Why Series 1 Was The BEST of Modern Doctor Who

Looking back to almost 20 years ago, #DoctorWho returned to our screens in explosive, brilliant fashion. While the 10th and 11th Doctors are usually the most frequent favourites of NuWho fans, for me- it was always Nine.
Series 1 in 2005 was the most important series of modern Doctor Who, and here's why. #RussellTDavies #christophereccleston
🎧 Check out Amy and I's NuWho rewatch podcast here: anchor.fm/kasterpod/

[@Legato-2057]

Ecleston is doing Big Finish audio dramas as The Doctor again, and he’s really good. It’s great to hear him in brand new Dr. Who adventures.

[@BrotherMag]

This was my doctor!

[@Ezlo01221]

I didn't know what you meant by (capital) Big Finish. Like Huh? Finland is big Whovian fans I guess. 😅 just Googled it and found the mass collection of audiobooks

[@stephaniemantle5029]

Eccleston's Doctor will always mean the world to me. He was my first Doctor but more than that, the first series of Doctor Who was the first time my dad and I ever sat down together, religiously, and watched the same show on TV. That series was such a bonding moment for us. He took his own life on 2011 but whenever I miss him most, I go back and rewatch series 1 and its like spending that time with him again. I told Eccleston this story when I met him at WCC and he leaned over the table and squeezed my hand so tightly and I knew Dad was there and incredibly jealous haha. One of the standout moments of my life

[@davidrohde2636]

You should never skip 9. There are so many things that chris creates with the character that Tennant and Smith built upon. If you love 10 and 1 just don't forget about 9.

[@mooganify]

1? The original?

[@AngieDeAguirre]

Hahaha you grab 10, you take out 1 and you are left with 9, the GOAT.

[@isaacsatar9304]

I genuinely love season 1 and even though Eccleston didn't stick around for long, he deserves all the credit for bringing Doctor Who into the 21st century. Therefore he is, in a word..... FANTASTIC!✨😊

[@OzBaxter]

One thing to note: The first Five actors created the foundation of how every other actor would riff on the character going forward. Chris Eccleston was the first one since them that created a brand new personality for the character that wasn’t in any fashion derivative of previous performances. No one else has done that since.

[@stevkyt2374]

Don't know who you're referring to as the first five actors. There were eight before him and five after, if you include John Hurt. They all brought their different personalities to the show, apart from Whittaker who was clueless and none were particularly based on Eccleston's take.

[@AllThePiecesMatter_]

I would have to agree with that. He seemed so different from classic doctors and also so different from all doctors since. He's my favourite.

[@mooganify]

I’ve heard that he was actually one of the only ones the bring forth the spirit of the original.

[@KatzePiano]

Every time I rewatch series 1 (which I'm actually doing currently for my 60th anniversary year full rewatch), I'm blown away by just how good it is and how well it stands up. Something else I appreciate is how well it builds towards the finale, not just with the Bad Wolf stuff, but all the little things that become relevant: The Long Game establishing the backdrop for the setting, Father's Day being the thing that convinces Jackie to help, Mickey's journey across the series culminating in him helping, etc. It's just a masterpiece of a series, which is always just as good 18 years later and every time I return to it.

[@richardgurney1844]

Crazy timing - I've literally just finished rewatching Nine because I haven't in, like, 10 years! It really is impressive what it achieved. Not a single bad episode, and watching every thread come together in the final 3 episodes was so satisfying. And the team perfectly understood The Ninth Doctor's character and we got a lot of depth in just 1 series - Christopher Eccleston's performance was phenomenal

[@mooganify]

Honestly at the time, same

[@johnphamlore8073]

There's never been an actor cast for the Doctor as Eccleston was, and sadly there may never be one again. Eccleston in franchise history is unique in the latent physical brutality he brought to the role -- if one looks at Eccleston's Doctor without knowing who he is, one would meeting his Doctor not know whether he was in fact an irredeemable thug. Instead Eccleston's Doctor turns out to be a man of culture and compassion. Eccleston was a unique and perfectly chosen casting for that time.

