Doctor Who: Season 1 | Rotten Tomatoes (2024)

70% Tomatometer 10 Reviews 86% Popcornmeter 50+ Ratings

"Doctor Who" is a classic science-fiction series with a cult following. The Doctor is called a "Time Lord," a time-traveling scientist from a far-off planet who travels through time and space in a shop known by the acronym TARDIS. A TARDIS is a machine that is larger on the inside than the outside and is supposed to change its appearance based on its surroundings. The Doctor is also able to evolve his biology, so he appears as many different people throughout the series. The Doctor loves Earth, so he makes many trips here to save the planet, or to enlist earthlings to help him with tasks in the galaxy.

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Doctor Who — Season 1

Doctor Who — Season 1

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Critics Consensus

Though it has room to improve in terms of production values, Doctor Who's solid stories and strong sense of adventure come together to create a splendidly strange journey through space and time.

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Critics Reviews

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Doctor Who: Season 1 | Rotten Tomatoes (1) Mary Crozier Guardian A chance to see the first episode of the BBC's "Dr Who" over again on Saturday before the second, turned out to accentuate that the space and time serial has fallen badly soon after getting under way. Mar 4, 2019 Full Review Doctor Who: Season 1 | Rotten Tomatoes (2) Christopher Bahn AV Club There's almost as much concentrated weirdness and diverse exotic locations packed into the six episodes of this serial as there is in the rest of the first season combined. Mar 4, 2019 Full Review Doctor Who: Season 1 | Rotten Tomatoes (3) Charlie Jane Anders io9.com The first two Doctor Who stories have their moments, including the first look at the TARDIS and the first meeting with the Daleks. But this is a quick hit, just 45 minutes, and still just as intense as it was 48 years ago. Mar 4, 2019 Full Review Doctor Who: Season 1 | Rotten Tomatoes (4) Cameron K. McEwan GQ Magazine [UK] The opening episode, titled An Unearthly Child, is still to this day a beautiful thing to watch. The production team really nailed it from the off, creating mystery and intrigue perfectly. Mar 4, 2019 Full Review Doctor Who: Season 1 | Rotten Tomatoes (5) Jonathan Hatfull SciFiNow It's interesting to compare 'The Aztecs' to earlier stories featuring Hartnell's Doctor. He's much chirpier here and even gets a love interest (albeit one he's not remotely interested in). Mar 4, 2019 Full Review Doctor Who: Season 1 | Rotten Tomatoes (6) Paul Mount Starburst The Aztecs is powerful drama, dealing with themes of brutal violence and morality which were heavy stuff for a 1964 family teatime audience. Mar 4, 2019 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (12) audience reviews

Sirremus R Pure Science Fiction at its best.. The First Doctor ever and for a show that started in 1963 it was amazing what they did with the idea of the Tardis. They referred to it as the ship.. only his granddaughter referred to it as T.A.R.D.I.S, later throughout years found out he stole it because he was board just being an observer of different civilizations and felt the Time Lords could help many with their various problems. A must to watch to start getting into Doctor Who and following His journey throughout the decades it has been on T.V. Rated 4.5/5 Stars • Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/11/24 Full Review Tom B This is a great series. The stories are good and more than make up for the weak special effects. Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 12/28/23 Full Review Jason B This is where it all began and it's pure magic. Hartnell and crew are perfect Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 12/05/23 Full Review Georgan G Although much of this is only audio or fragments of video, it's still great. Doctor Who is one a kind! Rated 3/5 Stars • Rated 3 out of 5 stars 08/19/23 Full Review Hannah J This TV show is really awesome if you want to watch it you got to watch it when you see yours I want to let my boyfriend Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/16/23 Full Review Wolfgang B Marco Polo, Aztecs, and Reign of Terror being missing are a real shame here. The opening episode is note perfect but the rest of the story it exists within is not brilliant. The Daleks is a great blueprint for what the show would do so well, but it's obvious throughout the season that nobody involved knew how long it would last or what it would be best at Rated 2.5/5 Stars • Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 07/02/23 Full Review Read all reviews

