So, you want to watch Classic Doctor Who but you're not so sure on how much to watch? You've come to the right place! This guide has several different tracks depending on what you're interested in:
This guide is currently a work in progress, and only goes as far as I've watched so far. I started watching through the episodes for this guide in early May 2018, and I'm still going strong.
Note: be aware that a lot of classic (and modern) Doctor Who episodes include flashing colours and lights, which may cause issues.
William Hartnell played the role of the first Doctor. The early days of Doctor Who are a lot slower paced than a modern viewer would expect, but they have a certain charm to them, and by the second season the pacing has already improved greatly.
| Story | Watch? | Details |
|---|
Season 1 (1963—1964 )previous season ⬏next season ⬎ |
An Unearthly Child | Story Number | 1 | | Number of Episodes | 4 |
| Partial watch,only episode 1 | | Synopsis | Two schoolteachers, Barbara and Ian, follow one of their students (Susan) home, only to discover a strange policebox in a junkyard... | | Review | The last 3 episodes of this story are dry and difficult to watch. They have several repeated scenes, and the plot is not very interesting | | Major Plot Changes | Show/hideThe Doctor, his grand-daughter Susan, Barbara, and Ian are all introduced in this story |
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The Daleks | Story Number | 2 | | Number of Episodes | 7 |
| Don't watch,this story is incredibly slow paced, so I can't recommend it, unless you really want to watch the origin of the daleks. | | Synopsis | The Tardis crew land on the alien jungle planet Skaro, and are captured by a mutated race of people known as The Daleks... | | Review | The main cast is fleshed out a lot in this story, and there is a lot of tension. But the pace is excruciatingly slow. | | Major Plot Changes | Show/hideThe Daleks are introduced |
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The Edge of Destruction | Story Number | 3 | | Number of Episodes | 2 |
| Maybe | | Synopsis | Something is wrong with the Tardis, and it seems like one of the crew has sabotaged the ship... | | Review | Very tense and mysterious episodes – however the second episode drags on a bit, and plot contrivances force everyone to act out of character |
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Marco Polo Full Reconstruction | Story Number | 4 | | Number of Episodes | 7 | | Missing Episodes | All |
| Maybe,if you're ok with a reconstruction (Note – this story contains white actors in makeup to make them appear Asian) | | Synopsis | The travellers arive in China and meet Marco Polo. He coerces them into joining his caravan, and they end up embroiled in political intrigue in the far east... | | Review | One of the first historical stories, and it works really well as a contrast to the stories around it. The villains are more complex and the problems they face are more personal. Not much action – which means the lack of video isn't a problem. |
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The Keys of Marinus | Story Number | 5 | | Number of Episodes | 6 |
| ✨ Highly Recommended ✨ | | Synopsis | The Tardis crew must travel all across the planet of Marinus to find the keys to the AI that runs their society... | | Review | This is a big story, divided into several little ones – a format that works very well, and mitigates a lot of the pacing issues the early seasons had. However the script was rushed, and you can tell – as such, this story isn't recommended because of how good it is, but because of how it is emblematic of the first season. |
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The Aztecs | Story Number | 6 | | Number of Episodes | 4 |
| Watch | | Synopsis | Barbara is mistaken as an Aztec God, and attempts to use this mistake to end the human sacrifices of the Aztecs, despite the Doctor's warnings about changing history... | | Review | The Aztecs is a "historical" story, but it's such an innacurate view of the situation that it can hardly be called that at all. However, it is a very interesting plot. | | Major Plot Changes | Show/hideThis story introduces the concept of fixed points in time |
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The Sensorites | Story Number | 7 | | Number of Episodes | 6 |
| Maybe,it is very interesting, but also very slow. | | Synopsis | The Tardis lands on a ship, trapped in orbit around a planet of psychic aliens known as the Sensorites... | | Review | The sensorites is an interesting idea..... but it's very slow. I remember enjoying it as a child, but now? I can't really recommend it to everyone |
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The Reign of Terror Partial Reconstruction | Story Number | 8 | | Number of Episodes | 6 | | Missing Episodes | 4, and 5 |
| Maybe,but note there are missing episodes, which makes it harder to get through | | Synopsis | The Doctor decides to take Barbara and Ian home... but accidentally lands them all in the middle of the Reign of Terror, and they instead have to try not to lose their heads... | | Review | Surprisingly interesting. The 2 episodes which are missing footage are a slog to get through – without the motion, the pacing is more obviously slow |
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Season 2 (1964—1965 )previous season ⬏next season ⬎ |
The Planet of Giants | Story Number | 9 | | Number of Episodes | 3 |
| Watch | | Synopsis | The travellers find themselves on a planet much like Earth, but many times larger... | | Review | Entertaining and fun, and a good start to the second season – although some of the actors give rather stilted performances |
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The Dalek Invasion of Earth | Story Number | 10 | | Number of Episodes | 6 |
