Doctor Who
Summary
As a mark - new era ofDoctor Wholaunches on Disney+ , viewers may be looking for a road map as to how to sail 60 years of significant stories and mythology . The beauty ofDoctor Whois that its very data format provides multiple jumping on points for prospective audiences . Unlike other big television shows , Doctor Whois not anchor to one particular time and post , and so there ’s the possibility that every tripper in the TARDIS is someone ’s first . All that being said , there is a rich tapestry of mythology that tiesDoctor Who ’s six decades together , and inspect the detail of that lore can be an intoxicating experience .
It can also be an unbelievably intimidating prognosis , what with almosteveryDoctor Whostoryfor all 13 Doctors now available at the detent of a push . Piecing togetherDoctor Who ’s history at random is a hugely enjoyable fretsaw puzzler , but there will always be hoi polloi who want to dilute to the chase . With that in mind , there are a number of importantDoctor Whostories from the past 60 years that work cardinal moment in the on-going tarradiddle of the Doctor , their companions , and their many opposition .
20An Unearthly Child - The First Doctor (William Hartnell)
Broadcast 23 November - 14 December 1963
While theongoingDoctor Whorights disputemakes it hard to watch the first adventure , " An Unearthly Child " , it ’s worth go after down on DVD . This is whereDoctor Whobegan , and the pilot installment is a masterclass in building atmosphere and tautness . Ian Chesterton ( William Russell ) and Barbara Wright ( Jacqueline Hill ) accidentally stumble into the TARDIS while investigating the living arrangements of their unknown schoolchild , Susan Foreman ( Carole Ann Ford ) . The subsequent caveman adventure is n’t quite as atmospheric , but William Hartnell ’s Doctor immediately makes an printing as an angry and mistrustful alien traveler , whose irascibility belie a more sore side .
19The Daleks - The First Doctor (William Hartnell)
Broadcast 21 December 1963 - 1 February 1964
Terry Nation ’s " The Daleks " is whenDoctor Whotruly get in , as it introduced his archway - enemies . The Daleks became cultural icons in their own rightfulness , with a short - lived picture franchise , comic landing strip escapade and selling . The serial publication has been re - edited and colour as part ofDoctor Who ’s 60th day of remembrance celebrations , which pretend it a perfect time to revisit this first meeting between the Doctor and the Daleks . Terry Nation essentially established the formatting ofDoctor Who ’s foreign adventures ; the Doctor and their supporter teaming up with oppressed rebels to overthrow their oppressors .
18The Tenth Planet - The First Doctor (William Hartnell)
Broadcast 8 - 29 October 1966
positive feedback inDoctor Whois the paint to the show ’s longevity as it provide a science fiction account for changing the lead actor . With William Hartnell ’s health failing , the BBC had to find a direction to interchange their leading man . And so , the concept of the Doctor regenerating every cell in their body to become someone else was carry . " The Tenth Planet " was the story that introduced this theme , alongside being the first appearing ofDoctor Who ’s other big bad , the Cybermen . Steven Moffat later bear protection to the grandness of " The Tenth Planet " by post Peter Capaldi ’s Twelfth Doctor back there prior to his regeneration into Jodie Whittaker ; the first regeneration from a male to female histrion .
17The Invasion - The Second Doctor (Patrick Troughton)
Broadcast 2 November - 21 December 1968
Patrick Troughton’sDoctor Whoera set up both the affectionately named " base under besieging " trope , and also introduce the United Nations Intelligence Taskforce into canyon . " The Invasion " is UNIT ’s debut story , in which the fresh spring system has to battle a Cyber encroachment of contemporary Earth . They ’re aided in their struggle by the Second Doctor and Jamie ( Frazer Hines ) , who had both previously met now - Brigadier Alistair Gordon Lethbridge Stewart ( Nicholas Courtney ) in " The Web of Fear " . building block are now an indelible part ofDoctor Whocanon , and will be watch fighting the Toymaker ( Neil Patrick Harris ) in the 60th day of remembrance special " The Giggle . "
16The War Games - The Second Doctor (Patrick Troughton)
Patrick Troughton ’s finalDoctor Whostory , " The War Games " is an date of reference - shifting here and now for the show . It ’s the first story to properly introduce the Doctor ’s people - the Time Lords - and it ’s the story where their unmanageable human relationship with their own people is first teased . The Doctor summons the Time Lords to serve him to vote out the War Chief ( Edward Brayshaw ) who had been enslaving armies from across human history in barbarous games . The Doctor sacrificing their exemption and their life to salvage the lifespan of innumerable others would become a define trait of the character , and it startle here withDoctor Who ’s hale regeneration .
