After all these years, watching the very first Doctor Who story still is a unique experience, especially the first episode. I remember watching it for the first time back in the 90's and it's hard to describe the feeling of the story even by 60's standards back then.

The feeling that at the end of the first episode, you really had gone on a trip back in time to the stone age. It just goes to prove that modern special effects aren't everything and that the story can carry you along all by itself.

The atmosphere of that first episode is simply superb, accompanied by some well creepy incidental music, and that dark evening eerieness as Ian and Barbara scout the junkyard to look for Susan. Then you had the TARDIS scenes which at the time of not knowing what was coming must have been amazing, discovering the inside of the TARDIS was bigger inside than out.

The other three episodes are not quite as dramatic but still have something going for them. The First Doctor is at his callous best whilst flung into a situation almost of his making by having to put up with two hostile teachers who also cause some tension between himself and Susan.

The Cave Of Skulls were an impressive set and the cavemen themselves were the best they could be considering the production concerns about them. The fight between Kal and Za I think is a bit brutal even by 60's standards! And the final scene which led you into the next story, a true masterstroke to keep the viewer hooked.

All in all not a bad first story for the new show!

So did anyone else like this story and what were yours thoughts on it?

Sorry, forgot to mention, it wasn't just me ranting on, was waiting to see anyone else's opinions on it!

one of the best stories in any series in my opinion, not only that but, after maybe Rose, the 11th Hour, the impossible Astronaut/Day of the Moon and the TV Movie (except, of course, that unfortunately never was the intended series opener it should have been, just ending up as a oone off) I'd say it is one of the best series openers in the entire shows history

Episode 1 remains the best episode of Who ever. Imagine watching it back then with no knowledge of who these characters were or where this story was going?
With the other 3 eps, it must have been more powerfully then as there was no previously established Who rules to guide you through the story e.g the Doctor was unpredictable and unknown, we didn't know if characters were in it for the long term and could have met their end at any time during the story an no guarantee that they'd get out safely.
A masterpiece given the era it was made in!

I've recently rewatched this and still found the Cavemen stories pretty slow going. The first episode though An Unearthly Child, sets the scene to the series brilliantly. Maybe they should have followed the Unearthly Child with Edge of Destruction (*) as I feel that would have fitted better and then The Daleks could have followed that.

(* EDIT: By that I mean, get rid of the Cavemen story completely)

I don't think they wanted the Caveman story either but couldn't change it. I don't think Inside The Spaceship should have followed it though as it would mean the crew stuck in the TARDIS for three weeks and you couldn't showcase them straight away without them having some sort of adventure. Unique though the caveman was, it did set the benchmarks for the style of the show in those days.

A big thank you to everyone who's been resurrecting my old story threads lately, it's great to see them popping up and people still contributing to them all. However, this was one old thread I wanted to do myself with the 50th fast approaching.

I was going to leave resurrecting this thread until a little closer to the anniversary itself, but with just over a month to go I thought it may be relevant to do it sooner for those who may be tempted to go right back to the beginning and watch this story, even if just for the first episode, in preparation for the big day itself.

I stand by what I said above, the first episode is still a good watch, though in my case slightly diminished by regular rewatching but still enjoy it all the same. It's fascinating here that The Doctor is the closest he probably ever came to be as dangerous and violent as the Sixth Doctor at the start of his time in the show. I genuinely do believe he may have been capable of injuring or possibly even killing the injured Zal in episode three had Ian not have stopped him.

It was certainly an unpredictable and anti-hero side of The Doctor on display here, quite at odds with Hartnell's eventual interpretation.

In fact, I think all three companions have a good story here, even Susan, who in terms of character never really was as good again, aside from possibly in The Sensorites.

And as I said at the top, the fight between Za and Kal is really quite gruesome, doubt if smashing someone over the head with a rock would quite be allowed today!

As you can see, when I first did this thread not many people contributed to it, fingers crossed with the anniversary looming, people may want to give it a go and maybe post and comment.

So I'm just wondering if anyone is going to watch this story either out of curiosity or for the sake of the anniversary or even just try the first episode to see how it stands up after all this time?

Yup, my plan has always been to give the series an end to end complete watch for the 50th ( something I have never got round to!). I will be watching An Unearthly Child at 5.16 and 20 seconds on 23rd November 2013 and hope to have the whole watch completed by the start of series 8. The plan is at least two episodes each day with big cramming weekends to catch up when life interferes with this schedule.

