It's hokey at times (particularly during the Pertwee years). It's annoyingly experimental (particularly during the McCoy years). It's badly conceived and badly scripted (particularly during the Colin Baker years). But during the Hartnell years, the Troughton years, the Tom Baker years and (with a reservation or two) the Davison years, it's pure magic. It's a show that lasted for decades. but moved with the times. If you watch (the original) Doctor Who from start to finish (and ignore the wobbly, creaking sets) I guarantee that you will never regret it.

One of the best TV shows of all time. The history and imagination of this series makes it very unique. Sadly recently it has become very generic and it seems to have been hijacked. Lets all hope it can reclaim the magic it has had. As a Brit who grew up with this in the 80s and 90s I am very proud of the show. I just hope it can become unique once again.

The original Doctor Who—spanning over 25 years from its black-and-white beginnings in 1963 to its eventual cancellation in 1989, and a failed revival attempt in 1996—is a cornerstone of British science fiction. It’s wildly imaginative, deeply influential, and more than a little rough around the edges. There’s no denying its historical importance or its creativity, but the classic series is also a product of its time, with limitations that make it a bit of a chore for modern viewers. The central premise remains as genius as ever: a time-traveling alien called the Doctor journeys through time and space in a ship disguised as a 1960s British police box, saving civilizations, confronting injustices, and battling iconic monsters like the Daleks, Cybermen, and the Master. The show's ability to regenerate its lead actor—originally a clever workaround for William Hartnell’s health problems—evolved into a defining narrative tool that allowed the series to reinvent itself again and again. And yet, despite all the innovation, much of Doctor Who's classic era is hindered by low production values, slow pacing, and scripting that often swings between brilliant and baffling. For every legendary serial like “Genesis of the Daleks” or “The Talons of Weng-Chiang,” there are clunkers bogged down by budget constraints and awkward performances. The show had ambition far beyond its means, and while that’s part of its charm, it also makes for an uneven viewing experience. Still, it’s hard not to admire the sheer creativity on display. The classic Doctor Who era laid the groundwork for decades of genre television and built a dedicated global fanbase that persists to this day. It’s quirky, campy, and often brilliant—but it’s also inconsistent and aged in ways that don’t always hold up. I give the classic Doctor Who an ambitious but uneven 6/10.

Surprisingly not as good as I expected it to be as a lifelong mega fan of New Who. But when it is good it really hits, you just have to be in the mood for it &, I think, tinted with nostalgic crimson red glasses. Alcohol also really helps. But without it, we’d never have the 2005 version, so I have immense respect & love for it either way. It took me over a decade to finish all of them. I do plan to go back and watch some favourites now and again, as well as getting into the expanded media for each Doctor. I’m just taking my sweet time with it, but the cancellation of the revival is probably a good opportunity to finally start going back through Doctor’s eras.

silly ol doctor who 🔥