Doctor Who: Twice Upon a Time 4K UHD (2017)

[RockyIII]

Originally Posted by Sky_Captain

It's usually because the actor decides to leave.

Originally Posted by pottyaboutpotter1

Peter Davison (the 5th Doctor) started the trend of "three and done" for Doctors; three series covering roughly about four years (only the 8th and 9th Doctors went under this for various reasons). After that, many actors seek to move on to pursue other projects/fear of being typecast/they feel they can't offer the show anything else. Doctor Who is a show that films throughout most of the year and leaves very little time for the actors to do other projects or to spend time with family, which often contributes to their decision to leave. BBC sometimes alters the schedule to allow actors some time off (2009, 2012 and 2016 saw a reduced episode count to allow the actors some time off).

Plus, Doctor Who by design reboots itself every few years thanks to a constantly rotating cast (Series 6 and Series 9 are the only series that don't feature a major cast change from the previous series, all the others debut either a new Doctor or a new Companion or both). It's not about trying to "fix" the show, it's just the show keeping itself fresh so things don't get stale.

I understand that. Thanks for explaining.
I was going to start from series 5 but I am too curious to see what series 1 (2005?) was like. I think the BD from Amazon UK is my best option here so it will be a few weeks before I'll be able to get started on this

[tyrok]

I just streamed Series 1-4 on Prime since the show wasn't even HD until the Tennant specials anyway.

[RockyIII]

Originally Posted by tyrok

I just streamed Series 1-4 on Prime since the show wasn't even HD until the Tennant specials anyway.

Is it free with Prime Membership?

Edit: just checked and yes, it is FREE on Prime!!!! Oh Yeah!!!

[StarkRomanoff]

Originally Posted by RockyIII

Is it free with Prime Membership?

Edit: just checked and yes, it is FREE on Prime!!!! Oh Yeah!!!

It is!!! Now's your chance! Follow your instincts and start with series 1 (2005)! It makes the whole experience better.

[Member-167298]

Originally Posted by StarkRomanoff

It is!!! Now's your chance! Follow your instincts and start with series 1 (2005)! It makes the whole experience better.

If you start with season 1 and start thinking "this show is super cheap and lame" give it a few more episodes. It gets much better!

[doctor_who]

Originally Posted by StarkRomanoff

It is!!! Now's your chance! Follow your instincts and start with series 1 (2005)! It makes the whole experience better.

I started with series 5 (Matt Smith) when the show was released on blu-ray. It’s hard to imagine watching the much cheaper, standard definition, and much worse doctor Christopher Eccleston and sticking with it if I hadn’t seen the later seasons first.

Just my opinion though!

[Member-167298]

Originally Posted by doctor_who

I started with series 5 (Matt Smith) when the show was released on blu-ray. It’s hard to imagine watching the much cheaper, standard definition, and much worse doctor Christopher Eccleston and sticking with it if I hadn’t seen the later seasons first.

Just my opinion though!

I know Moffat is incredibly divisive, but the beginning of his reign (season 5) had so much awe and whimsy (and the insanely beautiful Amy Pond) that I couldn't help but want to watch more. If I had started with season one, I would probably not have even finished the first episode.

[Network23]

Originally Posted by pottyaboutpotter1

Peter Davison (the 5th Doctor) started the trend of "three and done" for Doctors; three series covering roughly about four years (only the 8th and 9th Doctors went under this for various reasons). After that, many actors seek to move on to pursue other projects/fear of being typecast/they feel they can't offer the show anything else. Doctor Who is a show that films throughout most of the year and leaves very little time for the actors to do other projects or to spend time with family, which often contributes to their decision to leave. BBC sometimes alters the schedule to allow actors some time off (2009, 2012 and 2016 saw a reduced episode count to allow the actors some time off).

Plus, Doctor Who by design reboots itself every few years thanks to a constantly rotating cast (Series 6 and Series 9 are the only series that don't feature a major cast change from the previous series, all the others debut either a new Doctor or a new Companion or both). It's not about trying to "fix" the show, it's just the show keeping itself fresh so things don't get stale.

What trend. William Hartnell and Patrick Troughton where both 3 years each. Mind you if Hartnell was in better health at the time he probably would have gone on longer. Colin Baker would maybe gone on longer if there wasnt a BBC strike during his run thus curtailing the Trial of a Timelord Season 22, and im damn sure if Sylvester McCoy would have gone on longer if the series wasnt cancelled(..ahem Hiatus) after season 26.

[bluenote23]

Originally Posted by PrestonXI

I know Moffat is incredibly divisive, but the beginning of his reign (season 5) had so much awe and whimsy (and the insanely beautiful Amy Pond) that I couldn't help but want to watch more. If I had started with season one, I would probably not have even finished the first episode.

It's really such an interesting show and we all see different things in it.

As a man, what attracted me to Season 1 was Rose. What attracted me to Season 2 was not David Tennant but Rose.

My friend, a mature woman, really liked 'sexy' David Tennant the most. She didn't like the 'old guy' Peter Capaldi (who I liked because he was really, really funny).

Taken as a whole, they are all good (I mean, there is such a continuity to the flow of the different Doctors that when you watch the whole series, they are all essential to the mythology).

But I would say to Rocky III (and this part of the thread is all a response to his questions) if you don't like Rose and you don't like what you see in Season 1, then Season 5 might be a better jumping in point.

