For Want of Not Taking over A Thread-Help on Classic Doctor Who-Ask for Help
Within 2-3 weeks, I will have finished New Who and all of its episodes.
Which means I will have to go to Classic Doctor Who. Starting with the 2nd Doctor, who defined the show. However, I need to now what Serials to avoid. From Radio Dead Air, I already have a list of some:
Definite “Do Not Watch”:
Invasion of the Dinosaurs (3rd Doctor)
Horns of Nimon (4th Doctor)
Castrovalva (5th Doctor)
Time Flight (5th Doctor)
Warriors of the Deep (5th Doctor)
The Twin Dilemna (6th Doctor)
Delta & the Bannerman (7th Doctor)
Flawed but Watchable:
Terror of the Vervoids (6th Doctor)
Time and the Rani (7th Doctor-Inaugural Serial)
Doctor Who and the Emeney Within (8th Doctor)
Flawed but Awesome:
Revelation of the Daleks- a-Sir Kickass, aka Orsini ;b- A sonic weapon of concentrated Rock and Roll; this I have to see. (6th Doctor)
If anyone has any other Turkeys to add to the pile, please note so in the comment section. I also encourage the same for those who want defend one of the above stories, or demote one from the flawed columns to the absolutely avoid column. I call out to all Whovians on Little Green Footballs and otherwise.
And a Bonus! What is in my twisted little head.
And as a bonus, I will give me list of favourite Doctors and Companions of New Who.
All of them the multi-story ones.
Starting with the Doctors:
11th Doctor (Matt Smith)- A madman with a box. My Doctor. I adore this version. He’s manic and high energy, a thinks at mile a second. This makes him incredibly easy to watch, at least in my case. He also does a very good job at coming across as not-human. In addition, the way he treated is companions was better than his predecessor, and was overall very likable.
9th Doctor (Christopher Eccleston)- A Very Close Second for me. If he had stayed on another season or two, he likely would be catapulted above Smith’s portrayal. This Doctor was a more sullen and morose one than the 11th, coming right out of the Time War. However, to see his character progress was heartwarming, and he had a real heart of gold underneath the broken exterior. This is Queen Elizabeth’s favourite Doctor, and for very good reason. Her Majesty has very good taste.
10th Doctor (David Tennant)- For me, the most problematic. I certainly got into the high energy a bit, and he was my first Doctor (The Impossible Planet/The Satan Pit were my first episodes). However, he had a very real tendency towards sumg and aloof to his companions, which can be seen most clearly with the treatment of Mickey Smith and Martha Jones. In addition, his pining for Rose got old about halfway through Series 3. He talked down to his companions the most of all of the Revival Doctors. And the one most prone to acting in a morally questionable manner (Daleks in Manhattan/Evolution of the Daleks). David Tennant is great, but the way the 10th Doctor behaved makes him the least of the Revival Doctors. Expect him to sink to the middle of the rankings as I see classic Who.
Companions:
Clara “Oswin” Oswald- My favourite companion. A woman whose dream in life is to travel, with her 101 Places to See. Probably one of the most powerful female companions we have had, as she made the Doctor wait for her, and only travels with him one day a week. However, very loyal to him, and he is to her. Also sharp as a tack, quite able to out-think and outwit the Doctor, as evidenced in The Crimson Horror when she figured an issue before the Doctor. Leadership is also in supply, as she was able to command a small military unit in Nightmare in Silver, and got much of her out alive. This episode also showed that she has not been completely awed by the Doctor. She trusts him, but knows that he figures things out as he goes. Sacrificed herself at the Season Finale, but Doctor jumped into his timeline to save her. From statements at the end of the episode, I conclude she is now a Human Gestalt. Her trick of not falling in love has likely not worked, as the 11th and Clara keep poking, kissing, and cuddling each other.
Rory Williams- The Lone Centurion. Has loyalty that cannot be matched. He stood and protected his Dead Wife for over 1,800 years. Also, sacrificed himself to save the Doctor. He, like Clara, respects the Doctor, doesn’t put him onto the pedestal so many previous companions have. Almost fearless. He is very quick to adapt and adjust plans, and is quite capable of being a competent fighter when need be.
Wilfred Mott- Donna’s grandfather. Was great companion in his own right, willing to sacrifice for and protect the Doctor. The pride he had in the Doctor was beautiful, along with the bravery to shoot a Dalek with Paintball Gun. Was quick to criticize the obnoxious actions of his daughter, and support his Granddaughter in her adventures. A old man made of heart-warming.
Brian Williams- Like son, like father. Quite willing to question the Doctor, but on quite friendly terms with the Doctor. Always prepared and meticulous, as seen in the “Power of Three”
Sarah Jane Smith- A blast from the past. Quite an intelligent lady, able to figure out there was an issue at the school quite quickly. Still very much loves the Doctor and his loyal to him after many years. Is quite able to let bitterness of departure go. Brilliant, she was able to help jury rig a plan to contact the Doctor and Raised an adopted boy as a single mother, and led a team of High-Schoolers in investigating Alien Shenanigans on Earth. With Jack, came up with a plan to use the Warp Star in her possession as a self-destruct device. Very protective of the Doctor, her son, and her team.