[@malcolmpeake8893]

I always find when in Dalek, the Doctor says "Oh, Rose." heartbreaking.

[@faithcastillo9597]

Eccleston's Doctor made me fall in love with Doctor Who all over again, and I hadn't been a fan since Tom Baker days. With Eccleston, the Doctor was back, and he was fun and exciting; and, there was terrible danger and breathless adventure around every corner. Losing Chris Eccleston as the Doctor hurt terribly, so, I am very happy that his Doctor lives on in the audio Whoniverse. Thanks for a spot on review of our beloved Ninth Doctor.

[@jovra7640]

I agree, if you can’t start at 1963 Doctor, start with 9 and listen, he puts everything together.

[@bruh949]

Well seeing as the Dalek Emperor (Dalek Prime/Golden Emperor) is by a million miles my favourite villain. So this season having an amazing finale for him really seals the deal.

[@beezig]

The weight of expectation that sat on this series from the start was massive, but those early fantastic trailers gave us hope. What we got was an almost perfect story, loads of easter eggs and everyone wondering what Bad Wolf was. Nine was Fantastic in every sense of the word.

[@ShaneJMcEntee]

The BEST series of Doctor Who and one of the best Doctors. Definitely the best Doctor for that specific series. Exactly what was needed to reboot the show and for that story arc.

[@joeyunderwood]

skipping 9 is one of the worst pieces of advice anyone has ever given

[@AidanAustin316]

Ecclestone, best doctor ever. Don't skip 9. So much awesome stuff and important stuff happens. And Rich, your awesome too and thank you again for the advice on the recent episode of the podcast

[@daveappleton7871]

My first Doctor was William Hartnell - but Christopher Ecclestone is a GIANT and he brought Doctor Who back in a way I never expected and delights me every time I re-watch the series. I also completely appreciate his sincerity and honesty with which he talks about his time as Doctor and wish him all the best in whatever he does.

[@Latriise]

I agree 100% and love hearing someone else expressing all the same things I feel. Nine is also my Doctor (and he wasn't the first NuWho doctor I'd seen). And though people always talk about Rose and Ten being in love, I agree that those feelings began (on both sides) for Nine and Rose. And the fact that those feelings carried over from Nine to Ten goes to show how strong they were.

[@callumbland7798]

I can’t comprehend why anyone would skip this season. Nine is absolutely fantastic! He is dark, intense, angry and gives the character so much grit. We are all suffering in 2024 because this is how good the show used to be! I think that the season has some of the best episodes ever, with the empty child/doctor dances being an absolute masterpiece. Tennant had 3 seasons to cement his legacy, what ecclestone did in just 1 season shows how immense his impact really is.

[@pascalfernandes6957]

I find to say nctuci is a bad doctor is wrobg though. He has great storys and people forget rtd isnt good at final. Ther isxa reason he asked moffata to come back. Moffazas episode boom was one of the best doctor who in years . But i do wanne give rtd Credit snd say it is hard to do a 8 episode season and i fell like i ternöy he more saw this as s1 Aa consudering rubys story isnt over. He misteriosly sayed to worry for her and the only logical reason i see is that her return to the Tardis will destroy her happy end.Ruthlessly. And i get Fans Frustration but itsxstill goodxto see rtd as exitet as ever to make doctor who but Monate should have been goven some Co trol to hold him back as i think Rtd forgets his job is to make good who not Repräsentation the Show. And i mean have the foctir be gay write stuff like rouge as that episode is still soo good and fells like pseudo set up for the next eras doctor butit was goid becaus the gay stuff was not the main character ristic. It was a litle side thing. Not the doctor is now gay what dies it mean just he likes this guy andther cute together. It was simply 2 cool characters that i hope gets fleshed out in future apearenses if they can aford it. Otherwise i would dimply make him thexsame species the doctor was so he can regenerate with a simulare backstory of beeibg abdondon somewher as a child and Nadine the mistery of the timekess child aculy the main Story of that era and make it amazing.

