Seeing this in my inbox today was kind of creepy... I thought, "so now it's not only Amazon anticipating my thoughts and needs, but Sarah Bessey too!" Just a few days ago I was thinking how much I'd like to try Dr. Who, but then I started poking around the internet and got overwhelmed by the 60-year history and gave up, not knowing the way in. Voila! Sarah to the rescue!
I’m old enough that I grew up with the Fourth Doctor on our local PBS station, and he can be such great fun.
The only modification I’d suggest to your dip-then-dive approach is to include “The End of Time” before the full Eleven run to see how regeneration works, and also because then you get Timothy Dalton’s star turn as Rassilon.
We got hooked in the 70s and Tom Baker remains my favorite Doctor (well, David Tennant is a very, very close second)! With Russell T. Davies back as the show runner, the show once again feels more like how it was intended. Can't wait for the next episode!
Thank you for this wonderful introduction. This reminds me of how much I love The Doctor and need to return. “The Girl Who Waited” just wrecks me if I even think of it. “Heaven Sent” is just mind boggling. Loki gave a bit of a nod to it where he went through a time loop 10,000 times to learn how to do something that only a certain person could know. And now I’m reliving Clara episodes and Doctor Donna and … 🥹
Thanks for being enthralled with this show and for letting us know it’s okay for loving those weird things too. My dad always referred to sci-fi and fantasy as “gross”, which was funny, but hurt because he didn’t see the beauty of the stories they were telling.
November 23, 1963 - I remember that day. I was in grade 6; living in Toronto, Canada; there were light fluffy clouds in a blue, blue sky; and the temperature was mild for late November. It’s etched in my mind because of two major events that happened on that date.
First of all I witnessed on the classroom TV set the shooting of John F. Kennedy in Dallas, Texas. It was this event that froze the above memory in my mind, even today over 60 years later.
Secondly, I got to watch Season 1, episode 1, part 1 of one of the best sci-fi shows - Dr. Who.
Now being able to watch more is just as entertaining and mesmerizing as back then. A new Doctor and Rose is great. I am currently watching the episode “Space Babies,” and enjoying the little ones reactions to adults. I’m sure glad I don’t have to change and diapers. LOL
I remember watching the Fourth Doctor in the 70s when episodes aired in Houston after school and loved it then. So I always have Tom Baker and his scarf in my head. As a result, I was intrigued and recorded the reboot as it became available here on VHS to watch while on the treadmill. And I loved it. I kept going until the episode where Rose was trapped. Other things going on too, but that's when I fell out of watching it regularly. Would still catch an episode here and there. And my youngest daughter and I were at a Comic Con where the Day of the Doctor special was shown in an advance premier. (She was cosplaying Rose Tyler. And Billie Piper came back in that special, though not technically as Rose!) We did watch the four episode special with David Tennant and introducing Ncuti Gatwa and they did a release of Episode 1 along with it. I've been watching and thoroughly enjoying the 15th Doctor so far! And I love Ruby Sunday! Can't wait to see where that goes. Oh, and Neil Patrick Harris as the Toymaker in the special was an utter treat!
This is my sign to start!! I've been wanting to but it seemed so overwhelming. I appreciate you giving methods to "beginning one's love affair with the doctor". Now I have a plan, thanks so much!
As a fellow Doctor Who fan, I loved seeing this email hit my inbox. I agree with you that not everyone needs to start with the 2005 Season 1. I was someone who tried and those farting aliens just got to me and I stopped. Then my sister recommended a handful of s1 episodes (The Empty Child and a few others) to help me get into the stories, and after that I was hooked. But I completely understand people being overwhelmed and I also often recommend starting with s5 (although I will now recommend Vincent and the Doctor first, you're right that it's such a great intro story).
Thank you! I began watching the classics in th 80's beginning with Tom Baker, my Doctor. But have gotten out of the habit of watching for the last several years. I realize The Doctor is what I need right now. I need a sense of an optimistic outlook to life right now. And that seems hard to find for me right now.
Oh bless you! This is just what I needed! I stumbled on to Dr. Who at the very end of Christopher Eccleston's term as The Doctor. And then of course I fell in love with 10th Doctor. I watched through most of the 11th Doctor and then stopped watching for whatever reason. I've been wanting to get back in so this is a perfect door for me. Thank you!
I am so happy with the joy and delight the 15th doctor is bringing! And getting have RTD and Moffat, with writing, again is just ..chefs kiss!! So enjoyable! However, that little twist at the end felt more Disney than Who and I hope they can avoid disneyfying the show.
First of all I certainly smiled when I read your intro "...or essays that are at minimum 80% longer than they need to be!." Re Dr. Who - I may not enlist Sarah but I am very thankful that you demystified the show I have been hearing about for many years. Excellent advice on the options of where to start. Still working through Ted Lasso here and loving that. :)
Yes! Donna's story wrecks me every time - I've never met anyone who wasn't important. (Isn't that divine goodness 🤷🏼♀️)
I 10/10 support doctor who write ups any time ❤️
Seeing this in my inbox today was kind of creepy... I thought, "so now it's not only Amazon anticipating my thoughts and needs, but Sarah Bessey too!" Just a few days ago I was thinking how much I'd like to try Dr. Who, but then I started poking around the internet and got overwhelmed by the 60-year history and gave up, not knowing the way in. Voila! Sarah to the rescue!
