5 Major Differences Between Classic and Modern Doctor Who

Doctor Who is easily divided into two eras. So what's the difference?
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[@silverspike1]

The main difference between classic and new Who? Well speaking as someone who worked on Dr Who VFX in the 80's I'd say money. We didn't have a tenth of what todays Who has. For us the writing had to do some of the work for us in that hoping the audience had an imagination big enough to negate the productions 'failings'. Hell at the time I remember thinking at this rate soon we'll be reduced to waving plastic bags over our heads with 'Monster' written on them. lol Production wise in the 1980's a lot was created by the good will of the freelancers and in house staff who were also fans. For example our character of 'The Destroyer' (Battlefield) was created on practically two pence and a luncheon voucher. :D As for the differences in companions. I like balance. My big issue with some of the new Who version is that often they would be so 'special' they felt unrealistic. Thats why I was never a big fan of Clara, but a huuge fan of Donna and Bill. And I agree with you, the whole 'angry god Doctor' just grates with me too. It's a plot point that ultimately can go nowhere. Bigger is not always better imo.

[@CooChewGames]

May I thank you for making my childhood a better one with your work on Dr Who... I remember the FX being touted on Blue Peter etc; great days with the great Tom Baker.

[@silverspike1]

Aww thanks. The era I worked on I know is one of the least popular with the fans (Sylvester's) , so It warms my heart to read this. :)

[@highvoltage7797]

silverspike1 I think he’s become more popular in recent years. His last two seasons are some of the best and is personally my favourite Doctor.

[@thebasementfilmgroup]

silverspike1 in some areas the budget is still pretty small... I have done some Big Finish Sound Design and their budget is quite tiny too lol.... great to hear from you.... maybe we will cross paths at a con soon - my next outing is in the USA with Sophie (whom I love to bits) :)

[@LibraGamesUnlimited]

I still think your product is better than the current series 'warts and all' (as Tom Baker said in his "Tom Baker Years" video). I think the stories did a great deal and the audiences were more imagantive.

[@MitchQuadrupleTree]

I'd go so far as to argue that the shift from "Friendly neighborhood Doctor" to "Champion of the Universe" actually started *during* New Who, specifically during the Tenth Doctor's time. Apart from Daleks, none of the villains Eccleston's Doctor encounters had heard of him or had any legends of him. I believe the start of that turn for the Doctor, and for the show, began with the first Christmas special Tennant's line, "This planet is defended!" That being said, I do enjoy stuff from both eras, though these days that enjoyment comes more from classic era. I think the baseboard budget look of the show is actually quite charming in a "special effects that aren't so special" kind of way.

[@craigevans4694]

Seven actually, from bumbling idiot to manipulative schemer,That's when things got darker.

[@Nickman826]

mitchquadrupletree sixth doctor and The Trial Of A Timelord honestly was were this started happening then the EU started running with it

[@MitchQuadrupleTree]

Craig Evans I'd actually forgotten how downright Machiavellian McCoy's Doctor could be. That's a good point.

[@MitchQuadrupleTree]

Nicolas Young I suppose that's fair. And from that, you have people writing the show who read, or in some cases even wrote, some of those EU stories, so I guess it's only logical to see those elements taken up in the modern era.

[@Nickman826]

mitchquadrupletree yeah a lot of the traits in New Who I feel for better or worse can be summed up in the fact that everyone from the actors to the crew grew up watching the show and are now applying all of their fan ideas for stuff into the product itself. I personally find it exhilarating and great fun but I get why others have problems with it

[@redfarmer1980]

I made the case once that Donna Noble is the best companion of the modern era because she was a strong, independent woman who was very clear that she had absolutely no interest in being romantic with the Doctor. I still maintain this: I wish we could have had more time with Donna and that she could have had a better ending. She was so refreshing after two companions who couldn't stop pining over the Doctor.

[@hellojuko]

I’ve got good news for you

[@volnartheunforgiving3952]

I agree with this totally. She was funny, relatable, and capable, and instead of having a ton of romance drama with the Doctor like others, she was just his best friend

[@QueerCoral]

​@@hellojuko I was just thinking about saying the same thing 😂

[@thelordstarfish]

You know, that description of how the Doctor used to do stuff in the classic series... kinda fits pretty nicely with how Capaldi's tenure ended, doesn't it? I mean, Twice Upon a Time kinda muddles it by having his regeneration take an entire episode, but before that? His last stand, as it were, was protecting a single floor of a spaceship. The fact that the battle would cost him his life didn't really come up until the very end where he himself realized "Shit, the only way I can save these people is by doing this thing that will kill me". Which, after how over-the-top finales in the modern series have tended to be, I thought was a nice change of pace.

[@TheFirstBhau]

Lord Starfish Even in Twice Upon a Time, his regeneration episode has nothing to do with a big conflict that saves the entire universe. It's all a misunderstanding and it's a lot more character heavy than other new who finales.

[@voyeurcoma638]

Lord Starfish I find Capaldi's entire era was like a love letter to classic Who

[@danielsleeper2307]

EXACTLY

[@Bored_Overthinker]

Agreed. Capaldi had a LOT of classic era DNA in him. Lots of smaller stories, especially by Series 10. He also looked and dressed similarly to Pertwee.

[@KayOSweaver]

Capaldi brought a lot of classic Who to the show in his performances.

[@Aqualung8705]

I love the Tom Baker Doctor the best. Pyramids of Mars was my first story. My grandmother knitted me a scarf like his.

[@gregsmith7949]

Same here, except I got my aunt to knit me a scarf. 😆

[@sigutjo]

The constantly saving the universe thing annoys me a lot. I wish they would go for more smaller stories again. Some of my absolute favorites are like that.

[@saskruffriders8234]

I don't understand how he is the ONLY person in the universe that can save the day. Sometimes its the companion, but no matter where or when in time they are; NOBODY has a clue of how to stop the villain. And why does everyone stop and listen to The Doctor? You're telling me the universe's armies are going to play dumb and just obey some dude they never met?

[@sigutjo]

Exactly! You can't go always bigger and bigger .That becomes stupid and unconvincing very quickly.

[@Wink114]

I totally agree. I Love the idea of the Doctor just stepping out the Tardis and getting into trouble. Not THE FATE OF LIFE IS UPON YOUR HANDS!!! (Dramatic music) ugh

[@jerobriggs6861]

The 1973 story Carnival of Monsters and the 1984 Caves of Androzani are two terrific stories and those are mainly survival stories with the Doctor and his companion just trying to make it out alive. The latter was even a regeneration story. If only we could get those in new Who from time to time.

[@legoroan9866]

utwas the doctor in new who is different

[@BainesMkII]

I grew up on classic Doctor Who, so I'll always have rose-tinted glasses when viewing it. Modern Doctor Who has higher production values, but I liked the ambitiousness of classic Who. I also liked the often smaller stakes of classic Who, as it allowed for bigger situations to feel bigger. I liked the extra time spent on building up the location and the stories, the modern approach makes episodes feel a bit more disposable. I liked the wider variety of classic companions. I liked that while regeneration were important, they weren't really events, but more of just a natural consequence. Honestly, when taken all together, modern Who feels a bit too samey, and the Doctor being Space Jesus gets a bit annoying.

[@doctorneotech7011]

My main problem with Classic is that it’s scale is often off. My favourite part of New Who is the epic scale, if Murray Gold was able to work on Classic Who I think it’s scale would be nicer and the Classic Who music pains me. I do love the more practical effects though, for example the old Zygons will ALWAYS be superior, the old Zygons actually scared me. I just realised the main problem is just the structure with like 10 episodes of Daleks that physically pain me to watch frequently in one sitting but that’s mostly a me problem.

[@darricktv9857]

Heehee, “rose” tinted glasses.

[@mekonta]

I remember John Nathan-Turner being asked at a convention in the 1990s, why did he do The Two Doctors so soon after the 20th Anniversary special, The Five Doctors? His answer was that he wanted to mark the show's 21st Anniversary as it is also an important milestone with regards to birthday celebrations.

[@atomise11]

A single parter with a good supporting cast is Midnight

[@queenlunacrystal5343]

A single parter with a good supporting cast is Midnight

[@queenlunacrystal5343]

Is every reply on here in twos?

[@Polavianus]

Queen Luna Crystal the Minecraft MLP check your spelling

[@johnmayhew9769]

Atomise 11 Absolutely! It's the episode I have watched more times than any other. Understated brilliance.

[@joshuaescopete]

Water on Mars had a good supporting cast as well.

[@BrianBrecker]

big finish is the best of both worlds

[@ptolyclarke1400]

Couldn’t agree more

[@tardisnet9487]

I definitely prefer the format of Classic Who as it has more time to expand on its ideas whereas Modern Who can feel rushed at times. The progression of the Doctor becoming a legend of the universe I do think was during the Classic show as well as I'm Davison and McCoy years his becoming more of a figure of legend to be feared than he had been previously.