[@mikepanick9362]

Nine is number one, we were all lucky to have an actor the caliber of Eccleston play the Doctor. The chemistry with Piper was wonderful.

[@kyuubeychan]

I also really love Season 1, because of the pacing it has. I know Doctor Who is Chaotic and that really a lot. But it can easily get overwhelming. Ecclestons character alone helps the pacing so much. He just has a calmness and focus to him that I sometimes miss with other doctors and which can make me get overwhelmed.

[@lesames3743]

Completely agree Rich. I adore how nine came out of that door in a leather jacket. Tough and rugged. Such great story lines as well. "are you my mummy" how creepy was that. Would love a focus on one your fav nine stories.

[@ilikecheese775]

The morning after the first episode I had to reset half the clocks in my house because they were an hour slow. It's like time paused for an hour while Dr Who was on. (… either that or Daylight Saving time)

[@AngieDeAguirre]

Yes. Just yes. He was always my fav and I always get wsird looks in the fandom. I love Nine, I love Eccleston.

[@Guille_Guiverno_V]

I start seeing Doctor Who around the finals chapters of Tennant and the first of Smith, since here are not a official channel that have Doctor Who at that time (now at least one have it with subtitles) and later I go to see the first part with Eccleston and I love it so much and with the "Day of the Doctor" I even like it more, since a lot of things makes even more sense now and I appreciate him more and more and I think is a shame with don't have more adventures with the Ninth Doctor

[@J4CKC00P3R]

I wouldn’t say S1 is my favourite, but it’s bloody good and I’m always happy to see it get some love. Another great video!

[@Jmcinally94]

Eccleston's series was sooo tight thematically. I wish he'd come back for the 50th anniversary and played the "War" Doctor.

[@Ronariverah]

I honestly felt that distance with the 50th because Eccleston was not there when it seemed perfect if he was. It was only on a rewatch this year that i could almost see past the nine shaped hole and try and see the episodes on it's ien merit

[@ladygwarth]

My brother and I were two of the 5 year olds who hid behind the sofa with the very first Doctor. I drifted away from Dr Who for a while in my teens in the 70s. I have always been a fan of Christopher Eccleston, so tuned in for his series when it came back. I loved it and was hooked again since, apart from the last series, I didn’t enjoy that one so much. Looking forward to next year when it is back again under RTD.

[@CambeulWalker]

I’ve watched Dr Who for truly as long as I remember. I watched the classic series with my dad before Series 1 came out. But when it did come out I was 6 years old. I remember my dad stood in front of the TV openly nervous as to if the episode was going to stick the landing. Two lines solidified it for both him and me. “I’m the Doctor by the way, run for your life” and finally, “did I mention, it also travels in time?”. From those moments forward Doctor Who has been a huge part of my life, and an enormous part of our family. None of this would have been possible without the unfathomably good performances from Eccleston and Piper, and the incredible writing from Davis. I feel that this first new series had something special that maybe some of the others didn’t. It was the tightest. It gave the impression it was something Davis had been working on since the 90s and it had all fallen into place. It took extremely bold canonical decisions and alterations to the Doctor without losing anything about what is fundamental about either his character or the show in general (a fear that Chibnal horribly failed to pull off with the awful timeless child). Overall I totally agree. Though not objectively perfect, of course, it is absolutely perfect to me. The mystery, the character, the mythology of the Doctor all played out wonderfully. I’ll forever be thankful for everyone involved for the impact they’ve had on my life.

[@alex_mcburney]

Nine was my first, and my favorite doctor

[@laurenkaitlyn6341]

Thanks for the Boom Town praise :)

[@nicolazael]

I'm still waiting for a Modern Who episode to top The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances, because for me, that's not happened yet, and at this point I doubt it ever will.

[@AllThePiecesMatter_]

The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances is still my favourite too.

