Trying to get into Doctor Who, failing...

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Hey guys, since some of my friends/this girl I really like/the non-American part of the internet always talks about Doctor Who, I decided to get on Netflix and give it a try. I saw an episode called "Rose" from the 2005 season, and honestly, it was really cheesy and underwhelming.

I know that Doctor Who has been on for umpteen years, so the quality probably fluctuates a bit. In which case, what are the best seasons/episodes to watch for first time viewers. Does the show get any better, or do I just fail to understand the brilliance of it? I'm from Texas, so I have a natural aversion to dry, British humor and non-hillbilly accents; that might be the problem here.

[small]Episode recommendations/other better shows to watch/synopses or reviews of the show/jokes about Texas/relationship advice/flame wars over Euro-American relations/rants about EA and "Origin"/scented candle advertisements/unrelated "Minecraft" videos/bestiality shock images/pictures of your kittens are all welcome. (okay, maybe not bestiality shock images)[/small]

UPDATE: I just saw the next episode, "The End of the World" and it was definitely better. I'll stick with it for a while, but I'm still not entirely sold. Thanks for all the advice and whatnot.

 

[ZeZZZZevy]

wait, you based your entire view of a series on a single episode?

I suggest you watch more first.

 

[dickywebster]

It depends, doctor who is one of these shows that its many fans like different parts or doctors of, like i personally love tom baker the 4th doctor, but some people dont, heck some people dont even like the older stuff (pre 2005) stuff.
Id probably recommend the david tennant series to you as those are the ones that basically everyone seems to love.
But then the latest series seems to be ignoring britain and trying to steal all the american dollars it can, so maybe give that one a shot?

 

[Rylot]

Huh, I watched the same episode and thought it was pretty funny. It was definitely cheese and the special effects weren't good (not too bad considering it's a six year old show) but I still rather liked it and will continue watching.

I have a natural aversion to dry humor and non-hillbilly accents; that might be the problem here.

This might not be your cup of tea, as it were.

 

[The Harkinator]

Rose was the first episode of 'NewWho' the series reboot, I'd reccommend sticking with it, the sixth episode in the 1st series (of the new) 'Dalek' is a really good episode, the series gets better and finds its feet as the episodes develop.

If you're still struggling try 'The Christmas Invasion' as the first episode of Tennants reign as The Doctor.

 

[orangeban]

Eh, Christopher Eccleston is widely recognized as a rather... mehhy Doctor. I don't think that's entirely fair but at the same time he might not be your cup of tea though. However, if you are determined to sit this series out instead of moving onto the fresher pastures of David Tennant and Matt Smith then I recommend the next episode (which I've forgotten the title of), Dalek (though Dalek is probably meaningless if you don't know what a Dalek is) and the Empty Child and the Day the Doctor Dances, both parts of a fantastic two-parter.

 

[Sneaky Paladin]

Well that IS just the episode that introduces The Doctor and Rose, the next episode is actually pretty good, the end of the Earth.

 

[Lerasai]

I didn't like it at first either, actually, I was really put off by the cheesiness. But, something about it made me stick with it and it just got better to me from there. I'd say give it a little while and if that doesn't work, try watching from the beginning of the newest Doctor, since the look of the show changes quite a bit then. If its not for you, though, that's perfectly fine. Just give it a chance to surprise you.

 

[Blow_Pop]

I have a natural aversion to dry humor and non-hillbilly accents; that might be the problem here.

This is probably your biggest problem. Honestly. Like I can understand it[sub](ya know being from Southern California and all)[/sub]fully but ... Try watching some of the other episodes. I find the show to be brilliant. And I just got out of the Tennant episodes. [sub][sub]ok fine I'm working on finishing up the last one but since he's already Matt Smith at this point I'm not fully counting it[/sub][/sub]

 

[Slowpool]

As the others have said, stick with it. Once it gets to David Tennant, you'll see why so many people love it these days.

 

[Crystalite]

Ah, well, yes...
"Rose" is really not a very good Episode, I´m afraid.
my favorite from the first season is easily "Empty Child" and "The Doctor dances". Its a double Episode and has everything that makes the series great.
(Humor, Horror, more Humor, thinly veiled euphemisms for sex...)

Perhaps you should try those

 

[Quaxar]

You are used to big-budget Hollywood productions, it's another kind of production quality.
But yeah, you fail to understand the brilliance. It's hopeless. Better give up and go back to OC California.

If you wanna try it though and don't mind confusing stuff like that the Doctor and his companions might be other ones and you have no idea who they are you can watch single episodes though. I would suggest just sitting through a few consecutive episodes from the beginning but whatever.

