Doctor Who

[HarMGM]

I liked it apart from the golden arrow resolution, that stretched things too far even in an episode that was supposed to be campy and silly.

Wasn't too fond of it myself but on a rewatch i noticed that there was a bullseye on the part of the ship the arrow hit. A bullseye on the spaceship for god's sake!

On another note. anybody else notice a bit of a resemblance between Ben Miller's sheriff and Anthony Ainley's Master?

[JohnC]

He wouldn't be the first Sheriff to look like that, so I think the Master similarity is just a coincidence.

[WibbleWorldGiddy]

For those wondering about the cut scene

During the fight with the Sheriff, Robin beheads him...but he keeps talking. The robot ship crashed ON him and they rebuilt him (that's why at the final bit of the fight he was talking about being half man half machine. His body picks up the head, reattaches it and they continue

Having seen the episode, I have to admit it's less kid-friendly with the cut. Robin now kills a human being, rather than a robot (I'm guessing the hand in the vat at the end was a T2 reference as well)

Great to see Patrick Troughton appear in the Robin Hood slideshow on the alien ship as well.

[Mr Cochese]

They should, just once, do a historical story where it's not aliens for a change.

[Dimahoo]

It was alright but the Robots have no historical referencing whatsoever. Not a thing. No backstory - or nothing.

Amazed its getting as much praise as it is really.

[Harsin]

They should, just once, do a historical story where it's not aliens for a change.

Or a space one where it turns out it's actually a historical person killing all the people on the space station.

[CarloOos]

It was alright but the Robots have no historical referencing whatsoever. Not a thing. No backstory - or nothing.

Amazed its getting as much praise as it is really.

I think it was just that it had all the hallmarks of an awful episode, but ended up being relatively self-aware and quite enjoyable in spite of everything.

[JohnC]

Why do the robots need to have historical referencing?

[The Liberal Elite]

It was alright but the Robots have no historical referencing whatsoever. Not a thing. No backstory - or nothing.

Amazed its getting as much praise as it is really.

I'm assuming that's supposed to be a mystery at this point. Second group trying to get to the promised land in this series so far, or whatever it was called.

[SeanR]

I'm assuming that's supposed to be a mystery at this point. Second group trying to get to the promised land in this series so far, or whatever it was called.

Professor Yana promised to take the human race to utopia...

[Beitel]

They should, just once, do a historical story where it's not aliens for a change.

Yeah, the story was like pretty much every other historical Doctor Who episode. This episode was luckily a bit more self-aware and that made it such a surprise.

Because, let's be honest here, Doctor Who is in the end mostly just campy bollocks (though Moffat has done his best to change that somewhat): we all know that and go along with it.The series cannot escape it's lack of budget and dodgy plots. It just needs to be fun and that's what made this episode succeed so much.

[Flub]

I'm assuming that's supposed to be a mystery at this point. Second group trying to get to the promised land in this series so far, or whatever it was called.

Specifically the second group of robots trying to get to the promised land. I doubt it's a coincidence.

[Nick R]

Be consistent in your title fonts!

And a few posts below that: from the leaked version of the episode, a clip of the scene that was edited out. "ADR: 'Ow that hurt.'"

(I agree with the comment: "If that's what the leaks looked like, I am astonished that anyone ever thought it was worth watching them rather than just waiting."

[DirkCrisis]

This episode is how Dr Who was in the 80s. Made by lunatics and eccentrics with no real need for a massive story arc and no consideration for the longevity of global distribution and associated merchandising.

Take that anyone who takes Dr Who too seriously!

[Nick R]

Via the same Tumblr I linked to above, I came across this list of classic Dr Who stories recommended to people who've only seen the 2005 series onwards.

http://bohaynowell.tumblr.com/post/95981648891/ok-sorry-if-i-seem-annoying-but-you-clearly-are-a-huge

Firstly, understand that the vast majority of Classic Who is composed of stories that stand almost entirely alone from one another. Cross-story character development is minimal and stories almost never rely on the plots of earlier serials to make sense. Because of this, it’s easy (and recommended!) to jump between Doctors, TARDIS Teams, and production eras as you explore. Unless you’re embarking on some critical venture, watching it all in order is unnecessary and unwise.

Second, keep in mind the original conditions of transmission at the time the stories were broadcast. That doesn’t mean you have to take seven weeks to watch Doctor Who and the Silurians, but watching seven 25-minute episodes - nearly three hours - of the same sets, scripts, and plot elements back-to-back is going to burn you out. Spread longer stories out over a day or two. For shorter stories, like four-parters, break up the episodes throughout a day, slipping meals, walks, or other activities between the parts. There are a handful of stories that are compelling and well-paced enough to be watchable in “omnibus” format, but they’re absolutely the exception.