(The sobs of despair you can hear in the background are coming from the wife.)

I've done the whole 2 episodes a day thing, bit tricky when you have an odd episode number count like The Silurians. I'm watching through at the moment but in no rush, could take a while!

Just a thought on what time you're watching that first episode, just wondering if that is what time they will be showing the 50th, then you could be out of luck........

Well,I am hoping that the BBC come to the rescue and kick off (what I hope will be) Doctor Who night with a showing of AUC at the sacred time, followed by some light entertainment filler fun with the main event going out at usualish time. Who knows though? TiVo to the rescue otherwise!

I don't have to imagine, I remember. It was scary, but, oh, to see the Daleks shortly thereafter, ....

I loved the debut episode, and then the Cavemen episodes less so. They began well, and it felt like a genuine trip in time had occurred but then it became very slow and, to be honest, a little bit tedious come the end. An Unearthly Child itself remains an absolute classic, and I loved so much of Hartnell's era but the cavemen element wasn't up there with his best for me...not by a long shot.

Yes me, have recently bought the Beginnings DVD, I watched these aged 7 when broadcast and my memory of the cavemen story being awful still stands, just what were they thinking of for a brand new series back then.

Loved An Unearthly Child and well all us kids loved the Daleks back then. My memory not so good tho as until I rewatched The Daleks I was convinced there was a scene where a Dalek got pushed down a lift shaft. Also that bit with the Dalek innards poking out from under the coat not as creepy as I remembered it.
Last edited by Zeppelyn56 : 21-10-2013 at 01:12

Watching this right now. I find this story very dark and gritty. Unlike modern Dr Who stories.

Still good to watch though.

I've just watched this story for the third time and I couldn't agree more. You really do feel like you're right there with the characters, in their universe, and not simply watching a TV show. I have never experienced this feeling to the effect I feel when watching 100,000 BC. Just incredible!

Glad you liked it, it truly is one remarkable episode.

Really hoping with the BBC 4 repeat, people will watch and have the chance to comment on this story and let us know their thoughts.

I was planning on rewatching my DVD of this over the weekend, but it somehow seems more fitting to watch the tv transmission of it next week.

The first episode is magical. Especially the sequence as Ian and Barbara step into the TARDIS for the first time. To the unprepared viewer that first sight of the TARDIS control room is truly astonishing and we fully share Ian and Barbara's shock. Without that crucial, stunning scene, I truly believe that we wouldn't be talking about Doctor Who today. I genuinely believe that it's one of the greatest moments in tv history.

Even though I have this on DVD (obviously), I have set the Skyplus to record the BBC4 repeat. I might even watch it straight after An Adventure in Time and Space on Thurs night.

Hope they find this thread with this title even though BBC4 are billing the serial as 'An Unearthly Child'.

I was only three years old when the first episode was shown. I think I started watching (thanks to my dad) at about 5 years old.
I finally saw the original start when BBC2 repeated it in the 80's - what a magnificent start to it all! Tom Baker was handing over to Peter Davison by this time.
Loved that first mysterious episode....the rest was a bit repetitive with the cavemen - but it led on to the Daleks in the end.....and the rest is history!

Me too. My kids think I'm being a bit silly, and they've rightly pointed out that I could watch this story on DVD any time I like.
But I'm actually really looking forward to seeing it broadcast into my living room. And I'll probably stay up late and watch the whole thing next Thursday. Just because I'm a sentimental old git and, well, it's Doctor Who, being broadcast on the telly, just like it should be.

I didn't realise it was being broadcast on BBC4 soon. If I had, I would have waited and watched the transmission - so much more magical. BBC4 really is not advertised enough. I have missed many programmes on that channel due to not knowing they'd be on. I'll try to keep a closer eye on the listings myself now.

I personally like parts of the cavemen episodes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GzJzg9Is44U

This for example has already shown a conflict and it's only the second part of the first story !

I've watched the DVD many times but I can't wait to watch the very first episode being transmitted on my television! If I could I'd buy one of those old B&W TV's, have a coal fire and eat a bland meal, all in aid of trying to experience what my parents must have done in 1963.

I hope the credits and music won't be spoiled by the usual coming up next announcement.

Somehow I have a feeling that might be too much to ask for, but here's hoping.