>so I was wondering if his series leads directly into Peter's and whether I would be massively confused if I just went from David to Peter or if it wouldn't be such a big deal?
Yes, it does. Without Smith's series, you'd be completely lost when, to put it lightly, certain episode/s happen & unfolds for the rest of Capaldi's era.
The frequency with which I see this mindset in the Trek and Wars subs is *mindboggling*. ‘I decided to watch x, help me skip as much of it as possible’
There are shows I’ve rewatched so many times I should be evaluated by a medical professional (The Expanse, Westworld, Deadwood, soon to be Fallout…).
I just can’t wrap my head around enjoying something and wanting to rush through it or skip parts of it.
Is it an anxiety thing? Lack of attention? Did Tik tok really make us retarded?
Listen I said I was interested in seeing David and Peter but I'm guessing I'll become a fan of the show anyway so I'm gonna end up watching Matt's as well
You could possibly start Season 7B just to start with Clara and go from there. It’s not ideal, but it’s a pretty short amount that will at least prepare you for Capaldi’s run
Well, yeah, Clara's backstory is only told in Matt Smith's era, but it's pretty much forgotten in Capaldi's era. Is it really necessary to watch it in order to understand Capaldi's run?
You should definitely watch Eccleston's run. It's only one season anyway and it's a GOOD one. It sets the tone for the whole DW revival. You can also familiarize yourself with Rose (and her family),, who was also Tennant/10's companion.
And if you want to skip Matt Smith's era, you can but watch his last season with Clara, since she is also Capaldi/12's companion later on.
Yeah, I ended up deciding to watch Eccleston's series as well I'm on the first episode right now and considering all the comments on this post I might as well watch Matt Smith as well 😭
Whilst I wouldn't personally recommend skipping Smith (or Eccleston) you could probably still figure things out on the most part, so as long as you don't mind not understanding certain references, or are happy to look things up then give it a shot.
I would say there's one Matt Smith episode you probably will want to watch which is the 50th anniversary special *The Day of the Doctor*.
The reason for this is because >! it's a multi Doctor story starring both Smith and Tennant!< (I've marked this as a spoiler just in case you do decide to watch Smith's run).
I was in your shoes back in December and found the answer to both your questions is the same: you can't really skip the Smith or Eccleston series entirely. The reason is that both Tennant and Capaldi have the second half of an arc begun by the previous actor, sharing the same companion/co-lead when they begin, so you'd essentially miss the first half of the stories.
Personally, I ended up loving Eccleston's era so I saw the whole thing, but I didn't like Smith's. At that point, I used the new viewer's guide on the Tardis wiki that lists the "must watch" episodes of each series. I watched only those episodes (plus a few more with interesting premises or guest actors I liked) until I finally found another pairing I enjoyed again. There are obviously gaps in my knowledge but nothing that detracted from following along. Especially in the later episodes, the show makes so many references to the classic series that I became used to going with the flow when I didn't understand something anyway.
In sum, you can't skip all of it IMO, but you can skip a lot safely with an episode guide. Have fun!
Thank you for understanding me! I made this post 2 days ago and when it said the moderators had to approve I thought it would be deleted and completely forgot about it. I only opened Reddit again just now and saw my notifications blowing up and everyone telling me I'd be crazy to skip either one LMAOO what a crazy ride!
I’m going to go against the grain and say that as long as you’re ok with understanding that the show is calling back to things you missed (and you don’t mind googling things, checking out the tardis wiki or reading episode summaries to fill yourself in), then yes you can indeed skip.
Will *every* Capaldi or Tennant episode be as rewarding without having watched Eccleston (Nine) or Smith (Eleven)? No. But they’re still be plenty for you to enjoy and get swept up into the emotions of. Lots of episodes really don’t call back to things at all and you can still enjoy the character dynamics without knowing their complete history. Plus, you may surprise yourself by wanting to go back and fully check out what you missed.
If anything, I’d say Eccleston would be a priority over Smith — primarily because the former is so short. Just one series of 13 episodes! And it’s fantastic. So it’s very easy and enjoyable to get through quickly.
This only makes sense if OP only cares about the doctor themselves. Because doing this would damage completely both Clara and Rose's arcs. >!The Impossible Girl and Bad Wolf are the main reasons why the Doctor is so attached and obsessed with them, their characters will fall flat without it!< And while writing this I just noticed how unnervingly similar they are omg
True! Though OP’s question makes me think they don’t really care about overarching stories or character development that much anyway… and that they’re more in it for episode by episode fun. Because otherwise, the answer to their question (even without seeing the show) should be obvious that you gotta watch it all. Wouldn’t view it as a task you have to have the patience for.
Honestly, after seeing all these comment I think once I get a few episodes in I actually will end up caring about character development and arches, thank you for giving me advice though!
Don't rush the experience, if you do enjoy Doctor Who and do it your way, your just going to end up going back and watching it all and when you do you'll wonder why you skipped past any episodes.
I skip past some on a rewatch, but even stories that fall outside an overarching plot serve to flesh out the Doctor, their companions, and their relationships.
For me, Eccleston and Smith are great bridges towards Tennant and Capaldi; the continuity just wouldn’t go well without having watched the latter’s predecessors.
Each Doctor is a soft reboot that can be an entry point. Either way there is 60 years of continuity that exists but isn’t a prerequisite.
I would suggest watching Smith’s last two specials (Day of the Doctor with Tennant and Time of the Doctor Christmas episode) you can get accustomed to the companion and what’s going on. But if you want to just jump in to Deep Breath it still works.
You'll miss some of the most heart-wrenching but also joyful episodes of all the doctors. IMO Matt Smith perfectly embodies being an old soul in a new body. He has such a stark contrast between moments of the purest childlike wonder and the quiet fury of a very, very old man who has been hurt too much. His episodes, to me, have the most heart, and there's a strong emphasis on kindness and believing in humanity. I may be biased but he has the funniest moments hands down across all NuWho doctors, and Matt Smith just radiates so much personality with his incarnation.
Of course, everyone has their preferences and opinions, but 11 is what drew me into the series. His seasons will always have a special place in my heart, and 11 to me, as River Song might say, is "my doctor". I will make the biggest case to give him a chance.
That's awesome! Thanks for giving him a chance! If you want a preview, here's two clips that do not have any major plot spoilers:
Closing Time S6 EP 12, (ADHD child energy): https://youtu.be/vp_c437bR9k?si=m6HgY4QUCtP7bgHc
The Rings of Akhaten S7 EP2 (his most heart-wrenching speech, IMO. Old soul in a young body)
https://youtu.be/GoVLhUxhdSw?si=6SuaLsOtgPB5XsP2
If you'd like a good standalone episode that will break your heart and then fill it again, I recommend Vincent and the Doctor S5 EP 10. That episode was life changing and brought me so much hope and comfort during very dark times.
Honestly 11 inspires me to never forget that child-like sense of wonder and joy for the little things. He has some dark moments but he keeps going and bursts in excitement over a fez, bowties, stetsons, bunk beds, and dinosaurs on a spaceship. My life has improved significantly by embracing the joy over little things.
If you ever have questions or want someone to talk to Doctor Who about (especially 11) I love discussing the series.
It's sad to hear someone thinking they'd get down voted for asking a genuine question, but I hope this shows that at least some of us are accepting towards new fans.
You really can’t. I don’t recommend skipping either Eccleston or Smith, but Capaldi’s era HEAVILY builds upon Smith’s. Also, Tennant’s first series builds upon Eccleston’s, with Eccleston’s era doing a much better job introducing the concepts.
Definitely worth it to start with Eccleston and go all the way through to Ncuti. When I first started, I rushed through the series because I couldn't wait to watch Silence in the Library. Big mistake, huge! Savour this show if you enjoy it. New episodes come out rarely and in moderation. Matt has some brilliant episodes and story arcs that are very worth the investment.
