My love for Doctor Who started in the autumn of 1982 when I watched the Horror of Fang Rock with my younger sister on Public Television in Virginia.
One of my favorite episodes comes from the First Doctor--The Aztrecs. I read an interview with the actress Jacqueline Hill in the early 90s, who played Barbara on the show. She said it was her favorite because it was the only time in the show that her character was the focus of an episode, and that the story was quite moving. I remember how sad I felt when the Aztec priest came to the realization that Barbara was not really a goddess and how profoundly shattered that revelation had left him. Jacqueline Hill, who died in 1993 at only 63 of breast cancer, remarked on that same point.
The Talons of Weng-Chiang is one of my favorites, too. I have it on audio book (with the BBC cast) and on DVD. I even bought a small vinyl action figure of Weng-Chiang off of Ebay at it is sitting on my desk right now. ( I know. I know...)
My late mother watched the new Doctor Who while I was working overseas because she felt it gave her a small connection to me (that and taking care of my cats). When I came back to the States in 2012 to visit, my mother rented a stack of DVDs of the new show for me to watch. It was so sweet of her. However, I was shocked at the wokery. Jetlag had me sleeping through most of the episodes. I did watch one episode with the Cybermen in Hong Kong in 2007 (during a brief stay) and it was ok.
I think anyone who grows up with Doctor Who and loves it will find themselves shaped partially by it. I know I was.
I remember you asking me who my favorite Doctor Who was (via chat) a couple of years ago, Woes, and I said Peter Davison. I could sense your disappointment, even though you said nothing :)
I have a collection of Doctor Who DVDs that I occasionally watch, along with several audio books and the new audio adventures, even a couple of Jago and Litefoot audio plays.
I have watched very few of the new DW shows. To me, they only remind me of how far we in the West have fallen.
Thanks for that touching dive into nostalgia, Woes. I remember some of those stories well from my childhood. Doctor Who has mutated (spitefully) into a rotten parody of what it used to be; but these original series are still there for us to enjoy on home media. They can't take that away from us.
A good overview. Two classics not mentioned are 'Pyramids of Mars' and 'The Seeds of Doom.' 'Pyramids' has a real sense of horror, and also Tom Baker at his most serious. 'Seeds of Doom' has a great cast and story. The various human villains are well written and acted, especially the misanthropic Harrison Chase. The krynoid is genuinely alien and menacing.
In the Jon Pertwee era, there's also 'Day of the Daleks', and 'The Green Death' which is not the best story, but is a quaint expression of 1970s hippy politics.
For the Patrick Troughton era, 'The Mind Robber' is a strange and slightly surreal story. His last one 'The War Games' is a ten parter that is too long winded, but has its moments.
Going right back to the start, 'The Daleks' (starting with 'The Dead Planet') is good, although made on a very low budget in 1963. 'The Time Meddler', set in 1066, is also worth watching.
Yes, I quite liked Pyramids of Mars and War Games--and the mysterious war chief. (isn't that the one where Zoe wears the metallic cat suit?--or was it The Mind Robber?)
My love for Doctor Who started in the autumn of 1982 when I watched the Horror of Fang Rock with my younger sister on Public Television in Virginia.
One of my favorite episodes comes from the First Doctor--The Aztrecs. I read an interview with the actress Jacqueline Hill in the early 90s, who played Barbara on the show. She said it was her favorite because it was the only time in the show that her character was the focus of an episode, and that the story was quite moving. I remember how sad I felt when the Aztec priest came to the realization that Barbara was not really a goddess and how profoundly shattered that revelation had left him. Jacqueline Hill, who died in 1993 at only 63 of breast cancer, remarked on that same point.
The Talons of Weng-Chiang is one of my favorites, too. I have it on audio book (with the BBC cast) and on DVD. I even bought a small vinyl action figure of Weng-Chiang off of Ebay at it is sitting on my desk right now. ( I know. I know...)
My late mother watched the new Doctor Who while I was working overseas because she felt it gave her a small connection to me (that and taking care of my cats). When I came back to the States in 2012 to visit, my mother rented a stack of DVDs of the new show for me to watch. It was so sweet of her. However, I was shocked at the wokery. Jetlag had me sleeping through most of the episodes. I did watch one episode with the Cybermen in Hong Kong in 2007 (during a brief stay) and it was ok.
I think anyone who grows up with Doctor Who and loves it will find themselves shaped partially by it. I know I was.
I remember you asking me who my favorite Doctor Who was (via chat) a couple of years ago, Woes, and I said Peter Davison. I could sense your disappointment, even though you said nothing :)
I have a collection of Doctor Who DVDs that I occasionally watch, along with several audio books and the new audio adventures, even a couple of Jago and Litefoot audio plays.
I have watched very few of the new DW shows. To me, they only remind me of how far we in the West have fallen.
Doctor Who has fallen as the West has fallen.
Thanks for that touching dive into nostalgia, Woes. I remember some of those stories well from my childhood. Doctor Who has mutated (spitefully) into a rotten parody of what it used to be; but these original series are still there for us to enjoy on home media. They can't take that away from us.
A good overview. Two classics not mentioned are 'Pyramids of Mars' and 'The Seeds of Doom.' 'Pyramids' has a real sense of horror, and also Tom Baker at his most serious. 'Seeds of Doom' has a great cast and story. The various human villains are well written and acted, especially the misanthropic Harrison Chase. The krynoid is genuinely alien and menacing.
In the Jon Pertwee era, there's also 'Day of the Daleks', and 'The Green Death' which is not the best story, but is a quaint expression of 1970s hippy politics.
For the Patrick Troughton era, 'The Mind Robber' is a strange and slightly surreal story. His last one 'The War Games' is a ten parter that is too long winded, but has its moments.
Going right back to the start, 'The Daleks' (starting with 'The Dead Planet') is good, although made on a very low budget in 1963. 'The Time Meddler', set in 1066, is also worth watching.
Yes, I quite liked Pyramids of Mars and War Games--and the mysterious war chief. (isn't that the one where Zoe wears the metallic cat suit?--or was it The Mind Robber?)