[@shawnlion8181]

Unfortunately, the attention span of today's audience is much, much, shorter than what it was 40 years ago. The writers could send the Doctor to different worlds, different dimensions, spending entire episodes on the supporting characters, what made the world different and alien to our own, rather than the occasional "quarry" that NuWho seem to send the Doctor every week.

[@tardisnet9487]

Shawn Lion television has changed and become more past paced over the years and for a show that can go anywhere and do anything it's quite difficult to let the ideas breathe in only 45 minutes. But some stories like Dalek and the Doctors Wife have had some success with the format. I was hoping when Chibnall took over it would become one on going story and made a video about it on my channel if you want to check it out but unfortunately it does not look like they're going in that direction.

[@tardisnet9487]

@@provisionalhypothesis I made this comment well before Series 11 aired. I have my problems with the Series but I don't understand why Series 11 has got the hate it has. For me it's a strong and solid start to a new era

[@drhaggis6247]

The Three Doctors was a four part serial broadcast from 30th December 1972 to 20th January 1973, and the Two Doctors was a three parter running from 16th February 1985 to 2nd March 1985. The only single part "special" in the classic series was the Five Doctors.

[@Sunnucksboi]

Jim Russell there was also Mission to the Unknown that was a single part but I guess you could argue that was part of The Daleks Master Plan

[@drhaggis6247]

My use of quotation marks around the word special excludes MTTU, which was a normal weekly episode (albeit a prologue to DMP).

[@theshadowdirector]

Also, on that last point, remember at the end of Series 6 where the Doctor actually acknowledges he's 'too big' and wants to downplay his presence? How long did that last!?

[@CouncilofGeeks]

An episode? Maybe?

[@Wink114]

Until season 7 lol

[@sierraalice8072]

To your last point, I think the point is he stumbled into so many situations that he got a reputation for himself. I don’t mind the Superman approach but I DON’T LIKE how he gives speeches about how great he is. He severely lacks in humility

[@UnchainedEruption]

Sierra Alice Yeah the original Doctor was always very humble. In fact, he almost always was soft spoken. Even when angry or dealing with truly evil people, he rarely ever raised his voice. He would be firm, but would not raise his voice. He’s much more in the background, for sure.

[@LaurenBoxhall]

I notice with Pertwee, how he has that grounded, strong and level tone, which has more menace than flapping your arms around. They are all different versions of the Doctor that reflect our times.

[@wedge9t]

Sierra Alice, Sylvester McCoy started the speech trend that was continued with the modern series, lets not forget the UNLIMITED RICE PUDDING!!! speech mocking Davros and the Daleks which started with him introducing himself with his many titles.

[@michaeldeboer9940]

In those speeches, he’s always bluffing an enemy or restoring confidence to his companions. “Forest of the Dead”, “Eleventh Hour”, Time of Angels”, “Pandorica Opens” (he even adds “that’ll give us an hour” after it knowing his speech hardly makes a difference. And then in the same episode his boasting receives a massive consequence) and he stages his own death to reduce this reputation spreading. The Twelfth Doctor’s speeches are mostly about him rediscovering himself “I am the man who stops the monsters” (“Flatline”) or “I am an idiot!” from “Death in Heaven”. His “Zygon Inversion” speech is all about his guilt and not boasting. And then “Face the Raven” he threatens Ashildr. The Doctor has a history now and he uses it if he can to strike fear in his enemies. Just like Rose did in “Doomsday” telling the Daleks she knows who they are to keep herself alive and then telling them she killed the Dalek Emperor. River Song used it too “Look me up.” in “The Big Bang”. And Clara did it in “Death in Heaven” and telling off the Time Lords as a distraction so the Doctor can steal a TARDIS in “Hellbent”. It’s always strategy. Because if you pay attention, the Doctor is arrogant but also aware of his flaws. Just watch “Journey’s End”, or his face after he says “I’m clever” in “Midnight”. Or “The God Complex”. There are moments in “Heaven Sent” I love where the Doctor just breaks. “Why can’t I just lose?” he yells. And that’s set up in “The Witch’s Familiar” in which Missy explains the Doctor does all he can to win. And it’s explored in series 8 in episodes like “Mummy on the Orient Express” where he tells them “mourn later” and act now. He has a mindset fixed on solving problems in stressful situations. It’s why he instantly establishes himself as the leader of groups so he can give orders. It’s what he tells Clara in “Flatline”. He’s arrogant because he knows what he can do but he boasts only when he needs to. And it’s mocked plentiful times. “Look what the cat dragged in. The Oncoming Storm” Rose says as he walks in seemingly drunk in “Girl in the Fireplace”. And look at how the Doctor treats himself in “Day of the Doctor”. Constantly mocking himself, his shoes, his voice, his chin. And in “Amy’s Choice” he says “there’s only one person that hates me as much as you do”. It’s himself. So maybe he’s less humble, granted, but it’s perfectly in character.

[@redfeildre349]

That last point is interesting. My Doctor was the 4th, Tom Baker. Tom Baker was not Space Jesus. I like the new series but I don't make the effort to watch it like I did back when I was a kid trying to catch it on PBS. I think it may be because of that point. The Doctor in new Who has become nearly a supernatural force in the universe. An indispensable force in the universe. I could come up with some in universe explanations for why that is but it would be nice to see the character more grounded again. To the points over all, The Doctor character over time seems to have become simultaneously more and less human. On one hand he shows more human emotion and in that way he is a bit more relatable BUT on the other hand he seems to travel around the universe with a destiny that seems to make him kind of immortal. Remember when Galifrayians (no idea if that is spelled right) got 7 and only 7 regenerations? Remember when that was a plot point for the Doctors most infamous opponent, The Master? At some point all this needs to be addressed if it has not already. Not seriously watched new Who since it's second season. I'll have to catch up some day. Let's hope it finds it's way to Netflix.

[@greedycapitalist8590]

A very good summing up of the differences. And I strongly agree with your point at the end, about the Doctor having become this legendary character. I always preferred him as the friendly neighbourhood Dr Who, stumbling into trouble and trying to fix things in his own small way, to this Messianic figure who apparently is holding the Universe together single handed. I mean, honestly, out of all the countless trillions of intelligent beings in the Universe, the Doctor's the one who saves us all every single time? I know it's SF, but that's stretching credibility too far. That's why my favourite regeneration is at the end of "The Caves of Androzani" - the Doctor isn't saving the Universe, he's saving a friend. It's much more real, and therefore more engaging.

[@tobiaspendlebury5894]

Greedy Capitalist completely agree I prefer the doctor as just a nobody who stumbled into trouble and the 5th doctors regeneration is the best

[@tobiaspendlebury5894]

shafted yeah with masters voice telling him to die can’t be better

[@seapea7402]

As a fan who grew up with Jon, Tom and Peter, I have a deep appreciation of the format, style, pace and budgetary constraints of classic Who and understand that for younger fans whose introduction was the new series, these differences can sometimes be insurmountably problematic. As much a do enjoy New Who a lot too, I do hanker for more variety in the companions backgrounds, which in recent years we've only really had in the form of the less regular, secondary companions like Captain Jack, River Song, Wilf, the Paternoster gang and Nardole. I've enjoyed Rose, Martha, Donna, Amy, Clara and Bill but do feel its time to try something different for the main companion(s) other than young, female, contemporary-time earthlings.

[@Nickman826]

sea pea well now you've got older contemporary man younger contemporary man and younger contemporary woman. I honestly love this move it looks like a great shakeup to give this new Doctor 3 companions to start with

[@seapea7402]

Nicolas Young Yes, indeed the new 'friends' of the Doctor are intriguing and I'm all for a trio in the Tardis with the Doctor, as it was back when it all began...

[@Lil-Dragon]

Regardless I love Doctor who however, longer stories being more fleshed out in four or six episodes instead of a max of two might be nice to see them try again.

[@JRCSalter]

I'd love for them to make one series as one story. When the show was regenerated, the episodic format was very popular, but over the past 13 years, we've seen a progression to more serialised storytelling in shows such as Breaking Bad, Game of Thrones, and the Walking Dead. I'm sure we could get at least one season as just one story. It'd be brilliant.

[@CouncilofGeeks]

Potentially three depending on how you want to count them. Utopia/Sound of Drums/Last of the Timelords, Face the Raven/Heaven Sent/Hell Bent, Extremis/Pyramid at the End of the World/Lie of the Land.