15Terror of the Autons - The Third Doctor (Jon Pertwee)
Broadcast 2 - 23 January 1971
The Doctor ’s arch - nemesis , the ratter Time Lord screw as the Master ( Roger Delgado ) is introduced in " Terror of the Autons . " in effect the Moriarty to the Doctor ’s Sherlock Holmes , the Master would become a key part ofDoctor Whomythology from 1971 onward . The Doctor and the Master ’s rules of engagement are hard found in this fib , in which the Master tries to kill the Third Doctor ( Jon Pertwee ) , mighty up until he realise he needs the help of his bane to live the coming of the Nestene Consciousness . This is generally how their fractuious friendship would encounter out for the next five decade .
14The Three Doctors - The Third Doctor (Jon Pertwee)
Broadcast 30 December 1972 - 20 January
" The Three Doctor " is essentiallyDoctor Who ’s first day of remembrance special , even though - as the season 10 premiere - it aired month before the special sidereal day . It found that theDoctor ’s regeneration do n’t always like each otherand that they can team up during the gravest emergencies . In " The Three Doctors " , William Hartnell , Patrick Troughton and Jon Pertwee are brought together by the Time Lords to vote down their fallen idol , Omega ( Stephen Thorne ) from destroying the universe . As well as establish the multi - Doctor tale , " The Three doctor " prove some of Gallifrey ’s pre - history , lending some grain to the Doctor ’s mysterious origins .
13The Time Warrior - The Third Doctor (Jon Pertwee)
Broadcast 15 December 1973 - 5 January 1974
It make over a decade beforeDoctor Whorevealed the name of the Doctor ’s family planet , and it gets it ’s first mention in Robert Holmes ' classical story " The Time Warrior . " The story also introduce one ofDoctor Who ’s best second - grade villain , the Sontarans , and beloved companion Sarah Jane Smith ( Elisabeth Sladen ) . Sarah was such a dear fellow that she would subsequently come back toDoctor Whoopposite David Tennant ’s 10th Doctor , and even acquire a show of her own . The comer of Lis Sladen as Sarah signal the get-go of a aureate age forDoctor Whothat still resonate today , and it start in " The Time Warrior . "
12Genesis of the Daleks - The Fourth Doctor (Tom Baker)
Broadcast 8 March - 12 April 1975
When Russell T Davies brought backDoctor Whoin 2005 , he gestate of the Time War as a key part of the show ’s mythology . RTD institute thatDoctor Who ’s Time Warbegan with " Book of Genesis of the Daleks " , when the Time Lords tasked the Fourth Doctor ( Tom Baker ) with ward off their creation . The Doctor ’s moral dilemma over whether to place race murder is one ofDoctor Who ’s finest moment as it tackles the complexities of such a decisiveness . The Doctor ’s decision would later have wide - reaching consequences for the entireDoctor Whouniverse , but it also fleshed out the Daleks ' backstory by introducing their creator Davros ( Michael Wisher ) .
11The Deadly Assassin - The Fourth Doctor (Tom Baker)
Broadcast 30 October - 20 November 1976"
Almost 13 age afterDoctor Whodebuted on BBC One , " The Deadly Assassin " is the first lesson of a story fully set on Gallifrey . It ’s also a gripping political thriller , in which the Master ( Peter Pratt ) frame the Doctor for the assassination of the Lord President of Gallifrey . The story is famous for boom the mythology of the Time Lords and establishing the 13 re-formation rule . 47 age afterward , and that limit has been shattered by various later revelations . However , Robert Holmes ' portraying of the Doctor ’s home plate planet as a corrupt society continued to influence future Gallifrey stories in theDoctor Whocanon until as lately as 2020 .
" The Deadly Assassin " was " The Timeless Children " of its twenty-four hours , inspire craze from lover , including a memorable follow-up from the Doctor of the Church Who Appreciation Society which need : " WHAT HAS happen TO THE MAGIC OF DOCTOR WHO ? "
