Do you watch old Doctor Who ('63-'89) ?

ixoy

Do you watch the original '63-'89 Doctor Who? I'm slowly trying to make my way through every episode and currently on Season 3's "The Gunfighters" (which is pretty good actually).

However, it's very hard slog at times (there's been long gaps between some viewings). The more geeky of you would be aware that there's certain episodes which have been lost and so would wonder how I'm seeing all these episodes without the benefit of a TARDIS. The even nerdier would know there's "reconstructions" of these lost episodes which generally feature a series of static pictures (set photos used for setting up scenes and continuity, etc) over-layed with a crackling (not cracking) audio track which was somehow saved. The audio tracker can be almost muffled at times.
To convey the action there's generally a stuttering ticker-tape going across the screen describing what was going on. It's not exactly HDTV.
Still I'm going to trundle on so I can see, as best as is possible, all 30 seasons and then rightfully bitch about the quality of any new episodes

So how about anyone else here? Do you watch the old stuff and if so how hardcore/sad are you?

Doctor DooM

I'm very slowly building up my collection I have all of new Who, remembrance of the Daleks, City of Death, Unearthly Child, Time Meddler, and Caves of Androzani so far. I'll prob never have the time to watch them all achronologically.

Father Stone

Have a few on DVD but they are very expensive so haven't seen many!

DublinWriter

ixoy wrote: »

So how about anyone else here? Do you watch the old stuff and if so how hardcore/sad are you?

Yes, I was a Tom Baker child.

Just wait 'till you get to the barren-land of the late 80's Slyvester McCoy years and the JellyBaby men.

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar

I think I've seen almost everything from pertwee to mccoy.. not seen any mcgann.. one or two of the first doctor and more than one or two of the second.. actually I did really like the second doctor so I'll see what I can do about finding more

i think it's time for a massive rewatch

Doctor DooM

Captain Mords Spiced Bum wrote: »

I think I've seen almost everything from pertwee to mccoy.. not seen any mcgann.. one or two of the first doctor and more than one or two of the second.. actually I did really like the second doctor so I'll see what I can do about finding more

i think it's time for a massive rewatch

You should watch the McGann film, if only for the Doctor Who: The Next Generation theme music.

ixoy

Captain Mords Spiced Bum wrote: »

I think I've seen almost everything from pertwee to mccoy.. not seen any mcgann.. one or two of the first doctor and more than one or two of the second.. actually I did really like the second doctor so I'll see what I can do about finding more

When I was younger, I didn't like Hartnell much but I'm actually enjoying his performances, especially those where he gets to do a bit of comedy. Think it's part his irritation with this stupid companions (which they generally were when they were the teenage girls the dirty fella picked up on his journeys).

Don't know Troughton well, the cosmic tramp, but will get around to his stories eventually.

Daemos

I've only ever seen any of the old episodes when they are shown as (rare) repeats on TV.

The only pre-Ecclestone episodes I've seen are The Daemons, Pyramids Of Mars and the TV Movie.

ixoy

DaPoolRulz wrote: »

The only pre-Ecclestone episodes I've seen are The Daemons, Pyramids Of Mars and the TV Movie.

"Pyramid of Mars" is good but I wouldn't rate "The Daemons" highly (only good bit is the Brigadier's "Chap with the wings there, five founds rapid"). If nothing else check out "Genesis of the Daleks" - great story and it also introduces Davros and helps explain Sarah's reaction to him the S30 finale.

nothing

I've seen as much as I can of Colin Baker, and McCoy, and everything from McGann onwards, but I'm slowly building up the dvds of the "classics", and plan to start watching after I've finished watching nu-Who with commentaries

Daemos

ixoy wrote: »

"Pyramid of Mars" is good but I wouldn't rate "The Daemons" highly (only good bit is the Brigadier's "Chap with the wings there, five founds rapid"). If nothing else check out "Genesis of the Daleks" - great story and it also introduces Davros and helps explain Sarah's reaction to him the S30 finale.

I thought I was the only one nerdy enough to be able to quote lines from episodes without thinking

"I'm the Doctor. I'm a Time Lord. I am from the planet Gallifrey in the constellation of Kasteberous. I am 903 years old, and I'm the man that's going to save your lives and the lives of all six billion people on the planet below. You got a problem with that? In that case... allons-y!" :cool:

flazio

I would look if some tv station would show it. Back in September Sci fi showed a marathon of classic Who in what was to them a Bank Holiday but since then Classic Who has been off Sky. I don't have the money to chase DVDs and I dont have the patience for torrents.

pixelburp

I have a reasonable hoarde of old episodes; I used to have a big collection of VHS tapes which I took some time out to convert to DVD a while back (a real space saver). I tried viewing a fan reconstructions of one of the lost episodes but found it unwatchable. My fandom knows its limitations Overall though I have seen every Who episode from season 7 onwards, one way or another.

I could never get into the 60s stories in general, so choose that option. I just can't get into the old B&W stories; the mythology's all over the place, the plots childish in the extreme, the FX like something from Flash Gordon & frankly, after episode 6 of The War Games I decided the 60s era wasn't for me.

On the other hand, season 7 is right up there as one of my favorites & if I were running the show, the template by which I made it. Sure, there have been plenty of awful stories with worse FX since the 60s, but from Pertwee onwards I think the show had a sense of its own worth & a confidence that made it watchable no matter how bad Terrence Dicks' writing was this time

In fact, truth be told, I have always had a small niggling sense of disatisfaction with the new series, no matter how good it has been a times. I wouldn't be so old school that I have had conniptions about every little thing, but the new series has sometimes been too knowing & fast-paced. Plus I'll never forget the sense of crushing deflation after watching the first episode, way back when it first aired.
"What the hell was that?"