[@MythicalSkull13]

It would be cool if they did the first half as individual episodes with a couple of hints of what's to come and then the second half of the series being a six part story

[@landlighterfirestar5550]

I say if you need 6 episodes to tell a good story, then use 6 episodes to tell a good story, but it better be really really good.

[@louiswright8282]

Unfortunately modern fans can't stand the pacing of classic episodes. It's so called 'Boring and undramatic'. Dr who doesn't need to be a drama to be a great show in my opinion. Reduce the amount of love or family problem scenes and make the characters enjoyable, realistic and striagh forward in my opinion.

[@qqqqqqqqqqqq121212]

My first episode of Doctor Who was Rose in 2005, I was 11 and annoyed that my parents were forcing me to watch it. That was, of course, a massive moment of my life- I was raised on new Who as a fan. When I watch classic Who, I’ve seen quite a bit- maybe a third, I love it unquestionably but at the same time I get bored at points. You’ve made a very good point about the difference between classic Who serials and new Who episodes. While I’ll sit down and watch a classic Who story all at once, they were designed to be watched over six weeks. Something to think about when we millennials judge classic Who

[@markpostgate2551]

Only The Five Doctors was a special. The Three Doctors was a four-part story and the Two Doctors was a three part story. The only other episode that could be considered a one-parter is Mission to the Unknown which was a prologue to The Dalek Masterplan but earlier in the season, and also had none of the main cast in it at all. It was a Dalek story without the Doctor, but since the episode is missing hardly any of us have seen it.

[@JRCSalter]

I try to see the lower production values as if I were watching a play in a theatre. It makes it much easier. I love the regenerated series, but I am becoming tired of the same type of companion. In classic Who, we had every type, from heroic contemporary male, to reckless savage female, to robot, to robot dog, to plucky young female journalist, to Scottish male from the past, to naive male from another universe, to a Time Lady. In modern Who, we have young contemporary female (with the exception of Donna) as the primary companion in every series. That's why I'm looking forward to the next series. It looks to be more varied. As for the God like status of the Doctor now, I disagree. I think it's warranted. The Doctor began as an unwilling hero, who, though interactions with his companions learned about the value of life. He became less selfish, and more heroic. The eighties turned him into more of a god than before. Logopolis was the story in which he made that turn I think. But during Seven's era, we got a Doctor who would play the long game, and manipulate, not just his enemies, but his companion as well. He was the great schemer, and solidified his apotheosis. Here, the Virgin New Adventures series of novels should also be considered canon because they expand on this (I haven't read them all, I'm making my way through them atm so no spoilers please). Then the Time War happened, during which he did some incredible stuff, and once that ended, how could he not be considered a legend? Then you have the TARDIS. It has been stated that she takes the Doctor where he needs to go. As his success as a hero grew, she took him to bigger and bigger situations in need of his expertise. In short, I think the difference between 'Spiderman', and 'Superman' is absolutely believable and justified. And I love it.

[@LaurenBoxhall]

I agree about stronger classic Who companions. We see how different genders, personalities, background and era of upbringing can affect how they interact with the Doctor and their adventures, and what they bring out in the Doctor as well. The extended story format allowed for nuanced character development. I am not sure about three companions in a crowded Tardis yet, and they are still all from the modern era, but like the diversity.

[@LaurenBoxhall]

Exactly. It's patronising, to say the least.

[@kayleyhodson7079]

Very well put. I loved the companion variety in the classics. And I agree with your explanation of how the Doctor has become a "Superman" figure over time. It's slowly built into what he/she is now, and I think it only makes sense that with more time and more expertise, the Doctor has grown as a character in that way.

[@JRCSalter]

Kayley Hodson Yup. Its something that few shows could pull off. Either they fast track the growth and it feels forced, or they get cancelled before it does happen. The latter of which even happened in classic Who with the 'Cartmel Masterplan'

[@sebradfield]

I have to agree. What I hate more than each of the first three companions being young, contemporary females (though I've liked them all on a personal level) was that each one of them had an overbearing, obnoxious mother who finally comes around and appreciates The Doctor. That said, Amy and Rory are my favorite 'companion' so far, just because the nature of the dynamic was changed, and in a way I never expected. The other thing that annoys me is the Doctor's control over the TARDIS. He drops off his companions at home after a day's fun, picks them up again at will and drops in for the occasional visit just because he can. I thought a big part of the original dynamic was that they were stuck with each other for the duration. Except for Liz Shaw and Jo Grant they could never get home without a lot of luck. Still, I love the show, old and new.

[@muraalia]

I like both old and new Who, and I'm definitely one of those who love the old wobbly sets and silly but trying so hard alien costumes. :) They're often kind of adorable, and as a creative person on a tight budget myself, I like seeing people's creative ideas and how they were realised on a tight budget and without modern means.

[@tgif1345]

I'm relatively new to Doctor Who, having just come in with Day of the Doctor in 2013 so I haven't seen all that much of either versions. However, I love classic Television from the '50s and '60s, so classic Who (I started my journey into classic with An Unearthly Child) is great to me. But, I also enjoyed what I've seen of New Who. So I guess in my Doctor Who infancy I don't have preference towards one or the other. I just enjoy Doctor Who.

[@iancossey105]

What a great attitude! It's really refreshing to hear. Too often, the people who purport to love Dr Who the most (the long-term 'fandom') are so hung up on esoteric detail and in-squabbling that they miss the real joy of the show, in whatever incarnation it might be. Personally, I love absolutely everything I've seen of Classic and New Who so far (which is fast approaching most of of it now). Yes, there are low points and things I don't like so much, but even they have their saving graces, and the show never stays still long enough that there isn't something to enjoy a little way down the line. If you find yourself not clicking with something, then there'll be something else along soon enough, be it a new Doctor or just a different story. There's so much variety, and I think that's one of the reasons it's endured for so long. Constant change (within certain parameters), and a killer concept at heart: a being who can travel all of time and space, and tries to use that immense power for good wherever he/she can. It doesn't sound like you need me to recommend sticking with it and watch as much as you can, but if you like it already, then I urge you to do so. There's so much to enjoy. I only wish some of the more well-heeled 'fans' could pull the rods out of their arses and accept the show, in all its long-lived glory, for what it is instead of what they, individually, want it to be. Happy viewing - you've got one hell of a back catalogue to sift through. And ALL of it is good! :-)

[@tgif1345]

I see that all the time in other fandoms like Star Trek, Star Wars, comic book shows, and a few other fandoms like that. I mean there are always low points in any long running thing. It's to be expected, it's just a matter of sticking with the thing long enough to ride out the low points. Particularly when you're a fan of the thing. I grew up on new episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation and reruns of The Original Series and to me one was never better than the other. I just loved Star Trek. I still love Star Trek. Are there low points? Of course. Are there movies and series I like more than others? Yes. Does that mean I don't like certain Star Trek movies or TV shows? No. It just means that either I didn't grow up watching a certain series (DS9) or movie (Star Trek II) or my experience with them was more limited. But they're all Star Trek. It's the same with Doctor Who. Classic or New, it's all Doctor Who. The only reason I didn't immediately dive into the show after Day of the Doctor is because by the time the new series started I no longer got the channel it airs on here in Canada, and I didn't have Netflix or DVD/Blu-ray access to it. So when I moved and got the channel it aired on back, I started watching reruns of series 7 (that's just where the rotation ended up being when I discovered that reruns were on at 5 o'clock on weekdays) and so I got series 1 on Blu-ray, as well as Doctor Who: The Beginning on DVD so that I could at least get a good sampling of both Classic and New before Twice Upon a Time aired and the new series began, whenever that starts. Just because it wasn't something I grew up watching in reruns or on VHS because while my parents watched it in the '70s and '80s, they didn't raise me on it.

