Tomorrow night I am showing a couple of friends of mine Doctor Who for the first time. I own Series 1-4 and the specials leading up to Matt Smith's Eleventh Doctor. At best I will probably have 4 hours to show them some episodes. Which espisodes to you recommend that will draw them in? I was thinking "Partners in Crime" should be one. Thanks!
One night to introduce Doctor Who
- Thread starter TyberiusDeAngelo
- Start date
i'd do Rose, Christmas Invasion, Smith and Jones and Runaway Bride.
all the major character intros. 9 and Rose, Ten, Martha and Donna.
all the major character intros. 9 and Rose, Ten, Martha and Donna.
I'm pretty close to that list. My first episode was Dalek and was sold on The Empty Child, so I'm always tempted to suggest those two.
Blink might be my favorite episode overall, but it's a Doctor-Lite episode.
Just to mix things up, I'll suggest:
The Empty Child
The Doctor Dances
Blink
Midnight
Explain about the Doctor regeneration before you show Blink, of course. If you want to keep with one Doctor, you can go Rose, Dalek, Empty Child, Doctor Dances or Girl in the Fireplace, Blink, Midnight, and maybe Waters of Mars (although it might give the impression that the show is creepier than it is overall). Or maybe substitute Waters for Gridlock or some other lighthearted episode.
I think that four hours is no where near enough time to introduce someone to Doctor Who in full. Showing a "best of" selection might be a good idea if they have some prior knowledge of the series, but it'll only be confusing if they don't know anything about it.
Personally, I'd say that the first three episodes of the first series do exactly what they were designed to do, namely they perfectly introduce The Doctor and the core concepts of the series.
If your friends are still interested after those then I'd go with Dalek for a grand finale.
ETA: Ah, Kelso, I see great minds think alike.
Personally, I'd say that the first three episodes of the first series do exactly what they were designed to do, namely they perfectly introduce The Doctor and the core concepts of the series.
If your friends are still interested after those then I'd go with Dalek for a grand finale.
ETA: Ah, Kelso, I see great minds think alike.
My best friend had no idea what Doctor Who was when we watched "Rose" together back in 2005. He loved it and got what it was all about right away and is a big fan. Trying to introduce him to Classic Who now though.
When I introduced my girlfriend to Doctor Who, the first thing she saw was The End of Time, as it was airing. She was thoroughly confused. Then I took a more methodical approach and thanks to my Netflix records, I can tell you the exact order.
Blink
Girl in the Fireplace
Silence in the Library
Dalek
Rose
Runaway Bride
It's sort of appropriate that, given it's a Time Travel show, she's watched it completely out of order.
Blink
Girl in the Fireplace
Silence in the Library
Dalek
Rose
Runaway Bride
It's sort of appropriate that, given it's a Time Travel show, she's watched it completely out of order.
I'd say Rose, Dalek, Girl in the Fireplace, Blink.
Ah well in those cicrumstances Rumours of Death, or possible Sarchophagus...and if I was really drunk Stardrive...
Oh wait you meant Who episodes!
Re the OP, I would agree that the best four eps to show have to include the first three, they're completely set up to introduce the first time viewer in a very continuity light way, the basics of the character and the show...obviously skip the Slitheen and go stright to Dalek for ep 4 however!!
I did this recently for two different friends. For the first, I started with "The Runaway Bride," which I thought was stand-alone enough to appeal to him. My friend liked and wants to see more when we get time.
For another friend, I started with my favorite episode, "The Girl in the Fireplace." She wasn't as thrilled. She liked some of it, but I think you need a little more background on the main characters for it to really work. Also, I think she was having trouble keeping up with the dialogue, which moves really fast in spots and is in an accent she's not used to. She admitted having trouble understanding what was being said in spots.
For another friend, I started with my favorite episode, "The Girl in the Fireplace." She wasn't as thrilled. She liked some of it, but I think you need a little more background on the main characters for it to really work. Also, I think she was having trouble keeping up with the dialogue, which moves really fast in spots and is in an accent she's not used to. She admitted having trouble understanding what was being said in spots.
"End of the World", "Girl in the Fireplace", "Army of Ghosts", "Doomsday", "Human Nature", "The Family of Blood", and "Blink" and then the 'Utopia' trilogy.
If that doesn't wet their thirst for all things Who, I don't know what will.
If that doesn't wet their thirst for all things Who, I don't know what will.
Surely more like totally bladdered!