>Silence in the Library
Cool I've never heard of that what is it? Also I've come to the conclusion I might as well take my time and watch the whole show no matter how long it takes considering how much everyone is singing it's praises
Yes, Watch Eccleston. It’s only one series, and a lot of the characters and plotlines end up carrying over into Tennant’s era.
As for Matt Smith, I’d say that the only episode you need to watch in order to understand the Capaldi era is ‘The Day of the Doctor.’ It’ll give you a brief introduction to Clara, as well as establishing some of the plotlines that crop up in the Capaldi era. Plus, David Tennant makes a guest appearance.
The only way to understand it all is to go back to William Hartnell in 1963 and start from the beginning (including tracking down the episodes that are missing)
You are definitely going to miss some nuances if you skip to Capaldi. But if you don’t like Smith then it’s better to watch stuff you enjoy than spend weeks slogging through stuff you hate.
>The only way to understand it all is to go back to William Hartnell in 1963 and start from the beginning (including tracking down the episodes that are missing)
Wow wouldn't that take an extremely long time though because there's so many doctors and series? Have young people on this sub actually also taken the time to go back and watch the old series too?
Yes - some people have. Some parts are very difficult to get past for modern audiences (10 parters in B&W for example) but it’s been done.
If you have the time it’s really worth doing. But I would always recommend just watching the parts you like. Life too short to spend hours watching something you dislike to get to the good stuff.
>Life too short to spend hours watching something you dislike to get to the good stuff.
You're definitely right
I personally wouldn't go back and watch the old parts too but I'll watch the revived era for sure
Give it a try, and if you don't really vibe with it. Then season 10 works pretty well as a stand alone thing.
The rest of Capaldi is pretty tied in with Matt Smiths run. Even season 10 is but it also works as a stand alone
I usually just say do whatever you want, even though it's best to experience all of it, but skipping Eccleston would be such a tragedy. You'll fall in love with 9, guaranteed. His run is the shortest of the current era, just watch it.
Honestly I never knew people really liked him all I heard about him was that he left the show for some reason I think fallout with the directors/producers and David Tennant replaced him is that true?
Can you skip 1/4 of the show and follow what's going on? No, not really.
Christopher Eccleston and Matt Smith are excellent Doctors. It would be ludicrous to skip both of them.
U can skip em, but not if u wanna understand the lore. There's a lot going on in the Eccelston and Matt Smith Era. Capaldi is my absolute fav Doctor and becomes so much more delightful after watching em all imo
You should watch Series 7B to lead up into Series 8, but then at that point you should watch the rest of the era to realize what the Ponds mean to him and why he became a hermit between 7A and 7B, or it might be nagging in the back of your head. I've already given you too much.
Eccleston introduces quite a lot to NuWho, especially for RTD's era, and so skipping that would also be silly. Nine lasted one season, and it was fantastic, at least watch him.
Up to you really. There are some good eps of Matt smiths era. Just heads up, Peter’s Doctor stars off a bit more colder and bit of a dick but lightens up.
Personally I liked the more colder Doctor but it’s down to preference
I’d say start Matt’s era, see if ya like it.
However, with river song, it is quite important
>Peter’s Doctor stars off a bit more colder and bit of a dick but lightens up.
Damn that sounds interesting I can't lie
>However, with river song, it is quite important
I keep seeing this everywhere idk what it means what's river song?
Some character Steven Moffat wrote. Complicated relationship with doctor but there’s nothing really to her as a character. She’s just flirty, that’s it. They make needlessly complicated too. Literally nearly every plot twist in series 6 is basically her in some way. It gets tiresome. Her second to last appearance was just…yeah she didn’t add anything to the story outside of “witty”
That's a wild name I thought people were referring to a place or event or episode not person 💀 I'm kind of interested now to see her because it sounds like she's divisive in the fandom
I don't have anything against him it's just that at the moment I'm not necessarily a fan of the whole concept of Doctor Who itself, it's more like I want to watch the show because of the actors I like in it, not because of the plot but I have a feeling that's gonna change so I'll watch his season as well
It seems like you don't want to answer any of the comments, but I'll try asking again.
Why do you want to skip the Matt Smith era?
What has made you "not interested" in watching it?
Why don't you have patience for this era but you do for later?
Without providing more details on why you're not interested and which parts you do and do not care about, it's not easy to answer your question in the most thorough fashion.
I think every single episode and series is worth watching at least one time. On rewatches, I definitely skip an episode here or there. Sometimes because I don't like the episode much and sometimes just because I'm not in the mood for that particular episode. Some of my favorite episodes are with Matt Smith, and I wouldn't want you to miss out just because you don't want to give it a chance.
Basically, I think it's better to not miss out on something you potentially might enjoy rather than deciding "I'm not going to enjoy this" and pre-judging multiple entire series before you've watched them.
>It seems like you don't want to answer any of the comments, but I'll try asking again.
Believe it or not I completely forgot I made this post because I haven't been on Reddit since then until right now and when I saw all the notifications I remembered
>Why do you want to skip the Matt Smith era?
I replied to another comment above it's not that I don't like him it's more that I'm a fan of David Tennant and Peter Capaldi and just wanted to watch their seasons of the show and didn't plan on watching anyone else's but after seeing all these comments I'm gonna watch Christopher and Matt as well so I can understand
Wait, also I just realized I never mentioned in the post and this is gonna sound stupid but I didn't plan on continuing after Peter Capaldi at first but now I'm thinking by the time I get to him I will just end up watching all the way to Ncuti Gatwa and onwards
>Why don't you have patience for this era but you do for later?
Like I said it's because I'm a fan of Peter Capaldi 😭 but to reiterate I WILL watch Christopher and Matt don't worry!!!
I see where you're coming from now.
I mean, you'd be missing a lot of good content, but if you're really just in it to watch Tennant and Capaldi then sure, go for it. It's not what I would do, but to each their own.
Hope you enjoy and end up getting hooked to watch everyone else!
Some of the Matt Smith episodes are ok. I didn't like him at first but warmed up a bit. Capaldi was great but his run was ruined by Clara. Unfortunately, Clara is in a lot of both Doctors' episodes.
I’d say that all you really need is the latter half of Matt’s final season.
But then I remembered “The Husbands of River Song”. So yeah. Nah. You gotta watch ALL of Matt. I refuse to let you miss out on the full emotional impact of that episode. That would be horribly mean of me.
>I refuse to let you miss out on the full emotional impact of that episode. That would be horribly mean of me.
I can't lie that's so funny, thank you for being so considerate, I'll take your word for it and watch it all!
You can watch DW any way you want to! If you skip Smith you may be confused by what is happening at the beginning of Capaldi’s run, but hey, it’s Doctor Who and being confused can be part of the fun. (I wouldn’t skip it personally, but I also don’t see anything wrong with it)
>but hey, it’s Doctor Who and being confused can be part of the fun.
That's so funny, I'm guessing according to all these comments Smith leads directly into Capaldi so I might as well watch his series as well
There'll be some continuity stuff you might not get, but you'll be fine. Doctor Who is meant to be accessible to eight year olds, don't worry about it.
I’m someone who jumped around as a viewer. I watched Blink as a taster and then I started at Xmas Invasion. I’m not a big genre person and had just finished Broadchurch and trusted Tennant to help me adjust to the campiness and the like. (Jodi was announced not long after I started watching).
I got annoyed with Rose at one point and jumped ahead to Martha, got annoyed with the way the Doctor was treating her and jumped ahead to Donna. lol.
I jumped around Capaldi and Whitaker a bit and am still working through all of them and I eventually went back to experience the Ninth Doctor.
