The Classic Doctor Who Thread – Spoilers?

[Zombie Jim Undead]

I thought it might be nice to have a thread dedicated to classic Doctor Who – i.e. Doctors 1 to 8.

You know…to discuss the whos, the hows and the wherefores.

The good stories, the shite, the classics, the fluffs, the eye-patches…

It struck me yesterday that there’s so many stories I haven’t yet seen. Watched Horror of Fang Rock over the weekend for the first time. Pretty good…though it was a while since I’d seen a classic story and it struck me just how long and drawn out it was.

Left me thinking how much better it would have been as a single 45 minute episode.

What does everyone else think of the classic series? Are you a fan? Or in your estimation does it all begin with Eccleston?

[TheLeen]

The only classic Who I’ve seen so far is something very old, some 6 parts of 15 minutes each or so, with a computer brain hypnotising people and a woman with a nice hairdo and the abomination of a name of Dodo.

It was… fun… but also… not.

I intend to watch more classic Who once I run out of the modern episodes.

Oh and also I want to watch that film with the eighth Doctor. Because I think I find Paul McGann (from 15 years back anyway) a bit hot. Granted, I know only the one mugshot. Also, I nearly typed “Gannon” there in the place of “McGann”! XD

And I have that Five Doctors special thingy on DVD, but haven’t watched it yet.

[Arlene Rimmer BSc SSc]

“Pirate Planet”, Marleen. “Pirate Planet”, “Pirate Planet”, “Pirate Planet”. It’s wonderful. The Doctor is wonderful in it, Romana is wonderful in it, K9 is pretty good in it. And the Captain chews scenery in such an endearing way…

Hell, anything from the Key to Time series (even “Power of Kroll” is good for riffing on) is worth seeking out, but seriously. Fucking “Pirate Planet”. “City of Death” ain’t bad either, for Romana II. Also, just about any story featuring Leela of the Sevateem. She kicks so much ass. (Note to self: Rewatch “The Invisible Enemy”, “Image of the Fendahl” and/or “The Sunmakers” at some point. Am I weird for liking those? Sometimes it seems like I’m the only one on the interwebz who likes “The Sunmakers”, for instance…)

[Zombie Jim Undead]

I like the Sunmakers! Leela is ok, though it’s quite obvious in a lot of stories that Tom doesn’t like her.

It also annoys me that she uses no contractions in her speech – i.e. “does not” instead of “doesn’t”…

Nice idea but it grates after a while.

A for other stories favourite….. I love Day of the Daleks…though nobody else seems to like it. City of Death is indeed a classic… Genesis of the Daleks, The Mind Robber, the Sea Devils, Carnival of Monsters…

Marleen, sounds like you were watching “The War Machines” – it’s ok but not a great example of the classic era.

[Andrew]

Marleen, over-exposure to this thread may seriously contaminate your Who-virginal brain!

[TheLeen]

Sigh. Okay, I’m off then… preserving my relative Who-virginity.

[cliff]

The Classic Series is Cliff’s Heroin, but if you are encroaching in to ‘Whovian’ territory you must be aware of the following:

Paul Mcgann, Colin Baker and Sylvester Mccoy are to Whovians what RD Series 7 and 8 is to Dwarfers.

…Here endeth the lesson.

CLIFF.

[Zombie Jim Undead]

Oooh, controversial!

I don’t mind Doctors 6, 7 or 8.

6 is definitely the weakest, though he had his moments. He’s very good in the audio adventures (although whether they count or not is open for debate)…

7 is good but had some duff stories… same with 8. Yay, we hardly knew him.

For me, Tennant is best. Closely followed by Tom Baker….or Troughton. Least favourite? Hartnell.

[Jonathan Capps]

> Paul Mcgann, Colin Baker and Sylvester Mccoy are to Whovians what RD Series 7 and 8 is to Dwarfers.

What a load of old cock.

[Zombie Jim Undead]

Well, I wouldn”t go that far. Baker and McCoy were certainly much derided at the time…but have had something of a renaissance in fan opinion more recently.

Still can’t make head nor tail of Ghost Light, mind.

[Ian Symes]

Paul Mcgann, Colin Baker and Sylvester Mccoy are to Whovians what RD Series 7 and 8 is to Dwarfers.

