Where's a good place to start?

[gjnave]

Im totally new to Dr. Who but very interested. Ill ask my questions in a faq format so its easier to read in the future.

 

1) Where is a good place to start? Just go rent any old Dr. Who videos? One thing I dont want to do is spoil the secrets for myself.

 

2)Would you suggest renting a specific doctor? Or does it matter?

 

3) Where are good places to find the videos? Can you rent them? What about the really old ones?

 

4) Also, Id be interested in reading some of the old books; where is a good place to find them and what books inparticular should i look for?

 

thanks! I look forward to the upcoming adventure!

[Guest Mrthumps]

I'll answer what I can and leave the rest to other people. I do suggest you read what everyone says before making a decision rather than just going by the word of one or a few certain members.

 

Im totally new to Dr. Who but very interested. Ill ask my questions in a faq format so its easier to read in the future.

 

1) Where is a good place to start? Just go rent any old Dr. Who videos? One thing I dont want to do is spoil the secrets for myself.

 

I honesty feel it would be best to start with the 3rd doctor(pertwee) as those eps have most of the enemies and some of the more darker and exciting stories. Plus, most of the good enemies appear at least once during this time so it gives you an idea and what you get to look forward to seeing time and again in the news incarnations. Original views amended after a conversation with a fellow who fan

 

The big deal is that they usually reference various enemies and what not form previous doctors so the biggies do pop up in the earlier series and it may be confusing as the doctor would know of these enemy at that time and you didn't.

 

Plus, the earlier runs (1st-2nd doctors) may be a little tricky to find and odds are won't be at your local video store.

 

here's TV.com's Dr.Who page as that has the listing of the various doctors as well as an episode list. Be warned, could be some spoilers there.

 

2)Would you suggest renting a specific doctor? Or does it matter?

 

I started my Who watching at the 4th doctor(Tom Baker) and that didn't really mess me up series wise although when I starting seeing some of the 3rd doctor's shows I found those enjoyable as well.

 

Baker's(Tom Baker aka 4th doctor, not to be confused with Colin Baker the 6th doctor) stories are some of the most popular to fans so that could be a good starting point for you.

 

3) Where are good places to find the videos? Can you rent them? What about the really old ones?

 

Not sure about where you live but some of the major chains of video stores do carry them to rent. Otherwise I suggest you consider buying them online via ebay(especially for the older ones) or another online site. Also, consider trying to find a site or store that sells sci-fi related merchandise as they may also have Dr.who vids or know where you can track them down.

 

I hope this helps you out and good luck and enjoy your who viewing.

[[MM]]

For someone totally new to DW I really would suggest starting from the "new" series of DW.

 

i.e. With Chris Eccelstone's first story and then work up to date.

 

This is because the old DW is just that - OLD , and it shows. This makes them harder to get "into" than the new series (which was made specifically with new viewers in mind).

And frankly a lot of the Hartnell eps weren't that good - nor did they really represent what DW would become over later years. (IMHO)

 

Start with the new stuff :)

It won't really spoil any of the previous stuff since the new series deliberately made a clean start with the stories - the only real things it carried over was the Dr himself and the TARDIS. (oh and that screwdriver thing ;) )

 

The DVD's for the new stuff should be easily available for rent by now - also a bonus over the old series.

 

If you are dead set in starting with the old series I'd suggest going with the start of the Patrick Troughton (the 2nd Dr) stories - a good beginning point for the old show.

 

[MM]

 

[gathererhade]

I agree with Mrthumps. Pertwee is the best place to start re "old" DW.

 

I'd have to disagree with MM, unfortunately, and not go for Troughton, simply because so few of his eps exist (not counting recons and audio CDs).

 

As for getting the DVDs, depends where you are. UK, Australia & NZ should have pretty much everything - OK, Oz/NZ don't have 5 Doctors or the McGann Movie, but should be no problem anything else.

In the Us & Canada, most of the stuff should also be available to buy.

To rent, you can try Amazon (bit pricey for me, though & I buy them all anyway - just picked up the new Cyberhead Tennant boxset from Amazon UK. :-) )

[gjnave]

Thank you guys for all the feedback. Very helpful :D

 

As per obtaining Dr. Whos, is their such a thing as legal downloading of the old shows? Or are they all (even back to the 60's) still copyrighted?

 

Also... i would still like more feedback from other as to where to start.

 

thanks!

[TFMF]

Start from the new (2005) series. I practically started from there (saw very few episodes previously) and have been hooked on the series since - you don't really need any background information to start from there.

 

You could also watch a few random episodes from the older series - it doesn't really matter which order you watch them in. For example - after watching the new series you may want to watch more episodes with Daleks in them - there are plenty older episodes with them (and cybermen) in them that you could watch over. The BBC Classic Doctor Who website has an episode guide covering every episode - you could use that to help you :)

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/classic/episodeguide/

[Megalith]

Tricky question i started with the tom baker era and later watched the jon pertwee dr who and become hooked on pertwee but now i am once again returning to tom baker as the best, troughton was a very good doctor too, but as mentioned a lot of it is non existant except in reconstructed form which isnt as good. as for legal viewing all the doctor who's from jon pertwee onwards are shown on uk gold which they repeat indefinately its on at the moment on friday and saturday nite or saturday and sunday morning. all the dr who can be obtained through other means that might be seen as being illegal to some people like torrent sites. i would suggest watching them via renting, tv or other means before commiting to buying a box set or something. my source of doctor who information is outpost gallifrey btw http://www.gallifreyone.com/ again there are many spoilers on this site but it does contain episode guides for all the doctors and still images from the episodes. Outpost Gallifrey however is being worked on at the moment and not all content is online but it is expected to be fully operational by early december.

 

I am sure many here wish you the best and hope you become a fan.

[gathererhade]

As per obtaining Dr. Whos' date=' is their such a thing as legal downloading of the old shows? Or are they all (even back to the 60's) still copyrighted?[/quote']

 

Definitely copyrighted - just ask Terry Nation's estate... :-)

As I posted before, only legal downloads I'm aware of is Amazon (Unbox I think it's called)

Of course the official BBC site for the old series:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/classic/

has some downloads, mainly promo stuff & extras, but not episodes.

[underscore]

Most noobs seeem to enjoy the tom baker stuff the most, some of the pertwee is a bit cheesy for a casual watcher perhaps. Maybe jump in with some of the classic baker stuff like genesis of the daleks or pyramids of mars or something. Im personally fond of the tomb of the cybermen.

Just my 2 cents worth :)