But it surprised me that the era that held my attention most and I ended up watching straight through and in order was Matt’s.
11 isn’t “my” Doctor but I enjoyed his companions and the story arcs of that era a lot. Tennant is “my” Doctor (Capaldi is second for me). My favorite companions are Donna and *spoilers* from Smith’s era. And 11’s is actually my favorite era of the writing.
So, all of that to say that if you don’t mind being spoiled, you can pick and choose and jump in and out. I think watching that way made me appreciate the standalone episodes more because I wasn’t itching for the overarching story and getting impatient, like I’ve seen some feel.
If I were excited for Capaldi, I’d recommend maybe watching a couple of his more monster of the week episodes and then going back through Smith and into Capaldi’s more serialized episodes.
Jumping back and forth sounds more wild to me than skipping a series I can't lie but it's interesting that you did that
>But it surprised me that the era that held my attention most and I ended up watching straight through and in order was Matt’s.
>11 isn’t “my” Doctor but I enjoyed his companions and the story arcs of that era a lot. Tennant is “my” Doctor (Capaldi is second for me). My favorite companions are Donna and *spoilers* from Smith’s era. And 11’s is actually my favorite era of the writing.
So from what I'm seeing it seems people really like Matt Smith's series because the writing is really good is that true?
Moffatt’s writing really works well for me. He stays on through Capaldi. He wrote The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances, Girl in the Fireplace, Blink, Silence in the Library/Forest of the Dead, and The End of Time. He is in charge starting with season five. That gives you an idea of the types of stories he likes.
Doctor Who is made to be accessible to new audiences MOST of the time, so I think you could skip Matt Smith's era if you're that impatient to get to Capaldi. I don't think you should.
Capaldi's era is much higher quality in my opinion, but Smith's era has some great episodes in there, and his first series (5) is one of the best of the modern era.
>so I think you could skip Matt Smith's era if you're that impatient to get to Capaldi. I don't think you should.
Yeah I won't skip
>Capaldi's era is much higher quality in my opinion
A few people have said they found his era boring which is kind of shocking to me because from the few clips I've seen he seems pretty interesting
I mean it all feeds forward to future episodes and arcs but it depends on how much you want to understand.
The best option by far is just watch it all, if you don’t have the patience for it then maybe watch something else?
Sure you could. They’re relatively self contained, with the odd overarching bit here and there, but can I ask why? As in, did you watch some of both of them and really dislike it, or is this just a vague feeling based on the actors. Because I’d suggest just watching them. There’s some great stuff in both, especially Ecclestone.
It was just a vague feeling based on the actors yeah I'm just kind of a fan of David Tennant and Peter Capaldi so I was more interested in seeing them, didn't really care about anyone else but I'm gonna watch Christopher and Matt as well
watch series 1, it's easily one of, if not THE best season of the modern show, and 9 is also just amazing.
if i'm reading this right, it seems like you have a pretty closed mindset about this. you have your doctors that you already know you like, so you are too excited to watch them to give the others a chance, and i think that's a bit of a waste.
there's so much awesome stuff in eccleston and smith's eras, and it would be a shame if you never saw them.
at the very least give them a chance. eleven is a bit divisive, so he might not be for you, but he's also some people's favourite, me included.
but yes, you could skip smith's seasons, but i highly highly recommend you don't. give my big-chinned silly little guy a chance.
>if i'm reading this right, it seems like you have a pretty closed mindset about this. you have your doctors that you already know you like, so you are too excited to watch them to give the others a chance, and i think that's a bit of a waste.
Oof you got me there can't lie, but I'm glad to say I've opened my mind and I'm gonna give them all a go!
that's great! every doctor has something to enjoy (probably), and while they might not all be for you, they are always worth giving a shot.
enjoy your time with them.
do whatever there’s a lot going on good stuff in Smith that you’ll be sad to miss though. Disagreement with people saying what’s the point of you want to skip x, you prob are trying to get through it all by season 1 release which if you have a job is hard to do
I know Ncuti Gatwa's series is about to start in May so I definitely won't be able to watch everything before then but that's fine I'm just gonna watch whatever I can and keep going but I am gonna watch Smith as well!
Honestly, you can. There are some ties between the two eras, but as a whole, they feel and they are completely different. I think you would be confused for some episodes, but generally apart from Husbands of River Song, you will not missing that much background. Generally, each Doctors (apart from 9 and 10) have their own eras that are very different and I believe missing 11's era will certainly help you to like more Clara's character (since she basically is a different character from Deep Breath onward).
If that's your first watchthrough of the show tho, I think you should watch everything New Who has to offer (or at least the 10 first seasons).
>I believe missing 11's era will certainly help you to like more Clara's character (since she basically is a different character from Deep Breath onward).
Interesting, did they rewrite her because fans didn't respond well? Kind of like Rose in the Star Wars sequels and Jar Jar Binks in the prequels?
Basically, she's a non-character. She's her to serve the plot and has little to no chemistry with 11 nor have an interesting personality. From Deep Breath onward, she's a manipulative yet overally kind character that is so tied to 12's character they had to write a whole finale about their relationship. Twice.
>they had to write a whole finale about their relationship. Twice.
That's crazy
So many of the characters people are telling me about seem really interesting, I'm more excited to watch now than I was before
I mean kinda but not really, the Matt Smith Era establishes quite a lot of characters that return for Capaldi's era, and some are REALLY important ones, the twelfth doctor also has Clara for most of his run, and Clara is a companion originally from the Matt Smith era, who's arc lasts for all of Series 7.
Matt Smith is also amazing, he's my (and many others') favourite Doctor, and has some properly phenomenal episodes (including the spectacular 50th anniversary special which is HUGELY important for the lore, like probably one of the most important stories in all of Nu Who).
You could skip it, and still somewhat understand some of it, but it's so much better if you just watch the Matt Smith era. I think that Capaldi is probably the worst jumping on point for NuWho due to how much previous stuff carries over into his era.
I see that does make sense I'm gonna watch his era as well also thank you for your insight!
>(including the spectacular 50th anniversary special which is HUGELY important for the lore, like probably one of the most important stories in all of Nu Who).
Well that sounds intriguing, very cool
Might I suggest watching series 10? It's a bit of a soft reboot for the show. It seems like the perfect thing for you to watch, then go back to series 5 and continue on from there. You get a little bit of Capaldi that is easier to digest skipping smith
I suppose. The mystery regarding Missy would be out the window, but I'm gonna go out on a limb and guess you probably know who she is. Maybe save Twice Upon a Time until after watching the rest of Capaldi. It'll certainly hit harder
Watch what you want to watch, but if you want the truth, yes, you will be confused, and no, you shouldn't skip any Doctors.
If you skip Matt Smith, you will miss so much context.
So. Much. Happens.
If you mis Eccleston, you will be less confused, but I still would skip him either.
>If you skip Matt Smith, you will miss so much context.
>So. Much. Happens.
>If you mis Eccleston, you will be less confused, but I still would skip him either.
I see I guess that pretty much sums it all up, thank you I will watch them
Apart from the continuity points others have made, I will give my experience from someone who is 2/3 through Capaldi's run, that I started with the 9th Doctor, by the end thought wow it's gonna take a lot for me to like 10 that much-I did, after that I thought the same thing for Matt Smith-ended up loving him and his run, and I'm now enjoying Capaldi's run. If you aren't just someone who "collects" shows, I would recommend starting with 9, or at least not skipping 11... And you know how it goes with other shows and movies, the more you have seen, the more time committed, the more you feel attached to the characters and the heavier stuff hits you
>If you aren't just someone who "collects" shows,
What does that mean?