No, they fucking aren’t. You might have a point if you said that the seasons they were in are comparable to VII and VIII, but the actors certainly aren’t. Especially McGann, who is held in very high regard, despite the rubbishness of the TVM. But really, opinions are so polarised about everything Who-related that it’s impossible to generalise.

[James]

I’m still loving the classic Series more than the New Who, even though it has it’s moments. The original has so much depth, brilliant writing and The Key to Time is the best story arc in the history of tv! But not just that, an entire string of actors that moved and took the Doctor forward in their own way. I have 50 released dvd’s of the classic Series and they never get old. It’s maybe because I watched Who when it wasn’t classic, it was new never been seen before and you DID hide behind the sofa and it Did give you nightmares. Personally my experience was much greater back then, than the new now. But I’m sure the children of today will say the same in 30 years.

[Dave]

>Paul Mcgann, Colin Baker and Sylvester Mccoy are to Whovians what RD Series 7 and 8 is to Dwarfers.

Get out.

>?Here endeth the lesson

You have nothing to teach us.

[Ben Paddon]

Saw some very dodgy-looking bootlegs of the Fox TV Movie at Comic-Con this weekend just gone. Incredibly dodgy. Good thing I already have my copy.

I wonder if the rights concerning the film’s US release will ever get sorted out? It seems like now would be a good time to do it, what with the success of the new series.

[Arlene Rimmer BSc SSc]

>It also annoys me that she uses no contractions in her speech – i.e. ?does not? instead of ?doesn?t??

Nice idea but it grates after a while.

It’s especially frustrating because they let Leela have some real flashes of genius in some stories. (“Image of the Fendahl” has a particularly good moment where the Doctor is blathering on and on and on about how the monsters have a weakness to sodium such-and-so and nobody knows quite what he’s talking about, and Leela explains for him: “Salt kills it”.) But the next story would knock her right back to “me Leela, you Doctor, ungawa”. On the bright side, at least all the writers could agree that she kicked lots of ass.

Classic Doctor Who seems to have been really good at writing interesting, intelligent, reasonably competent female characters who know how to do more than run and scream. (Well, from “Spearhead from Space” onwards, at least. I have my doubts about some of the companions for the first two Doctors, altho’ I admit I need to find out more about them.)

[Zombie Jim Undead]

The female companions of the first 2 doctors were a bit lacking in the brains department…but then again so were the boys.

Actually..thinking about it, the very first female companions – Susan and Barbara – were very bright, being a time lady and school teacher respectively.

Was watching “The Invasion” last night. The animated episodes are really wonderful and I’d forgotten how good the story is.

Lovely to hear that they’re going to reanimate the other missing stories.

[John Hoare]

Actually..thinking about it, the very first female companions – Susan and Barbara – were very bright, being a time lady and school teacher respectively.

Absolutely.

I think most of the accusations that the portrayal of the assistants is sexist in old Who is *way* overstated – much as it is with many Bond girls, for that matter.

Lovely to hear that they?re going to reanimate the other missing stories.

Are they? Last I heard, 2 entertain couldn’t make it financially viable, and I don’t think the BBC are interested currently…

[Zombie Jim Undead]

Ah, yes… you’re quite right. I glimpsed a news story in the Guardian the other week and it was somewhat misleading.

Found it online too:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2008/jun/26/bbc.doctorwho

It’s just about fan attempts to reanimate old episodes. Doubt they’ll ever see the light of day.

Such a shame.

I also wish they’d animate some of the McGann CDs. Was listening to Time of the Daleks last night. Great story…but was thinking how much stronger it’d be with a visual element.