😂😇 I live to serve
I’m old enough that I grew up with the Fourth Doctor on our local PBS station, and he can be such great fun.
The only modification I’d suggest to your dip-then-dive approach is to include “The End of Time” before the full Eleven run to see how regeneration works, and also because then you get Timothy Dalton’s star turn as Rassilon.
We got hooked in the 70s and Tom Baker remains my favorite Doctor (well, David Tennant is a very, very close second)! With Russell T. Davies back as the show runner, the show once again feels more like how it was intended. Can't wait for the next episode!
Thank you for this wonderful introduction. This reminds me of how much I love The Doctor and need to return. “The Girl Who Waited” just wrecks me if I even think of it. “Heaven Sent” is just mind boggling. Loki gave a bit of a nod to it where he went through a time loop 10,000 times to learn how to do something that only a certain person could know. And now I’m reliving Clara episodes and Doctor Donna and … 🥹
Thanks for being enthralled with this show and for letting us know it’s okay for loving those weird things too. My dad always referred to sci-fi and fantasy as “gross”, which was funny, but hurt because he didn’t see the beauty of the stories they were telling.
November 23, 1963 - I remember that day. I was in grade 6; living in Toronto, Canada; there were light fluffy clouds in a blue, blue sky; and the temperature was mild for late November. It’s etched in my mind because of two major events that happened on that date.
First of all I witnessed on the classroom TV set the shooting of John F. Kennedy in Dallas, Texas. It was this event that froze the above memory in my mind, even today over 60 years later.
Secondly, I got to watch Season 1, episode 1, part 1 of one of the best sci-fi shows - Dr. Who.
Now being able to watch more is just as entertaining and mesmerizing as back then. A new Doctor and Rose is great. I am currently watching the episode “Space Babies,” and enjoying the little ones reactions to adults. I’m sure glad I don’t have to change and diapers. LOL
I remember watching the Fourth Doctor in the 70s when episodes aired in Houston after school and loved it then. So I always have Tom Baker and his scarf in my head. As a result, I was intrigued and recorded the reboot as it became available here on VHS to watch while on the treadmill. And I loved it. I kept going until the episode where Rose was trapped. Other things going on too, but that's when I fell out of watching it regularly. Would still catch an episode here and there. And my youngest daughter and I were at a Comic Con where the Day of the Doctor special was shown in an advance premier. (She was cosplaying Rose Tyler. And Billie Piper came back in that special, though not technically as Rose!) We did watch the four episode special with David Tennant and introducing Ncuti Gatwa and they did a release of Episode 1 along with it. I've been watching and thoroughly enjoying the 15th Doctor so far! And I love Ruby Sunday! Can't wait to see where that goes. Oh, and Neil Patrick Harris as the Toymaker in the special was an utter treat!
I love this! I’ve always been intrigued by Doctor Who, but never took the plunge. This might be the push I needed.
This is my sign to start!! I've been wanting to but it seemed so overwhelming. I appreciate you giving methods to "beginning one's love affair with the doctor". Now I have a plan, thanks so much!
As a fellow Doctor Who fan, I loved seeing this email hit my inbox. I agree with you that not everyone needs to start with the 2005 Season 1. I was someone who tried and those farting aliens just got to me and I stopped. Then my sister recommended a handful of s1 episodes (The Empty Child and a few others) to help me get into the stories, and after that I was hooked. But I completely understand people being overwhelmed and I also often recommend starting with s5 (although I will now recommend Vincent and the Doctor first, you're right that it's such a great intro story).
Thank you! I began watching the classics in th 80's beginning with Tom Baker, my Doctor. But have gotten out of the habit of watching for the last several years. I realize The Doctor is what I need right now. I need a sense of an optimistic outlook to life right now. And that seems hard to find for me right now.
I highly recommend method #2 (one-offs followed by The Eleventh Hour).
Oh bless you! This is just what I needed! I stumbled on to Dr. Who at the very end of Christopher Eccleston's term as The Doctor. And then of course I fell in love with 10th Doctor. I watched through most of the 11th Doctor and then stopped watching for whatever reason. I've been wanting to get back in so this is a perfect door for me. Thank you!
YAYYYYY *claps hands like a seal 🥰🥰🥰🥰
I am so happy with the joy and delight the 15th doctor is bringing! And getting have RTD and Moffat, with writing, again is just ..chefs kiss!! So enjoyable! However, that little twist at the end felt more Disney than Who and I hope they can avoid disneyfying the show.
First of all I certainly smiled when I read your intro "...or essays that are at minimum 80% longer than they need to be!." Re Dr. Who - I may not enlist Sarah but I am very thankful that you demystified the show I have been hearing about for many years. Excellent advice on the options of where to start. Still working through Ted Lasso here and loving that. :)