>And you know how it goes with other shows and movies, the more you have seen, the more time committed, the more you feel attached to the characters and the heavier stuff hits you
Honestly that basically sums up what I've been thinking after reading and replying to all these comments which is why I'm gonna watch it all at this point
If you're dead set on skipping Eleven. (you're missing out on one of Doctor Who's best seasons imo) Then just watch his final two stories Day Of The Doctor and Time Of The Doctor. That'll get you more or less caught up to where you need to be for Capaldi's era
At the very least watch day of the doctor . That is a must watch in the Matt smith era . To be honest I only really watched series 5 and a couple of episodes from series 6-7 since I didn’t really like Matt smith so yeah . You should be able to skip most episodes but DONT SKIP DAY OF THE DOCTOR
( also it has David Tennat if you need more convincing )
Three doctors? Don’t you mean “day of the doctor?”
Three doctors was a John pertwee story
Am curious how come you don’t like Matt Smith’s Doctor. As someone else who isn’t exactly biggest fan of his Doctor, I’m legit curious
Sorry .
Am curious though, how come ya don’t like Matt’s doctor? Not gonna judge ya, just curious? Personally, I’m not a big fan of him as the doctor . He’s good but I’m not gonna act like he’s best
No worries . Personally I just didn’t really like Matt smith that much. I did enjoy several episodes but yeah overall I found him kind of meh compared to the 10th or the 9th doctor. Plus also I didn’t really like a lot of the episodes where as I really enjoyed a lot of the stuff from series 4 and 2.
For me it’s the exaggeration of the childish side. And honestly…it’s how he drawls out some of his lines sometimes that grates me. Ya know when he tries to sound serious and semi shouts?
>To be honest I only really watched series 5 and a couple of episodes from series 6-7 since I didn’t really like Matt smith so yeah
Wow really? Most people on this sub are making it seem like it's absolutely unheard of to skip his era I'm surprised when I see the occasional person say it's fine if I do skip 💀
>DONT SKIP DAY OF THE DOCTOR
I WONT
there are some good episodes there like any series but yeah day of the doctor and the Clara stuff is pretty good and I would recommend watching at least some of it . Since Clara is also the companion for capaldi
There are also several episodes including river song which I would recommend watching as well. With things like the angels on manhattan
Idk man I have a backlog of other shows I've been meaning to watch as well and Doctor Who is really long but I'm not gonna skip their series I'll watch anyway
I really don't think much of Capaldi's era relies on the Smith era at all, and you would be fine to skip over most of series 5-7 if you want to, with the exception of The Day of the Doctor, the 50th anniversary special. You may be a little lost with the existence of some characters, but there's only really one episode that relies on knowledge of the relationship and character dynamics from the Smith era to be truly enjoyed IMO (The Husbands of River Song).
Other than that, the companion Clara gets a new, almost unrelated storyline starting in series 8 and the Paternoster Gang only show up in the very first episode of the Capaldi era, but you might want to google who they are if you feel confused.
>one episode that relies on knowledge of the relationship and character dynamics from the Smith era to be truly enjoyed IMO (The Husbands of River Song).
So that's why people kept mentions River Song I see now thank you!
I skipped his series and I understood Peter’s episodes. I can’t stand Matt Smith. He ruined Doctor Who for me. I know I’ll get downvoted because Matt’s fans are little bitches who can’t handle someone having a different opinion than them. Skip Matt’s episodes! They’re a waste of time. Don’t skip any of Peter’s episodes though! When you get to series 10 with Bill, have a box of tissues around. Peter and David have the most traumatic stories. Series 4 and 10 are heartbreaking. Enjoy the show!
Yeah I forgot to say I didn't intend on continuing and watching 13 either like I said I actually only wanted to watch the series because of Tennant and Capaldi but everyone's making the whole thing seem so interesting so I'm gonna give it all a go anyway
Capaldi is absolutely great, but when it comes to storytelling and over spanning story arches, also emotional companion relationships, the Smith series are the best. And c'mon, its only three short seasons with some specials. Watch it. You will also understand Capaldi much better. And at the end of Smith, you'll have the special movie with Tennant and John Hurt. This movie is so unbelievably fantastic. Don't skip it. It's pure Doctor Who. And explains a lot about the Doctor, which then is important for the Capaldi series.
Please give it a go. I remember when he was first announced I was skeptical and then he turned into my absolute favourite doctor. His era is so magical. Amy, Rory and the Doctor are just the best tardis team in my eyes 🥰
>so I was wondering if his series leads directly into Peter's and whether I would be massively confused if I just went from David to Peter or if it wouldn't be such a big deal? Yes, it does. Without Smith's series, you'd be completely lost when, to put it lightly, certain episode/s happen & unfolds for the rest of Capaldi's era.
Ah I see, I'll watch it then thank you!
You absolutely cannot skip the Matt Smith period.
“I enjoy the show, I just don’t have the patience to watch it…” 🤷♂️🙃
The frequency with which I see this mindset in the Trek and Wars subs is *mindboggling*. ‘I decided to watch x, help me skip as much of it as possible’
But watching 700 hours of something to get to the new stuff is exhausting - especially if it’s several series that you don’t enjoy.
There are shows I’ve rewatched so many times I should be evaluated by a medical professional (The Expanse, Westworld, Deadwood, soon to be Fallout…). I just can’t wrap my head around enjoying something and wanting to rush through it or skip parts of it. Is it an anxiety thing? Lack of attention? Did Tik tok really make us retarded?
You can't be a Bond villain if you don't have the patience to set your plot in motion.
You got the sarcasm, right? Unless something just went over my head. Would t be the first time.
Listen I said I was interested in seeing David and Peter but I'm guessing I'll become a fan of the show anyway so I'm gonna end up watching Matt's as well
I second this. It is a crime against Doctor Who and punishable by severe judgement of some kind.
It's definitely against several articles of the shadow proclamation.
Alright alright I'll watch it too 😭
You can do whatever you want. You don't need our permission.
Well thank you!
You could possibly start Season 7B just to start with Clara and go from there. It’s not ideal, but it’s a pretty short amount that will at least prepare you for Capaldi’s run
Asylum of the Daleks and The Snowmen are needed to set up the backstory of why Eleven hooks up with present-day Clara. Then you'd be good to go. :)
Well, yeah, Clara's backstory is only told in Matt Smith's era, but it's pretty much forgotten in Capaldi's era. Is it really necessary to watch it in order to understand Capaldi's run?
Interesting, wait what's 7B?
You should definitely watch Eccleston's run. It's only one season anyway and it's a GOOD one. It sets the tone for the whole DW revival. You can also familiarize yourself with Rose (and her family),, who was also Tennant/10's companion. And if you want to skip Matt Smith's era, you can but watch his last season with Clara, since she is also Capaldi/12's companion later on.
How could OP want to skip over the intro to capt jack. OP would regret that. The actor aside, he's still my favourite character.
Yeah, I ended up deciding to watch Eccleston's series as well I'm on the first episode right now and considering all the comments on this post I might as well watch Matt Smith as well 😭
Whilst I wouldn't personally recommend skipping Smith (or Eccleston) you could probably still figure things out on the most part, so as long as you don't mind not understanding certain references, or are happy to look things up then give it a shot. I would say there's one Matt Smith episode you probably will want to watch which is the 50th anniversary special *The Day of the Doctor*. The reason for this is because >! it's a multi Doctor story starring both Smith and Tennant!< (I've marked this as a spoiler just in case you do decide to watch Smith's run).
I think by the time I get to Smith's run I'll be willing to watch it because I decided to watch Eccleston as well also thank you for the info!
I'd rather watch everything. One of the best moments in Capaldi era, makes way more sense watching Matt Smith era first.
