Doctor Who's Tragical History TourDoctor Who's Tragical History Tour
  • Nu-Who
    • Ncuti Gatwa
    • Jodie Whittaker
    • Peter Capaldi
    • Matt Smith
    • David Tennant
    • Christopher Eccleston
  • Tweeners
    • John Hurt
    • Paul McGann
    • The Master List
    • Regeneration X
    • The Mystery Guest
    • The Hand of Fear
  • Colo(u)r
    • Sylvester McCoy
    • Colin Baker
    • Peter Davison
    • Tom Baker
    • Jon Pertwee
  • Monochrome
    • Patrick Troughton
    • William Hartnell
  • Tour du Jour
    • On This Day
    • The House of Holmes
    • 50 for 50
    • The Randomizer
    • THT Rand-o-pix of the Day
    • The Feast of Steven
    • Tour Notz
    • The Watcher
    • Contact the Tour
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Doctor Who's Tragical History Tour
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  • Nu-Who
    1. Ncuti Gatwa
    2. Jodie Whittaker
    3. Peter Capaldi
    4. Matt Smith
    5. David Tennant
    6. Christopher Eccleston
    7. View All

    Who Told You There Wouldn’t Be Any Math?

    December 5, 2022

    The Next-iest of Doctors

    May 29, 2022

    Svelte 16

    May 8, 2022

    Who Told You There Wouldn’t Be Any Math?

    December 5, 2022

    B-Bye Bradley

    October 6, 2022

    Svelte 16

    May 8, 2022

    Now You Sea Devil, No You Don’t

    April 24, 2022

    E-Spaced

    August 4, 2023

    Svelte 16

    May 8, 2022

    The Dark Jacket Dimension

    November 13, 2021

    Bad Hair Month

    September 9, 2021

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (54→49)

    September 20, 2023

    E-Spaced

    August 4, 2023

    Who Told You There Wouldn’t Be Any Math?

    December 5, 2022

    The Wedding of SMW

    August 27, 2022

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (54→49)

    September 20, 2023

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (60→55)

    September 15, 2023

    Who Told You There Wouldn’t Be Any Math?

    December 5, 2022

    The Next-iest of Doctors

    May 29, 2022

    The Dark Jacket Dimension

    November 13, 2021

    The (W)hole Ruth

    January 31, 2020

    Ten Days Till the Tenthiversary of the Tenting of the Tenth

    December 22, 2019

    The Last ‘Last Christmas’ Specials Rankings #3

    December 24, 2018

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (54→49)

    September 20, 2023

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (60→55)

    September 15, 2023

    60 for 60 — The Prelude

    September 8, 2023

    Destiny of the Costume Closet

    September 1, 2023
  • Tweeners
    1. John Hurt
    2. Paul McGann
    3. The Master List
    4. Regeneration X
    5. The Mystery Guest
    6. The Hand of Fear
    7. View All

    Hurt So Good: A Doctor and His Umbrella

    April 27, 2023

    Who Told You There Wouldn’t Be Any Math?

    December 5, 2022

    Svelte 16

    May 8, 2022

    Ten’ll Get You Five

    September 4, 2020

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (60→55)

    September 15, 2023

    McGann Before McGann

    May 26, 2023

    … And All That Yaz

    November 16, 2022

    Fivey at Forty: The First Companion Death of 1982

    March 16, 2022

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (54→49)

    September 20, 2023

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (60→55)

    September 15, 2023

    60 for 60 — The Prelude

    September 8, 2023

    Destiny of the Costume Closet

    September 1, 2023

    Ghost Re-Write

    November 16, 2021

    The (W)hole Ruth

    January 31, 2020

    Dup-topia

    January 29, 2020

    The Glue Guy

    June 24, 2018

    Doctor on Doctor ACTION!

    November 19, 2017

    The Wheel in Cheese

    August 10, 2014

    The Hurt Locker

    May 25, 2013

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (54→49)

    September 20, 2023

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (60→55)

    September 15, 2023

    60 for 60 — The Prelude

    September 8, 2023

    Destiny of the Costume Closet

    September 1, 2023

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (54→49)

    September 20, 2023

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (60→55)

    September 15, 2023

    60 for 60 — The Prelude

    September 8, 2023

    Destiny of the Costume Closet

    September 1, 2023
  • Colo(u)r
    1. Sylvester McCoy
    2. Colin Baker
    3. Peter Davison
    4. Tom Baker
    5. Jon Pertwee
    6. View All

    A Studio Film (or rather a film in the studio)

    June 9, 2023

    … And All That Yaz

    November 16, 2022

    Fivey at Forty: The First Companion Death of 1982

    March 16, 2022

    Roomba With a Prenumbra

    March 1, 2022

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (60→55)

    September 15, 2023

    Hurt So Good: A Doctor and His Umbrella

    April 27, 2023

    … And All That Yaz

    November 16, 2022

    B-Bye Bradley

    October 6, 2022

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (54→49)

    September 20, 2023

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (60→55)