[@UranusMcVitieFish-yd7oq]

Ecclestone of course regards Boom Town as one of his best episodes along with Dalek, Father's Day and the Moffat 2 parter.

[@ff10fire666]

For me Capaldi was the best doctor, tennent had the best series but Eccleston was my doctor, the doctor who made Doctor who my favourite show. He only has one series but made a massive impact to me and many others. His run was fantastic, absolutely fantastic and do you know what? So was he

[@marcoludema8876]

Really hoping all of the other NuWho Doctor Era get a video like this one. Particularly for Capaldi (who's my Doctor).

[@PandaYune]

Nine was my first Doctor and will forever be my favourite one! Never skip 9!

[@mahlicarmichael1046]

He will forever be my favourite doctor!!!

[@rhyssuxx]

Eccleston is my favourite doctor and I agree that this is the best series of the revival, If not the whole show! Even the ‘dud’ episodes are complete bangers. I’d give anything for him to come back one day

[@michellegiacalone1079]

Excellent vid! Oddly enough, one of my favorite scenes ever is 9 trying to see what's going on by watching the telly in the Tyler's flat with an increasing mob in the background. Love it!

[@monarchofthesea9395]

Honestly, the more they elaborated on the Time War the less it effected me. Actually showing it had far less impact than showing The Doctor's reaction to it. Eccleston portrayed that anguish beautifully, especially in Dalek. Best Doctor, easily.

[@a.penguinwithcastielpfp]

My first Doctor! You either love 9 or you're wrong hehe

[@levitikan]

Friends are always suprised when list eccleston as my favourite doctor. He is one of my favourite actors

[@dr.feelgoodmalusphillips2475]

Eccleston got the best consistent writing for the modern series more than any other Doctor.

[@therealteardrop]

Absolutely spot on Rich. In fact I just started rewatching Series 1 last night. it still rocks David Tennant was the perfect follow on from Ecclestone, but I do wish Chris had got at least one more series, and I really hope RTD can patch things up with him so we can see him on screen again.

[@declanmccarthy6618]

Fantastic video, love this style duuuude!

[@knighth2452]

I loved him as the Doctor. He was "brilliant". Many of his mannerism reminded me of my Doctor Tom Baker. He also brought more.

[@RHVTV]

This is wonderful!! I think it'd be so cool for you to do a video essay like this for each series of New Who!!

[@integrityinstall7860]

Great vid. I agree. There's so much that can be said about this run. The spinoffs and future build up makes this the most foundational runs in the nuwho. Rose ain't 19's girl. That was the retirement stage. Their relationship was built with Chris. David didn't have to deal with Jackie. She'd have eaten him up.

[@kekix12]

I totally agree with this video, eccleston was my first doctor where I met the series and he is my second favorite doctor only after David. greetings from Madrid Spain I just discovered your channel and what a wonder.

[@zachh6868]

I always watch Doctor Who from season 1 to season 10 without skipping an episode (yes, even those really bad ones). Even the bad episodes have some value of fun or character growth

[@zachh6868]

@tvguy61 I watched the chibnal era, then tried it again recently, and yep, still forgettable. Season 13 (Flux) was actually fun to watch even if it had a horrible resolution at the end. And power of the doctor was very fun too. Fortunately I've been loving the new stuff (don't get me wrong, I have the same compaints as everyone else, but Doctor Who has never been perfect, not sure why that'd change now), and I love how they are treating the Chibnal era like The Time War and how it's just a big burden on the doctor

[@zachh6868]

@tvguy61 It's iffy. The biggest problem is the whole timeless child bit, and for some reason, Chibnal doubled down and incorporated that story into Flux. Without that it would be easy to recommend watching it just once for the Flux and to have that knowledge for the upcoming seasons.

[@autumnmatthews3179]

Series 1 was absolutely the best. I grew up watching my Doctor Tom Baker, but Chris will always be my NuWho Doctor. Dalek was amazing, and so was Chris. All the emotions he showed. The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances is also amazing. We wouldn't be looking forward to the 60th and Ncuti without Series 1. I agree totally, don't skip Nine

[@Football_Goals_F.C]

I can’t believe there’s actually people who skip over him?!?!?

