Dr. Who - Where do I begin?

[Thunder Chicken]

Dr. Who enjoys a considerable history among fans of modern science fiction. My mother and sister are really into the latest incarnation of the Doctor. I understand some of the general plot elements such as the TARDIS.

My question is, where do I begin? I am curious to check out Dr. Who as it seems like such a great story line but 50 years of the saga seems too much to delve into. How do I start?

 

[Aeadar]

Personally, I would start with an episode called, "Blink", from a few seasons back(David Tenant as Dr.); a nearly perfectly self-contained time travel story.

Lacking that, just dive in! If you get BBC America, check out some of the Dr. Who documentaries they run(Usually on Saturday evenings).
And welcome!
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If I remember correctly, Blink is from season 3.

 

[Michkov]

You can start pretty much anywhere you want in the new series, most episodes are standalone. Aeadar suggestions is a good one, Blink is one of the best episodes. I can also recommend "Dinosaurs on a Spaceship" or "Vincent or the Doctor".

If you want a more formal approach start with the first episode of the new series "Rose" which is what most people do. Old and new series dont rely on each other do know whats going on. Also there is quite some dead wood in the old serials. That's what happens if you shoot a TV show for 20 years.

 

[Pipcard]

The most recent episodes have had some references to the older series. But watching the older episodes is not required to enjoy the new ones.

 

[ADSWNJ]

That's what happens if you shoot a TV show for 20 years.

:lol: try 50 years instead ... Dr Who has been at it since 1963.

Confirmation what others said though ... start with the modern era, Series 1 Episode 1 (Rose), and you'll get the whole back-story.

 

[PhantomCruiser]

There have been some inside jokes (running gags, whatever...) that have worked themselves into the new series that pay homage to the old. John Simms played an excellent Master, who's an old foe of the Doctor.

The last 3 or 4 episodes of David Tennant's run, there were multitudes of references, but the were there for the die-hard fans and not really important to the storyline (it would actually take a die hard fan to even "get" most of them anyway).

Youtube should still have a short Children in Need special episode available call "Time Crash", where the 5th and 10th Doctors meet, it's pretty good (and funny).

 

[Thunder Chicken]

Thanks for the leads. I'll give it a shot. What an exhausting story line! Amy Pond keeps things interesting, bless her.

 

[80mileshigh]

I grew up on Doctor Who. I'd recommend watching a little of each of the Doctors, in the order that they appeared, starting with William Hartnell. I would specifically recommend starting with the serial The Dalek Invasion of Earth from 1964.

Watching the old episodes you'll get a real feel for the history of the show which is rewarded when watching The post-2005 Doctor.

 

[Thunder Chicken]

This was pretty helpful:

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szHO-wEmvio"]Doctor Who: 47 Years in 6 Minutes - YouTube[/ame]

 

[Ghostrider]

You can start pretty much where you want, although with the new series it pays to start at the beginning of a season and stick with it because there's a story arc.

But by all means give classic Who a chance. Because of massive amounts of brainfail on the part of BBC much of what has been is now lost, but everything from the Tom Baker era onwards survives. There are some "lost" episodes around if you know where to seek.