The Doctor Who series has long had an aura of mystery about it, especially with its strange soundtrack and the mysterious and eccentric doctor. But unfortunately the thrills usually end there. The primary character is intriguing, but he is not given interesting things to say or do and he is put into plot situations that are farcical, boring, or downright ordinary. I don't object to the fact that this series lacks good special effects and good actors, because obviously the producers were working on a shoe string budget. But rarely, if ever, have good scripts been written for this series.
Perhaps the best of the series was in the 1970s when Tom Baker was the doctor. Tom at least could appreciate how ridiculous his character's situation was and was able to make fun of the plot. This approach has made even the more dreary plot lines bearable. Yet with the arrival of Peter Davison as doctor, the Doctor Who series truly reached a whole new nadir. Davison's public school accent made him come across as an English school master, which is totally wrong for a series that had long since lost its inspiration and whose episodes were becoming sillier and sillier. Then with the arrival of Colin Baker, you had a more interesting Doctor Who that was unstable, mean spirited, mercurial, and aristocratic. Unfortunately, Colin Baker was not given roles that were as good as the character which he portrayed. The slugs were ridiculous. The Cybermen were not funny. The Dalleks, to their credit, at least appreciated how lame it was for the producers to bring in an Elvis impersonator to spice up the show. And you know a show is doing badly, when the producers imagine that introducing an outdated star like Elvis is somehow hip. Only in Trial of a Time Lord does Colin Baker come close to realizing his true potential. As for the next Doctor Who, played by Sylvester McCoy, the less said about him the better.
In short, the Doctor Who series was a major disappointment overall. But if you really want to watch the Doctor in action, then let me suggest that you stick to the Tom Baker episodes. They are either good or in the worst case scenario the least bad.
Perhaps the best of the series was in the 1970s when Tom Baker was the doctor. Tom at least could appreciate how ridiculous his character's situation was and was able to make fun of the plot. This approach has made even the more dreary plot lines bearable. Yet with the arrival of Peter Davison as doctor, the Doctor Who series truly reached a whole new nadir. Davison's public school accent made him come across as an English school master, which is totally wrong for a series that had long since lost its inspiration and whose episodes were becoming sillier and sillier. Then with the arrival of Colin Baker, you had a more interesting Doctor Who that was unstable, mean spirited, mercurial, and aristocratic. Unfortunately, Colin Baker was not given roles that were as good as the character which he portrayed. The slugs were ridiculous. The Cybermen were not funny. The Dalleks, to their credit, at least appreciated how lame it was for the producers to bring in an Elvis impersonator to spice up the show. And you know a show is doing badly, when the producers imagine that introducing an outdated star like Elvis is somehow hip. Only in Trial of a Time Lord does Colin Baker come close to realizing his true potential. As for the next Doctor Who, played by Sylvester McCoy, the less said about him the better.
In short, the Doctor Who series was a major disappointment overall. But if you really want to watch the Doctor in action, then let me suggest that you stick to the Tom Baker episodes. They are either good or in the worst case scenario the least bad.