15. The Space Museum

In the words of Steven Moffat, "Wibbley wobbley, timey whiney". For the first time, we get an episode about time travel! The Doctor and company "jump the time track" and lands in their own future. It's a fun plot device for a few episodes while they figure out what exactly is going on.

But then THE watershed moment of the series finally arrives. The Doctor incites revolution! While the Doctor has encouraged civil war and fighting between parties before, it was usually between a pre-existing conflict. This time, no prior conflict existed. The "ruling" party wasn't out to destroy anyone (see The Daleks), and wasn't really hurting anyone. Yet Vicki finds a group of youngsters to help revolt against their elders, breaks into their weapons locker, and starts a revolution.

This does seem to be about the kids fighting against the establishment. So while this is the first time we're seeing this, it certainly won't be the last in the shows 50 year history.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Space_Museum

Next heart breaking episode: The Chase!

14. The Crusade

The Crusade brings us our second celebrity historical of the season with real celebrities! Making their first appearances in Doctor Who are Julian Glover and Jean Marsh. Both went on to great fame outside of Doctor Who but but made some wonderful appearances in the 50 years of Who.

The reality of this story is that episodes 2 and 4 are missing, with only 1 and 3 still existing. I hope that the BBC in their wisdom decides to animate the missing episodes, like they have done for The Reign of Terror, so that the story can be seen in completion in some form.

As always, the BBC excels in historical costume dramas and the production qualities on this story of par excellence. Julian and Jean's caliber of acting just eats of the screen and their scenes together as King Richard and his sister Joanna are electric. It is no wonder that they brought Jean back as a companion for the Dalek Masterplan next season. And Julian returns in Tom Baker's City of Death as Scaroth.

From the two existing episodes, our TARDIS crew appears to be in top form. Vicki does a turn as a boy before becoming a hand maiden to Joanna. Barbara is kidnapped in the first 5 minutes and is dragged across 12th century Palestine. And Ian and the Doctor get in some quality sword fighting time. Good times!

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Crusade_(Doctor_Who)

Next exciting adventure: The Space Museum!!

13. The Web Planet

And this is the one with the dodge giant ants and big moths. But I love it so! This has to be one of the best realizations of an alien planet and several non-humanoid species ever in the history of the show. Other than our TARDIS crew, there are no other humanoids in this story. Instead we are introduced to several giant insect species (who speak English- the TARDIS is good at translating insect chirps) who populate this moon-esque planetoid.

Despite the Zarbi (the giant ants) having extremely over developed legs (imagine ants on treadmills), the costumes are all amazing. The only shame is that this is still in the black and white era and this production must have looked fantastic in color. The butterfly-like Menoptra must have looked akin to bees in yellow and black stripes. Of the 4 or 5 different insect species we see on Vortis, only 3 speak. I would have been quite amused to hear what the Zarbi had to say about all this!

The surface of the planet is wonderfully illustrated on screen despite being studio-bound and small budgets. All the surface shots are given would we would call today the "JJ Abrams effect"- lots of lens flares. It is very effective to really give that otherworldly feel. It still amazes me what the production crew did then with little resources and even littler money.

Our intrepid travelers are in top form over the course of these 6 episodes. They are all given a fair share of the story, interact well with the indigenous life forms, and each shine with strong characterizations. Vicki is finally given a proper "adventure" and after 13 stories, we find out the true purpose of the Doctor's ring....

This is such a strong story, I am surprised the Doctor never return here. With today's budget and production quality, a return to the Web Planet with Matt Smith would be amazing!

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Web_Planet

Next exciting adventure: The Crusade!!

12. The Romans

The Romans is season 2's "celebrity historical" with Cesar Nero being the guest star. This story also showcases an as of yet unseen talent of our TARDIS crew- comedy. This is by far one of the best farcical romps ever!