[Zombie Jim Undead]

Just realised just how many stories I’ve yet to see. I’ve seen all of the following…can anyone suggest any other stories that I should watch?:

Unearthly Child,
The Daleks,
The Aztecs,
Dalek Invasion of Earth,
The Web Planet,
The Chase,
The War Machines,
The Tenth Planet,

Power of the Daleks (well, a reconstruction),
Tomb of the Cybermen,
The Mind Robber,
The Invasion,
The Seeds of Death,

Spearhead from Space,
Inferno,
Claws of Axos,
The Daemons,
Day of the Daleks,
The Sea Devils,
The 3 Doctors,
Carnival of Monsters,
Planet of the Daleks,
The Green Death,
Death to the Daleks,
Planet of the Spiders,

Ark in Space.
Sontaran Experiment,
Genesis of the Daleks,
Pyramids of Mars,
Android Invasion,
Hand of Fear,
Deadly Assassin,
Face of Evil,
Robots of Death,
Talons of Weng Chiang,
Horror of Fang Rock,
The Sun Makers,
Ribos Operation,
Pirate Planet,
Destiny of the Daleks,
City of Death,
Shada (what there is of it)
The Leisure Hive,
Logopolis,

The Visitation,
Earthshock,
Time-Flight,
King’s Demons,
5 Doctors,
Resurrection of the Daleks,
Caves of Androzani,

Vengeance on Varos,
Mark of the Rani,
The 2 Doctors,
Timelash,
Revelation of the Daleks,

Remembrance of the Daleks,
Greatest Show in the Galaxy,
Ghost Light,
Curse of Fenric

[Ian Symes]

Definitely the New Beginnings boxset – The Keeper of Traken, Logopolis and Castrovalva.

[Andrew]

> Definitely the New Beginnings boxset – The Keeper of Traken, Logopolis and Castrovalva.

Ooh, seconded! And the Key to Time boxset, too. (Even though you’ve already seen Logopolis and The Pirate Planet respectively.)

Also Survival – McCoy’s last – is very good. Oh, and The Brain of Morbius.

[Tanya Jones]

I liked Black Orchid, but can appreciate it’s not to everyone’s taste. The Unicorn and the Wasp is very similar to it.

[pfm]

Armageddon Factor, Androids of Tara, all of the other stories from that ‘Key To Time’ season. I love them all, even though I KNOW parts are quite blatant in their cheesy shitness. The Keeper of Traken, most certainly. Terror of the Zygons. There’s a few Cybermen ones you haven’t seen too (granted, they’re not that good…but FFS for completion!) And what about the McGann TVM?? Just don’t forget to cover your eyes and ears.

[Zombie Jim Undead]

Thank you everyone for the suggestions. I’ve just ordered meself the New Beginnings box-set. Think the reason I’ve stayed away from stories of that specific era is that I saw the Leisure Hive a little while ago and found it…depressing. Tom Baker seemed so pissed off and the story was a mess.

Have seen the TV Movie, of course. Forgot to include it on the list. I used to love it but watching it recently…hmmm.

There’s loads that’s naff…but I like the McCoy bits, McGann is great and I like the direction during the final confrontation when the Doctor is wearing the “crown of thorns”.

I really need to see more Cybermen stuff…but as you say performingmonkey….they don’t have a good reputation!

[Tanya Jones]

I enjoyed the TVM, but found myself in hysterics at the Master’s coat. Seb wasn’t impressed :)

[Zombie Jim Undead]

Watched the Keeper of Traken night before last. Fantastic stuff…Tom Baker seems to be giving it one final push and is actually very good. Adric is also pretty good (never really understood the hatred of his character)…and the whole thing has a really nice feel.

Re-watched Ghost Light last night, for the first time on DVD. Christ, it’s a mess. What’s really infuriating is that having watched the making-of feature, it has a REALLY good and clever story underneath it all…but there’s just not enough pieces of the jigsaw presented to let you piece it all together. It’s just needlessly under-explained. An utter waste.

Oooh…yes, almost forgot to mention – I bumped into sylvester mccoy the day before yesterday! He was coming out of a restaurant in Belsize Park. He had an umbrella despite the fact that it was a sunny day.

[Dave]

I saw Sophie Aldred in Edinburgh today. I tried to give her a flyer for our show, but she was with her kids and assked if the show was suitable so I said yes but only for kids that like swearing and Nazis

[Dave]

I saw Sophie Aldred in Edinburgh today. I tried to give her a flyer for our show, but she was with her kids and assked if the show was suitable so I said yes but only for kids that like swearing and Nazis

[Seb Patrick]

See you in ten minutes?

Also : awesome. Although I would have lied purely to get her to go. I also probably would have attempted to get off with her, though, so it’s probably a good job you’re not me.

