An unenlightened Yank needs Doctor Who help...

[Megacherv]

What it says on the tin. I've never seen one episode of the show, and I feel that my geek credentials are in jeopardy if I don't at least give it a shot. Here in the land of assault rifles and bald eagles, I don't get BBC on my TV programming, which makes this difficult.

But! I'm willing to get DVD sets or something to make this happen. But where do I start? It's my understanding that the show has been rebooted like 5 times over 50 years (citation needed) and I have no idea where to jump in. Is there a favorite version of the show? Are there movies or other primers that make for a better introduction? Has the really old stuff aged well enough to chase it down?

I really want to get into the show, so if any of our members that are more familiar with the show could help me out, that would be just wonderful. Thanks in advance!

Netflix stream it all as far as I know, apart from the most recent series' I believe

 

[Berithil]

I'll add another voice to the sea of votes for starting with the 2005 "reboot". It's definitely much easier to get into than watching the classic series. If you like it, then go back and find some episodes from Old Who. The older episodes are more cheesy (though if you're watching a series about a time traveling alien who travels in a blue police box, I don't think cheesy should bug you), but they have some great writing and a certain endearing charm to them. I'm a yank, and that's where I started.

Beware though: It takes some getting used to. I absolutely HATED the first episode, now there's a poster of a Dalek above my head. (Don't ask, you're not ready) Just...keep with it. I promise, it grows on you.

Oh, yes. I'm really not a fan of those first couple episodes. I was just sitting there thinking, "Really? People like this?"

But the all the praise the series got and that fact the show had a little unique quirkiness to it grabbed my curiosity. In my opinion, the series didn't start getting really good til The Empty Child/ The Doctor Dances

 

[DrunkOnEstus]

For any Whovian (or potential Whovian) I'd suggest you take a look at tardisblue.net. It's a free website with a legal license to show Doctor Who episodes (old and new), and streams them 24/7 (and they air the new episodes at the same time as the BBC). Generally they'll run through all the new series' (2005 and on), and then show a classic series. They also have a bunch of fun extras they show occasionally.

This is very helpful, saves me from having to get a Netflix account. I've been working on LPs and maintaining the cool steam game trading thread, as well as making steam friends for once, but I plan on watching the show really soon.