Picking up from where the last story dropped us (ha ha), our intrepid travels are enjoying a relaxing vacation in a roman villa in 64 AD. Vicki has quickly adapted to the life of a time traveler actually whining for more adventure. Ian and Barbara are getting VERY comfortable with each other, as I assume they're snogging off screen. And the Doctor is enjoying this respite after the emotional upheaval of recent events.

Things quickly go south as the crew gets separated, kidnapped, and mistaken for other people. The Doctor does a turn with the Emperor's New Clothes with his harp. Barbara is very heavily perused by Nero himself while his wife tries to poison her. Ian is enslaved and has to fight for his life. And they're all running around Nero's palace at the same time, unaware that they are all there at the same time.

The Doctor does give Vicki a 2 second lecture on not changing history, as opposed to the lecture he gave Barbara for 4 episodes! All in all, this is probably my favorite story of season 2. After so many life and death stories, it's nice to see a more lighthearted and fun adventure.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Romans_(Doctor_Who)

Next thrilling adventure: The Web Planet!

11. The Rescue

After the departure of Susan last episode, we are now introduced to Vicki, an orphan from the Earth of the future. She's quite different from Susan, but in much need of parenting. Barbara and Ian quickly become surrogate parents to the young girl while the Doctor once again takes on the grandfather role.

This is a quick and cute little 2 episode introduction story and resets our TARDIS crew. Without Susan, the Doctor, Barbara and Ian have some lovely moments together as they learn to live without her. After all the time they have spent together, you get a real sense of an emotional bond they have formed.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Rescue_(Doctor_Who)

Next episode: The Romans!

10. The Dalek Invasion of Earth

And so ends the first major chapter in Doctor Who history. Despite her protests, the Doctor leaves Susan behind for her to start a life with her love David Campbell. Over the course of the 6 episodes, you see them growing closer and closer, as they fight against the Daleks. It is a heart wrenching turn after the defeat of the Daleks.

This story also contains the very first scene of William Hartnell that I saw. The 20th anniversary special "The Five Doctors" begins with a clip of the 1st Doctor from the end of this story. "Go forward in all your beliefs, and prove to me that I am not mistaken in mine." For years, that was the only thing of William Hartnell I knew, until my PBS station started to air his episodes. And when I finally saw the clip in context, it was even more powerful.

Our TARDIS crew finally return to London, full size, but in a future under Dalek occupation. For Barbara and Ian, it must have been heart breaking to be so close to him yet so far away. This also marked the first returning monster to the series. With the popularity of the Daleks in the season 1 story, it was a no-brainer that they would make a quick return to the series. This time, having them invade London and appear in very familiar surroundings, truly strikes terror in our hearts.

It is a treat to see so many familiar London sights from 50 years ago. Of course we assume that in this future, the London Eye and the Millennium Bridge were destroyed in the Invasion. :)

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dalek_Invasion_of_Earth

Next episode: The Rescue!

9. Planet of Giants

And so begins the second season of Doctor Who. If the first season set the mold for generations of Doctor Who, then the second season broke the mold. By the end of this season, our TARDIS crew will look very different from where we begin.

This story marks the series return to 'modern day' London. Unfortunately, our intrepid adventurers are only an inch high! And to add to the drama, Barbara has been poisoned by insecticide, as the crew race against time to get back to normal size and save her. This is very much "Honey I Shrunk the Doctor!".

One of the treats of this DVD is a reconstructed episode 4.This story was broadcast in 3 episodes but originally planned as 4. For various reasons, the originally scripted episodes 3 and 4 were condensed to just one. Now for the first time, those original scripts for 3 and 4 are brought to life with the original living actors and stand-in voicing the dialogue and some clever editing and new footage cobbled together. A joy to behold!

By this point in our crew's travels, you can feel the genuine affection they have for each other and the bond they have forged over the past year. It is what turns out to be a final moment of peace before the events of the next story, when the TARDIS family will be changed forever....

