Hi y'all, Because of a major purge of most of the Dr. Who videos and complete stories on youtube, I'll present this subject in another format (formats) as they arise, and also clean up this space into one big thread. And arrange into categories of it different eras.
Being that I was still with the First Doctor, when everything went kerplop, I start things off with him.. Which ironically is at the beginning of it all anyway?
The space and time traveling television series has a long and varied history. A cult following from the UK that aired originally on the BBC, Most Americans didn't know of it until a bit later if they caught it on our local PBS station. Running around in a strange looking blue phone booth made of wood. Why it had "Police" on it was a mystery too, because one thing he wasn't was a cop. He was more of a rebel, an outcast, a nonconformist battling foam space creatures running around in cardboard sets and also ran around with the cutest young ladies. But the stories were smart and well written, yet still having it's playful charms. The idea that the main character started out as an old man already is an intriguing one. The man of secrets changes his looks every few years or more, as things get more and more complex for him. As he gains knowledge experience, seeing this young doctor is an eye opener indeed. Mind you, this was not by design, but how the long series developed by the many writers and producers going in and out the rotating door of the BBC studios. We're not even sure if he is an alien until the end of the 60's/early 70's.
What is intriguing about this series is how strong it was right out of the gate. With the first 2 seasons having a well established cast with his granddaughter Susan and her to curious for their own good, high school teachers Ian and Barbara. It really helped build the foundation that the later series would have to struggle to compete with up and into the present.
The later seasons of the first Doctor era, were becoming strained, in luxe of it's now rising popularity, especially with children. British kids shows would even run promotions for the series. It kinda makes you realize how they "dumb down" the shows targeted at kids in America. Hartnell's health was starting to become a factor in the production schedule. Regular cast members was becoming a revolving door on the TARDIS as well. Peter Pervis as Steven taking the "Ian" role as the young man doing all the physical work. Different young ladies going in and out during this time also. All this leads up to two young adults joining the Doctor, Ben and Polly, with a hipster attraction that was to reflect the swinging London of the times. The Dalek's are now the top of the Dr. Who villains, making sure that they are used during the big ratings push. It is a shame that this story, "The Daleks' Masterplan" is mostly lost from the BBC archives. Also the end of this era first introduces the bold fresh concept of "regeneration" to the legend of Doctor Who.
The Doctor awakens at the top of "Power of the Daleks" to discover that he is now Patrick Troughton. it was the late 60's, so the idea of reincarnation to a western audience wasn't all that far fetched. The risk of a new actor and slightly younger, proved to be successful with the young viewers who marveled at the new "monster era". The companions, Ben and Polly soon gave way to Jamie a young Scottish bagpipe player in a kilt, and girl assistants Victoria and later Zoe. Not to mention romping threw time and space facing Daleks, Cybermen, Yeti's, Ice Warriors and Macras. It's a fun mod ride in these, To bad many of these episodes are lost, thank ya BBC! So many of these early Troughtions' are recons, salvaged from existing audio and telesnaps, plus the occasional clips and a few fully recovered chapters.
The final season for Patrick Troughton proves to be another strong on for the series. Picking up Zoe a young star watcher in "The Wheel of Space", the 2 mac daddies of the TARDIS, Doc. and Jamie still have their game on. Another historical fact about this 6th season is for the most part complete for 2nd doctor stories. With the fear of type casting, Troughton feels that it is time to bow out from the role and leaving the slate clean at the end of "The War Games" as the following season goes color.. with a "u"!
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