| Watch,just be warned of the usual slowness of the early seasons | | Synopsis | The tardis crew land in a mysteriously abandoned london, and discover that the daleks have invaded earth... | | Review | This story is very important and very good, but at the same time the pacing is still incredibly slow. Definitely more worth a watch than many of the other early stories | | Major Plot Changes | Show/hideSusan leaves the TARDIS to marry David, and help humanity to rebuild. The Doctor says a very heartfelt fairwell, and that scene alone is definitely worth watching. |
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The Rescue | Story Number | 11 | | Number of Episodes | 2 |
| ✨ Highly Recommended ✨ | | Synopsis | The two survivors of a spaceship crash are held in captivity by a mysterious alien... | | Review | Very short, and quite interesting. It introduces a new regular cast member, and does so quite well! | | Major Plot Changes | Show/hideVicki, a young crewmember of a crashed spaceship, joins the TARDIS crew. |
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The Romans | Story Number | 12 | | Number of Episodes | 4 |
| ✨ Highly Recommended ✨ | | Synopsis | The TARDIS crashes in Ancient Rome. After spending some time relaxing, The Doctor and Vicki impersonate a Lyre player and his assisstant, and Barbara and Ian are kidnapped to be sold as slaves... | | Review | Very, very good! And notable for using quite a lot of humour, which makes it stand out from the episodes around it |
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The Web Planet | Story Number | 13 | | Number of Episodes | 6 |
| Don't watch | | Synopsis | The TARDIS is pulled down to the insect planet of Vortis, where they struggle to help it's former inhabitants reclaim the planet from the malignant Animus... | | Review | This story is incredibly dull, and full of obnoxious and annoying sounds. It's a shame – the concept is good, and they clearly put a lot of effort into making an alien planet with the sets and costumes. |
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The Crusade Partial Reconstruction | Story Number | 14 | | Number of Episodes | 4 | | Missing Episodes | 2, and 4 |
| Maybe,despite the reconstructions. (Note – this story contains white actors in makeup to make them look Middle-Eastern) | | Synopsis | The Tardis Crew find themselves embroiled in a conflict between Richard the Third and Saladin... | | Review | Exceptional quality, with some incredibly good acting. The two reconstructed episodes are, of course, harder to watch, but the other episodes in this story make up for it in spades. |
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The Space Museum | Story Number | 15 | | Number of Episodes | 4 |
| Watch | | Synopsis | The TARDIS is knocked slightly out of sync with time, and the crew have to fight against the clock to avoid a horrible fate – being stuffed and displayed in a museum... | | Review | An all-round decent story. It was clearly intended to be a somewhat self-aware parody of the format of the show, but is played completely straight, which is weird. |
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The Chase | Story Number | 16 | | Number of Episodes | 6 |
| Watch | | Synopsis | The TARDIS crew are chased through time and space by the daleks.. | | Review | An important story, that is told well | | Major Plot Changes | Show/hideBarbara and Ian are sick of travelling with the Doctor, and want to go home. They take the dalek time machine and return back to Earth, to continue their lives. Steven, a human who had been imprisoned on the planet, manages to get into the TARDIS just before it dematerialises. |
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The Time Meddler | Story Number | 17 | | Number of Episodes | 4 |
| Watch | | Synopsis | The TARDIS lands in 1066, but Steven doesn't believe it – several anachronistic artifacts abound, and there's something strange about the local monk... | | Review | I like this story, even if it is a bit slow. | | Major Plot Changes | Show/hideThe Time Meddling Monk is introduced, as well as the idea that there are other people with TARDISes. |
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Season 3 (1965—1966 )previous season ⬏next season ⬎ |
Galaxy 4 Partial Reconstruction | Story Number | 18 | | Number of Episodes | 4 | | Missing Episodes | 1, 2, and 4 |
| Maybe,this story is missing a lot of footage. The reconstruction is well done, but it can be hard to sit through. (Note – this story contains more sexism than is usual) | | Synopsis | The TARDIS crew land on a planet on the brink of destruction, with two marooned species trying to escape it... | | Review | It's passable, nothing to really write home about. The Loose Cannons reconstruction works well, especially considering how little surviving footage they had to work with. |
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Mission to the Impossible Full Reconstruction | Story Number | 19 | | Number of Episodes | 1 | | Missing Episodes | All |
| Watch,if you're willing to watch a reconstruction | | Synopsis | A Space Security Agent attempts to warn Earth of the dalek's latest plan... (This episode is also known as "Dalek Cutaway", as it sets up things for the upcoming story "The Dalek's Master Plan") | | Review | This episode is very unique, because it does not feature the doctor or any companions at all. It's worth a watch, just for the sheer uniqueness of it. |
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The Myth Makers Full Reconstruction | Story Number | 20 | | Number of Episodes | 4 | | Missing Episodes | All |