Strax- I almost count him, Vastra, and Jenny as one big “Paternoster Gang” on this list, but they are individuals, so they get individual treatment. Strax is a barrel of laughs. Also quite loyal to the Doctor, and quite willing to stand against his bullshit, as seen in The Snowman. A member of a clone race has become quite a distinct character.
Vastra- Leader of the Paternoster Gang. A Silurian, she marks the first time we have seen a recurring Silurian Character. Again, quite loyal to the Doctor, as evidenced by the fact she was there for him after the loss of the Ponds and River Song. In addition, also unwilling to take the Doctor’s BS, and after testing Clara’s Victorian Incarnation, helped her in knocking the Doctor out of his state. Massively devoted and protective to her wife Jenny, as well as recognizing how talented Jenny was. A good leader, she was able to use the skills of Strax and Jenny perfectly, as shown in The Crimson Horror.
Jenny- Another friend of the Doctor’s within the Paternoster Gang. Loyal to the Doctor, accepting her task of going into Sweetville, a fortified, dangerous location with out a hitch. Quite able to think on her feet, she improvised a plan to infiltrate Sweetville by causing a distraction. Additionally, a very competent fighter, knocking three aggressors to the floor in that episode lickety-split. Between Jenny, Clara’s smashing a control with a chair, and the actions of Ada (the mistreated daughter of the antagonist), The Crimson Horror was the Women Violence-ing the Shit out of Stuff Show. Also willing to challenge the Doctor. After getting a hard “thank-you” snog from the Doctor, she slapped him so hard I am shocked he didn’t regenerate then and there, showing loyalty to her wife Vastra to boot.
Jack Harkness- A man who cannot die (or can he?). Started off as a conman desperate to know what happened in part of his memory that is missing. Becomes much better over time. Always prepared for every circumstances, sometimes uncomfortably so. Quite the Casanova, he’s still quite polite most of the time, treating friends very well, and can win anyone’s heart. Loyal to the Doctor to the point of waiting for hundreds of years for him and holding on to the TARDIS through the Time Vortex. A leader, he can quite competently command Torchwood, and was quite able to come up with plans on the fly, such as holding the Daleks hostage by threatening to blow the Crucible with a Warpstar.
Amy Pond- The Girl Who Waited. How she ended up left behind twice sucked, and was sad. However, she made sexual advances towards the Doctor while engaged to Rory, and had a habit of being nasty towards Rory. Thankfully, this mellowed out over time, and she had a huge penchant for being able to hold her own against the Doctor and opponents they faced. Also, in the end, when forced to choose between Rory and the Doctor, she chose her Husband. Heartbreaking, but poetic.
Martha Jones- A bit obsessed with trying to win the Doctor’s romantic affections. However, she was quite competent in her own right, and did deeply care for him otherwise. Willing to travel the Earth to save both the planet and her Doctor. Left the 10th Doctor as she quite clearly knew he would not see her as more than a shadow of Rose.
Craig Owens- A truly ordinary man. Just wanted a normal life, and the Doctor has introduced him to a weird, awesome world. Very friendly to the Doctor. Very loyal to his wife, and later child, in both cases his want to be normal and love for another overpowering the villains in the end. Wish we could see more of him.
Donna Noble- Started off as incredibly annoying in the “Runaway Bride.” Got better as time went on, but certainly had an attitude uncommon among companions. Was quick thinking, able to rebuke a greedy CEO on the nature of the Ood very quickly, and capable of challenging the Doctor and his aloofness in regards to others. However, she was loyal to him, and was exactly what he needed. A best mate. Her fate was gut-wrenching to the point of tears. She shows a distinct issue with this list. None of these companions were bad per se.
Mickey Smith- Like Martha, constantly pining after someone, this time Rose. However, he proved to be loyal to the Doctor, and eventually learned and accepted that he and Rose would be separate from one another. Become quite the fighter in his own right, and later married Martha. His flaw was his flatness as a Character, as he never appeared on screen enough for a full characterization. However, he was the earliest Companion to not fully take the Doctor’s shit, and did challenge him. Him and Jack Harkness later formed a bond.
Rose Tyler- Certainly a loyal companion, willing to do anything to be with or save the Doctor, and quite willing to step up to the plate when needed, as seen in Fear Her and the Satan Pit. However, had a real tendency to be petty, as seen in Love and Monsters, as well as frequently neglecting Mickey Smith, to the point he got fed up and went to another universe.
River Song- The least good of the New Who Companions. Most of the issue here is the bizarre characterization. We never see the romance that caused her and the Doctor to marry, and it was made to seem like destiny than anything else, and her smug persona never helped matters. However, she was loyal to the Doctor, willing to die for him in her end, and caring towards her successor in the seat of companion (and maybe more), Clara. Also willing to realize that her and the Doctor fed negatively on one another, and that they should not be constant companions. Also challenged the Doctor on how his actions have created massive amounts of fear, and other faults of his.
And that is the end of this installment.