First Doctor...
Episodes to Remember
The Daleks (Episode 002) - The Doctor and his crew land on the planet Skaro amidst a petrified forest, a metallic city, and dangerously high levels of radiation. Upon entering the seemingly abandoned city, they are taken captive by ruthlessly calculating robots, the Daleks. After a wild escape, the Doctor and his companions realize to their horror they have left the fluid link, a part of the TARDIS needed for materialization, inside the city. Along with the help of the planet’s other race and the Dalek's sworn enemy, the Thalls, they devise a plan to attack the city, recover the missing mechanical part and stop the Daleks.
This is the first serial to introduce the Doctor's most well recognized enemy, the Daleks, characters that hardly need an introduction. While this story was running, viewing figures for the show sky-rocketed up to ten-and-a-half million. Almost overnight the Daleks became one of the most famous science-fiction antagonists ever made, and Doctor Who was never the same.
This is the first serial to introduce the Doctor's most well recognized enemy, the Daleks, characters that hardly need an introduction. While this story was running, viewing figures for the show sky-rocketed up to ten-and-a-half million. Almost overnight the Daleks became one of the most famous science-fiction antagonists ever made, and Doctor Who was never the same.
The Time Meddler (Episode 017) - When this episode was watched for the first time, upon learning that the Doctor had landed in medieval England, most of the audience assumed that this story was going to be similar to The Aztecs or The Crusades in nature. Historical stories with no science-fiction elements outside the main characters and the TARDIS were commonly used in Doctor Who during its first few seasons, and there was no reason to think that this story would be different. However, after Steven and Vicki find a wristwatch and a gramophone outside an old monastery, it is clear that things are not as they appear. What is the monk at the monastery up to, and how can he possibly own things that should not exist on Earth until centuries later?
The Time Meddler shows that Doctor Who was now able to stand up on its own two feet without its original cast of companions or the Daleks. In terms of the plot it opens up a whole new world to the audience; the TARDIS is not unique anymore, and the Doctor is not as alone as perhaps he thought he was. The Time Meddler begins a new chapter in Doctor Who history, and it manages to do it in style by bringing in a new companion in Steven and successfully bringing closure to a hectic second season.
The Time Meddler shows that Doctor Who was now able to stand up on its own two feet without its original cast of companions or the Daleks. In terms of the plot it opens up a whole new world to the audience; the TARDIS is not unique anymore, and the Doctor is not as alone as perhaps he thought he was. The Time Meddler begins a new chapter in Doctor Who history, and it manages to do it in style by bringing in a new companion in Steven and successfully bringing closure to a hectic second season.
The Tenth Planet (Episode 029) - As soon as the Doctor, Polly, and Ben land at an Arctic base in the year 1986, strange things begin happening. A tenth planet appears in close proximity to Earth and begins draining its energy. Tall mechanoid people invade the base, kill several guards, and claim that Earth is going to be destroyed. They call themselves the Cybermen. In a very scary story, the Doctor must fight off an unknown illness while Ben and the others try to recapture the base before the Cybermen can destroy the Earth for their own gain.
This episode is famous for being the first story to feature the Cybermen, who will go on of course to become the Doctor's most popular enemy second only to the Daleks. However, it is even more important to note that this story features the first regeneration. William Hartnell was becoming too ill to work, and rather than cancel the show or get a cheesy look-a-like, the writing team came up with the idea of regeneration; that the Doctor can renew himself and change his physical features when his body becomes too worn out or damaged. At the time, it was unknown how good of an idea changing actors would be. Now, however, the concept of regeneration is a fundamental aspect of the show, and Doctor Who would not have been able to be successful as it was without it.
Honorable Mention: The Aztecs (Episode 006), The War Machines (Episode 027)
This episode is famous for being the first story to feature the Cybermen, who will go on of course to become the Doctor's most popular enemy second only to the Daleks. However, it is even more important to note that this story features the first regeneration. William Hartnell was becoming too ill to work, and rather than cancel the show or get a cheesy look-a-like, the writing team came up with the idea of regeneration; that the Doctor can renew himself and change his physical features when his body becomes too worn out or damaged. At the time, it was unknown how good of an idea changing actors would be. Now, however, the concept of regeneration is a fundamental aspect of the show, and Doctor Who would not have been able to be successful as it was without it.
