classic who story recommendations

Cybermen from "Tomb of the Cybermen" [BBC]

As word slowly gets out at work that I'm a "Doctor Who Fan" I have been approached a few times by various coworkers about trying to watch the original run of the series. The format is incredibly different so I can understand how people would approach with trepidation. The stories progress more slowly because of the serialized format, and the visual presentation is borrowed (especially in the 60s) from more of a theatrical than filmic presentation.

So a few years ago I came up with a list for my Tumblr followers to check out with a story recommendation for each Doctor. I admit I'd make different recommendations now:

• First Doctor: “The Aztecs." While the first story ("An Unearthly Child"/"100,000 BC") is important as it introduces the Doctor, Susan, Ian, and Barbara, the Aztecs is one of the finest stories of William Hartnell’s era. Here we finally see glimpses of the Doctor we get to know and love in his later incarnations; one that is compassionate, open-minded, and a participant rather than strictly observer.


• Second Doctor: “The Mind Robber." Someone suggested “The War Games," but that story is so sad as it’s Pat Troughton’s last as the Doctor and the departure of Jamie and Zoe. I like “The Mind Robber" because it has a complex plot, interesting and morally-ambiguous enemy, references to classic and sci-fi literature, and some clever plot twists.


• Third Doctor: “The Green Death." This is one of the finest of the UNIT era, as we see Jo depart and the Doctor really emote at the loss of a companion. It also takes place partly in Wales, which (as you may or may not know) is the current home of production of Doctor Who.


• Fourth Doctor: “The Deadly Assassin." A completely companion-less episode, and a fantastic showcase of Gallifrey, its politics and internal rumblings, and the return of a fantastic foe.


• Fourth Doctor: “The City of Death." Because Tom Baker was around for so long it seems fitting to suggest a second episode. This was the first episode to be shot on location outside of the UK, in this instance Paris. Romana II and the Doctor share the screen with some famous British actors including Julian Glover (of Star Wars and Indiana Jones fame), Catherine Schell, and a cameo by John Cleese (from the Monty Python crew). This episode was written by Douglas Adams, famous for his Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy book series.


• Fourth/Fifth Doctors: “The Keeper of Traken"/"Logopolis"/"Castrovalva". This is a three-story arc revolving around the regeneration of the Fourth Doctor into the Fifth. We meet two new companions, see the Master return to form, and find the Doctor for the first time completely dependent on his companions for survival.


• Fifth Doctor: “The Caves of Androzoni." The Fifth Doctor’s regeneration story, directed by Graeme Harper, the only director from the Classic series to also direct episodes of the new series ("Rise of the Cybermen"/"Age of Steel", “Army of Ghosts"/"Doomsday", “42", “Utopia", “Time Crash", “Planet of the Ood", “The Unicorn and the Wasp", “Turn Left", “The Stolen Earth"/"Journey’s End", “The Waters of Mars").


• Sixth Doctor: “The Two Doctors." Here we find the Sixth Doctor and Second Doctor working together, trying to unpack the reason behind the attack on a space station by the Sontarans.


• Seventh Doctor: “The Curse of Fenric." The Seventh Doctor and Ace arrive in WWII era Britain at a navel installation, and find that a commander is using military technology to decode Viking runes and unlock the power of Fenric, and ancient evil creature.


• Eighth Doctor: “Doctor Who: The Movie." We only see the Eighth Doctor in the Fox/BBC co-produced made for television movie. While the story isn’t the greatest, Paul McGann’s Doctor is wonderful, charming, fun, eccentric, and worth seeing if only to experience his take on the Doctor.

My updated recommendations:

• First Doctor: "The Time Meddler." While the Aztecs really shows the Doctor's growth, The Time Meddler shows more of the direction the show would ultimately take, especially in the new series. Vicki comments on how interference can change history, something that they really never shut up about in the new series, but rarely addressed in the classic. Also, the clues laid in to what's happening are very clever and there's some great payoff in episode 4.


• Second Doctor: "The Tomb of the Cybermen." This story is like a second pilot episode. As Pat Troughton's Doctor introduces Victoria to the TARDIS, we also get a chance to learn about the Doctor, the TARDIS, and their exploits. Jamie is now truly a second in command, and his report with Victoria and the Doctor makes it really feel like they're in it together, not just stowaways on a time machine. The Doctor also clearly knows more about the situation than he is leading on, which I absolutely love.


• Third Doctor: "The Ambassadors of Death." I typed "Spearhead From Space" first but I feel like everyone has seen that. It's entirely on film, it's the Third Doctor and Liz Shaw's introduction, it has UNIT and The Brig, etc. Ambassadors of Death is just a cooler story. It feels so 70s and I love it. There is a lot of intrigue and speculative SF aspects to it as well.


• Sixth Doctor: pretty much any part of "Trial of a Time Lord." Two Doctor is a pretty stupid story, though the interaction of Colin Baker and Pat Troughton is fun. But the Trial of a Time Lord season is actually pretty good. Its a bit timey-wimey too, with the introduction of Mel. And there's plenty of Time Lord fancy dress to go around.

I'd be interested to hear if anyone else has story recommendations for Doctors. I think the next step in a good recommendation guide is one for the baddies! Like… how great The Tenth Planet's version of the Cybermen look. So creepy.