Doctor Who: Classic Series vs. Relaunch

After hearing much hullabaloo on the internet about BBC's Doctor Who, I decided to check it out. As most of the talk centered around the relaunch, that's where I began and I've been a fan ever since.

As of the writing of this article, I've made it to the end of the third season, but I've also made a point to start checking out the classic serials. Many fans of Doctor Who have gone on talking about how good the old show was, some say it was better than the relaunch in fact. As such, I had to find out for myself how they compared.

Well, how do they?

Sadly, they don't compare, not really. Granted, I've only seen a total of three serials, but these were specials that featured Sylvester McCoy and Tom Baker, two of the most revered Doctors in the franchise, not to mention Ace and Sarah Jane Smith (two of the most revered companions) and I was still left unimpressed.

The plot elements are still there. You've got a Time Lord named the Doctor bopping around time and space in his ship, the TARDIS (that looks like an old police box), with a human companion as they go on grand adventures fighting monsters and what not.

Yet, the classics seem so hollow. All that fun and excitement that make the relaunch so fun to watch isn't there. It just feels so lifeless. Heck, even the theme song isn't as rousing as the version that is currently used.

What of the Doctors?

As much praise as the old Doctors get, I would honestly take Eccleston, Tennant, or Smith any day. Yeah, they tend to portray the Doctor as a bit of a ham, but it works. He's this larger than life figure who does all of these great things. It adds energy to the proceedings that makes you want to keep watching it.

I haven't gotten that with any of the classic Doctors yet, and it's a shame because I want to like them, but so far I haven't really felt like they were bringing anything to the table.

But David, you've only seen a couple of serials. That's not nearly enough to make a fair judgment

Well, when you're right, you're right. It's not enough to make a definitive comparison, but as of right now, I'm working with what I've got. Now, there are plenty of other serials streaming on Netflix that I plan to watch, but so far I've been left unimpressed by every single one I've seen.

I hope they get better, I really do, but I have a hard time believing that the old series will make such a drastic improvement that it will eclipse the fun I'm having watching the relaunch. If it does, I'll gladly eat my words and print up a retraction, but as of right now, I suggest just sticking with the modern series because it's so much more fun and delightful to watch.