Honorable Mention: The Aztecs (Episode 006), The War Machines (Episode 027)
Episodes to Forget
The Web Planet (Episode 013) - At the time of its creation The Web Planet was an ambitious serial, with strange characters, new special effects, and a sophisticated plot. Unfortunately, age has not looked kindly on this story, particularly the costumes, which at best now look goofy. From a modern perspective this episode is now almost unwatchable, with its design work looking more like it belongs in a middle-school production than a successful television series, no matter the year it came out.
Even if you ignore the sets and the costumes, there is still not much to be impressed with in this serial. There are plenty of goofs, like Hartnell fluffing his lines, and an ant headbutting the camera, but the problems are deeper than that. The Animus is never explained, and it doesn't look like a spider at all. The bees are indecisive and whiny, and the giant slugs/bugs are absurd little creatures; imagine what it would have been like trying to act with those things hopping around the set! Perhaps the worst part is that this is a six-parter. The only thing worse than something bad is something bad that's long. This whole cosmic struggle lasts more than two hours all while refusing to let the audience in on what's happening.
Even if you ignore the sets and the costumes, there is still not much to be impressed with in this serial. There are plenty of goofs, like Hartnell fluffing his lines, and an ant headbutting the camera, but the problems are deeper than that. The Animus is never explained, and it doesn't look like a spider at all. The bees are indecisive and whiny, and the giant slugs/bugs are absurd little creatures; imagine what it would have been like trying to act with those things hopping around the set! Perhaps the worst part is that this is a six-parter. The only thing worse than something bad is something bad that's long. This whole cosmic struggle lasts more than two hours all while refusing to let the audience in on what's happening.
The Chase (Episode 016) - This serial is a huge disappointment. I am a big fan of Ian and Barbara, and it would have been nice for their farewell story to have as many fireworks as possible, which is what it looks like the writing team was trying to do with this serial. However, it doesn't exactly pan out this way; rather than having a fantastic chase story with the Daleks hot on the protagonist's trail, this serial has the barest remnant of a plot and plenty of holes.
By having the TARDIS move from one place to another so frequently, The Chase has no sense of suspense or significance. Too much of the action seems random, and it gives the impression that the writers know as little about what is going to happen next as the viewer does. When you add this to the fact that most of what happens during the many mini-stops the TARDIS makes does not make sense, these problems become exacerbated. Yes, the Daleks have an interstellar empire, but apparently they can also be out-maneuvered by programmed robots from a haunted-house theme park.
Although the war between the Daleks and the robots from Mechanus is impressive, it doesn't make up for this serial's overall lack of congruity. The "everything but the kitchen sink" attitude of the writers suggests this story was meant to be epic, but unfortunately it only trivializes the action and takes time away from narrative-building scenes.
Dishonorable mention: Galaxy Four (Episode 018), The Gunfighters (Episode 025)
By having the TARDIS move from one place to another so frequently, The Chase has no sense of suspense or significance. Too much of the action seems random, and it gives the impression that the writers know as little about what is going to happen next as the viewer does. When you add this to the fact that most of what happens during the many mini-stops the TARDIS makes does not make sense, these problems become exacerbated. Yes, the Daleks have an interstellar empire, but apparently they can also be out-maneuvered by programmed robots from a haunted-house theme park.
Although the war between the Daleks and the robots from Mechanus is impressive, it doesn't make up for this serial's overall lack of congruity. The "everything but the kitchen sink" attitude of the writers suggests this story was meant to be epic, but unfortunately it only trivializes the action and takes time away from narrative-building scenes.
Dishonorable mention: Galaxy Four (Episode 018), The Gunfighters (Episode 025)