| Don't watch | | Synopsis | The Doctor and companions find themselves in the battle for ancient troy... and accidentally make the myth of the trojan horse come true... | | Review | A silly concept, with poor execution – the trojans are portrayed as unbelievably dense, and then Vicki falls for one and runs off with him. I had trouble suspending my disbelief for this one. | | Major Plot Changes | Show/hideVicki stays with a warrior from Troy, to help him rebuild. (As I mentioned above, I did not find this a particularly realistic or interesting way for the character to be written out). As she leaves, she sends Katarina, a handmaiden, into the TARDIS to help the Doctor. |
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The Daleks Master Plan Partial Reconstruction | Story Number | 21 | | Number of Episodes | 12 | | Missing Episodes | 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, and 12 |
| Partial watch,don't watch episode 7 ("The Feast of Steven"). (Note – this story contains a white actor in makeup to make them appear Asian) | | Synopsis | Mavic Chen, the guardian of the solar system, is hatching a plan with the daleks that will allow them to take over the universe with a device known as The Time Destructor... | | Review | One of the darkest and most violent stories in the early show, and it is incredibly engaging... with the exception of the 7th episode, which was scheduled to be broadcast on Christmas Day. It doesn't tie in to the actual plot, and is basically just a farcical interlude | | Major Plot Changes | Show/hideKatarina is killed while saving the Doctor from an assailant (the first death of a companion in the series). Sara Kingdom, a former guard of Mavic Chen, joins the Doctor for a while, but she too meets her end. The story concludes with the Doctor and Steven lamenting their deaths. |
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The Massacre of St Bartholomew's Eve Full Reconstruction | Story Number | 22 | | Number of Episodes | 4 | | Missing Episodes | All |
| Don't watch | | Synopsis | The Tardis lands in Paris, just as tensions between the Protestants and the Catholics have reached their peak... | | Review | Not an awful story, and would be a 'Maybe' if it weren't for the fact that it's a reconstruction, and very difficult to watch. | | Major Plot Changes | Show/hideDodo Chaplet, the descendent of one of the characters in Paris, joins the TARDIS while it makes a pit-stop in 1960s london. |
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The Ark | Story Number | 23 | | Number of Episodes | 4 |
| Watch | | Synopsis | The Doctor, Steven, and Dodo land on a ship carrying humanity to a new home... but accidentally bring the common cold with them, which turns out to be fatal to the inhabitants... | | Review | A very good story from the classic era |
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The Celestial Toymaker Partial Reconstruction | Story Number | 24 | | Number of Episodes | 4 | | Missing Episodes | 1, 2, and 3 |
| Don't watch | | Synopsis | The TARDIS crew land in te Celestial Toymaker's domain, and have to play his games to earn their freedom... | | Review | Really just garbage. |
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The Gunfighters | Story Number | 25 | | Number of Episodes | 4 |
| Maybe | | Synopsis | The Doctor is mistaken for Doc Holiday, a famous outlaw in the wild west... | | Review | Not much to say – a solid story, and fairly fun to watch. |
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The Savages Full Reconstruction | Story Number | 26 | | Number of Episodes | 4 | | Missing Episodes | All |
| Maybe | | Synopsis | The far future. Humanity has reached new levels of peace and prosperity... but a sinister secret lies behind their success... | | Review | A very good story, that feels very well paced – one of the few reconstructions that I didn't have difficulty watching. | | Major Plot Changes | Show/hideSteven stays behind to help humanity rebuild and repay the savages for what they had done. |
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The War Machines | Story Number | 27 | | Number of Episodes | 4 |
| ✨ Highly Recommended ✨ | | Synopsis | The computer WOTAN is a wonderful invention, and is set to improve humanity... until it decides that humanity is no longer needed... | | Review | One of the most engaging doctor who stories, and very well worth the watch | | Major Plot Changes | Show/hideDodo is hypnotised so the doctor sends her to the country to recover. She decides to stay there. Polly and Ben, who are both major characters in this story, enter the TARDIS just before it dematerialises. |
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Season 4 (1966—1967 )previous season ⬏next season ⬎ |
The Smugglers Full Reconstruction | Story Number | 28 | | Number of Episodes | 4 | | Missing Episodes | All |
| Don't watch | | Synopsis | Polly and Ben do not believe that they can be travelling through time... and yet, they find themselves in Cornwall in the 17th century, right at the height of the smuggling era... | | Review | Boring and bland and racist, and even I had trouble watching through this one |
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The Tenth Planet Partial Reconstruction | Story Number | 29 | | Number of Episodes | 4 | | Missing Episodes | Only episode 4 |
| Watch | | Synopsis | Mondas, the Tenth Planet of the solar system, appears in the sky, bringing with it the cybermen, who are planning to drain the Earth's Energy... | | Review | This is a good story, however the doctor is absent for half of it, and thus we don't really get to see much of what made William Hartnell great. | | Major Plot Changes | Show/hideThe Doctor collapses, and only just makes it back into the tardis in time before he regenerates into the second doctor... |
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Patrick Troughton played the Second Doctor. The Second Doctor's stories are more action packed than the First Doctor's, and that brings a breath of fresh air. Unfortunately, many of the Second Doctor stories are missing.
