DogAndPanda: Suggested starting episodes for Doctor Who
This guide is intended as a summary of some good introductory episodes for a newcomer to the British science-fiction television series Doctor Who. It only really refers to the original run of the series, from 1963-1989. It is presented in chronological order of episodes.
The Daleks
This was only the second serial in the series, and was apparently nearly not made, because of an aversion to BEM (bug-eyed monsters). This serial is particularly notable for the suspense leading up to the introduction of the Daleks in the first few episodes, and stands as pretty good mainstream children's science fiction.
The Sensorites
The Doctor and friends encounter a race that communicates with their minds, who are having problems with poisoning on their home planet, and have some reason to hate humans.
The Time Meddler
The Doctor encounters another member of his race trying to manipulate Earth's history in ways he believes are better. I find this episode very enjoyable to watch - the interactions between Peter Butterworth (the monk) and William Hartnell (the Doctor) being particularly well done.
The Tomb of the Cybermen
This Patrick Troughton (the second doctor) episode was long thought lost, and was also long a fan favorite (for those who had seen it when it originally aired). This is the only whole serial from the Troughton era that is not from his last season, and has everything you could want from a Dr Who serial - good acting, interesting plot, cybermen, humor...
Carnival of Monsters
This (Jon Pertwee) episode finds the Doctor trapped in a sort of portable intergalactic zoo.
Some over the top zoo-keeper/carnies and the Doctor's outrage at the treatment of species here are highlights.
The Deadly Assassin
The Doctor (Tom Baker) returns to his home planet to try and stop an assassination, during which time he joins up with the Matrix - a simulated reality for which simulated death equals actual death.
City of Death
Another Tom Baker episode, written by Douglas Adams (and others), which could best be taken as comedic science fiction. If comedic science ficion is your thing, this is the place to go.
New Beginnings (Logopolis, Castrovalva)
The final series of serials which mark the transition from Tom Baker to Peter Davison. If you have a lot of time to invest, this would be a good place to start. The first serial (The Keeper of Traken) serves to introduce the Master again, the second - a plot to take control of the universe's entropy, and the third - a walk through an MC Escher drawing.
Four to Doomsday
The Doctor (Peter Davison) comes across a mysterious ark, on which abducted humans seem to live forever.
The Mark of the Rani
The Doctor (Colin Baker) finds a fellow time traveller interfering with the Ludite riots in England. This episode has some very good actor chemistry among the three pro/antagonists.
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