[@thatDamnAusWhoFan]

Some knew. 8 had 2 series of audio dramas and a 40th anniversary special by that point.

[@Richard_Jones]

Great stuff Rich, couldn't agree more and - because you kinda brought it up - the removal of Doctor Who as a Christmas Day fixture has done IMMENSE harm to the franchise. I know, 'off-topic' but it really rankles with me.

[@mugheeraiqbal]

I am a guy who loved the tenth and adored the 11th even more but i recently went to rewatch doctor who and omg the ninth era was just futuristic. So much depth and so much open yet grounded story. It was in ninths words "fantastic"

[@joeminotto9575]

I totally agree that Nine was amazing! I been saying that from day one. I’m so happy you feel it as well. Thanks for this !

[@jlugoholt]

9th Made me fall in love of Doctor Who, so He is also my Doctor! Thanks Christopher Ecclestone

[@OzBaxter]

You love Nine and dislike Timeless Child? You state your opinion freely and don’t mince words in an effort to try and pander to everyone? SUBSCRIBED!!

[@casteanpreswyn7528]

This is hilarious, considering the response to him initially.

[@Imaginarie]

I didn't skip Nine and never once regretted it!

[@jtrenoweth]

9 is the best and I agree

[@dompne33]

Great video. The best season of Dr who and the best doctor

[@adamcarpenter8614]

Best series of doctor who

[@CameronKiesser]

I like to say that the 9th Doctor was legit Sci Fi and 10th onward was "Doctor Who (TM)"

[@steveadelson7535]

I'm with you... I have a hard time calling him the best with only one season, but oh, what a season! My favorite of the New Who.

[@tassilotuerk7401]

Ecclestone - Tennant - Smith / my most beloved Doctors ever. It was almost a miracle that they came in a row. Smith will always be my No 1, but Tennant-Ecclestone are soooo close behind.

[@AllThePiecesMatter_]

I agree. Nine had my favourite season finale, my favourite story (The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances) and my favourite Dalek story (Dalek). The casting of Eccleston was a masterstroke but all the major cast are great; Billie Piper, Camille Coduri, Noel Clarke, John Barrowman. Shaun Dingwell also excellent as Rose's dad and Annette Badland in Boom Town especially was superb. This season hit all the emotional beats, had great action, satire, comedy and judged against following seasons looking back, wasnt overblown or nonsensical.

[@nickconnor6078]

it's so good, the series i watched the most as a child even though season 2 was my first season. i can't really say who MY doctor was, because Tennant and Ecclestone share that role. episodes like aliens of london are really overhated, they're flawed but they're also VERY doctor who if you can just enjoy the fun parts. nice to see your video illustrate the reasons why season 1 was so good. RTD's ability to make us care about so many characters so quickly is just incredible really, a master at work. thank you!!

[@r3stl3ss]

FANTASTIC

[@keponder47]

While I prefer the characters (charm, quirks, etc.) and Companions of 10 and 11, I can completely respect and appreciate this argument in 9’s favor. I’d barely ever heard of Doctor Who back in 2005, but an older relative told me to tape (back when we used video tapes) the first of the new ones and see. While I didn’t understand everything coming into the series cold with ZERO context, I liked it enough to keep watching.

[@TheYearsShallRun]

Hard agree!

[@ym10up]

Nine is my Doctor too. As much as I love ten, first series of new who is perfect for me

[@snipejet5135]

When I started to watch DW, the ninth doctor was my first impression of the show ever and omg how I loved him at that time he was my favorite 😍. BTW I'm not brazilian which makes the series something totally new to me!!!!

[@marksilgram80]

I love Series 8 - 10 with the 12th doctor 😊the most

[@commandercody8511]

Awesome!

