So your friend has been bugging you to watch Doctor Who for months now, and you have to admit that you’re a little curious to find out what all the hype is about. After going on Wikipedia and finding out there are more than thirty seasons in the series’ history, you’re feeling a bit overwhelmed.
Don’t worry! This guide will tell you all you need to know about how to start watching new Who. The best part? You don’t even need to watch it in order (one of the many perks of watching a television series that involves time travel).
What you need to know before getting started:
- “New Who” refers to the Doctor Who episodes that have aired since the show returned in 2005. The classic Who episodes are the ones that have aired from 1963 to 1989 (this guide only covers new Who).
- To this point here have been eleven different Doctors (each played by a different actor) throughout the entire series (the Ninth, Tenth, and Eleventh Doctors are all from the new Who).
- Each Doctor is a regeneration of the previous Doctor (except for the first one). So the Ninth Doctor would be the eighth regeneration of the Doctor.
- The Doctor is able to regenerate on the verge of death, because he’s a Time Lord, or a member of the alien race that governs and watches over all of time. He’s also the last of the Time Lords, because his entire race—along with its home planet Gallifrey—was destroyed in the Time War.
- The TARDIS (Time and Relative Dimension in Space) is the Doctor’s time- and space-travelling machine.
- The Doctor almost always has a companion with him in his adventures. In the new Who, his companions are Rose (seasons 1-2), Martha (season 3), Donna (season 4), and Amy and Rory (seasons 5-6). They all became his companions by being there for him when he most needed a friend.
The Ninth Doctor (played by Christopher Eccleston)
Start your adventures with the Ninth Doctor if you want to explore the universe with a Time Lord who’s angstier and tougher than his next two regenerations. A bit angry at times, the Ninth Doctor still has a big heart and—despite his often tough exterior—would do anything to make his companion Rose smile.
Season 1
Ep. 9: The Empty Child & Ep. 10: The Doctor Dances
This two-part story arc is a great place to start if you want to watch an episode of Doctor Who that demonstrates what happens on this show (lots of running and saving the world). Plus, you get to meet Captain Jack Harkness, whose presence always makes Doctor Who episodes more interesting and flirty.
The Tenth Doctor (played by David Tennant)
Hop on to the TARDIS with the Tenth Doctor if you like fun, romance and Converse sneakers. Much easier to approach than Nine and a bit more mature than Eleven, Ten is always entertaining to watch. As you travel with Ten, get ready to learn just how great the human race can be (hard as that may be to believe at times) and also to shed a few tears, as this Doctor lends himself well to some emotional moments.
Season 2
Ep. 4: The Girl in the Fireplace
Get ready to be scared of analog clocks for a while, as "The Girl in the Fireplace" opens with some old-fashioned childhood nightmares. It’s a bit scarier than some of the other episodes, but you definitely don’t want to miss it, as it is a really great episode with some hilarious “romantic” moments.
Ep. 11: Fear Her
"Fear Her" takes place in London in 2012, so if you ever feel like you need a break from the alien creatures from the future, this episode is for you. That being said, there’s still something other-worldly involved with this episode, but there’s no need to be too scared: The Doctor and Rose are always close by.
Season 3
Ep. 2: The Shakespeare Code
"The Shakespeare Code" is a fun episode to watch because it doesn’t take itself too seriously. Although it may not particularly stand out against some of the other episodes in this guide, you’ll at least get your British fix — it’s an episode of Doctor Who that deals with Shakespeare and contains a bunch of Harry Potter references.
Ep. 10: Blink
Easily one of the best episodes in the new Who series, "Blink" is a must-watch for any aspiring Doctor Who fan. Definitely the scariest, it’s also one of the most interesting, because it presents the idea of time in a way that’s very different from how we normally conceptualize it. The episode is bolstered by an excellent guest spot from Carey Mulligan.
Season 4
Ep. 8: Silence in the Library & Ep. 9: Forest of the Dead
This two-part story marks the beginning of writer Steven Moffat’s emotionally manipulative storyline that still hasn’t been resolved. If you plan on watching Doctor Who (especially seasons five and six), there's no way you can skip these two episodes. You don’t want to miss the introduction of River Song, as she turns out to have one of the most fascinating — and complicated — relationships with the Doctor.
The Eleventh Doctor (played by Matt Smith)
Explore the universe with the eleventh Doctor if you like to hang around madmen, because this Doctor is definitely the craziest of the three. He’s also the most childlike, but he manages to be strangely mature whenever he needs to be. Always there for Amy and Rory, although he can run a bit late at times, Eleven is great to travel with if you want to add some eccentricities to your space-time adventures.
Season 5
Ep. 1: The Eleventh Hour
With a new Doctor, TARDIS, and head writer Steven Moffat, "The Eleventh Hour" marks the beginning of an extreme phase for the Doctor Who series. It’s actually a pretty good place to start, especially if you think you might be entertained by the antics of a madman.
Ep. 10: Vincent and the Doctor
The episodes that feature famous historical figures are always interesting, and "Vincent and the Doctor" is among the best. The main storyline dealing with the scary alien-looking creature in one of Vincent van Gogh’s paintings is great, but it’s the interactions between him, Amy and the Doctor that make this episode truly fantastic. Have some tissues ready if you plan on watching "Vincent and the Doctor," because you’ll probably be weeping by the end of the episode.
Season 6
Ep. 4: The Doctor’s Wife
Written by the critically-acclaimed fantasy author Neil Gaiman, "The Doctor’s Wife" is a great episode because it’s the first time the Doctor actually gets to talk to the TARDIS. It’s a bit different from the other episodes in that it focuses on a relationship that’s oftentimes taken for granted on the series, but that’s what makes the episode great. Watch some of the other episodes in this guide before watching this one though, so that you can actually feel the full emotional impact of "The Doctor’s Wife."
Ep. 12: Closing Time
"Closing Time" is another one of the fun Dr. Who episodes that's frivolous but still great to watch. It’s different from the episodes that have been listed in this guide, because you get to see how not being with Amy and Rory affects the Doctor. If you want to understand the full significance of one of the scenes in "Closing Time," it would be better if you watched The Eleventh Hour first.