[@iancossey105]

I guess it's the same, whatever fandom is involved. People get so close to something being a certain way that they hate when it changes. It just seems a particularly strange stance for a Dr Who fan to take, given it's history and the myriad changes that have occurred over the years. I'm interested to know what made you start with the 50th Anniversary? I know it was a big deal at the time, so that's probably part of it, but I can only imagine you must have been scratching your head at quite a lot of what was going on, considering so much of it referenced so much lore and tradition you'd have never been party to. I mean, while I'm no Uber-fan or anything, I've been watching the show since Tom Baker in the 70s and (3rd Doctor excepted, to date), seen most Classic and all of New Who, yet even I still have to have a few references explained to me from the 50th. It's a very dense layer cake! Not only that, but so much of the impact of that episode is directly to do with the show's, and by extension the Doctor's, history... It's difficult for me to imagine someone seeing Who for the first time with this episode and having any real sense of either the 'heft' of the whole thing, if you get my drift (how invested were you?), or its more typical (less bombastic) tone, let alone following all of the elements. I guess maybe the the story itself was easy enough to follow (for any sci-fi fan, at any rate), just...well, so much of it was calibrated towards long-term fans. And it really was the kind of episode you need to build up to, I think. It seems a bit like your first experience of superhero movies being Infinity War. (In fairness, and for purposes of full disclosure, I've not seen a single superhero movie in the last 10 years - not even Deadpool - so my frame of reference is a bit of an assumption there, but you get the idea :-)) Whatever, it if got you watching the show, then great! I've never been able to properly define it for myself, but there's just 'something' about Dr Who. It can be as generic and derivative and risible and lazy as all hell sometimes, but there's always something peculiarly 'Who' about the way it does it. It's always, somehow, it's own unique thing, even (perhaps especially) at its worst. And if you can still love something at its worst, I'd say that's a more legitimate fandom than those who drive everything down some nit-picking cul-de-sac. Out of interest, what else have you now seen? As someone whose experience has been largely linear (i.e. from the early 70s right up to the present, only having to fill in the 60s and (as yet) Pertwee's Doctor), it interests me how people get introduced and accustomed to the show. For example... How strange is it if you have to fill in bits and pieces of the Doctor's history in piecemeal fashion? Does the impact of a regeneration lessen if you've watched the show by jumping around randomly and 'sampling' Doctors out of context? So many questions! Bon voyage for your ongoing Who-viewing. You sound like someone who will truly appreciate it. :-)

[@tgif1345]

So, part of what made me start with the 50th Anniversary is that it was going to be the end of Matt Smith's era, and the beginning of Capaldi's era, and my parents, who I live with due to health issues, despite being 31 years old, were going to watch it because they'd watched the classic series in their teens and they'd started with series 1 of New Who and ended up dropping off it at some point for some reason and they wanted to see the end of Matt Smith's run because they liked him, so it being Christmas time, I decided to give it a shot. And I'd been told by friends for years that I needed to watch this show called Doctor Who. I didn't know what it was because, again, it wasn't something I was exposed to as a child. And I like things with Legacy. I'm too young to have been around when most comic book characters were created, so all of them have had a long legacy when I was growing up in the very late '80s and in the '90s (I was born in 1986), but I was able to follow the Batman comics specifically on and off without much effort. In fact as long as the story itself isn't too confusing I'm able to jump in on pretty much anything and not be confused. Part of that is because I grew up in the era where TV shows were mostly one and done episodes with the occasional two-parter, and often episodes were aired out of order anyway. So I've always found it easier than most to jump onto a show in any season and then eventually go back and watch the backlog of episodes that I missed either in reruns or on DVD or Blu-ray. So, in no particular order, I've seen Day of the Doctor, all of An Unearthly Child, and most of the second story of the First Doctor, The Daleks, the two episodes of series 7 where Clara is the Doctor's Companion, half of a series 8 episode, I don't know which episode it was because I missed the opening title card, I just know that it was Capaldi and Clara, and they were in this empty house with this young boy that the Doctor was brusque with and Clara was trying to get the boy to open up about what had happened, Twice Upon a Time and the first episode of series 1. Now that all of the shows that I watch are over the season I'm going to go through all of series 1 and the rest of the episodes on Doctor Who: The Beginning. And because I've been reading comic books since 1992, I am used to diving into things in weird places, and jumping around different eras of a character's history. So it's not all that strange. As for the impact of a regeneration being lessened from jumping around between Doctors, well, I'll let you know once I see more. Since I've really only seen two regenerations, both in Twice Upon a Time (Capaldi to Whittaker, and then the clip of Hartnell to Troughton just before that). Thank you. Once the new series starts I'm going to continue watching the show from there. As well as going back and watching the backlog on DVD or Blu-ray since Doctor Who is no longer on Netflix here in Canada so I am slave to the rerun and home entertainment format as I can get my hands on them.

[@LaurenBoxhall]

The Series 8 episode with the young boy was 'Listen' :)

[@chelseafrank5941]

I wish they did regeneration like they did back in Classic Who - it would be more interesting It sorta makes sense why the doctor is so known universe-wise because of what happened with Gallifrey but I wish it wasn't like that

[@jhibbitt1]

I suppose u could say "bad wolf and the parting of the ways" did it like the classic series as Russell even wrote an alternative ending, but yeah it does seem like "the end of time" opened the floodgates and redefined how regeneration works in dr who

[@ZakJordan98]

jhibbitt1 Actually it was The Master's regeneration in Utopia that did that, RTD decided at that point "that's what regeneration looks like"

[@jhibbitt1]

u misunderstand me, I didn't mean the effects, I meant episodes where the Dr's regenerates. as Nathaniel was saying in the video about how regeneration stories were just normal stories that happened to have a regeneration scene at the end whereas in the new series episodes are written to be regeneration stories and have a huge built up throughout the story. I was simply saying "bad wolf and the parting of the ways" was the last story that just happened to have a regeneration scene at the end and then "the end of time" opened the floodgates into making regeneration a huge deal throughout the story. hope this helps

[@ZakJordan98]

jhibbitt1 Yes i agree with that

[@fireflygaming8764]

@@jhibbitt1 I mean, The Doctor Falls didn't exactly have regeneration... Oh, yeah I forgot about that. Dang it Twice Upon a Time, or should I say Chris Chibnall unwillingness to open with a new Doctor on Christmas.

[@peterward2275]

Speaking as an 'oldie' who was brought up on classic and still loves modern, I would have to say all fair comment, and I agree totally. Good informative info for anyone considering watching classic who hasn't seen any.

[@scaper8]

I don't mind the last one too much… mostly. The way I look at it, as the Doctor has spent more and more time just bumbling in and helping, sometimes to disaster, the people who met him would obviously remember and, eventually, more and more notes would be compared. So, the legend/myth would grow to become, well, legend and myth. Part of my problem is just how big it's gotten, the scale of it, at times, feels off. I think that they should tone it down, but not eliminate it.

[@pp-wl1tf]

Yeah I'd keep the reputation, but have the Doctor not really like it, like with the Twelfth Doctor.

[@krozjr5009]

What should happen is have the news break that “THE DOCTOR IS DEAD!” like in S6, and then commit to having the Doctor go incognito(-ish).

[@CoalDiamondandhisawesomeness]

@@krozjr5009 how often could they keep that up?

[@davidshead1323]

I haven't got past Peris time in the TARDIS to the next 6th doctor companion but I really don't read him as being belittling to her. He says things that acted in a different way might be, but it comes across more as cheeky banter to me and he gradually throughout season 22 becomes more aware of this and uses that to build quite a unique and sweet relationship with Peri, they're my favourite TARDIS pairing, I must say. 6 is also probably my favourite classic doctor.

[@hannaholmberg3054]

I have watched a few episodes of Classic who, but I honestly don't think I would like it as much as New who. That doesn't make me a fake fan (according to me), I just don't like the format as much, but I still acknowlege that it is good. However, I do think that change is a really cool thing about Doctor Who, both in the show, with new companions and Doctors, but also outside of the show. I haven't watched a single thing that shows television from so different points in time (1960-2010), while still telling a single story. I love how Doctor Who, just like Star Wars, brings old and new fans together, and makes younger fans interested in older things, that has hade a great impact on television as a whole today.

[@karkatvantas9557]

Which episodes? If it's in the First Doctor's run, I advise you to try the Third Doctor's and go from there. The only story that really drags on in his era is the second story of his first season, The Silurians.

[@o00nemesis00o]

Karkat Vantas there are also some insanely great 2nd Doctor stories. His very first one, Power of the Daleks, was remastered lately.

[@karkatvantas9557]

I recommended jumping on at Jon's era because from Spearhead from Space onwards, there are no episodes missing.

[@matthewbrown1378]

Some of the most satisfying New Who stories (for me) are ones where he helps/saves just one or two people. Then again, some of the individual moments from the universe saving stories approach crowning moments of awesome.

[@eirei0789]

I definitely prefer the classic series' approach in a lot of these. Even back when I was watching NuWho series 5 before watching the classic series, I vastly preferred Eleventh's relationship with Amy, which is that of an 'imaginary friend', in addition to his general attitude as this crazy old man stuck in a young man's body, as opposed to heavy hints of attraction in previous series. In fact, I was a bit miffed when it's implied that Eleven had a bit of a thing with Clara in series 7. I also liked it wayyyy better when the Doctor was not the 'savior of the universe'. Instead, he *is* just a madman with a box, flying around getting into trouble (the new series says that a lot, but really, Nathaniel hit the nail on the head. He *is* Superman in NuWho). In no small part, because I'm a bit put off whenever the show does the scenes (you all know the ones) where the Doctor just reminded ppl of who he is, and then the villains just go running. It's getting to the point that I feel writers fall back on it just to avoid writing the Doctor *actually* overcoming the villain. It's undeniably lazy, regardless of how epic the scenes themselves are.