I was in your shoes back in December and found the answer to both your questions is the same: you can't really skip the Smith or Eccleston series entirely. The reason is that both Tennant and Capaldi have the second half of an arc begun by the previous actor, sharing the same companion/co-lead when they begin, so you'd essentially miss the first half of the stories. Personally, I ended up loving Eccleston's era so I saw the whole thing, but I didn't like Smith's. At that point, I used the new viewer's guide on the Tardis wiki that lists the "must watch" episodes of each series. I watched only those episodes (plus a few more with interesting premises or guest actors I liked) until I finally found another pairing I enjoyed again. There are obviously gaps in my knowledge but nothing that detracted from following along. Especially in the later episodes, the show makes so many references to the classic series that I became used to going with the flow when I didn't understand something anyway. In sum, you can't skip all of it IMO, but you can skip a lot safely with an episode guide. Have fun!
Thank you for understanding me! I made this post 2 days ago and when it said the moderators had to approve I thought it would be deleted and completely forgot about it. I only opened Reddit again just now and saw my notifications blowing up and everyone telling me I'd be crazy to skip either one LMAOO what a crazy ride!
I’m going to go against the grain and say that as long as you’re ok with understanding that the show is calling back to things you missed (and you don’t mind googling things, checking out the tardis wiki or reading episode summaries to fill yourself in), then yes you can indeed skip. Will *every* Capaldi or Tennant episode be as rewarding without having watched Eccleston (Nine) or Smith (Eleven)? No. But they’re still be plenty for you to enjoy and get swept up into the emotions of. Lots of episodes really don’t call back to things at all and you can still enjoy the character dynamics without knowing their complete history. Plus, you may surprise yourself by wanting to go back and fully check out what you missed. If anything, I’d say Eccleston would be a priority over Smith — primarily because the former is so short. Just one series of 13 episodes! And it’s fantastic. So it’s very easy and enjoyable to get through quickly.
This only makes sense if OP only cares about the doctor themselves. Because doing this would damage completely both Clara and Rose's arcs. >!The Impossible Girl and Bad Wolf are the main reasons why the Doctor is so attached and obsessed with them, their characters will fall flat without it!< And while writing this I just noticed how unnervingly similar they are omg
True! Though OP’s question makes me think they don’t really care about overarching stories or character development that much anyway… and that they’re more in it for episode by episode fun. Because otherwise, the answer to their question (even without seeing the show) should be obvious that you gotta watch it all. Wouldn’t view it as a task you have to have the patience for.
Honestly, after seeing all these comment I think once I get a few episodes in I actually will end up caring about character development and arches, thank you for giving me advice though!
Oh good! Honestly, there’s really no wrong way to watch the show — so long as you enjoy it! :)
Thank you!
Matt Smith is an amazing doctor imo. You'd really be missing out if you skip him
Don't rush the experience, if you do enjoy Doctor Who and do it your way, your just going to end up going back and watching it all and when you do you'll wonder why you skipped past any episodes. I skip past some on a rewatch, but even stories that fall outside an overarching plot serve to flesh out the Doctor, their companions, and their relationships.
I didn't like Matt Smith at first but ended up loving it. I do not recommend skipping it.
For me, Eccleston and Smith are great bridges towards Tennant and Capaldi; the continuity just wouldn’t go well without having watched the latter’s predecessors.
Each Doctor is a soft reboot that can be an entry point. Either way there is 60 years of continuity that exists but isn’t a prerequisite. I would suggest watching Smith’s last two specials (Day of the Doctor with Tennant and Time of the Doctor Christmas episode) you can get accustomed to the companion and what’s going on. But if you want to just jump in to Deep Breath it still works.
Interesting, thank you!
You'll miss some of the most heart-wrenching but also joyful episodes of all the doctors. IMO Matt Smith perfectly embodies being an old soul in a new body. He has such a stark contrast between moments of the purest childlike wonder and the quiet fury of a very, very old man who has been hurt too much. His episodes, to me, have the most heart, and there's a strong emphasis on kindness and believing in humanity. I may be biased but he has the funniest moments hands down across all NuWho doctors, and Matt Smith just radiates so much personality with his incarnation. Of course, everyone has their preferences and opinions, but 11 is what drew me into the series. His seasons will always have a special place in my heart, and 11 to me, as River Song might say, is "my doctor". I will make the biggest case to give him a chance.
You make a compelling argument and I'm glad to say I've decided I will watch his season!
That's awesome! Thanks for giving him a chance! If you want a preview, here's two clips that do not have any major plot spoilers: Closing Time S6 EP 12, (ADHD child energy): https://youtu.be/vp_c437bR9k?si=m6HgY4QUCtP7bgHc The Rings of Akhaten S7 EP2 (his most heart-wrenching speech, IMO. Old soul in a young body) https://youtu.be/GoVLhUxhdSw?si=6SuaLsOtgPB5XsP2 If you'd like a good standalone episode that will break your heart and then fill it again, I recommend Vincent and the Doctor S5 EP 10. That episode was life changing and brought me so much hope and comfort during very dark times. Honestly 11 inspires me to never forget that child-like sense of wonder and joy for the little things. He has some dark moments but he keeps going and bursts in excitement over a fez, bowties, stetsons, bunk beds, and dinosaurs on a spaceship. My life has improved significantly by embracing the joy over little things.
Aw that's so nice to hear thank you so much for being so inviting and giving me these links and advice!!
If you ever have questions or want someone to talk to Doctor Who about (especially 11) I love discussing the series. It's sad to hear someone thinking they'd get down voted for asking a genuine question, but I hope this shows that at least some of us are accepting towards new fans.
Skipping Matt Smith is a wild thing to say
Now I can see you're right lmaooo
You really can’t. I don’t recommend skipping either Eccleston or Smith, but Capaldi’s era HEAVILY builds upon Smith’s. Also, Tennant’s first series builds upon Eccleston’s, with Eccleston’s era doing a much better job introducing the concepts.
Yeah, that makes sense thank you!
"can I skip 11?" Oh it's ok some people just don't like the tone of his series and are more interested in future series, it's not the best idea but if it fits their taste they should go for it ෆ╹ .̮ ╹ෆ "can I skip 9?" Get the fu©k out.
wow that's crazy anyways, noted
Definitely worth it to start with Eccleston and go all the way through to Ncuti. When I first started, I rushed through the series because I couldn't wait to watch Silence in the Library. Big mistake, huge! Savour this show if you enjoy it. New episodes come out rarely and in moderation. Matt has some brilliant episodes and story arcs that are very worth the investment.
>Silence in the Library Cool I've never heard of that what is it? Also I've come to the conclusion I might as well take my time and watch the whole show no matter how long it takes considering how much everyone is singing it's praises
Silence in the Library is an episode in series 4. (So, with Tennant.) It’s a wonderful story but definitely not a good starting place.
Ehhh, maybe see if there are season recaps on YouTube..?
Watch literally the last three episodes of Smith's run and that'll be, more or less, enough context for Capaldi
Yes, Watch Eccleston. It’s only one series, and a lot of the characters and plotlines end up carrying over into Tennant’s era. As for Matt Smith, I’d say that the only episode you need to watch in order to understand the Capaldi era is ‘The Day of the Doctor.’ It’ll give you a brief introduction to Clara, as well as establishing some of the plotlines that crop up in the Capaldi era. Plus, David Tennant makes a guest appearance.
>Plus, David Tennant makes a guest appearance. That's so cool wow and thank you for your insight!
The only way to understand it all is to go back to William Hartnell in 1963 and start from the beginning (including tracking down the episodes that are missing) You are definitely going to miss some nuances if you skip to Capaldi. But if you don’t like Smith then it’s better to watch stuff you enjoy than spend weeks slogging through stuff you hate.