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planet_of_Giants

The next dreaded episode: The Dalek Invasion of Earth!!!!

8. The Reign of Terror

For some time now, only 4 of the 6 episodes of this story existed. But on February 12th, this story will be released on DVD with its 2 missing episodes replaced with animated versions set to the original soundtrack. So for the first time in 49 years, we will be able to enjoy this story in a completed form! I will write my review of this story and of the first season after viewing the DVD.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Reign_of_Terror_(Doctor_Who)

Next exciting episode: The beginning of Season 2 with The Planet of Giants!

Update 2/26/13: At long last, the Reign of Terror has been released and what a joy it is! With its two missing episodes replaced with animated versions, it is the most complete it has been since it first aired. Reign was a gripping season-ending historical drama that threw our crew in 3 different directions to suvive during the Frech Revolution. Everyone is in top form and as always, the BBC excelled at period pieces, The new animated episodes are fascinating to watch with their unique style, truly capturing the essence of the actors and almost seamlessly creating a feast for senses!

7. The Sensorites

After the death defying escape from the Aztecs last episode, the Doctor and crew journey to the far future where they meet the alien race The Sensorites. This is the first time the series presents a fully realized humanoid alien species. While the Daleks didn't look human at all and the Thals looked like perfect humans, the Sensorites looked alien. We are quickly introduced to their culture, their planet, their morality and motivations. Within the course of these 6 episodes, we see the spectrum of morality in them from good and benevolent to back stabbing and evil.

In looking at the overall arch of the first season, this story wonderfully presents three dimensional characters for our cast to act with and against. Too often, aliens are played as 2-dimensional cardboard cut-outs (see The Daleks). While the Sensorites do look similar to each other, their individual personalities do emerge from behind the masks to portray a race not to dissimilar to ourselves.

While our TARDIS crew has been yo-yo-ing through time and space, bouncing between the past and the future, each story has presented something different. Again, this story sets the bar for all stories to come with an alien race. Paradoxically, these non-humans show what is most human about us.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sensorites

Next episode: The Reign of Terror!

6. The Aztecs

If I had to pick one story to represent the 1st Doctor, I would have to choose 'The Aztecs'. This is probably one of the top 10 best Doctor Who stories ever. It is an example of a strong story, a clear message, a well paced 4 part story, and perfect characterization.

Barbara is the start of this story. Mistaken as an Aztec god, she wields her power benevolently and tries to charge their bloody culture. The Doctor warns her against changing history and works to keep the rest of the crew out of peril. Ian plays the valiant and brave warrior and Susan is the hand maiden. With the TARDIS trapped inside the temple, the crew has to figure out how to get it back without getting killed.

Whereas the last historical trip to Marco Polo didn't pose any peril of changing time or avoiding disaster, this story sets the mold for the type of historical story for decades to come. Knowing this culture will die out soon, Barbara tries to avert this disaster. In the new series episode The Fires of Pompey, Donna tries to avert the death of thousands in the face of Vesuvius. The seeds of that story lie here with The Aztecs.

This also sees the Doctor get engaged to Cameca via a drink of cocoa. I think the Doctor actually felt bad for breaking her heart. Of course the Doctor finally made it to the alter almost 50 years later with the wedding of River Song.

It's not accident that the Doctor's first two companions are a science teacher and a history teacher. The story, for many years, fall into one of these two categories. These early historicals were so well done, with the BBC excelling at costume historical dramas. In the late 90's, I took a cruise to the Caribbean and when on an excursion to Mayan ruins in Mexico. When I climbed to the top of the step pyramid, I could imagine Barbara on her throne, Ian fighting Ixta, and the Doctor in the garden. It's because of this Doctor Who story that I appreciated the history and culture of these people so much more as I walked the ground they lived upon and climbed the temples they died upon.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Aztecs_(Doctor_Who)

Next episode- The Sensorites!