[@peacefuldawn6823]

the 12th doctor tells clara, "im not your boyfriend... I never said it was your fault." Throughout series 7, there were very strong romantic vibes between them, and by the end I really hated the doctor (and clara) because of it. I don't think there was ever anything specific, but the way they interacted gave that feeling.

[@troymann5115]

You summed up the entire show with "a madman with a box, flying around getting into trouble". The superman theme is getting old but I think that had its roots in the Sylvester McCoy era. In a lot of those episodes the Doctor is totally OP and resorts to some new Time Lord artifact to get out of predicaments. I really want to see a return to the Doctor getting into mischief and finding trouble like the Tom Baker era.

[@Wink114]

Yes, If the Doctor stops doing things to prove he's clever and Is a Person you shouldn't mess with. Then we start to doubt he's actually that awesome because all he does is say it.. Where In classic the doctor really just stopped the bad guy . I love the second Doctor because of that fact, He acted like the bumbling clown but was actually a genius . I would love for the Doctor to return to being...Mysterious Like the Seventh Doctor feel was amazing! The stories weren't always good but when Ace asks the doctor "But who are you really?" The doctor just puts his finger to his lips and smiles....Thats my favorite moment in doctor who Because that sums it up! We have no idea who this man is or what he can do.

[@Slarty947]

If you pick through the material in "the wilderness years" you'll find some pretty neat transitions from classic to new. The Doctor as the oncoming storm and Time's Champion comes up in the 7th Doctor New Adventure novels, where he starts being more of an active vigilante than a wanderer. The 8th Doctor novels explore the question of his "humanity" and romantic appeal, reconciling the TV movie to the classic show. So there's a pretty good sense of continuity of tone linking Old and New.

[@LouiseOC1]

excellent post, as a classic Who fan I feel you have got everything right about the differences

[@benbastianiartmusic1421]

You articulated the last point so well, I agree entirely. Also one think I miss about the classic series was the electronic music and sound effects. Those eerie unearthly sounds made with synthesisers during the Troughton era, Mark Ayres' soundtracks during McCoy's run, the random buzzes and alarms we hear within the stories... that was totally Doctor Who's USP in my opinion

[@alunrundle162]

Bit late in adding this (I just found it) and I have one point to make that touches on both regenerations and the scale changes. The regenerations in Classic Doctor Who were all different but it's the fifth Doctors' regeneration that makes it most clear and there's something about it that's often missed regarding essentially how heroic it is. When he actually regenerates, if it had been in New Who, Peri would have been killed or wounded by the over the top explosion. He has to regenerate alone since the explosion of energy has been scaling ever upward from Eccleston's to the point where eleven wiped out an entire Dalek fleet. They had to scale that back down for Capaldi's regeneration thankfully. The destruction had gotten too much. As for how heroic Five's regeneration was? Look at the end of episode three of Caves. THE REGENERATION BEGINS! He fights the regeneration for a whole episode to save ONE person. Not a Universe. Not a Planet. Not even a base but ONE person relying on him. THAT, to me, is the action of a Hero.

[@Reprodestruxion]

Remember the Carmel plot line, the idea of the doctor as the other accomplice of Rassilon.

[@smilemirri7269]

I'm constantly impressed by how many Doctor Who video ideas you manage to come up with hahaha :p keep up the good work!

[@CouncilofGeeks]

Every Sunday.

[@LaurenBoxhall]

Respect.

[@MovieMagic515]

@@CouncilofGeeks Thank you

[@tracysroberts]

I grew up with Who , coming in with Patrick Troughton as a 5 year old when we bought our first TV 1967. You've really covered the differences well and in a lot less judgmental way than I would have! I think the phrase that grates with me the most in modern who is "I.m so sorry". It seemed to be a regular feature starting from Doctor 10. Classic Who did what needed to be done and rarely apologised, the emoting and apologies of Modern Who has never appealed to me.

[@noahsark4528]

I really like Colin baker take on 6th Doctor , and I love Classic Who

[@lukeawabdy3282]

I love your channel. Your opinions are really well based and it’s very interesting to watch. Keep on doing what you do man!👍

[@illusionzman3549]

I don't really see The Doctor becoming a more known figure as a bad thing as it makes sense from a plot perspective. He was young in the classic series, but even by the 7th Doctor you really see him become a much more mythical being whose enemies list is building up. By the time the new era has begun he has fought in the Time War, had countless otheradventures and his youthful characteristics and desires have gone.

[@HereComesPopoBawa]

If somebody saved the universe right now so that you could go on living as if nothing has happened, would you even hear about it? Narratively, I think it's nonsense. It makes the universe feel like a very, very small place. It comes down to inflation of the stakes, needing to contrive threats to all of space and time for bigger spectacle and emotional payoff. But for me it is the opposite. The older show was smarter for knowing that killing the emperor of a dystopia will absolutely not fix all of its problems. That small-scale instances of greed, intolerance, superstition, etc result in larger-scale problems. Having a mustache-twirling villain threaten to destroy the universe for "absolute power" is pantomime silliness, not drama or social commentary.

[@illusionzman3549]

I agree with that, i am just talking about the fact The Doctor over time would become more known throughout the universe and his personality would definitely change over time.

[@insertnamehere1838]

I agree another reason he would be more mythical is (as far as everyone else is knows) he’s the last of the time lords.

[@007robotchicken]

Hey, Nathaniel, it's gotta be said. This video is one of your best and most thoughtful. Even though I'm well aware of the differences between new and classic at this point, I continue to come back to this video to listen to your take on it. Great job!

[@Trekkienut4]

I totally agree with you comments. The Doctor is just a fun guy, not the savior of the Universe. That is why I liked the Classics

[@breezeark9154]

See, this is why Peter Capaldi was my favourite, he was the first old doctor and he was the closest to classic dr who around.

[@ForPetesake552]

I really like the evolution of the series as I’ve been watching Dr. Who on/off for over 30yrs. I have a special place in my heart for classic Who. For me, the low production quality was part of its charm, and gave it an elusive , other worldly, almost dream like quality that I gravitated towards. But I love new Who as well.

[@pertweestan5968]

Some great points well made! I do agree that he used to be some random guy that wandered in a saved people. He never went looking for trouble but was prepared to intervene if he had to. I think I like that better.

[@julieeverett7442]

except for the few times the time lords or guardians decided he needed to intervene. And yes, so did I

[@palidor13]

I have to agree with many of your points, well played. The only big difference between the two versions that I think you left out (and the one that's bothered me since the start of the modern series) is that the new series is much too focused on the companions' personal lives. In Classic, other than the Unit eras, we really didn't spend time seeing what the companions lives without the Doctor were about. It happens way too often in the modern era where he's dropping in for Christmas dinner, or dropping the companion off (and picking them up after) for a date or their job(s). It's interesting to see once in a while, but it happens too much in the new era. In Classic, the stories aren't even typically focused fully on the Doctor and his companion(s). It's the setting, story, and supporting characters that are the main focus, then they drop in and become involved, but usually there is still an almost equal amount of focus on the world for that particular story. Having grown up with Classic Who, though, I do enjoy both eras, and you were right-on about the relationship between 12 and Bill, that was refreshing to see.

[@blade-kj8fe]

is to make companions more relatable

[@theunknowntimelord8494]

I like both but prefer the classic series,i think the stories are better & enjoy the cliffhangers. The characters are more fleshed out. I hate that the doctor is like a space god in nu who & have felt that in the moffat era the same idea is used every series. But for me it doesn't matter which era you like best what matters is that we are all who fans.

[@Slfriend79]

The romance stuff is what put David Tennant's time as the Doctor at the bottom of my list when it comes to my favorite series of the modern era. 🙁

[@HereComesPopoBawa]

That, and constantly oscillating between smugness, sorrow, and gushing pep-talks about the marvels of the human race. Tennant seems to be a good actor, but I thought his Doctor suffered from the most superficial characterization.

[@alexhenderson1312]

That's right, it just became too schmaltzy for its own good! As well as ssmey, predictable and riddled with too many Deus ex machina endings!🤔🙄👎

[@everythingandthetardiscons7850]

Erm, there were a few two-part classic who stories, with 25 minute episodes as well, and McCoy had several three parters (again, with 25 minute episodes)

[@JovianJeff]

A fan of both, each has their points and endearments. Another difference was companion fates. Classic who had either happier or nebulous ends to modern who. Except for maybe Mickie and Martha, companions either died, were stranded because they went on that one last hop before they stop or had their minds wiped. Only Martha came out better than she started because she walked away before her one hop too many. Nice points all around, although I agree with Sierra Alice, the rep came after time, I would want that. It means what the Doctor does matters. It differs from the Classic era of others having the reaction of what he is (Time Lord) than modern what he has done. Thanks for the video.

