Doctor Who, the long running British science fiction series that in 2023 celebrates it’s 60th anniversary has been captivating audiences for decades. Children who grew up watching the show when it first started and were hiding behind the sofa, afraid of the Daleks and Cybermen are now drawing their pensions.
While the modern era, or New Who as some call it, has garnered significant acclaim, it is essential not to overlook the memorable episodes of classic Doctor Who. Whilst some of these stories may lack the benefits of modern visual effects and seem dated in ways to the modern eye, without them there wouldn’t be the Doctor Who that we have today…for better or worse.
Here are some of the great classic Doctor Who stories to check out for Whovians worldwide! To quote the Ninth Doctor, they’re ‘Fantastic!’
The Genesis of the Daleks (1975)
This iconic Fourth Doctor (Tom Baker) episode shows the origins of the Daleks, which is such a hugely important part of Doctor Who lore. An idea that would be great to revisit in this story is that the Doctor contemplates whether he should change the course of history and prevent the creation of the Daleks. With this thought-provoking situation, fans everywhere would debate what they would do if they were the Doctor. For many, it’s the Doctor’s compassion that is his greatest strength and also his greatest vulnerability.
City of Death (1979)
City of Death is another Fourth Doctor serial, and takes the Doctor and Romana on a time-traveling adventure in Paris, where they encounter art theft, and they contend with time manipulation from an alien art collector named Count Scarlioni who is the last of the Jagaroth. The Count wants to steal the Mona Lisa. This was one of the most watched Doctor Who stories of all time with over 16 million viewers when it originally aired.
The Tomb of the Cybermen (1967)
The Second Doctor (Patrick Troughton) and his companions Jamie and Victoria discover an ancient tomb on the planet Telos. This episode marked the return of the Cybermen and is had the great concept of them being trapped in a tomb…that is until a group of archaeologists unearth them that is. Unlike a mummy locked into a pyramid, these Cybermen are very much still alive! Or as alive as a Cyberman can be anyway…
The Caves of Androzani (1984)
The Caves of Androzani is a Fifth Doctor serial where the Doctor and his companion Peri face danger and betrayal on the planet Androzani Minor. Peter Davison is on excellent form in the story and The Caves of Androzani is a gripping and unforgettable adventure that showcases the series at its finest. This was certainly a high point for the Fifth Doctor, and it’s just a shame that things would start to take a downwards spiral for the show just a couple of years later.
Pyramids of Mars (1975)
Another Fourth Doctor story. I know, but Tom Baker was the longest running Doctor, and the show really hit its stride during this era, so there were bound to be a bunch of them featured on this list. The Doctor and Sarah Jane Smith encounter Sutekh the Destroyer (move over Drax), an ancient Egyptian god who possesses Marcus Scarman. Sutekh has the power to destroy worlds and sets traps for the Doctor including robot mummys.
Remembrance of the Daleks (1988)
The Doctor returns to 1963 and Coal Hill School where the show started all the way back in the very first episode. This time we have the Seventh Doctor and Ace who are having adventures where they try to stop two factions of Daleks from acquiring a powerful Time Lord artifact, the Hand of Omega. A great story that sees the Doctor face to face with Davros and take the drastic action to destroy Skaro. This leaves the Doctor and Ace to contemplate if the Doctor was right in his actions. An interesting moment in the show where we can question if the enemies of the Doctor may lead him to becoming what he hates the most.
The Dalek Invasion of Earth (1964)
The second Dalek story in the history of the show after the huge success of the first Dalek story. The Doctor, Susan, Ian and Barbara arrive in a post-apocalyptic Earth and join a resistance movement to fight against the Dalek invasion. As well as being the return of the Daleks, this episode also marks the final appearance of Susan as one of the main companions of the Doctor.
The War Games (1969)
The Second Doctor has to stop the War Chief in what would be the final episode of Patrick Troughton before his forced change of appearance. This was a time before the creators of the show came up with the term ‘regeneration’ to describe the Doctor turning into another actor. This was also an early example of companions having their memories of the Doctor erased as would happen multiple times in the years to follow. This episode is a great send off for the Second Doctor as the idea of the War Chief pitting soldiers and warriors from various time periods into battle is a great one.
What are some of your favourite classic era Doctor Who episodes? Let us know in the comments!
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