| Story | Watch? | Details |
|---|
Season 4 (continued) (1966—1967 )previous season ⬏next season ⬎ |
The Power of the Daleks Full Reconstruction | Story Number | 30 | | Number of Episodes | 6 | | Missing Episodes | All |
| Watch,make sure to watch the animated re-release! | | Synopsis | The Doctor, in his new body, brings the TARDIS to Vulcan, where a dalek capsule has laid dormant for centuries... | | Review | An interesting take on a Dalek story, where humans cause more issues than the daleks do. |
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The Highlanders Full Reconstruction | Story Number | 31 | | Number of Episodes | 4 | | Missing Episodes | All |
| Maybe,if you can stand a reconstruction. (Note – this story uses the "man crossdresses for laughs" trope.) | | Synopsis | The travellers arrive just after the Battle of Culloden, in Scotland, and gain the trust of some desperate Jacobites... | | Review | One of the better historical stories (and the last). I'm glad that Doctor Who moved away from this format, but this was a good story regardless. | | Major Plot Changes | Show/hideJamie, a Scotsman they befriended, is invited to join the travellers in the TARDIS. |
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The Underwater Menace Partial Reconstruction | Story Number | 32 | | Number of Episodes | 4 | | Missing Episodes | 1, and 4 |
| Maybe | | Synopsis | The travellers find themselves in the underwater city of Atlantas, where a scientist has hatched a plan to raise Atlantas up... but at what cost? | | Review | A decent story, and still watchable - half of the episodes have been recovered. The costumes for the fish people are.... not amazing, however. |
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The Moonbase Partial Reconstruction | Story Number | 33 | | Number of Episodes | 4 | | Missing Episodes | 1, and 3 |
| Watch | | Synopsis | The Earth's weather is controlled with a device called a gravitron on the moon. The crew up there have been using it to control rain over crops, and to provide sunny beaches. But something is going wrong, and if they don't fix it, then the Earth's weather will become disastrously chaotic... the perfect time for the cybermen to show up... | | Review | A really good sci-fi story, and a really good cybermen story. |
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The Macra Terror Full Reconstruction | Story Number | 34 | | Number of Episodes | 4 | | Missing Episodes | All |
| ✨ Highly Recommended ✨,make sure to watch the 2019 animation! | | Synopsis | The Travellers arrive in a colony of humans, living a happy and idyllic life... but one man claims to have seen terrible crab-like creatures roaming the colony at night... | | Review | A very good story. This story also develops both Ben and Jamie as characters, and gives them an interesting dynamic. |
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The Faceless Ones Partial Reconstruction | Story Number | 35 | | Number of Episodes | 6 | | Missing Episodes | 2, 4, 5, and 6 |
| Watch | | Synopsis | The TARDIS lands in Gatwick Airport, right in the middle of a runway. While the travellers are evading the airport police, they discover that something sinister is happenning in the Chameleon Tours hanger... | | Review | This story is incredibly creepy and incredibly tense – possibly one of the creepiest stories. It is definitely worth watching, despite the reconstruction – if it wasn't missing episodes, it would have a <span class="highly"> ✨Highly Recommended✨</span> rating. | | Major Plot Changes | Show/hideBen and Polly, upon realising that they are back in London on the same day that they left, decide to return to their normal lives. |
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The Evil of the Daleks Partial Reconstruction | Story Number | 36 | | Number of Episodes | 7 | | Missing Episodes | 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 |
| Watch | | Synopsis | The Doctor and Jamie search for the TARDIS, and are lured into a trap – the Daleks want the Doctor to enhance them with the human factor, to make them undefeatable... | | Review | This is a really interesting dalek story – it's slow burn, but also the stakes are high and it manages to keep you on the edge of your seat for quite a lot of it. The reconstruction team went to a lot of effort to recreate this one, with several CGI sets and animated sections, making it one of the highest quality reconstructions. | | Major Plot Changes | Show/hideVictoria Waterfield joins the TARDIS. |
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Season 5 (1967—1968 )previous season ⬏next season ⬎ |
The Tomb of the Cybermen | Story Number | 37 | | Number of Episodes | 4 |
| ✨ Highly Recommended ✨ | | Synopsis | The travellers arrive on Telos, where they discover an expedition who are trying to uncover the Tomb of the Cybermen... | | Review | A very good story – it's a lot more action focused than previous cybermen stories, but it also has a lot more intrigue, and is well paced. The cinematography in this story is also much more impactful than usual. |
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The Abominable Snowmen Partial Reconstruction | Story Number | 38 | | Number of Episodes | 6 | | Missing Episodes | 1, 3, 4, 5, and 6 |
| Don't watch,unless you really want the background for The Web of Fear (Note – this story contains white actors in makeup to make them appear Asian) | | Synopsis | The TARDIS arrives in the Himalayas, nearby a Tibetan monestary. The travellers discover that the Yeti are real, and that something sinister is afoot... | | Review | Slow and dull, and the villain's plan doesn't make any sense. One of my least favourite stories so far. |
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The Ice Warriors Partial Reconstruction | Story Number | 39 | | Number of Episodes | 6 | | Missing Episodes | 2, and 3 |
| Maybe | | Synopsis | In the distant future, another ice age is beginning. A crew of scientists is desperately trying to slow the pace of the glaciers rolling across Britain, when they discover a creature in the Ice... | | Review | It's got some good action and drama, but the moral of the story is overt and... questionable |
