Fan.
"Fire will kill us all one day."
The Doctor Who Foundation
You've watched the Primer episodes and want more! These are our favorite stories for each Doctor.
William Hartnell - Dalek Invasion of the Earth
Classic Series 2 Episodes 4-9
The TARDIS lands in London at a future time when the Daleks have conquered the Earth.
An epic, sprawling story of survival in a post-apocalyptic world. Our top pick of all episodes.
Patrick Troughton - The Invasion
Classic Series 6 Episodes 11-18
The Doctor and his companions meet and old friend defending the earth against alien invasions.
The introduction of U.N.I.T and a very 1960's styled story. An excellent example of how animation is used to complete stories with missing episodes.
Jon Pertwee - The Daemons
Classic Series 8 Episodes 21-24
U.N.I.T and The Doctor investigate supernatural events in the village of Devil's End.
A highlight of the Pertwee era and the best Master episode.
Tom Baker - The Talons of Weng-Chiang
Classic Series 14 Episodes 21-26
The Doctor and Leela find themselves in a Victorian penny dreadful music hall mystery.
A great story but complicated by some racist tropes of the time.
Peter Davison - The Caves of Androzani
Classic Series 21 Episodes 17-20
The Doctor and his new companion are infected by a poison and must find a cure in the midst of a corporate war.
The best story of the Davison era Voted #1 Doctor story in the Doctor Who Magazine Top 200 Poll conducted in 2009.
Colin Baker - Revelation of the Daleks
Classic Series 22 Episodes 12-13
The Doctor and Peri attend a funeral for a friend, but find a sinister plot to take over the galaxy.
A horrific story of a toxic recycling program and a more toxic workplace.
Sylvester McCoy - Battlefield
Classic Series 26 Episode 1-4
Morgan Le Fey arrives in the modern world for the final battle with Merlin.
Knights and Wizards and U.N.I.T, Oh My!
Paul McGann - Doctor Who: The TV Movie
After a forced regeneration, The Doctor must recover his memories and stop the end of the universe on New Year's Eve 1999.
The Doctor's first screen kiss. Oh, the scandal. Eric Roberts as The Master, who gets more flamboyant as the story rolls on.
Christopher Eccleston - The Empty Child & The Doctor Dances
Revival Series 1 Episodes 9-10
While searching for a crashed intergalactic ambulance, The Doctor and Rose meet a shady Time Agent during the Blitz.
"Are you my Mummy?"
David Tennant - The Girl in the Fireplace
Revival Series 2 Episode 4
The Tardis crew find a derelict spacecraft with clockwork technology and time portals into 18th Century France.
"I just snogged Madame Pompadour!"
Matt Smith - The Doctor's Wife
Revival Series 6 Episode 4
The TARDIS is captured and trapped in the body of a human. Written by Neil Gaiman.
"I like biting. it's like kissing but with a winner."
Peter Capaldi - Listen
Revival Series 8 Episode 4
The Doctor attempts to track down The Man Who Wasn't There.
"Why do we talk out loud when we know we're alone?"
Jody Whitaker - Kerblam!
Revival Series 11 Episode 7
The Doctor receives a call for help from an unexpected place.
"That's the problem with conspiracies. There's so much to think about."
David Tennant - The Star Beast
2023 Special 1
The Doctor has regenerated into an old face and the first person he meets is that last person he wants to see.
"Here we go again."
Ncuti Gatwa - The Devil's Chord
Modern Series 1 Episode 2
The Doctor and Ruby meet The Beatles at their first recording session but find a interdimensional being has stolen all the music from the world. They will need to save the universe with a little help from their friends.
"There is always a twist at the end".
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