5. The Keys of Marinus

After the sweeping vistas of 13th century China, we are now flung forward to far future on the planet Marinus. This time the TARDIS is being held hostage and the Doctor and crew have to retrieve 5 keys spread across the face of Marinus to get the TARDIS back. And thus the adventure continues.

Written my the creator of the Daleks Terry Nation, it was the only time the writer ventured outside of his creations. The Voord are actually quite interesting and could have been developed into a much more sinister adversary. But here they are not much more than background dressing and are sadly under utilized.

This story could have been told in 4 episodes but there is a bit of padding, with two whole episodes without the Doctor! Today those would be called "Doctor-lite episodes". In my timeline, I first watched season 16- "The Key to Time" which took the Doctor 6 stories to gather 6 pieces of the Key to Time. When I finally saw the Keys of Marinus for the first time, I saw the story roots of what became the Key to Time. In surveying the grand tapestry of stories that Doctor Who has woven over 50 years, I can appreciate this story's place in history and the foundation it laid for decades to come.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Keys_of_Marinus

Next thrilling episode- The Aztecs!!

4. Marco Polo

The greatest tragedy that ever occurred in Doctor Who wasn't the Daleks killing millions of innocent people, or the Cybermen converting whole civilizations, it's that not every episode of Doctor Who exists today. At some point in the late 60's/ early 70's, the BBC randomly destroyed tapes in their library to make room for more tapes. To date, there are 106 episode of Doctor Who missing from existence. Many episodes were found over the years, across the world, and there is always hope that more will be found in time. But we now arrive at the first victim of this senseless extermination.

Marco Polo was a 7 episode story from early 1964 and none of it exists in video. It was the first "celebrity historical" with the title character taking our TARDIS crew across Cathay (a/k/a China) to Peking (a/k/a Beijing) to see Kublai Khan. There still exists telesnaps from the production and the audio soundtrack with linking narration. So despite the lack of video, we can still experience this wonderful story.

A special feature of The Edge of Destruction DVD is a 30-minute telesnap reconstruction set to the original's television soundtrack. While this condensed version can't fully show the depth and breath of the full 7 episodes, it does provide a lovely morsel to enjoy. It portrays Marco Polo as a very thoughtful leader, with many layers and a myriad of motivations. The program continues to show the history as a treacherous place, filled with peril and danger. Our time team is once again held captive, with Marco holding on to the TARDIS as a gift for Khan. Only by the keen intellect of the Doctor does he win the TARDIS back.

I have listened to the television soundtrack many times over the years and have grown to appreciate the story. The audio version does allow ones imagination to create the vistas and landscapes this story took our crew through. I am sure the full television episodes were a treat, to show far off locations, exotic peoples, and a great adventure.

The new series has made the "celebrity historical" a staple of every season with the likes of Charles Dickens, Queen Victoria, Shakespeare, Agatha Christie, and VanGough. These episodes are some of the most popular and highly acclaimed of nuWho. But in this year of celebration, these episodes owe their existence to this story.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marco_Polo_(Doctor_Who)

Next episode- The Keys of Marinus!

3. The Edge of Destruction

From the far flung past to the far flung future, we now get a little 2 part story set entirely Inside the Ship. And I have to say, this is probably my favorite 1st Doctor story. It showcases the 4 lead actors so well. It is a master class in psychological drama. It begins to reveal the TARDIS as more than just a ship. By the end of the story, the crew has been broken apart and put back together for the better and sets the show on a course we're still seeing today.

In An Unearthly Child, the antagonist were the cavemen. In The Daleks, the title character were the antagonists. Each captured, tortured, and put the Doctor, Susan, Barbara and Ian through the paces. Each time reacting to the elements and enemies in front of them.

This time, they're trapped inside the TARDIS and have no one to fight with exempt themselves. The tension from the internal strife becomes so thick you can cut it with a sonic screwdriver. In the forging of this crew, this is the final challenge that brings a more lasting cohesion and comradery that will continue on for adventures to come.