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The Enemy of the World | Story Number | 40 | | Number of Episodes | 6 |
| ✨ Highly Recommended ✨ | | Synopsis | The TARDIS lands on Earth in the near future (2018), and The Doctor is mistaken for the Dictator of the World, Salamander... | | Review | Patrick Troughton's performance in this story (as both The Doctor <i>and</i> Salamander) is incredible, and that alone is worth the watch. The plot is full of intrigue and mystery, and kept me engaged the entire time. It's not your standard Doctor Who story, which might put some people off, but it's well written, well made, and well acted. |
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The Web of Fear Partial Reconstruction | Story Number | 41 | | Number of Episodes | 6 | | Missing Episodes | Only episode 3 |
| Watch,even if you don't usually watch reconstructions | | Synopsis | Avoiding a web in space, the Tardis lands in the London Underground, which is mysteriously abandoned – and full of yeti... | | Review | This is a good story, and quite frightening! Definitely worth watching – especially since the BBC reconstruction of the missing episode is quite good |
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Fury from the Deep Full Reconstruction | Story Number | 42 | | Number of Episodes | 6 | | Missing Episodes | All |
| Don't watch | | Synopsis | The crew find themselves on an oil rig, where the manager is a jerk and there's something in the pipes... | | Review | This story is not worth watching. Frustratingly, the story itself isn't bad, but it's exactly the kind of story that is ruined by having to be a reconstruction. | | Major Plot Changes | Show/hideVictoria decides she's had enough of running into danger everywhere they go, and stays behind. |
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The Wheel in Space Partial Reconstruction | Story Number | 43 | | Number of Episodes | 6 | | Missing Episodes | 1, 2, 4, and 5 |
| Watch,(Note – this story contains a white actor using a racist asian accent) | | Synopsis | The Tardis materialises on a spaceship, mysteriously abandoned, and floating towards a wheel in space... | | Review | A mysterious and tense story, and a good finale for this season | | Major Plot Changes | Show/hideZoe stows away aboard the Tardis |
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Season 6 (1968—1969 )previous season ⬏next season ⬎ |
The Dominators | Story Number | 44 | | Number of Episodes | 5 |
| Maybe | | Synopsis | The Dominators and the Quarks land on the planet of Dulkis, with a plan for destruction, and the Doctor has to convince the pacifist people of the planet to act... | | Review | This story has a dull start, but an exciting end. The Quarks are a cool enemy, but much of the rest of the story is predictable and formulaic. |
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The Mind Robber | Story Number | 45 | | Number of Episodes | 5 |
| Partial watch,only Episodes 1 and 5 | | Synopsis | The Tardis is buried in lava, causing a fluid link to blow. The Doctor uses the emergency unit to take it out of danger, which brings it outside of time and space... | | Review | This story has a lot of random events and a lot of faffing around, and it feels disjointed and rather pointless. The first episode is interesting, though: there's the strangeness with the Tardis being out of time, and a great scene at the end of the first episode. |
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The Invasion Partial Reconstruction | Story Number | 46 | | Number of Episodes | 8 | | Missing Episodes | 1, and 4 |
| Watch | | Synopsis | The Tardis crew re-unite with an old friend, Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart, who is investigating the company International Electromatics. The company's managing director is secretly working with the Cybermen, and intends to take over the world... | | Review | Very millitary focused, and a bit long, but definitely one of the better stories. |
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The Krotons | Story Number | 47 | | Number of Episodes | 4 |
| Watch | | Synopsis | The Krotons keep the Gonds enslaved, but no-one has ever seen the Krotons. At least, until the Doctor, Jamie, and Zoe arrive... | | Review | A well made (albeit fairly standard) Doctor Who story. |
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The Seeds of Death | Story Number | 48 | | Number of Episodes | 6 |
| Maybe | | Synopsis | The Earth has replaced all forms of transport with T-Mat, a teleportation system that is controlled from the moon. But the entire world falls into dissarray when the moon is taken over by the Ice Warriors... | | Review | A pretty good action story. |
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The Space Pirates Partial Reconstruction | Story Number | 49 | | Number of Episodes | 6 | | Missing Episodes | 1, 3, 4, 5, and 6 |
| Don't watch | | Synopsis | The space lanes are being plundered for argonite by a gang of space pirates.. and the TARDIS lands on one of their targets... | | Review | Formulaic, and the action focused plot makes it harder to sit through the reconstructions |
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The War Games | Story Number | 50 | | Number of Episodes | 10 |
| Watch | | Synopsis | The Doctor, Jamie, and Zoe find themselves in World War I... but just through a mysterious fog, there's the American Civil War, and the Romans... | | Review | A good story, and a good finale for the Second Doctor! Suprisingly, despite its length, it doesn't drag on | | Major Plot Changes | Show/hideThis story introduces the Time Lords. For his meddling in time, the Doctor is forced to regenerate, and Zoe and Jamie are sent back to their own time periods (after their memories of their travels with the Doctor have been wiped). |
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Jon Pertwee played the Third Doctor. Now that the Doctor has been exiled, the next few seasons are very Earth focused, which is a nice change. Another nice change is the change to colour.