Daemos

pixelburp wrote: »

I'll never forget the sense of crushing deflation after watching the first episode, way back when it first aired.
"What the hell was that?"

+1

It was my mate that started me watching Dr Who from 'The Empty Child' onwards. If I had seen 'Rose' first, I don't think I would have even bothered.

Also Starring LeVar Burton

Just started on watching the series from the beginning tonight. Watched "The Unearthly Child" episodes and it was difficult enough to make out was going on at times because the picture was very dark, but I liked the story.
I can't imagne that I'll be able to watch the serials with missing episodes, but I might. Is it actually watchable or would I be better off just reading synopsis of those serials and moving on to the ones with full episodes?
It's a shame, because a lot of the Troughton serials are missing episodes and from what I've seen he's a really enjoyable doctor.

ixoy

CaptainNegative wrote: »

I can't imagne that I'll be able to watch the serials with missing episodes, but I might. Is it actually watchable or would I be better off just reading synopsis of those serials and moving on to the ones with full episodes?

For those fully missing - probably better reading the synposes. The fully missing ones are generally done up by fans. One of the problems is that the BBC will only let them use VHS quality. The sound tracks used are somtimes second-hand (e.g. a fan holding a microphone to a TV years ago). This means that it's muffled and hard to hear at times. Some fan productions show all the dialogue on screen but others don't and it can a strain to make it out (had great difficulty with the penultimate Hartnell episode "The Smugglers").

On the other hand the BBC did an excellent job with the final episode of "The Tenth Planet" - if all reproductions were of that quality, it'd be much better.

It's a shame, because a lot of the Troughton serials are missing episodes and from what I've seen he's a really enjoyable doctor.

Yeah, I just finished "The Tenth Planet" only to see most of the Troughton era is gone as Season 4/5 didn't sell well internationally. Shame as he's the Doctor I'd have liked to have seen most (given I've seen the others).

Judge

ixoy wrote: »

For those fully missing - probably better reading the synposes. The fully missing ones are generally done up by fans. One of the problems is that the BBC will only let them use VHS quality. The sound tracks used are somtimes second-hand (e.g. a fan holding a microphone to a TV years ago). This means that it's muffled and hard to hear at times. Some fan productions show all the dialogue on screen but others don't and it can a strain to make it out (had great difficulty with the penultimate Hartnell episode "The Smugglers").

The BBC have released all of the missing episodes on CD with narration - usually by one of the actors who played one of the companions e.g. Frazer Hines, Anneke Wills etc. - to cover any action where some description is needed. They are very well done and the sound quality, which has been digitally mastered and restored, is largely excellent. Personally I find them much more accessible than the reconstructions.

With the early sixties stuff, I find its best enjoyed if you watch just one episode a night. Remember they were intended to be shown once a week, not back-to-back as we are able to do with VHS and DVD. In addition, as regards the Hartnell years, to be appreciated properly they really need to be taken in one big block, in order, from An Unearthly Child to The Tenth Planet. You really get a feel for how the show and the character evolved and developed and how much his successors owe to Hartnell's brilliant and definitive performance in the role.

cathead

I enjoy anything who related but I do tend to stick to my favourite Doctors....Davison and Baker.

They are the only classic series that I've purchased. So far I have:
Destiny of the Daleks
The Deadly Assassin
Full Circle
State of Decay
Warrior's Gate
Four to Doomsday
Black Orchid
Time Flight
Arc of Infinity
The Five Doctors
Resurrection of the Daleks

I really must branch out further to the other doctors also as I really enjoy Troughton and Pertwee particularly... maybe I will soon!!

mick087

Just have finished by secret means getting every Dr who episode ever.
Started on William hartnell,have to say he is a damm good if not the best Dr i really do like him he is top notch.I grew up with jon pertwee and Tom baker.But inpressed by this old william Hartnell.
But its the daleks they have not really changed at all.
Davros must be the most undesatmated baddie ever,completly insane and a great genius.So im starting from the start and enjoying them.
i recomend any Dr who fans get all of them.Some are audio only with pictures but its the story you want as well..

nothing

mick087 wrote: »

Just have finished by secret means getting every Dr who episode ever.
Started on William hartnell,have to say he is a damm good if not the best Dr i really do like him he is top notch.I grew up with jon pertwee and Tom baker.But inpressed by this old william Hartnell.
But its the daleks they have not really changed at all.
Davros must be the most undesatmated baddie ever,completly insane and a great genius.So im starting from the start and enjoying them.
i recomend any Dr who fans get all of them.Some are audio only with pictures but its the story you want as well..

Considering the amount of unreleased/missing episodes, I doubt you've gotten every episode ever... :P

ixoy

nothing wrote: »

Considering the amount of unreleased/missing episodes, I doubt you've gotten every episode ever... :P

Ah but you can get the missing ones as re-constructions (from the likes of "Loose Cannon"). They consist of stills and the complete soundtrack but they still enable you to watch all the episodes, even if not in its ideal form. I should know - it's how I watched "The Macra Terror" (which was quite good despite the format).

pixelburp

ixoy wrote: »

Ah but you can get the missing ones as re-constructions (from the likes of "Loose Cannon"). They consist of stills and the complete soundtrack but they still enable you to watch all the episodes, even if not in its ideal form. I should know - it's how I watched "The Macra Terror" (which was quite good despite the format).

It's a shame they didn't / couldn't release more "Lost Episodes" in the guise of the missing episodes of "The Invasion"; they hired Cosgrove Halls to animated the missing episodes (flash animation by the looks of it), but it worked quite well.