[@Nickman826]

JovianJeff yeah when for three of your lives your functionally the last of your species due to the actions of your past 2 lives your reputation as an individual tends to rise

[@brandonminer1914]

Stumbled across you randomly. Liked you enough to subscribe. Can’t wait for more!

[@GuanoLad]

I grew up with Classic Who, for I am old, but much prefer Modern Who. Even watching it knowing that all TV was cheap and you couldn't expect much, it was a ropey show in so many disappointing ways that would not have taken much effort to fix. Turning off a few lights and filming outdoors on sunny days in fewer quarries, for example. But the things from Classic era that I wish were brought back include some of what you mentioned, like less bombastic universe saving, and less romantic attachment to the Companion, and some mix of Companions from different places other than modern day Britain. But I do like story arcs, though I think sometimes fans speculated on way better ideas than what ultimately we ended up with most of the time. And I do like the production values. Still very excited on the changes that we may not be anticipating with the new series. I expect what Chibnall intends to bring back from the Classic era may surprise us.

[@shawnlion8181]

I think you did a perfect job of distilling the essences of what I like about Classic Who and Modern Who. While I like Modern Who, I will always cherish the memories watching the obvious fake rat from The Fang of Weng-Chiang, or the laughable alien from the City of Death.

[@CouncilofGeeks]

Oh my god, I LOVE City of Death, I don't care how goofy that head looks.

[@emmaschwarz8601]

@@CouncilofGeeks The City of Death is great. It's probably the comedy that makes it so great.

[@markpostgate2551]

Whether the regeneration was foreshadowed or not in the story in which the regeneration occurs varies; the third Doctors regeneration into the fourth and the fourth's regeneration into the fifth are both foreshadowed; the Third's regeneration by the presence of Cho-Je who also reintroduces the idea of regeneration for newer fans; and the Fourth's regeneration by the mystery of the Watcher.

[@graric]

On the last point I feel in some ways the idea of the Doctor being a big deal and having this big reputation is abit more of a Moffat-era thing than Nu-Who as a whole. In the RTD era the Daleks know who he is, and see him as a big deal, but for the most part he isn't seen as this big deal throughout the universe (the closest you really get to that is the Forests of the Dead with his 'look me up' speech...which is notably a Moffat episode.) Like as an example of this- in Journey's End when he meets the Shadow Proclamation- they don't know who he is, just that the Time Lords were thought to be extinct...and they then see him as potentially important because he is a Time Lord (not because of who he is as an induvidual.) Wheras in the Moffat era it would've more likely been a scene about how they'd heard legends of the Doctor and weren't sure if he was real.

[@kofrixguia4105]

In RTD, he sorta show the Doctor as a godlike being In family blood, he’s called “the oncoming storm” and Martha describe him like fire In the same episode, him punishing the family is like God sending his wrath to the sinners In Last of Timelords, the Doctor, literally became Jesus and suddenly have flying powers In the sontaran episode, Martha tells Donna that her family got persecuted because of the Doctor His death, became a big deal, Ood Sigma tells the doctor that “The Universe will Sing for him” RTD just knows how to balance The Doctor’s deity figure, Moffat just went out and go so far as to give him a organisation whose purpose is to stopThe Doctor

[@nightowl8477]

Buy and large, this was an interesting video.

[@AmaranthOriginal]

Modern-era Doctor has a mom named MArtha. Got it. >.> Matt Smith's second season gave me hope they'd go smaller again. Series Five sees the Doctor trading on his reputation multiple times, which feeds right into the plot of series six, where he is so feared that they orchestrate a way to kill him, and...well, I don't like the finale, but I was a little softer on it because the Doctor was going to move back into the shadows. And it sort of happens, but it still hints at this big battle on Trenzalore, which is implied to be massive (and it is, when it shows up, even if it's only in background for the most), and...we're back. There were a few intimate episodes that really worked, and it would have been nice to see them stop constantly upping the stakes.

[@kayleyhodson7079]

Very good summary of the differences of both takes on the show. As a new series viewer who dipped later into the classics, it does take adjusting to. However, the classic series has become as dear to me as the new one. Both are incredible for both the same and different reasons, and both are the same timeless story by and large.

[@timbogymbro66]

I disagree with what you said about Classic stories being self contained. In the Third Doctor's episodes, the story threads involving the Master generally played into other episodes. I really do think we need serials back. Part of the reason I love series 9 is because it tried that to a certain extent.

[@Nickman826]

Tim Timothy Tim - Whovian Extraordinaire! Most of 3's tenure on the show has a relatively static cast which worked so well I wish they'd ground one of the modern doctors in a similar fashion

[@kickingroses8925]

14:20 - Third Doctor and Jo is the closest it really comes if we're talking 'pining'.

[@julieeverett7442]

the only

[@IronSalamander8]

This is pretty accurate for sure. As a classic fan since the late 70s when PBS here had it and currently up to 'The Lodger' in new Who (along with Torchwood and Sarah Jane Adventures) I like both but prefer old Who even with the terrible special effects. And yes, I really despised 10 in 'The End of Time' even though I liked him overall until that point. He was too self-indulgent, too whiny, and just annoying. It didn't help that the whole evil superman version of the Master was tedious as well, Wilfred Mott almost singlehandedly saved that one for me!

[@shallendor]

In Classic Who, you could get attached to the supporting characters and actually care when they died! In New Who you really don't get to know the support characters and don't really care about their deaths!

[@MrMitchellb10]

I like in older doctor who (specifically 1st doctor era) how the story wasn't trying to save people, but rather explore area until danger and trying to find a way back to the tardis when everything is stopping you. More grounded.

[@paulking9476]

I love both new who and classic who I think the show making television has changed

[@matthewwilliams2093]

Boy, did I miss the asexual Doctor. Thank you, Capaldi for bringing him back (although I'm sure that had much more to do with societal ageism). I feel like there's one major difference that didn't get touched on in this video. In Classic Who, the stories were plot driven vs character driven in New Who. And by that I mean that stories in the Classic Era could be told almost with plug and play companions. Specific delivery of lines might vary to better fit the characters at the time, but otherwise any character could perform the same function in most Classic stories, and seldom did we get to know companions beyond their initial pitch description. Even beloved companions like Jaime and Sarah Jane who were around for years did very little in the way of development and were pretty much the same character when they left the Doctor (or he left them) as they were when they first met. Compare that to New Who where character motivations are frequently at the heart of the story, and different companions have made drastically different choices (and have been given the ABILITY to make choices) based on those inner character traits. And the only companion in New Who that isn't a significantly different person when they leave the Doctor is Donna, who had her memories erased thereby IMPOSING that the changes that had happened to her were reset. Personally, I like the characters in New Who a lot more because of the way they are written, but I've always been a science fiction fan and kinda like my sci-fi stories to be a *little* more plot driven (explore the world rather than the people).

[@LaurenBoxhall]

Peter (as opposed to the Doctor) is sexy! 12th had charisma but not in the flirty way which was becoming tired.

[@everythingandthetardiscons7850]

Actually, I was really happy that the supposed lack of character development in Classic who was NOT brought up in the video, cause I don't agree with it. Just because it's not as 'in your face' and super-drastic, doesn't mean it's not there. In fact, there are plenty of classic who characters whose development feels more natural to me than that of many new who characters (not all, but many). What makes this claim of there being little character development in classic who even 'funnier' is that, when I go through a video/podcast/blog post series by people who are watching classic who (or a section thereof) in order, without skipping stories or taking too long breaks, those people do often talk about the development of- and changes in the classic who companions, doctors and relationships as something that very much exists. Also, are you seriously trying to insinuate that there are more personality differences/difference in the choices they make between the new who companions than there is between the classic who companions? 'cause, if so, I call BULLSHIT! Not saying the new who companions aren't different at all, but the idea that they are more so than the classic who ones is ridiculus.

[@purplecelery7380]

Aside from Capaldi being an "asexual Doctor", I agree with all of your post. For me, the realisation that NuWho was a character driven show came in "The End of the World" (Series 1, Episode 2), where Rose is overwhelmed by all the different aliens, and she runs away into another room. That reaction felt very authentic to me, and it's not something that would have probably occurred in Classic Who. Back then, the new companions (even the ones from Earth and/or the past) just seemed to take exploring the universe all in their stride, and the focus was on the adventure, not the character's mixed emotions about it.

[@everythingandthetardiscons7850]

Oh, I could point out several examples of Classic Who companions NOT taking traveling the universe in their stride. Sure, some of them might, but I say that's more realistic than everyone being overwhelmed. Their reactions made sense based on who they were and where they came from. At least in my opinion.