| Story | Watch? | Details |
|---|
Season 7 (1970 )previous season ⬏next season ⬎ |
Spearhead from Space | Story Number | 51 | | Number of Episodes | 4 |
| ✨ Highly Recommended ✨ | | Synopsis | The Doctor has been exiled to Earth, and unwillingly helps UNIT out with a strange situation involving meteorites and living plastic... | | Review | A really good first story for Pertwee's Doctor. The acting is good, the plot is interesting. It's also 4 episodes, which is a very comfortable amount – this story definitely doesn't outstay its welcome. | | Major Plot Changes | Show/hideThis story introduces Liz Shaw, the Doctor's assistant at UNIT. It also establishes the Doctor's somewhat unwilling employment at UNIT. |
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Doctor Who and the Silurians | Story Number | 52 | | Number of Episodes | 7 |
| Maybe,but note there is some mild sexism | | Synopsis | A nuclear research facility is experiencing strange technical difficulties, the source of which is something old – the former rulers of the Earth... | | Review | Not as amazingly paced as the previous story, but still quite good. |
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The Ambassadors of Death | Story Number | 53 | | Number of Episodes | 7 |
| Maybe,the start and end are good, but the middle is slow | | Synopsis | There has been no contact from the astronauts on Mars Probe 7 since it launched from Mars several months ago, and the rescue mission mysteriously goes silent as well... | | Review | This story has a very good concept, but the pacing suddenly breaks down and it gets overly complex in the middle. |
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Inferno | Story Number | 54 | | Number of Episodes | 7 |
| Watch | | Synopsis | A project to drill through the Earth's Crust goes wrong, a green liquid is turning people into creatures, and the Doctor is sent to a parallel universe where no-one recognises him... | | Review | Tense and exciting, but just a bit too slow to be more highly recommended. The parallel universe is pulled off very well, and having the story progress in both universes at once is really interesting. | | Major Plot Changes | Show/hideThis is the last story to feature Liz Shaw (although her leaving is never shown). |
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Season 8 (1971 )previous season ⬏next season ⬎ |
Terror of the Autons | Story Number | 55 | | Number of Episodes | 4 |
| ✨ Highly Recommended ✨ | | Synopsis | The Doctor discovers that an evil renegade Time Lord known as The Master has arrived on Earth, and has allied himself with the Nestene Consciousness... | | Review | A very good story. The Master is played in an incredibly sinister way, which adds a lot to the story. | | Major Plot Changes | Show/hideJo Grant is introduced as the Doctor's new assistant. Captain Yates is introduced as an important character in UNIT. The Master is introduced. |
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The Mind of Evil | Story Number | 56 | | Number of Episodes | 6 |
| Watch,but note there are some racist caricatures of Chinese people | | Synopsis | A Professor has invented the Keller Machine, a device which removes negative impulses from the minds of convicted criminals. But then the process goes wrong, and a nearby Peace Conference starts going pear shaped... | | Review | A really good one – the acting is great, the plot is engaging, and the moral is interesting |
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The Claws of Axos | Story Number | 57 | | Number of Episodes | 4 |
| ✨ Highly Recommended ✨ | | Synopsis | Beings called Axons arrive in England in a space ship, and offer a miraculous substance called Axonite in exchange for power... | | Review | A very good story. It's particularly interesting that the Axons seem generous and friendly at first, which is refreshingly new for Doctor Who. |
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Colony in Space | Story Number | 58 | | Number of Episodes | 6 |
| Maybe,the plot is based on a racist allegory to the conflicts between settlers and First Nations people in Northern America | | Synopsis | The Time Lords send Jo and the Doctor to an Earth Colony in the year 2472, where a strange beast is attacking, the crops are wilting, and an Interplanetary Mining Corporation is trying to get the colonists to abandon their homes... | | Review | This story is somewhat meandering and bland – it's not awful, but it's also not very memorable. Additionally, the plotline involving the Master feels very unnecessary, and the story would be improved if he hadn't been inserted into the script |
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The Dæmons | Story Number | 59 | | Number of Episodes | 5 |
| Watch | | Synopsis | The Master is posing as a vicar in the rural town of Devil's End, an ancient barrow is being opened, and a Daemon is released... | | Review | A good story, that keeps you guessing | | Major Plot Changes | Show/hideThe Master is captured and imprisoned. |
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Season 9 (1972 )previous season ⬏next season ⬎ |
Day of the Daleks | Story Number | 60 | | Number of Episodes | 4 |
| ✨ Highly Recommended ✨,note there are 2 versions – the original, and one with better dalek voices (and some extra CGI) | | Synopsis | Political tensions are high, and a peace conference has been called by Sir Reginald Styles. But guerilla fighters from the future have travelled back in time to attempt to assassinate him... and the Daleks are trying to prevent that... | | Review | A fun romp, which is exciting and engaging all the way through. |
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The Curse of Peladon | Story Number | 61 | | Number of Episodes | 4 |