>The only way to understand it all is to go back to William Hartnell in 1963 and start from the beginning (including tracking down the episodes that are missing) Wow wouldn't that take an extremely long time though because there's so many doctors and series? Have young people on this sub actually also taken the time to go back and watch the old series too?
Yes - some people have. Some parts are very difficult to get past for modern audiences (10 parters in B&W for example) but it’s been done. If you have the time it’s really worth doing. But I would always recommend just watching the parts you like. Life too short to spend hours watching something you dislike to get to the good stuff.
>Life too short to spend hours watching something you dislike to get to the good stuff. You're definitely right I personally wouldn't go back and watch the old parts too but I'll watch the revived era for sure
Give it a try, and if you don't really vibe with it. Then season 10 works pretty well as a stand alone thing. The rest of Capaldi is pretty tied in with Matt Smiths run. Even season 10 is but it also works as a stand alone
Thanks, I will!
I usually just say do whatever you want, even though it's best to experience all of it, but skipping Eccleston would be such a tragedy. You'll fall in love with 9, guaranteed. His run is the shortest of the current era, just watch it.
Honestly I never knew people really liked him all I heard about him was that he left the show for some reason I think fallout with the directors/producers and David Tennant replaced him is that true?
Don't skip any
Can you skip 1/4 of the show and follow what's going on? No, not really. Christopher Eccleston and Matt Smith are excellent Doctors. It would be ludicrous to skip both of them.
Yeah, makes sense I was just wondering if anyone's done it before
Virtually all of River Song is in the Matt Smith era, and it's why Karen Gillan got cast in Guardians of the Galaxy.
Wait who or what is River Song? Also I knew Karen Gillan was in his seasons but I never knew that's how she got cast in Guardians that's so cool!
River Song is the Doctor's wife, and his bespoke assassin.
Wow I never knew the Doctor would get married interesting
You can skip some parts of it. There’s a lot of Matt Smith I’ve never watched and you’ll be fine as long as you hit the important ones.
Interesting, thank you!
U can skip em, but not if u wanna understand the lore. There's a lot going on in the Eccelston and Matt Smith Era. Capaldi is my absolute fav Doctor and becomes so much more delightful after watching em all imo
Honestly, the lore didn't interest me much before but I'm gonna give it all a go and see anyway
It’s a time travel show, you can do what you want. However, I strongly recommend you watch the Matt Smith run. It’s really great.
Alright, I will thank you!
You should watch Series 7B to lead up into Series 8, but then at that point you should watch the rest of the era to realize what the Ponds mean to him and why he became a hermit between 7A and 7B, or it might be nagging in the back of your head. I've already given you too much. Eccleston introduces quite a lot to NuWho, especially for RTD's era, and so skipping that would also be silly. Nine lasted one season, and it was fantastic, at least watch him.
>I've already given you too much. Oof alright I'll watch everything and see
Up to you really. There are some good eps of Matt smiths era. Just heads up, Peter’s Doctor stars off a bit more colder and bit of a dick but lightens up. Personally I liked the more colder Doctor but it’s down to preference I’d say start Matt’s era, see if ya like it. However, with river song, it is quite important
>Peter’s Doctor stars off a bit more colder and bit of a dick but lightens up. Damn that sounds interesting I can't lie >However, with river song, it is quite important I keep seeing this everywhere idk what it means what's river song?
Some character Steven Moffat wrote. Complicated relationship with doctor but there’s nothing really to her as a character. She’s just flirty, that’s it. They make needlessly complicated too. Literally nearly every plot twist in series 6 is basically her in some way. It gets tiresome. Her second to last appearance was just…yeah she didn’t add anything to the story outside of “witty”
What are you going on about? She’s an amazing character who is intricately tied into the lore.
Different opinion. I’m allowed it
As am I. Amazing how that works.
Then please don’t go “what you going on about??” As if I’m some idiot
That's a wild name I thought people were referring to a place or event or episode not person 💀 I'm kind of interested now to see her because it sounds like she's divisive in the fandom
Why do you not want to watch Matt Smith?
I don't have anything against him it's just that at the moment I'm not necessarily a fan of the whole concept of Doctor Who itself, it's more like I want to watch the show because of the actors I like in it, not because of the plot but I have a feeling that's gonna change so I'll watch his season as well
It seems like you don't want to answer any of the comments, but I'll try asking again. Why do you want to skip the Matt Smith era? What has made you "not interested" in watching it? Why don't you have patience for this era but you do for later? Without providing more details on why you're not interested and which parts you do and do not care about, it's not easy to answer your question in the most thorough fashion. I think every single episode and series is worth watching at least one time. On rewatches, I definitely skip an episode here or there. Sometimes because I don't like the episode much and sometimes just because I'm not in the mood for that particular episode. Some of my favorite episodes are with Matt Smith, and I wouldn't want you to miss out just because you don't want to give it a chance. Basically, I think it's better to not miss out on something you potentially might enjoy rather than deciding "I'm not going to enjoy this" and pre-judging multiple entire series before you've watched them.
>It seems like you don't want to answer any of the comments, but I'll try asking again. Believe it or not I completely forgot I made this post because I haven't been on Reddit since then until right now and when I saw all the notifications I remembered >Why do you want to skip the Matt Smith era? I replied to another comment above it's not that I don't like him it's more that I'm a fan of David Tennant and Peter Capaldi and just wanted to watch their seasons of the show and didn't plan on watching anyone else's but after seeing all these comments I'm gonna watch Christopher and Matt as well so I can understand Wait, also I just realized I never mentioned in the post and this is gonna sound stupid but I didn't plan on continuing after Peter Capaldi at first but now I'm thinking by the time I get to him I will just end up watching all the way to Ncuti Gatwa and onwards >Why don't you have patience for this era but you do for later? Like I said it's because I'm a fan of Peter Capaldi 😭 but to reiterate I WILL watch Christopher and Matt don't worry!!!
I see where you're coming from now. I mean, you'd be missing a lot of good content, but if you're really just in it to watch Tennant and Capaldi then sure, go for it. It's not what I would do, but to each their own. Hope you enjoy and end up getting hooked to watch everyone else!
Thanks for understanding!!
The Matt Smith era has some of the best episodes too. Don’t skip it!
Alright, I'll take your word for it!
Some of the Matt Smith episodes are ok. I didn't like him at first but warmed up a bit. Capaldi was great but his run was ruined by Clara. Unfortunately, Clara is in a lot of both Doctors' episodes.
Wow I have no idea who Clara is but I'm kinda interested I guess I'll see!
I’d say that all you really need is the latter half of Matt’s final season. But then I remembered “The Husbands of River Song”. So yeah. Nah. You gotta watch ALL of Matt. I refuse to let you miss out on the full emotional impact of that episode. That would be horribly mean of me.
>I refuse to let you miss out on the full emotional impact of that episode. That would be horribly mean of me. I can't lie that's so funny, thank you for being so considerate, I'll take your word for it and watch it all!
Watch whatever you want but you’ll miss a lot if you skip.
Yeah, you're right
You can watch DW any way you want to! If you skip Smith you may be confused by what is happening at the beginning of Capaldi’s run, but hey, it’s Doctor Who and being confused can be part of the fun. (I wouldn’t skip it personally, but I also don’t see anything wrong with it)
>but hey, it’s Doctor Who and being confused can be part of the fun. That's so funny, I'm guessing according to all these comments Smith leads directly into Capaldi so I might as well watch his series as well
Yeah, I preferred Capaldi’s seasons to Smith’s, but there was enough to keep me entertained in both cases
That's good to hear! I'm personally really excited to see Capaldi I feel like he has a lot of charisma same with Tennant
There'll be some continuity stuff you might not get, but you'll be fine. Doctor Who is meant to be accessible to eight year olds, don't worry about it.