[@akshaytrayner1960]

Same I love it

[@SlothsCinema]

I think Nine is the most underrated Doctor but for me, my Doctor is Twelve

[@maggifatai4497]

I'd listen to an argument for matt smith..but,yes..i have to agree with you..eccleston brought back the doctor..his compassion,counterbalanced by his sheer physicality and brutality when needed was the closest we'll ever get to a modern day tom baker..

[@gracerigby361]

This isn't unique to doctor who but because the show had been off the air for so long a lot of people would have had no idea what doctor who was (including me) it definitely still had it's fans who kept it alive but you get what I mean. So when doctor who was brought back it had a brand new audience who had never seen it before, I never forget my first impression when I first saw the inside of the TARDIS or the daleks,I knew I was never get that same type of feeling again,the show definitely had its surprises in the later seasons and I enjoy them a lot but because I had a basic understanding of what doctor who was by that point it was never gonna be quite the same

[@amandacalling]

100% agreed

[@megalos2030]

I watched my first Doctor Who's episode on television when I was a kid, and I didn't know anything about this series (set apart the Tardis that I saw from a minecraft build x-) ) it's not very famous in France. I remember watching 11th's first episode, I was so happy watching this, I found it so good. Later I started watching more and more episodes from 11th and 12th (I guess not in the order because I don't have any memory of certain episodes). I didn't watch any of 9th and 10th episodes because it was looking old and their face didn't attract me (big error I guess). Last week I decided to start from the beginning (modern era) I just finished yesterday the first season and W O W ! it was so good from A to Z set apart "Aliens of London" and "World War Three" that I found good but a little less than the other, "boom town" as a conclusion to the first two episodes with the aliens raised the level and it was very good. All the characters were so well written and the actors played so well. I loved this Doctor he was very different from the Doctor I knew from 11th, as a new person to the Doctor Who franchise, season 1 is definitely worth watching. I'll remember this season forever, I'm sad that the doctor died so fast, but I guess it's for the best knowing what will happen.

[@jb_0029]

He’s my favorite doctor

[@malcolmpeake8893]

Nine was "Fantastic!"

[@PsyrenXY]

Imagine dissing Cold War but not 42, Dinosaurs on a Spaceship, Name of the Doctor...

[@geesefeeders1]

i can get behind this take

[@MrNickInc]

Series one is absolutely fantastic!

[@callac]

My Doctor. =)

[@vanimapermai]

I wouldn't be surprised if at some point he's on are screens again. He initially said he'd never come back then he said he'd come back but only the audio adventures then he said multidoctor story's were a cash grab now he's doing a massive multidoctor story for the 60th anniversary big Finnish audio. Soooooooo I think he really wants to come back and do all the things alumni doctors do but I guess still haven't forgiven the BBC for black listing him not surprised but I hope at some point he dose gose back.

[@White.Rabbit.Productions]

True fans understand and appreciate Doctor Who, Sci-Fi, and the incredible talent that Eccelston brought to Series 1. Simps skip 9 and ogle over Tennant and Smith just cos they're younger & prettier, then they leave at Capaldi cos he's older. Series 1 pulled out all the stops, not one episode was weak, it was just brilliant.

[@bloodyhands]

He was my first love.

[@beepthemeep12]

12 and 9 have joint 1st for me. S1 s4 and s10 are peak seasons for who

[@larryfreda5208]

Best Doctor, Best Companion by far !

[@TONEDEAFSOUND]

THANK YOU it’s the best one

[@DavidBeddard]

I have a similar feeling around don't skip Eight. 👍

[@bewareofthewizard]

1 minute in, I'm IN - NINE!!!

[@mattevans4377]

The brightest stars, burn half as long.

[@christophersheets5452]

Facts

[@a1aesthetics]

It was fantastic, criminally underrated but series 4 is peak

[@joegotham27]

He is my doctor too

[@qayyuma9622]

Just finished rewatching rtd series of the show and series 1 is definitely up there but series 4 still beats it because it doesn’t have any weak episodes like the long game or unquiet dead. IMO series 4 is the closest new who got to perfection