[oddbox83]

Thing is though, since one of his main drives is to get the backstory of Day of the Doctor, series 1-4 and the specials is a must.

It's a show that definitely rewards loyalty until series 11 has a fresh slate. Even though series 5 is a sort of reboot, a lot of what was previously introduced before that soon makes an appearance.

[MisterKorman]

Originally Posted by RockyIII

Is it free with Prime Membership?

Edit: just checked and yes, it is FREE on Prime!!!! Oh Yeah!!!

There are some questionable edits to the episodes The Last of the Time Lords and Turn Left, I believe, but it's otherwise a great way to watch the series.

[MisterKorman]

Originally Posted by doctor_who

I started with series 5 (Matt Smith) when the show was released on blu-ray. It’s hard to imagine watching the much cheaper, standard definition, and much worse doctor Christopher Eccleston and sticking with it if I hadn’t seen the later seasons first.

Just my opinion though!

Perhaps I'm biased because I think all the actors who've played The Doctor are great, but I'm able to look past the cheaper look because of the incredible writing (usually). Still, your issues are fair and I understand that visual aesthetics can be a problem in certain eras for some viewers.

[StingingVelvet]

Originally Posted by doctor_who

I started with series 5 (Matt Smith) when the show was released on blu-ray. It’s hard to imagine watching the much cheaper, standard definition, and much worse doctor Christopher Eccleston and sticking with it if I hadn’t seen the later seasons first.

Just my opinion though!

Yeah. I started watching it late in the Tennant era and loved it, but when I bought the DVD seasons to catch up I was like "what's this crap?" If I had started with Series 1 I'm not sure I would have kept going (though "The Doctor Dances" 2-parter is excellent).

I think Series 3 and up are all pretty solid, though like all episodic television they have their fair and bad episodes depending on taste.

[pottyaboutpotter1]

Originally Posted by Network23

What trend. William Hartnell and Patrick Troughton where both 3 years each. Mind you if Hartnell was in better health at the time he probably would have gone on longer. Colin Baker would maybe gone on longer if there wasnt a BBC strike during his run thus curtailing the Trial of a Timelord Season 22, and im damn sure if Sylvester McCoy would have gone on longer if the series wasnt cancelled(..ahem Hiatus) after season 26.

Patrick Troughton - 3 series 3 years

Peter Davison - 3 series 3 years

Colin Baker - 3 series 3 years

Sylvester McCoy - 3 series 2 years

David Tennant - 3 series 4 years

Matt Smith - 3 series 4 years

Peter Capaldi - 3 series 4 years

7 out of 14 Doctors have done 3 series and then left the show (either due to leaving of their own accord, firing or cancellation, it doesn't matter, they still did 3). That's half, enough to make it the common amount of series.

The only Doctors who did less or more are

William Hartnell - 4 series 3 years

Jon Pertwee - 5 series 4 years

Tom Baker - 7 series 7 years

Paul McGann - 1 special + 1 minisode 1 year

Christopher Eccleston - 1 series 1 year

John Hurt - 1 episode, 1 minisode + 1 special 1 year

I'm not counting Jodie as we don't know how long her era will be (we know she's doing Series 12 at least).

But there is definitely a common trend of "three and done", which has actually been mentioned in interviews by previous Doctors.

[Vandal Savage]

I think Troughton was the one who told Davison to only do three years and bow out.

Back in the original run, things were a bit more fluid.

Hartnell originated the role and would have stuck around, but his failing health forced him out of the role and necessitated a recast. Makes you wonder if he hadn’t have been so frail and the series had run for several more years if it just would have been cancelled with no recast. The episodes would have been wiped and destroyed, and the series would have become a footnote in history.

Troughton and Davison are the only ones who voluntarily did three series. Pertwee and Tom Baker did five and seven respectively. Hartnell left due to his health, Colin Baker was fired after two series, and Sylvester McCoy’s run was cancelled after three.

The three series per Doctor in the modern series seems like a combination of the actors wanting to get away from the grind and move on, and the BBC wanting to keep the show fresh and moving forward.

[morphinapg]

Originally Posted by RockyIII

Is it free with Prime Membership?

Edit: just checked and yes, it is FREE on Prime!!!! Oh Yeah!!!

Yep, used to be on Netflix and then moved to Amazon

[RockyIII]

Originally Posted by PrestonXI

If you start with season 1 and start thinking "this show is super cheap and lame" give it a few more episodes. It gets much better!

I'm on S01E2....this show looks super cheap and lame

[pottyaboutpotter1]

Originally Posted by RockyIII

I'm on S01E2....this show looks super cheap and lame

It's important to remember that Doctor Who is not a big budget show and it's always been a bit "cheesy". And that is what gives it its charm IMO.

[RockyIII]

Originally Posted by pottyaboutpotter1

It's important to remember that Doctor Who is not a big budget show and it's always been a bit "cheesy". And that is what gives it its charm IMO.

But why does it look like as show taped on a VHS tape from 1985? 2005 SD quality should look better, unless it's Prime streaming to blame here

[Member-167298]

Originally Posted by RockyIII

But why does it look like as show taped on a VHS tape from 1985? 2005 SD quality should look better, unless it's Prime streaming to blame here

I can’t speak for the streaming version, but the U.K. DVD of season one is pretty rough.