Which episode/story got you hooked?

I thought it would be interesting for folks to share which Doctor Who story got them hooked on the show for good. It could be the first episode you ever saw, or the one that turned the corner and made you the fan you are today!

For me it was The Ambassadors of Death. It wasn't my first Doctor Who story, but it's the one that made me want to watch more and also solidified that Jon Pertwee was my Doctor.

The Impossible Planet/The Satan Pit was the full first Doctor Who story I watched, it scared and excited me at the same time, I'd heard of Doctor Who before, but that two-parter was the one that got me hooked.

The second peter cushing dalek movie was the one that got me hooked, and also the way I found out about daleks.

Planet of the Dead. Regardless of its actual quality, it was a fun story, complete with a "Doomsday clock" plot device.

I started watching from the start of the new series. I really liked the show, but it wasn't until halfway into the second season that I felt I really loved it, that it would be one of my favorites.

I am not sure when I was hooked. But the first episode I saw was The Ribos Operation, pt 2. It sucked coming into the middle of a story, but Tom grew on me.

For me, it wasn't a particular story that got me hooked. Main thing was the serial/ cliffhanger format. Gave me something to look forward to the next night to see what was going to happen next.

The other was the theme music. Fell in love with it instantly and now I have loads of versions of the theme (actual show versions, official and amateur rearrangements/ variations). I wandered channel wise into DW during Doc 4s last season (Meglos was the first I saw) and the Howell version is still my #1.

The first episode I ever saw was The Sontaran Experiment. I think it was the charm and humor of the Doctor that got me hooked. And I thought the Sontarans were tremendous aliens. Oh, and good point Cruel Angel on the theme music that played a big part in getting me hooked.

In addition to also loving the theme, I also love the "sting" that precedes the end credits. Brilliant! A good cliffhanger with the "sting" and closing theme still gives me goosebumps! I'm glad that RTD kept this formula because it still works! Definately a "hook" for me as well.

SeaDevil wrote:

In addition to also loving the theme, I also love the "sting" that precedes the end credits. Brilliant! A good cliffhanger with the "sting" and closing theme still gives me goosebumps! I'm glad that RTD kept this formula because it still works! Definately a "hook" for me as well.

Definitely agree... a great cliffhanger and sting are GOLD!!!

After some thought, it may have not been an episode that hooked me. I was on school break when I started watching it, and when I returned to the university, I discovered all of the books that were available. I began to buy them. The Progamme Guides, the Target novels, and those big books like Celebration. They showed me that there was a huge history to the show. I fell in love with the Pertwee era from those books, before I saw him

Anyone else? C'mon, folks, tell your story.... This is a Doctor Who forum, after all...

Planet of Evil

It was either Pyramids of Mars of Brain of Morbius on KRMA in Denver. One was my introduction, the other, which I saw a few weeks later, made me a fan. Sunday mornings, when I started, full stories were aired back to back, while weekday evenings it was single episodes. That was ca 1979/80 I think. I remember watching Tom's final year as it was 1st broadcast in the US, at least on my station, and then the summer between Tom & Peter they ran Jon's stories (while my friends & I ran around sporting floppy hats & scarves our moms had quickly knitted for us).

Planet of the Spiders is the first one I remember, but I was watching before that. When I was 3 or 4 my aunt moved back from Wales and moved in with us, and she brought along a husband she had wed while over there. He was a Doctor Who nut and had loads of films he made by pointing a camera at the TV screen. I really took to him and watched tons of stuff with him, not just Who. He was a real inspiration to me (still is). He also got me playing guitar and listening to Frank Zappa which are my other passions beside Who.

But the episode that changed me from a casual viewer to a hardcore fan-for-life - Dalek Invasion of Earth. I watched that one so many times as a kid. I couldn't get enough of it. Strangely enough, it's one of the only DVD's I don't own.

DoctorOlly wrote:

The Impossible Planet/The Satan Pit was the full first Doctor Who story I watched, it scared and excited me at the same time, I'd heard of Doctor Who before, but that two-parter was the one that got me hooked.

Same for me.

I'd have to say Rose.

Umm... Bad Wolf/Parting of the Ways.

The first episode/story for me was The Ark In Space, back in the day when PBS showed Doctor Who stories in their entirety on Saturdays. I remember flipping channels, coming across this and becoming transfixed by the opening titles and theme; it was as if I was hypnotized. Been a fan ever since.

bump...

"Robot"...

Mind you, I was already anticipating the series because our local PBS affiliate had been advertising it for nearly two months before the actual start date (August 1982). This gave me time to dig out some StarLog magazines that had some articles. Thus I came in somewhat prepared.

Still, it was somewhat disconcerting when the the very first line is, "Look, Brigadier! I think it's starting!" and we cut to a shot of a white haired gentleman lapse-dissolving to a brown haired fellow, and, upon observing the phenomena, a military officer remarks, "Well, here we go again!" I found myself wondering, "OK, I know this is supposed to be 'the Doctor', and he can change form to save his life, but what were the circumstances that forced this particular change? What was this earlier Doctor like?" all before Tom Baker uttered his first line.

Within seconds, I was wanting to know the "backstory". So, basically, I was "hooked" then and there.

Sincerely,

Bill