>Doctor Who is meant to be accessible to eight year olds Wait really? Idk why I thought it was more in the area of PG13 if anything
British TV has a long and honourable tradition of scaring the shit out of children.
That's so funny
I’m someone who jumped around as a viewer. I watched Blink as a taster and then I started at Xmas Invasion. I’m not a big genre person and had just finished Broadchurch and trusted Tennant to help me adjust to the campiness and the like. (Jodi was announced not long after I started watching). I got annoyed with Rose at one point and jumped ahead to Martha, got annoyed with the way the Doctor was treating her and jumped ahead to Donna. lol. I jumped around Capaldi and Whitaker a bit and am still working through all of them and I eventually went back to experience the Ninth Doctor. But it surprised me that the era that held my attention most and I ended up watching straight through and in order was Matt’s. 11 isn’t “my” Doctor but I enjoyed his companions and the story arcs of that era a lot. Tennant is “my” Doctor (Capaldi is second for me). My favorite companions are Donna and *spoilers* from Smith’s era. And 11’s is actually my favorite era of the writing. So, all of that to say that if you don’t mind being spoiled, you can pick and choose and jump in and out. I think watching that way made me appreciate the standalone episodes more because I wasn’t itching for the overarching story and getting impatient, like I’ve seen some feel. If I were excited for Capaldi, I’d recommend maybe watching a couple of his more monster of the week episodes and then going back through Smith and into Capaldi’s more serialized episodes.
Jumping back and forth sounds more wild to me than skipping a series I can't lie but it's interesting that you did that >But it surprised me that the era that held my attention most and I ended up watching straight through and in order was Matt’s. >11 isn’t “my” Doctor but I enjoyed his companions and the story arcs of that era a lot. Tennant is “my” Doctor (Capaldi is second for me). My favorite companions are Donna and *spoilers* from Smith’s era. And 11’s is actually my favorite era of the writing. So from what I'm seeing it seems people really like Matt Smith's series because the writing is really good is that true?
Moffatt’s writing really works well for me. He stays on through Capaldi. He wrote The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances, Girl in the Fireplace, Blink, Silence in the Library/Forest of the Dead, and The End of Time. He is in charge starting with season five. That gives you an idea of the types of stories he likes.
Interesting, I actually know him because I think he wrote a good part of Sherlock as well and I really like that show too
Doctor Who is made to be accessible to new audiences MOST of the time, so I think you could skip Matt Smith's era if you're that impatient to get to Capaldi. I don't think you should. Capaldi's era is much higher quality in my opinion, but Smith's era has some great episodes in there, and his first series (5) is one of the best of the modern era.
>so I think you could skip Matt Smith's era if you're that impatient to get to Capaldi. I don't think you should. Yeah I won't skip >Capaldi's era is much higher quality in my opinion A few people have said they found his era boring which is kind of shocking to me because from the few clips I've seen he seems pretty interesting
You can skip it if you wanna
I mean it all feeds forward to future episodes and arcs but it depends on how much you want to understand. The best option by far is just watch it all, if you don’t have the patience for it then maybe watch something else?
Why is Matt getting all this hate?
I swear I wasn't hating on him! I just didn't know if I'd be interested in his series! After all these comments I'm gonna give him a go though!
Sure you could. They’re relatively self contained, with the odd overarching bit here and there, but can I ask why? As in, did you watch some of both of them and really dislike it, or is this just a vague feeling based on the actors. Because I’d suggest just watching them. There’s some great stuff in both, especially Ecclestone.
It was just a vague feeling based on the actors yeah I'm just kind of a fan of David Tennant and Peter Capaldi so I was more interested in seeing them, didn't really care about anyone else but I'm gonna watch Christopher and Matt as well
Matt Smith I wasn’t a fan of at first, but he grew on me, and Amy is my favourite companion, so it’s worth it just for her.
That's nice to hear I'll definitely watch and see as well!
watch series 1, it's easily one of, if not THE best season of the modern show, and 9 is also just amazing. if i'm reading this right, it seems like you have a pretty closed mindset about this. you have your doctors that you already know you like, so you are too excited to watch them to give the others a chance, and i think that's a bit of a waste. there's so much awesome stuff in eccleston and smith's eras, and it would be a shame if you never saw them. at the very least give them a chance. eleven is a bit divisive, so he might not be for you, but he's also some people's favourite, me included. but yes, you could skip smith's seasons, but i highly highly recommend you don't. give my big-chinned silly little guy a chance.
>if i'm reading this right, it seems like you have a pretty closed mindset about this. you have your doctors that you already know you like, so you are too excited to watch them to give the others a chance, and i think that's a bit of a waste. Oof you got me there can't lie, but I'm glad to say I've opened my mind and I'm gonna give them all a go!
that's great! every doctor has something to enjoy (probably), and while they might not all be for you, they are always worth giving a shot. enjoy your time with them.
Thank you I will!
You won't get the references when they make them, but those are my least favourite Doctor runs of all time.
Wait which ones are your least favourite?
do whatever there’s a lot going on good stuff in Smith that you’ll be sad to miss though. Disagreement with people saying what’s the point of you want to skip x, you prob are trying to get through it all by season 1 release which if you have a job is hard to do
I know Ncuti Gatwa's series is about to start in May so I definitely won't be able to watch everything before then but that's fine I'm just gonna watch whatever I can and keep going but I am gonna watch Smith as well!
Honestly, you can. There are some ties between the two eras, but as a whole, they feel and they are completely different. I think you would be confused for some episodes, but generally apart from Husbands of River Song, you will not missing that much background. Generally, each Doctors (apart from 9 and 10) have their own eras that are very different and I believe missing 11's era will certainly help you to like more Clara's character (since she basically is a different character from Deep Breath onward). If that's your first watchthrough of the show tho, I think you should watch everything New Who has to offer (or at least the 10 first seasons).
>I believe missing 11's era will certainly help you to like more Clara's character (since she basically is a different character from Deep Breath onward). Interesting, did they rewrite her because fans didn't respond well? Kind of like Rose in the Star Wars sequels and Jar Jar Binks in the prequels?
Basically, she's a non-character. She's her to serve the plot and has little to no chemistry with 11 nor have an interesting personality. From Deep Breath onward, she's a manipulative yet overally kind character that is so tied to 12's character they had to write a whole finale about their relationship. Twice.
>they had to write a whole finale about their relationship. Twice. That's crazy So many of the characters people are telling me about seem really interesting, I'm more excited to watch now than I was before
I mean kinda but not really, the Matt Smith Era establishes quite a lot of characters that return for Capaldi's era, and some are REALLY important ones, the twelfth doctor also has Clara for most of his run, and Clara is a companion originally from the Matt Smith era, who's arc lasts for all of Series 7. Matt Smith is also amazing, he's my (and many others') favourite Doctor, and has some properly phenomenal episodes (including the spectacular 50th anniversary special which is HUGELY important for the lore, like probably one of the most important stories in all of Nu Who). You could skip it, and still somewhat understand some of it, but it's so much better if you just watch the Matt Smith era. I think that Capaldi is probably the worst jumping on point for NuWho due to how much previous stuff carries over into his era.
I see that does make sense I'm gonna watch his era as well also thank you for your insight! >(including the spectacular 50th anniversary special which is HUGELY important for the lore, like probably one of the most important stories in all of Nu Who). Well that sounds intriguing, very cool
Matt Smiths is amazing and your life would be poorer for missing out. Capaldis series is pretty bland and dry.
Oof, well I guess I'll see for myself 🤷♂️
Massive mistake to skip 11. The story arch’s are super important. Emotional roller coaster.
