Classic WHO (1963-1989)

From Hartnell to McCoy

Doctor Who started in 1963, created by Sydney Newman, who was in charge at the BBC, and produced by Verity Lambert, the show’s first producer who helped make it a success. It quickly became very popular, especially during the "Dalek Mania" in the 1960s, when the Daleks became famous and loved by many. When the show started being made in color in the early 1970s, it reached its best period with creative stories and actors like Tom Baker. Even though many people loved it, the small budget sometimes made the special and practical effects look cheap, and some people thought the show was “ridiculous.” The fandom was very strong in the UK, with fans watching every week and going to events and crowded conventions, and it also gained some fans in the United States. In the 1980s, with producer John Nathan-Turner, the show faced some problems and less people watched it. Because of this and decisions by the BBC, the show was canceled in 1989, ending the classic Doctor Who era.

Having already watched Classic Who in its entirety, including the reconstructions of the missing episodes, I have to admit I’m a little biased. I had such a strong love for the black and white era and the Pertwee years that they ended up overshadowing the eras of the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Doctors. I think part of the reason is that the early seasons had a unique atmosphere and charm, and the Third Doctor’s action-focused style really stood out to me. Because of that, I may not have given the following eras a fair chance at the time. I did enjoy the Seventh Doctor’s era quite a lot, especially for its more ambitious storytelling and darker tone. This time, I hope to approach each era with a more open mind and maybe find a new appreciation for the Fourth and Fifth Doctors, whose stories are often considered some of the best in the show’s history.

It might take some time before there’s a good number of reviews in this section. That’s mainly because I’ll be focusing first on more recent episodes, starting with New Who and Disney Who. To fans of the First and Second Doctors, sorry in advance. Reviews of the missing episodes may take even longer to appear. It’s not that I don’t enjoy them. Far from it! I just find it hard to judge stories fairly when we don’t have all the original footage. Also, waiting gives a chance for any of those lost episodes to be recovered or for BBC Studios to release new animations in the meantime. Shada is another special case. It won’t be easy to review properly either, for similar reasons.

“One day I shall come back. Yes, I shall come back. Until then, there must be no regrets, no tears, no anxieties. Just go forward in all your beliefs and prove to me that I am not mistaken in mine.” - The First Doctor

24 sept. 2025

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