> double episode The Empty Child (9th Doctor & Rose)
> Blink (10th Doctor & Martha, but not much focus)
> School Reunion (10th Doctor, Rose & Mickey plus Sarah Jane Smith)
> double episode The impossible planet (10th Doctor & Rose)
> Silence in the Library (10th Doctor & Donna)
> Midnight (10th Doctor & a bit Donna)
> Vincent (11th Doctor & Amy)
> double episode A Time of Angels (11th Doctor & Amy) - only after Blink

I think that's fine now. Enough choice.

 

[pppppppppppppppppp]

As the others have said, stick with it. Once it gets to David Tennant, you'll see why so many people love it these days.

Should I just skip to the next season, or do I need to watch this season to understand everything. Also, are any of the old Dr. Who shows worth watching?

 

[pppppppppppppppppp]

You are used to big-budget Hollywood productions, it's another kind of production quality.
But yeah, you fail to understand the brilliance. It's hopeless. Better give up and go back to OC California.

If you wanna try it though and don't mind confusing stuff like that the Doctor and his companions might be other ones and you have no idea who they are you can watch single episodes though. I would suggest just sitting through a few consecutive episodes from the beginning but whatever.

> double episode The Empty Child (9th Doctor & Rose)
> Blink (10th Doctor & Martha, but not much focus)
> School Reunion (10th Doctor, Rose & Mickey plus Sarah Jane Smith)
> double episode The impossible planet (10th Doctor & Rose)
> Silence in the Library (10th Doctor & Donna)
> Midnight (10th Doctor & a bit Donna)
> Vincent (11th Doctor & Amy)
> double episode A Time of Angels (11th Doctor & Amy) - only after Blink

I think that's fine now. Enough choice.

Thanks for the list. ^_^

As long as continuity isn't a huge problem, I'd rather skip to the best episodes. I'll go back and watch the rest if these are any good. And yeah, Hollywood trains you to like Hollywood material, it's weird watching other stuff...

 

[AhumbleKnight]

As the others have said, stick with it. Once it gets to David Tennant, you'll see why so many people love it these days.

Should I just skip to the next season, or do I need to watch this season to understand everything. Also, are any of the old Dr. Who shows worth watching?

I think you should just keep watching the first season in order. There are some really good episodes in there. There are only 13 episodes in the seasona and if you don't love it by the end of the season then nothing can bring you around. Eccleston is an excellent Doctor.

 

[orangeban]

You are used to big-budget Hollywood productions, it's another kind of production quality.
But yeah, you fail to understand the brilliance. It's hopeless. Better give up and go back to OC California.

If you wanna try it though and don't mind confusing stuff like that the Doctor and his companions might be other ones and you have no idea who they are you can watch single episodes though. I would suggest just sitting through a few consecutive episodes from the beginning but whatever.

> double episode The Empty Child (9th Doctor & Rose)
> Blink (10th Doctor & Martha, but not much focus)
> School Reunion (10th Doctor, Rose & Mickey plus Sarah Jane Smith)
> double episode The impossible planet (10th Doctor & Rose)
> Silence in the Library (10th Doctor & Donna)
> Midnight (10th Doctor & a bit Donna)
> Vincent (11th Doctor & Amy)
> double episode A Time of Angels (11th Doctor & Amy) - only after Blink

I think that's fine now. Enough choice.

Thanks for the list. ^_^

As long as continuity isn't a huge problem, I'd rather skip to the best episodes. I'll go back and watch the rest if these are any good. And yeah, Hollywood trains you to like Hollywood material, it's weird watching other stuff...

You may want to watch Dalek from the first season, and the finale since they do explain some backstory but if you're desperate to move on then just a little cruising on wikipedia should clear things up.

 

[Bluntman1138]

Forget Doctor Who, and get into Babylon 5. It's the best Sci-Fi ever made.

 

[TimeLord]

I suggest you watch more than just 'Rose'. It was basically a pilot for the reboot. The second episode, 'End of the World' is much better. Some of the best episodes are Eccleston's; 'Dalek', 'The Empty Child', 'Father's Day'.

I actually think Eccleston has the best brilliant-to-crap story ratio of any individual series so far.

As the others have said, stick with it. Once it gets to David Tennant, you'll see why so many people love it these days.

Should I just skip to the next season, or do I need to watch this season to understand everything. Also, are any of the old Dr. Who shows worth watching?

No, no, no. Eccleston is brilliant. Tennant is great, yes, but Eccleston sets up the series brilliantly and makes you care about the Doctor's character before he changes to Tennant.

 

[Foxpack1]

If you like more psychological horror watch the 2 parter: Flesh and Stone and The Time of Angels.

 

[Dr Snakeman]

I'm from Texas, so I have a natural aversion to dry, British humor and non-hillbilly accents; that might be the problem here.

That's no excuse; I'm from Texas, too, and I'm in love with the show. And yeah, the first couple of episodes are kind of bland. Stick with it, though. It gets a lot better.