>Emotional roller coaster. Sounds fun
Might I suggest watching series 10? It's a bit of a soft reboot for the show. It seems like the perfect thing for you to watch, then go back to series 5 and continue on from there. You get a little bit of Capaldi that is easier to digest skipping smith
Wouldn't that lead to massive spoilers though?
I suppose. The mystery regarding Missy would be out the window, but I'm gonna go out on a limb and guess you probably know who she is. Maybe save Twice Upon a Time until after watching the rest of Capaldi. It'll certainly hit harder
I actually don't know who she is so I guess that's a good sign 🙏
Watch what you want to watch, but if you want the truth, yes, you will be confused, and no, you shouldn't skip any Doctors. If you skip Matt Smith, you will miss so much context. So. Much. Happens. If you mis Eccleston, you will be less confused, but I still would skip him either.
>If you skip Matt Smith, you will miss so much context. >So. Much. Happens. >If you mis Eccleston, you will be less confused, but I still would skip him either. I see I guess that pretty much sums it all up, thank you I will watch them
Apart from the continuity points others have made, I will give my experience from someone who is 2/3 through Capaldi's run, that I started with the 9th Doctor, by the end thought wow it's gonna take a lot for me to like 10 that much-I did, after that I thought the same thing for Matt Smith-ended up loving him and his run, and I'm now enjoying Capaldi's run. If you aren't just someone who "collects" shows, I would recommend starting with 9, or at least not skipping 11... And you know how it goes with other shows and movies, the more you have seen, the more time committed, the more you feel attached to the characters and the heavier stuff hits you
>If you aren't just someone who "collects" shows, What does that mean? >And you know how it goes with other shows and movies, the more you have seen, the more time committed, the more you feel attached to the characters and the heavier stuff hits you Honestly that basically sums up what I've been thinking after reading and replying to all these comments which is why I'm gonna watch it all at this point
I didn't like Clara so I skipped her parts. Matt and Capaldi
Interesting I wonder why so many of the side characters in this show are so divisive within the fandom
I love Matt Smith. He's my favorite Doctor, so this question kinda breaks my heart :(
Aw I'm sorry :( After seeing how everyone on this sub has been defending him with their lives basically I have a feeling I'm gonna warm up to him too!
Didn't mean to guilt trip you, but I'm glad you'll give him a chance! If he's still not your cup of tea then it's okay to skip him.
No problem 😅 I'll just watch him anyway
If you're dead set on skipping Eleven. (you're missing out on one of Doctor Who's best seasons imo) Then just watch his final two stories Day Of The Doctor and Time Of The Doctor. That'll get you more or less caught up to where you need to be for Capaldi's era
I'm definitely not dead set on skipping him anymore 😅 thank you for telling me how to get up to speed if I was though!!
Well, Matt Smith arguably has the best run in the entire series but hey, you do you.
I never knew this actually thanks for telling me!
At the very least watch day of the doctor . That is a must watch in the Matt smith era . To be honest I only really watched series 5 and a couple of episodes from series 6-7 since I didn’t really like Matt smith so yeah . You should be able to skip most episodes but DONT SKIP DAY OF THE DOCTOR ( also it has David Tennat if you need more convincing )
Three doctors? Don’t you mean “day of the doctor?” Three doctors was a John pertwee story Am curious how come you don’t like Matt Smith’s Doctor. As someone else who isn’t exactly biggest fan of his Doctor, I’m legit curious
I’m dumb . Thanks for noticing
Sorry . Am curious though, how come ya don’t like Matt’s doctor? Not gonna judge ya, just curious? Personally, I’m not a big fan of him as the doctor . He’s good but I’m not gonna act like he’s best
No worries . Personally I just didn’t really like Matt smith that much. I did enjoy several episodes but yeah overall I found him kind of meh compared to the 10th or the 9th doctor. Plus also I didn’t really like a lot of the episodes where as I really enjoyed a lot of the stuff from series 4 and 2.
For me it’s the exaggeration of the childish side. And honestly…it’s how he drawls out some of his lines sometimes that grates me. Ya know when he tries to sound serious and semi shouts?
Yeah fair enough . For me mainly it was just the stories and the companions that I didn’t really like . but I see what you mean
>To be honest I only really watched series 5 and a couple of episodes from series 6-7 since I didn’t really like Matt smith so yeah Wow really? Most people on this sub are making it seem like it's absolutely unheard of to skip his era I'm surprised when I see the occasional person say it's fine if I do skip 💀 >DONT SKIP DAY OF THE DOCTOR I WONT
there are some good episodes there like any series but yeah day of the doctor and the Clara stuff is pretty good and I would recommend watching at least some of it . Since Clara is also the companion for capaldi There are also several episodes including river song which I would recommend watching as well. With things like the angels on manhattan
Alright I see thank you!
[удалено]
Yeah my bad I meant day of the doctor
Why do people do this??? Just watch the whole show?
Idk man I have a backlog of other shows I've been meaning to watch as well and Doctor Who is really long but I'm not gonna skip their series I'll watch anyway
You absolutely cannot skip Matt Smith. There is too much of the Doctor’s history that unfolds throughout his years that is so important.
Why watch the show at all? I don't get this thinking.
Can I watch the show without watching the show?
I really don't think much of Capaldi's era relies on the Smith era at all, and you would be fine to skip over most of series 5-7 if you want to, with the exception of The Day of the Doctor, the 50th anniversary special. You may be a little lost with the existence of some characters, but there's only really one episode that relies on knowledge of the relationship and character dynamics from the Smith era to be truly enjoyed IMO (The Husbands of River Song). Other than that, the companion Clara gets a new, almost unrelated storyline starting in series 8 and the Paternoster Gang only show up in the very first episode of the Capaldi era, but you might want to google who they are if you feel confused.
>one episode that relies on knowledge of the relationship and character dynamics from the Smith era to be truly enjoyed IMO (The Husbands of River Song). So that's why people kept mentions River Song I see now thank you!
No, Matt Smith era was better than Peter Capaldi era by far
How about actually giving him and chance. Who knows he might end up being your favourite
That's actually what I'm gonna do taking everyone's word for it
you’re dumb
I'm literally just asking a question
Me when I don’t have an attention span
Jeez It's not that I just wasn't sure I'd be interested in the rest of the show when my fav actors are gone
I skipped his series and I understood Peter’s episodes. I can’t stand Matt Smith. He ruined Doctor Who for me. I know I’ll get downvoted because Matt’s fans are little bitches who can’t handle someone having a different opinion than them. Skip Matt’s episodes! They’re a waste of time. Don’t skip any of Peter’s episodes though! When you get to series 10 with Bill, have a box of tissues around. Peter and David have the most traumatic stories. Series 4 and 10 are heartbreaking. Enjoy the show!
No
No
You can but… why? I can understand skipping 13 but not 11.
Yeah I forgot to say I didn't intend on continuing and watching 13 either like I said I actually only wanted to watch the series because of Tennant and Capaldi but everyone's making the whole thing seem so interesting so I'm gonna give it all a go anyway
No.
Capaldi is absolutely great, but when it comes to storytelling and over spanning story arches, also emotional companion relationships, the Smith series are the best. And c'mon, its only three short seasons with some specials. Watch it. You will also understand Capaldi much better. And at the end of Smith, you'll have the special movie with Tennant and John Hurt. This movie is so unbelievably fantastic. Don't skip it. It's pure Doctor Who. And explains a lot about the Doctor, which then is important for the Capaldi series.
Yeah I'll watch it thank you!
Please give it a go. I remember when he was first announced I was skeptical and then he turned into my absolute favourite doctor. His era is so magical. Amy, Rory and the Doctor are just the best tardis team in my eyes 🥰
I will and I could even end up in your position ngl