[@LaurenBoxhall]

@Purple Celery you pick up on his desires/sex appeal?

[@anishs6764]

When the female Doctor was announced a bunch of my friends who didn't watch the show were saying the companion should still be a girl so it could be gay and me and another whovian had to explain to them that the companion isn't automatically a romantic interest

[@zarabada6125]

Another Classic story arc was the story of Ace, the 7th Doctor's second companion. While the same separate story format continued, they intersected with her own life and history much more than previous companions.

[@sonicfan3230]

Especially in 'The Curse of Fenric' where Ace meets a younger version of her grandmother with a baby (Who would soon be revealed as Ace's mother as a baby) and sets up her own life by telling the younger version of her grandmother to live where Ace remembers her current time grandmother living. It's even hinted at the start where the Baby's name is given and Ace says 'I hate it...It's my mother's name'. A nice bit of foreshadowing.

[@samsalin]

New who "look at me and my magic wand that fixes any problem" Old who "oh crap theres no way we can win, good thing im older then dust and can outsmart you a hundred ways before i WIN.

[@DiscussingNetwork]

Here is the thing about quality: When we review, we try to look at the production value from the time it aired. (This idea comes from Louis Trapani, known as The Godfather of Doctor Who Podcasting.) You’re right….classic does have a lot of wobbly sets and models, green screens, etc. It’s so sad that many of the First and Second Doctor stories were wiped. There truly is something magical about the B&W stories. FORMAT - For me (Kyle) it is a hit-and-miss as to whether or not I like the classic format vs. the current. Good seeing that you mentioned that the Sixth Doctor did have a Series that mimics the timing of the current era. The Trial of a Time Lord was unique as it was the time when the BBC had (thanks to Michael Grade) the actual Doctor Who program on “trial”. Relationship - You’re right - the kiss in 1996 was BIG! Classic had a very asexual feel to it. The relationship between the companion and the Doctor depended on the version of the Doctor, of course. Personally, I don’t mind the romance now because I like the characters they’ve associated with the Doctor. (Can’t say HIM anymore! :) I am a classic WHO but I LOVE - I mean LOVE - the End of Time! I’ve watched so many times that I can watch it in my head….yes, I have issues! (Good job on the quotes!) Kudos on the rundown!

[@koschei1975]

You hit the nail on the head with that last one. Think of how, in Classic Who, the 5th Doctors sacrifice was to save one person...his companion....and he had to do that cause his own curiosity led them to the spectrox and the ongoing conflict. It is still one of the best Doctor Who episodes, cheesy monster and all, simply because Robert Holmes wrote a story that put the Doctor through hell to save...one person's life. Nu Who could learn a thing or two from that story...it's why, the best Nu Who stories are almost always the smaller scaled ones (Dalek,Midnight, Blink). Of course...this is all IMHO...but thanks for pointing out differences and painting a picture of what works in the old and what works in the new.

[@timbogymbro66]

I feel like the only time I noticed that Modern Who made the Doctor "Superman" was with the Eleventh Doctor. Went way too over the top.

[@professionalmemeenthusiast2117]

*Ten literally floating around blasting objects out of people's hands*

[@timbogymbro66]

Professional Meme Enthusiast 1 Now when was this?

[@professionalmemeenthusiast2117]

Last of the Timelords

[@manis1551]

Tbh The Tenth Doctor was a bit like Superman and acted like he's the only defender for Earth

[@rontreasure9832]

Tim Timothy Tim - Whovian Extraordinaire! I think the only "Superman" moment happened with Tennant at the end of series 3 when Martha had to tell the world about the Doctor and he somehow magically regained his form through prayer or whatever.

[@hughsterb]

In my headcanon (I don't want to say for certain) the reason the doctor becomes this sort of legend in the new series is because of the gap in between: the time war. We don't know for sure what happened but we know that it was huge and that all of time and space knew about it and knew what the doctor did during that time, making him some figure to behold.

[@julieeverett7442]

there is also his age, my doctor, the great Baker, was only something like 700 years old, still fairly young and innocent (just never say that to his face!) The darkness started to kick in with Colin Baker, then again with McCoy, Tennent's doctor is over 900 years old and has seen and done some terrible things, Matt Smiths is 1200, Capaldi is close to 2000years old and getting tired, I think over a millenia he WOULD be noticed! Doesnt mean it's a good thing though!

[@Trekkienut4]

I am back for you vids. You are one of the best ones on the web

[@OzBaxter]

The Classic series also has the benefit of (a) multiple writer voices, (b) the showrunner not really setting any singular tone (Hinchcliffe withstanding), and (c) the marketing department didn't call the shots...

[@aurora7442]

This was really helpful, thank you!

[@UnchainedEruption]

I recommend starting with Spearhead from Space if you want to know where to jump into classic who. You can start with the very beginning if you like, but imo the show really starts to pick up by the beginning of Hartnell’s final (fourth) season. The only problem, other than being black and white (if that bothers you), is that many if not most of the episodes from the Patrick Troughton era are missing. While they’re still great and definitely worth checking out anyway in audio form (and many of them do exist in entirety, in part, or in animated reconstructions), Spearhead from Space, the first story of Season 7 and the Jon Pertwee era is an easier way for a completely new fan to get into the classics. The pacing is faster (well, relatively speaking. Still will feel slow compared to new who), the show made the leap to color tv, the budget is significantly larger and costumes/effects are much better quality, and most importantly, this is, imho, the greatest era of not only Doctor Who, but of all television ever. You won’t get an immediate payoff; most of the stories in the season are actually 7-episodes long! But, if you stick them through with an open mind, you will quickly learn to love what you discover. From then on out, just watch them all in order. Of course, if you don’t mind the black and white and missing video, go ahead and start from the beginning. More power to you! The 60’s episodes are just as classic. However, it’s easy to get intimidated and give up on it (I know, I did), which is why I suggest a starting point that’s more accessible to today’s viewers.

[@Fitzroyfallz]

Mr. JustAGuyWithALightsaber Great suggestion! I'd also add that you don't need to see them in order if you don't feel like it. The stories are pretty self contained, so don't be afraid of jumping around and trying different doctors, companions, and writers.

[@aurora7442]

Thank you!

[@manis1551]

I actually started with Spearhead from Space and I've just finished watching the Third Doctor's run. The Third Doctor is now one of my favorite Doctors and his era had solid stories like Inferno, Time Warrior, The Ambassadors of Death, The Daemons and The Green Death. Now watching the Fourth Doctor's era and already loving it. The Ark in Space and The Genesis of the Daleks are the best written stories that I've ever watched.

[@Netherfly]

For the most part I prefer the various idiosyncrasies of Classic Who, but I'm gonna have to disagree on the Doc's reputation thing being "bad," if only because it's actually justifiable in the story. It makes sense that the more the Doctor interferes, the older he gets, the more well-known he'd be. Especially considering his adventures (mostly) seem to be limited to a single galaxy. It also works a bit on a metacontextual level, due to the sheer reputation of the Doctor Who franchise. The whole "Doctor is Jesus" thing is a bit much, though.

[@Freak80MC]

Having so far watched two seasons of the First Doctor, I have to agree that it can definitely feel slow at times. Which is really sad, because I like classic Who a lot, I just can't bring myself to watch much of it at once because I am so used to modern TV that it feels sooooooo slow and tiring to get through.

[@TheMagicDragonHD]

Freak80MC That‘s only the Hartnell era tbh

[@illusionzman3549]

I would say the Hartnell era is the worst offender for this. Try the 4th Doctor era, much more action and shorter stories for the most part. If you don't enjoy that then it isn't for you, but personally starting on the 4th Doctor's era it also made the other eras much easier to get used too as it eased me into the structure.

[@Freak80MC]

Yeah, these two comments makes it look like it probably wasn't the wisest choice to try to watch the classic era in chronological order... Is the Third Doctor's era a bit better as well? Because if I watch from there at least there is enough of a clean break from the Second Doctor that it wouldn't be like starting in the middle of anything and I could naturally lead into the Fourth Doctor.

[@TheMagicDragonHD]

Freak80MC yeah Spearhead from Space is a perfect jumping on point.

[@illusionzman3549]

Yeah the 3rd Doctor's era is also a great jumping on point. It also has much more continuity similar to the new era which might help ease you into it.