Third, don’t feel compelled to enjoy stories, companions, or other elements of the Classic Series based on “fandom consensus” or any other such rot. Doctor Who pre-2005 is a very different program from the Revival - in fact, it’s several different programs all through its run.
Lastly, while expanded-universe material is (almost) never necessary, it can often satisfy unexplored topics. The Big Finish Sixth Doctor audios in particular, including The Marian Conspiracy, The Holy Terror, and Jubilee, are far better than anything Colin Baker got to take part in on television.

With all that out of the way, here are some suggestions:

• The Ark in Space. You’d never believe how horrifying green bubble-wrap can be. Four 25-minute parts starring Tom Baker, Elizabeth Sladen, and Ian Marter

• Genesis of the Daleks is simply remarkable. At six 25-minute episodes with more than a few captures-and-escapes it can drag, but even in omnibus format it’s intensely watchable. Tom Baker, Elizabeth Sladen, and Ian Marter.

• The Ribos Operation. Sets up the following five stories of the “Key to Time” season/story arc, introduces Romana I fantastically, and is arguably Robert Holmes’ masterwork. Can drag a bit, though, if watched in a bloc. Four 25-minute episodes starring Tom Baker and Mary Tamm.

• City of Death is never a bad choice. It’s uproariously funny, wonderfully acted, and while the plot barely manages to cohere, you’ll be too caught up in the ride to notice. Four 25-minute parts, available on Netflix Instant in the US. Tom Baker and Lalla Ward.

• The Curse of Fenric. If you want to understand how Doctor Who went from stories like Pyramids of Mars to stories like Rose, here’s your not-so-missing link - it’s got more companion development in 100 minutes than Sarah Jane got in two-and-a-half seasons. The last story produced for the classic series (though not the last aired), it also features stellar guest performances and iconic setpieces you’ve surely seen slyly referenced all over Doctor Who. Benefits from some minor knowledge of Ace from Dragonfire, but you can just read a summary, really. Four captivating (and bingeable) 25-minute episodes starring Sylvester McCoy and Sophie Aldred.

That’s all I got right now. I’m certainly missing/skipping a lot - I’ve only recommended stories from two Doctors, after all - but these are fantastic places to start. Just don’t get hung up on “canon” and pace yourself, and you’ll have a splendid time!

All good suggestions. I’d add a few more, covering other Doctors:

• The Time Meddler — one of the best, and funniest, Hartnell stories
• The Mind Robber — a wonderfully clever metafiction which is to my mind the single best thing the programme ever did.
• The Time Warrior — people usually mention this as the story where the Sontarans and Sarah Jane Smith make their first appearances and where Gallifrey is first named, but in fact it’s worth watching just because it’s funny, and clever, and one of the few truly great Pertwee stories.
• The Five Doctors is a continuity-laden self-indulgent mess, so fans of the recent Moffat era might like it More to the point, it’s fun, it’s meant to be watched in one sitting, and it’ll give a taste of what all the early Doctors are like.
• And Vengeance On Varos, for the single best cliffhanger the TV series ever had.

"Unless you’re embarking on some critical venture, watching it all in order is unnecessary and unwise."

[Sprite Machine]

Too bloody right!

[HarMGM]

This reminds me of something else I quite like about New Who: the fact that most of the fans tend have a bigger interest than other fandoms in revisiting the older series. It always stands out to me when looking at the fans of Nolan's Batman piss over the 1960's TV show and Abrahams Trek piss over the older Star Trek shows.

[Plissken]

The Five Doctors is a continuity-laden self-indulgent mess, so fans of the recent Moffat era might like it

That pisses me off. Was it really necessary?

Oh yeah, he put a smiley it in, which means he is definitely trying to get away with a twatty statement joking.

[SeanR]

[NEG]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eV5jAHxhXJY

[Death's Head]

one of the few truly great Pertwee stories.

[Davros sock drawer]

It's true. The Pertwee era is generally terrible.

[Teabag]

I used to love it (almost all the early VHS stories I got were Pertwee adventures) but I saw the Daemons recently and he just comes across like a bullying prick.

[DirkCrisis]

It's true. The Pertwee era is generally terrible.

Yet Daemons is one of my favourite stories with the exception of the comedy last 2 minutes.

[Davros sock drawer]

I could barely get through the Daemons. It's basically 4 episodes of an annoying howling wind sound, and some fuzzy outside footage.

And yes, Pertwee's Doctor is rarely a nice man.

[Death's Head]

That's why I like him! Yes, the story may well involve seven episodes of being captured, escaping, being recaptured, escaping etc. but as long as Pertwee's on the screen I'm guaranteed gold. Double-gold if it's a Delgado story as well.

[Davros sock drawer]

They're practically all Delgado stories!

[Teabag]

I really wanted the bespectacled Unit engineer to go postal and shoot the Doctor and the Brigadier as soon as the force field came down. Episode 3 is pretty much just Pertwee standing there going "You're a TWAT! You're a TWAT!"

[Mr Cochese]

It could be quite good for the modern series if they cut the budget again and had to shoot it as all Earth-bound stories n Surrey.

[Lag]

Surrey is too expensive, Wales is cheap.