| Watch | | Synopsis | The planet of Peladon has invited the Galactic Federation to hold a conference, to see if Peladon can join. But civil disturbances are increasing, the delegates are endangered, and someone is trying to frame The Doctor... | | Review | A really good story, and the concept is quite unique. The only issue is the first episode is a bit dull. |
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The Sea Devils | Story Number | 62 | | Number of Episodes | 6 |
| Watch | | Synopsis | A colony of aquatic Silurians (or Sea Devils) have begun to wake up in the ocean... right next to where The Master is being held prisoner... | | Review | A great story. The Master adds a lot of depth to the story, and makes this more than just a sequel to The Silurians | | Major Plot Changes | Show/hideThe Master escapes prison. |
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The Mutants | Story Number | 63 | | Number of Episodes | 6 |
| Watch | | Synopsis | The Doctor and Jo are sent to the frontier planet Solos, in the dying days of Earth's intergalactic empire, where a Marshall is mistreating the local population, a scientist is messing with the atmosphere, and the native people are mutating into strange creatures... | | Review | A very good and interesting story, that touches on a lot of interesting concepts. The political angle it takes near the beginning is very interesting, and the sci-fi angle it takes near the end keeps the story from dragging on too long. |
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The Time Monster | Story Number | 64 | | Number of Episodes | 6 |
| Maybe | | Synopsis | The Master is attempting to summon the ancient god of Atlantis, Kronos, a creature from outside of time with great powers. | | Review | An ok story, but the initial scenes in Atlantis are a bit dull and the Master's actions make no sense. |
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Season 10 (1972—1973 )previous season ⬏next season ⬎ |
The Three Doctors | Story Number | 65 | | Number of Episodes | 4 |
| ✨ Highly Recommended ✨ | | Synopsis | A black hole is sucking up all the universe's energy, and the Time Lords have no idea what to do. The Doctor needs to work with his past selves in order to fix a problem this big... | | Review | A very good story, and very suitable for the 10th Anniversary. Seeing Troughton and Pertwee interact together is great, and equally great is seeing them solve problems in their own different ways. I wish that Hartnell had been able to have a more active role, but his relatively minimal presence didn't impact my enjoyment of the story. |
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Carnival of Monsters | Story Number | 66 | | Number of Episodes | 4 |
| Watch | | Synopsis | The Doctor and Jo find themselves trapped inside a miniscope – a miniature zoo... | | Review | A fun story. |
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Frontier in Space | Story Number | 67 | | Number of Episodes | 6 |
| ✨ Highly Recommended ✨ | | Synopsis | In the 26th century, the Draconian empire and the empire of Earth have a peace treaty. But humans have been attacking Draconian ships, and Draconians have been attacking human ships; the two empires are on the verge of war, and both sides think the Doctor and Jo are spies... | | Review | An incredibly good story, which combines political drama with action and mystery. |
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Planet of the Daleks | Story Number | 68 | | Number of Episodes | 6 |
| Maybe | | Synopsis | The Doctor falls into a coma, and Jo ventures out onto a jungle planet with deadly flora round every corner, not to mention an invisible dalek... | | Review | This one was fine, but the middle episodes feel like padding and it seems to fall prey to the trap of "It's a dalek story, so it must be long and epic", rather than trying to tell a concise and exciting story. |
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The Green Death | Story Number | 69 | | Number of Episodes | 6 |
| ✨ Highly Recommended ✨,(Note – this story uses the "man crossdresses for laughs" trope) | | Synopsis | A bunch of hippies are protesting the oil company Global Chemicals, and everyone thinks they're nutters... until a man shows up glowing green, delirious, and very dead... | | Review | An incredibly good story, with many tense moments, and an astoundingly good ending | | Major Plot Changes | Show/hideJo leaves the Doctor to travel the world with Professor Jones. |
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Season 11 (1973—1974 )previous season ⬏next season ⬎ |
The Time Warrior | Story Number | 70 | | Number of Episodes | 4 |
| ✨ Highly Recommended ✨ | | Synopsis | The Doctor meets Sarah Jane Smith, a journalist, while investigating some strange disappearances. He accidentally brings her to medieval times, where a Sontaran is meddling with history... | | Review | A very good introduction to Sarah Jane, a great introduction to the Sontarans, and a great story overall. | | Major Plot Changes | Show/hideSarah Jane Smith joins the Doctor. |
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Invasion of the Dinosaurs | Story Number | 71 | | Number of Episodes | 6 |
| Watch | | Synopsis | The Doctor and Sarah Jane Smith return to London in the present day, only to find it mysteriously abandoned... and invaded by dinosaurs! | | Review | One of the better of the 6 episode long stories – engaging and enjoyable. |
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Death to the Daleks | Story Number | 72 | | Number of Episodes | 4 |
| Don't watch | | Synopsis | The Tardis accidentally lands on the planet Exxilon, which drains all power from the ship. They discover two other parties – some human explorers, and the daleks, who force the natives to mine for a valuable mineral.... | | Review | This doesn't feel fresh. It feels like a worse version of every previous dalek story from Terry Nation, and while it has a few interesting concepts (like a sentient city that can rebuild itself), it doesn't do enough to make up for the fact that it's trite, not to mention the racist undertones (and overtones). |