[@danielengfer]

I've watched all of the available Doctor Who episodes since 1963 and I think this video is a good summary of the major differences between the classic and modern eras of Doctor Who! The classic stories had 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 12 and 14 episodes. To my recollection, there was only one 8-episode story: The Second Doctor story called The Invasion. Examples of each: 1 episode: Mission to the Unknown, The Five Doctors; 2 episodes: The Edge of Destruction, The Rescue, The Sontaran Experiment; 3 episodes: Planet of Giants, Ghost Light, Survival; 4-episodes: The Time Warrior, The Ark in Space, The Caves of Androzani; 5-episodes: The Dominators, The Daemons; 6 episodes: Genesis of the Daleks, The Talons of Weng Chiang; 7 episodes: The Daleks, The Evil of the Daleks, The Silurians, Inferno; 10 episodes: The War Games; 12 episodes: The Dalek Masterplan; 14 episodes: The Trial of a Time Lord (although some people consider season 23 to be 3 four-episode stories and one 2-episode story).

[@julieeverett7442]

youre forgetting the key to time that spanned an entire season, 6 times 6 part stories, all individual adventures but with a common goal, find the pieces of the key to time and assemble it

[@TheKauff]

When I grew up on Doctor Who (80s mostly, though re-runs would start at the 60s) PBS showed 2 or 3 "episodes" back-to-back. This was closer to the length of a "normal" show, though sometimes it went over. It did make some of the longer adventures more interesting though, as it could end in the middle of a timeslot.

[@AndrewChapman]

I've been binge watching through Doctor Who the last several months, classic era and modern era (currently at Capaldi's first series). I honestly enjoy both eras. Despite all these differences, particularly restarting the series numbering, I honestly see it all as one show that went off air in 1989 for 16 years, came back one night in 1996 as a TV film before returning regularly in 2005.

[@sallyatticum]

Half the fandom was in love with the Tenth Doctor, so I had no problem with making a companion attracted to him. In my opinion, it was bound to happen and made sense to do it with the charming David Tennant. It made less sense to me to have him fall in love with Rose, though, I suppose thematically, his regeneration being caused by her kiss and her obvious adoration might have been flattering. But that's it. It also didn't bother me that Tenth Doctor didn't want to give up this particular incarnation because he'd started to treat these people like family and extended family. They embraced him and took him into their homes. He had never done that in the past, so I could see him wanting to hang onto that... and then rejecting that lifestyle with the next incarnation.

[@detectivesquirrel2621]

The Time War changed not only the Doctor but just about everyone in the universe's opinion of him. Moffat really blew it out of all proportions starting with Matt Smith.

[@bEccleston]

i started watching modern who at age 8 or so, and have loved it ever since (i’m currently 17). i’ve wanted to watch classic who for a while, but it’s not available in Canada at the moment, but after this video i think i’ll put in some more effort to find it!

[@MightyMarioBros378]

You can find it on iTunes if you have an iPhone a very good story I would recommend is destiny of the Daleks… problem is it costs money

[@russelltietjen4407]

I'm usually very forgiving towards Classic Who's production values because of An Adventure in Space and Time made me realise just how much passion was going into it and how hard they were trying to get it right.

[@benoneill1840]

I'm in my late teens now, I was a young kid when new who started, and I loved it, my dad introduced me to the classic series by finding the odd did in a shop somewhere and we'd watch it together, so as a kid the different format, obvious production value difference, and the more subtle story and character changes never really appeared to me, it was just doctor who, and that was cool, so I'd say the only real difference is your perception of the shows, they are different but if you're a kid and introduced to both alongside each other I'd say you wouldn't notice

[@meganvincent5381]

As a modern fan hopping into classic who it definately felt slow so this really helped changing my mindset

[@austinwoods466]

Def helpful. Wish I had this when I got into Doctor Who circa 2012.

[@MrSukram777]

5:33 What abot the Story Arc with Fenric? I think that was kind of like a great mystery as the Curse of Fenric revealed Fenric to be behind so many events in the past it's actually the most mysterious arc in Clasic Who because they also gave some foreshadowing here and there about the Doctor having a secret.

[@paulpeartsmith]

That's a great summation of the show past and present. I feel that the production value differences really kick in post Baker era when budgets got cut but modern era, apart from one or two episodes of the 12th Doctors time, has so far not got anywhere near the atmosphere of peak Baker ( Pyramids of Mars, Talons of Weng Chiang, Brain of Morbius, Horror of Fang Rock) or peak Pertwee ( Inferno, Ambassadors of Death, the Zygons) for my money. By and large though I think you absolutely nailed it.

[@UnchainedEruption]

Sorry, I know I’ve already commented WAY TOO long and too much on your video, but just thought I’d like to say brilliant video. You’re mostly accurate and fair to both shows while trying to leave out as much of a leading bias as possible. Great video!

[@univacathetinyfarm]

As to the story arcs being exclusive to NuWho, this was one of my favorite Classic stories; from Wikipedia "The Key to Time is the umbrella title that links all six serials of the sixteenth season of Doctor Who... The name refers to the powerful artefact for whose segments the Doctor, Romana and K-9 are searching during the season."

[@julieeverett7442]

the key to time was a fun one six times six stories leading up to one of the coolest quotes in Dr Who history " the world would be in an aweful lot of trouble if it turned out I were colour blind, not knowing the difference between the black guardian and the white"! the three part e space trilogy, caught in another dimension trying to get home the 2 part Kinda story where Tegan is possessed by a snake spirit there were several cyberman connecting stories a four part sontaran story arc a HUGE Darlek arc, they were there from the very first doctor and the huge Darlek/doctor time war arc actually started with the fourth doctor in genisis of the darleks. So no, story arc are NOT only in nu who!

[@jamescastelli]

I have to say that in addition to the Doctor becoming larger and more important in constantly saving / rebooting the universe that the COMPANIONS are also much more important, too. With the exception of maybe Martha (who, on second thought, did play quite a role in rescuing the earth from the Master in the Doctor's absence), Everyone since Rose had a role in which some aspect of the universe rested on their shoulders, or they were superhuman in that way. Rose was Bad Wolf, Donna was the "Doctor-Donna" and Amy bore River Song and was "the girl who waited" and had that crack in the universe in her room. Rory became an Auton and stood guard for 2,000 years (and kept coming back to life). River Song was River Song, a force unlike any other to be reckoned with and existed in the most convoluted reverse-chronological story line. Jack became immortal. Clara was "the Impossible Girl" also reappearing after versions of her died, and later rescuing the Doctor by entering his timeline. And so on. No longer can you just have a companion who is just a regular person tagging along, like a Dodo or Victoria or Jo Grant or Leela or Nyssa, etc. And, in addition to them falling in love with the Doctor (or making it clear they are NOT in love with him), a snog still sneaks in there now and then, and you see more of their FAMILY lives. Just about all of them retain ties to their parents or boyfriends, and will often divide their time between home and the Doctor, which is something you never saw in classic Who.

[@jennifermoore2944]

I Love your thoughts! Thank you!!!

[@templar1881]

I enjoy both eras of Doctor Who, however one thing I don't care for is the modern series seems to forget that this should be fun, more often than not it gets bogged down by its own self importance and remains grim. Series one was good, despite the problems with the Slitheen, because despite his emotional baggage, the Doctor seemed to be having fun and we had fun with him. After that it seemed they decided it was all too cheerful and we only got the occasional moments of fun, except for series four where the Doctor was traveling with Donna, who makes it hard to keep a straight face.

[@tomdelaney7310]

I love both classic and new Who, and I agree with your assessment of the era differences

[@thebasementfilmgroup]

I really thought that moffat was going to solve the "God-like" aspect of the Doctor when Matt came along and said "I've become too noisy" - I was convinced he was gonna dial it back more....but nope - he didnt - maybe chibnall will - he might pull the same stunt as the crack in time and press the reset button - who knows (who...knows!) .... great stuff again :)

[@Rod35477]

In "The Wedding of River Song" it is as if the doctor doesn't realise his significance which I guess is a character arc?

[@TheGerkuman]

The major exception to the seeming asexuality of the classic era doctor, aside from arguably 3rd's goodbye to Jo and 1st having a granddaughter, was 4th's attraction to Romana's second incarnation. Which kinda came from Baker and Ward's attraction.

[@Nickman826]

TheGerkuman that was a wild time on set

[@o00nemesis00o]

What makes it even odder is that it's the same actress as the Princess in "The Armageddon Factor"

[@TheGerkuman]

Nicholas Heathfield Romana was always one for bucking the rules.

[@TheKauff]

Wasn't Romana (the 2nd time around) the Doctor's in-universe wife? Didn't they get married?

[@eclecticdog2k901]

No, although you may be thinking of an ad campaign which featured those two actors.

[@Reprodestruxion]

The ark in space , the sontaran experiment , genesis of the daleks and revenge of the cyber man were tied together besides Ian Marter.

[@davidb.2932]

Pretty accurate analysis, appreciate it.

[@wasian588]

I like that regenerations mean more now, it makes sense with him being older. When he was younger, change didn't matter as much to him because it was a new adventure, but he got tired of it as he got older. The Doctor just wants to keep the same face.