    September 15, 2023

    The Inevitable Adric

    July 14, 2023

    The Box(ing) Day of Delights

    December 26, 2022

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (54→49)

    September 20, 2023

    Destiny of the Costume Closet

    September 1, 2023

    The Inevitable Adric

    July 14, 2023

    Hurt So Good: A Doctor and His Umbrella

    April 27, 2023

    McGann Before McGann

    May 26, 2023

    The Warrior Before Time

    May 19, 2023

    Purple Shag Carpet

    May 11, 2023

    Hurt So Good: A Doctor and His Umbrella

    April 27, 2023

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (54→49)

    September 20, 2023

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (60→55)

    September 15, 2023

    60 for 60 — The Prelude

    September 8, 2023

    Destiny of the Costume Closet

    September 1, 2023
  • Monochrome
    1. Patrick Troughton
    2. William Hartnell
    3. View All

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (60→55)

    September 15, 2023

    When Patrick (almost) Met Ian

    August 25, 2023

    When Patrick Met Verity

    August 11, 2023

    More For Letts

    July 25, 2023

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (54→49)

    September 20, 2023

    When Patrick Met Verity

    August 11, 2023

    The TARDIS whirled on it’s way again…

    December 23, 2022

    Invasion of The Invasion

    December 17, 2022

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (54→49)

    September 20, 2023

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (60→55)

    September 15, 2023

    60 for 60 — The Prelude

    September 8, 2023

    Destiny of the Costume Closet

    September 1, 2023
  • Tour du Jour
    • On This Day
    • The House of Holmes
    • 50 for 50
    • The Randomizer
    • THT Rand-o-pix of the Day
    • The Feast of Steven
    • Tour Notz
    • The Watcher
    • Contact the Tour
Doctor Who's Tragical History TourDoctor Who's Tragical History Tour
50 for 50

50 for 50 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — #6

By -- DSWOctober 15, 201302 Mins Read
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How many of you remember distinctly what your first Doctor Who story was?  The bet here is that it’s more than you might think.  Certainly this fan does, and 28 or so years later it certainly made an indelible impression.

That story was The Ark in Space.

This is not to say that I was instantly hooked on Doctor Who based strictly on this one magnificent story, that took a little while longer (perhaps until Terror of the Zygons) but this was Tom Baker’s true first story (Robot is, let’s face it, quite atypical for early Baker) and it delivered.

Peril from the first moment of the story, airless rooms, officious, even hostile, survivors, and big bugs that went bump in the closet.  Tom Baker made the signature speech of his tenure speaking into a room full of sarcophagi and Liz Sladen became, in this story, a much better fit as a companion with Tom than the somewhat strained paternalistic relationship she had with Jon Pertwee over a full year.

Of course, when it all boils down, The Ark in Space is a base-under-siege story, but I would argue never done better than here.  It was certainly a great, if unintentional, introduction to the series.  The question which occasionally comes up in fan circles about what the best story to introduce someone who knows nu-Who but is only vaguely familiar with anything pre-Eccleston, I would nominate The Ark in Space.

There are other, better stories (though not many) as the Countdown will continue to attest, but those stories may not be as useful in this regard as The Ark in Space.  It’s unsurpassed. — David

Alan’s #6 — Vincent and the Doctor
Andy’s #6 — Genesis of the Daleks
Steve’s #6 — The Invasion

The 50 for 50 Countdown has now truly entered the home stretch with #5 … next week.

Short Hops:
  • The Snark ... in Spades
    The Snark ... in Spades
  • Let Zygons be Zygons
    Let Zygons be Zygons
  • 50 for 50 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — #18
    50 for 50 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — #18
50 for 50 Tom Baker Jon Pertwee Elizabeth Sladen The Ark in Space Terror of the Zygons Robot Genesis of the Daleks The Invasion Vincent and the Doctor
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On This Day in Doctor Who History
  • September 23
    • 1978: The Ribos Operation [4]
    • 1967: The Tomb of the Cybermen [4]
  • September 24
    • 1977: The Horror of Fang Rock [4]
    • 1966: The Smugglers [3]
    • 2011: Closing Time
  • September 25
    • 1976: The Masque of Mandragora [4]
    • 1965: Galaxy 4 [3-- [Air Lock]
  • September 26
    • 2015: The Witch's Familiar
  • September 27
    • 2014: The Caretaker
    • 1975: Planet of Evil [1]
    • 1980: Meglos [1]
    • 1986: The Mysterious Planet [4]
    • 1989: Battlefield [4]
  • September 28
    • 1968: The Mind Robber [3]
    • 1987: Time and the Rani [4]
  • September 29
    • 1979: City of Death [1]

Random Thoughts
3/24/2004 – New Series Announcement
By -- DSWMarch 24, 2004 Roundel Roundabouts 1 Min Read
Rogue Trip
By -- DSWNovember 28, 2010 Tangential Tardis 2 Mins Read
Appealing A-Paul-ing
By -- DSWJuly 29, 2019 Tangential Tardis 1 Min Read

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