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The Monster of Peladon | Story Number | 73 | | Number of Episodes | 6 |
| Maybe | | Synopsis | The Doctor returns to Peladon, but 50 years after his previous visit. The Chancellor believes him to be a spy, and Agador's spirit seems to be punishing the miners for using modern technology... | | Review | A well produced story, but it feels like "The Curse of Peladon, but again and with a less interesting twist". |
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Planet of the Spiders | Story Number | 74 | | Number of Episodes | 6 |
| ✨ Highly Recommended ✨,but note there are white actors in makeup to make them appear Asian, and there are some ableist themes. | | Synopsis | Psychic spiders from the planet Metebelis Three are making their way to Earth – The Doctor has stolen something from them, and they want it back... | | Review | A very good story, and a great last story for the Doctor. | | Major Plot Changes | Show/hideThe Doctor dies, regenerating into his next incarnation... |
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Tom Baker portrayed the Fourth Doctor, and was the actor who played the role for longer than any other (nearly 8 years, June 1974–March 1981). The show's popularity increased dramatically with Tom in the role, and he's almost certainly <strong>the</strong> Doctor in many people's eyes. This era of the Doctor saw some major changes, as well — UNIT is slowly phased out (only appearing in 4 stories — "Robot", "Terror of the Zygons", "The Android Invasion", and "The Seeds of Doom" — all in seasons 12 and 13), and the show returned to a focus on exploring time and space.
| Story | Watch? | Details |
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Season 12 (1974—1975 )previous season ⬏next season ⬎ |
Robot | Story Number | 75 | | Number of Episodes | 4 |
| ✨ Highly Recommended ✨ | | Synopsis | A robot has stolen plans for an experimental weapon, and killed a few people in the process, but its creators say it's incapable of harming humans... | | Review | A great introduction to the Fourth Doctor, and engaging all the way through. | | Major Plot Changes | Show/hideHarry Sullivan, a medical doctor from UNIT, joins the TARDIS. |
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The Ark in Space | Story Number | 76 | | Number of Episodes | 4 |
| ✨ Highly Recommended ✨ | | Synopsis | The Doctor, Harry, and Sarah land on an ark carrying thousands of humans in cryogenic storage. But a race of giant insects has sabotaged the restoration process, and have insidious plans for the sleeping humans... | | Review | A very good story, full of interesting sci fi ideas and action. |
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The Sontaran Experiment | Story Number | 77 | | Number of Episodes | 2 |
| Watch | | Synopsis | The transmat beam from Nerva sends the travellers down to the abandoned earth... only to find a samll crew of humans living in fear of a Sontaran... | | Review | This is a fun little story. The script editor, Robert Holmes, decided that 6-part stories were often too long and decided to do a 4 part story and a 2 part story instead. That decision makes things so much more watchable. |
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Genesis of the Daleks | Story Number | 78 | | Number of Episodes | 6 |
| Watch | | Synopsis | The Time Lords send the Doctor back in time, to Skaro, with a mission: prevent the daleks from being created... | | Review | A good story, that gets increasingly tense and interesting as it goes on. |
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Revenge of the Cybermen | Story Number | 79 | | Number of Episodes | 4 |
| Maybe | | Synopsis | The Doctor, Sarah, and Harry arrive back on the Nerva Beacon, but thousands of years before they left. The TARDIS is nowhere to be found, most of the crew have died from a mysterious plague, and something strange is happenning on one of the moons of Jupiter... | | Review | A bit uninspired, and somewhat dull. |
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Season 13 (1975—1976 )previous season ⬏next season ⬎ |
Terror of the Zygons | Story Number | 80 | | Number of Episodes | 4 |
| Watch,although it's best watched as though it's the last story of Season 12, as it wraps up the arc that started in Robot | | Synopsis | The Doctor is summoned back to work for UNIT in the Scottish Highlands, where oil rigs are being destroyed and people are acting rather strangely... | | Review | A great send off for the Brigadier, and a good story that emphasises both the best parts of UNIT stories, but also demonstrates why the Doctor wants to leave. | | Major Plot Changes | Show/hideHarry decides to stay on Earth with UNIT. This is also the last regular appearance of the Brigadier. |
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Planet of Evil | Story Number | 81 | | Number of Episodes | 4 |
| ✨ Highly Recommended ✨ | | Synopsis | 30,000 years in the future, the TARDIS picks up a distress call coming from the planet Zeta Minor, where a mysterious force has been killing the scientists at a research station... | | Review | Amazing sets, and it stays interesting throughout. |
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Pyramids of Mars | Story Number | 82 | | Number of Episodes | 4 |
| ✨ Highly Recommended ✨ | | Synopsis | In a Victorian mansion, mummies roam the grounds, the master of the house has been replaced with a sinister Egyptian, and beneath a pyramid Sutekh the Destroyer waits to be freed... | | Review | I love this story. It's oozing with atmosphere, it's wonderfully directed and the actors are great. |
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