In the classic series, they never did another story set entirely in one set. In the new series, the episode 'Midnight' with David Tennant was set entirely inside a shuttle craft. Rumor has it that one of the upcoming Matt Smith episode will be set entirely, once again, inside the TARDIS. And I for one can't wait!

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Edge_of_Destruction

Up next: Marco Polo!

2. The Daleks

Ah the Daleks. What more can you say about the Daleks?
If the previous story kicked open the TARDIS door, then this story pushed you through it and took you for a ride!
This story secured the popularity of both Doctor Who and of the Daleks.

Several hallmark Doctor attributes are introduced here:
-over riding desire to explore - check
-instigating a revolution- check
-rallying an army- check
-getting your companions to do all the work- check
-defeating an evil force- check

To watch this story from 2013, the Daleks seem almost silly. The characters have evolved so much of the past 50 years and have become much more of a formidable enemy. The idea that at this point, they're trapped in their own city because they're solely powered by the static electricity in the floor is such wooly thinking. And in the end, they were all defeated. But somehow, they came back and kept coming back to battle the Doctor.

The first story I saw the Daleks in was Genesis of the Daleks from 1975. This story introduced Davros, the creator of the Daleks. He featured in all subsequent Daleks stories through the end of the original series in 1989. So for me for a long time, there were no Daleks without Davros. It wasn't until some time later when my PBS started airing the episodes from the 1960's and early 70's with the first three Doctors did I get to experience the Daleks as a threat by themselves, not over shadowed by their creator.

When the series returned in 2005, the new producers of the show were smart in returning the Daleks to this position and have retained this stance. But in peeling back the years and returning to this true "genesis" of the Daleks, we see the purest and simplest iteration of the characters and we see the genius of Terry Nation, the true creator of the Daleks. Last episode I spoke of catching lightning in a bottle and they once again caught it with the Daleks!

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Daleks

Next episode- The Edge of Destruction!

1. An Unearthly Child

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. -Lao-tzu

And so at 11:23 am, I began this epic journey. No matter how many times I have watched it, I simply love the first episode of Doctor Who. When they talk about "capturing lightning in a bottle", they were talking about episode 1 of An Unearthly Child. Simply magic on the television screen.

It is wonderful that through this program, we can travel back in time and space to November 23, 1963 to see the birth of an institution. Being first introduced to Ian and Barbara, school teachers of the Coal Hill School, provides the "every day person" point of view. And through their eyes, we are introduced to the very unearthly Susan, her mysterious grandfather, and a police box that's not a police box. From the moment Barbara forces her way and we take our first step inside the TARDIS, life as we know it is never the same. The way the Doctor is portrayed, as a grumpy, old man, often characterized as the "anti-hero", was actually quite amusing. He essentially kidnapped Barbara and Ian and went on the run. The first time we see the TARDIS take off still gives me chills. Pure magic.

The remaining three episodes of the story are set in pre-historic times, with a bunch of cavemen fighting over fire to rule the clan. Frankly not the most exciting stuff but it does showcase our four leads actors in dire situations and the beginning of their uneasy alliance. Their imprisonment provided the crucible for extraneous issues to burn away to the most simplest situation- survival. Ironically the Doctor is not the hero of the story but Ian and Barbara.

Being a child of the 70's, my first episodes of Doctor Who were the 4th Doctor Tom Baker's. It wasn't until much later that my local PBS station started broadcasting the episodes of William Hartnell (the 1st Doctor). It was interesting to finally see the genesis of Doctor Who and the beginnings of what I had grown to take for granted in the course of the show.

Many of the tropes and conventions used in this first episode were used again in the first episode of the new series relaunch "Rose" in 2005. Despite the time that had passed and a very changed world, the magic remained and lightning was capture twice in our bottle.

www.wikipedia.org/wiki/An_Unearthly_Child

Next episode- The Daleks!