Also :

[Dave]

>See you in ten minutes?

Whoops.

[Ben Paddon]

I have the Comic-Con exclusive “Time Trash” set with the Tenth Doctor in the blue suit and purple shirt, and the Fifth Doctor with the celery.

What do I win?

[Seb Patrick]

The hatred of loads of people on Outpost Gallifrey who are annoyed that a set built around a BRITISH charity special was only available to AMERICANS. And indeed that Americans should get any kind of exclusive figure when the show gets approximately a tenth of the viewing figures over there. Boooooooo.

I’m just waiting for wave two, anyway. It would appear that the figures (which are mostly all sold out already – well, the Doctors are, anyway) are doing well enough to warrant it, and McCoy and McGann are already promised for that wave…

[Ian Symes]

Is there some sort of law against making figures of dead people? Because I’m sure Pertwee and Troughton are far more iconic than Baker (C), McCoy and McGann.

[Zombie Jim Undead]

I haven’t even seen those figures in any shops yet! I’d snap them up if I did.

Mind you…I haven’t got ANY Doctor in figure form yet. Just Rose, K9, a Dalek and a Cybermen.

They’re here on my desk, look – *points*

[Zombie Jim Undead]

What do you reckon this is?:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/DR-WHO-FIGURE-THE-FACELESS-MAN_W0QQitemZ130244446960QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item130244446960&_trkparms=72%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14.l1318

I’m guessing an Auton but can’t really tell.

[Seb Patrick]

Ian : Pertwee’s also mooted for wave two, I think (I’m just more excited about McCoy and McGann figures). Troughton and Hartnell likely to follow in wave three, should it get that far.

Jim : you’ll be lucky. The reason you’ve probably not seen any is that most places sold out of them pretty much within the first day or so. Even the official CO site has sold out of Colins…

[Ian Symes]

Yeah, that’s just an Auton.

[Zombie Jim Undead]

Did anyone get into the 8th Doctor audio dramas? Listened to the Chimes of Midnight last night…and was blown away by it. It’s truly Human Nature / Blink levels of awesome.

[Ben Paddon]

I’ll have to check that one out. I’ve only listened to a couple of the audios.

[Jonathan Capps]

> Listened to the Chimes of Midnight last night?and was blown away by it. It?s truly Human Nature / Blink levels of awesome.

Oh, hear hear! Rob Shearman doing Doctor Who Comedy fucking perfectly, there. That story would make an absolutely perfect Christmas special, but instead they seem to be using the setting to adapt The One Doctor for this year, which is LESS GOOD.

[Technopeasant]

I am surprised how little people bring up how bloody horrid the TARDIS crew are when they first encounter Vicki in “The Rescue”. They literally show up randomly, shoot her dog, and then gaslight her for being upset about it.

[January 10, 1965] A Little Breather (Doctor Who: The Rescue)

[Ben Kirkham]

Aah, classic Doctor Who, my heart will always truly be with you ❤️ 

[Technopeasant]

William Russell has died at age 99, literally weeks after I finished my Season 2 Bluray set.

Hopefully they recorded stuff for a Season 1 set, even if that shit with An Unearthly Child probally prevents it for the forseeable (and what to do with Marco Pollo…).

I am hoping they do a Season 6 set since all they need is to fix up The Space Pirates, unlike the rest of Troughton’s seasons.

[Formica]

[Formica]

he ate the chicken that turns you into lister for a frame

[Technopeasant]

he ate the chicken that turns you into lister for a frame

[Nick R]

As opposed to the Lister who turns into a chicken for a frame: 

[Warbodog]

[Technopeasant]

Watching Mawdryn Undead.

[Spare Hand One]

Alright Whovians. I’m very curious about this little conundrum.

Listening to an old Dwarfcast last night, Ian or Capsy mentioned a website called Dalek 6388, which saught to track down every Dalek model from the TV series.

I sought it out today and it’s gone, baby, gone. So sad.

Anyone have fond memories of this site and the guys’ work? Anyone know what happened to it?

A snapshot from the WayBack Machine from 2024:
https://web.archive.org/web/20241228185947/https://www.dalek6388.co.uk/

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