Doctor Who — Season 1

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Cast & Crew

Sydney Newman Creator William Hartnell Dr. Who William Russell Ian Chesterton Jacqueline Hill Barbara Wright Carole Ann Ford Susan Foreman Mark Eden Marco Polo
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Episodes

Episode 1 Aired Nov 23, 1963 An Unearthly Child: 100,000 BC Two London schoolteachers follow a mysterious student home to a junkyard and find the TARDIS and her crotchety grandfather. Details Episode 2 Aired Nov 30, 1963 An Unearthly Child: The Cave of Skulls The Doctor is captured for making fire. Details Episode 3 Aired Dec 7, 1963 An Unearthly Child: The Forest of Fear The travelers escape into the Forest of Fear. Details Episode 4 Aired Dec 14, 1963 An Unearthly Child: The Firemaker The travelers escape in the TARDIS. Details Episode 5 Aired Dec 21, 1963 The Daleks: The Dead Planet The TARDIS lands on the planet Skaro. Details Episode 6 Aired Dec 28, 1963 The Daleks: The Survivors The Doctor meets Thals and Daleks. Details Episode 7 Aired Jan 4, 1964 The Daleks: The Escape The Thals are a race of perfect beings. Details Episode 8 Aired Jan 11, 1964 The Daleks: The Ambush The evil Daleks survive in metal casings. Details Episode 9 Aired Jan 18, 1964 The Daleks: The Expedition Susan learns the Thals are starving. Details Episode 10 Aired Jan 25, 1964 The Daleks: The Ordeal The Daleks agree to help the Thals. Details Episode 11 Aired Feb 1, 1964 The Daleks: The Rescue Thals and Daleks battle on Skaros. Details Episode 12 Aired Feb 8, 1964 Inside the Spaceship: Edge of Destruction An explosion blacks out the TARDIS. Details Episode 13 Aired Feb 15, 1964 The Edge of Destruction: The Brink of Disaster The Doctor accuses Barbara and Ian. Details Episode 14 Aired Feb 22, 1964 Marco Polo: The Roof of the World A mysterious traveler can visit any point in space and time. Details Episode 15 Aired Feb 29, 1964 Marco Polo: The Singing Sands A mysterious traveler can visit any point in space and time. Details Episode 16 Aired Mar 7, 1964 Marco Polo: Five Hundred Eyes A mysterious traveler can visit any point in space and time. Details Episode 17 Aired Mar 14, 1964 Marco Polo: The Wall of Lies A mysterious traveler can visit any point in space and time. Details Episode 18 Aired Mar 21, 1964 Marco Polo: Rider From Shang-Tu A mysterious traveler can visit any point in space and time. Details Episode 19 Aired Mar 28, 1964 Marco Polo: Mighty Kublai Khan A mysterious traveler can visit any point in space and time. Details Episode 20 Aired Apr 4, 1964 Marco Polo: Assassin at Peking A mysterious traveler can visit any point in space and time. Details Episode 21 Aired Apr 11, 1964 The Keys of Marinus: The Sea of Death The TARDIS lands on a strange island. Details Episode 22 Aired Apr 18, 1964 The Keys of Marinus: The Velvet Web The TARDIS is captured. Details Episode 23 Aired Apr 25, 1964 The Keys of Marinus: The Screaming Jungle The Doctor seeks freedom. Details Episode 24 Aired May 2, 1964 The Keys of Marinus: The Snows of Terror A machine controls the island. Details Episode 25 Aired May 9, 1964 The Keys of Marinus: Sentence of Death The Doctor searches for lost keys. Details Episode 26 Aired May 16, 1964 The Keys of Marinus: The Keys of Marinus The Doctor searches for lost keys. Details Episode 27 Aired May 23, 1964 The Aztecs: The Temple of Evil The TARDIS lands in a 1430s tomb. Details Episode 28 Aired May 30, 1964 The Aztecs: The Warriors of Death Barbara is mistaken for an Aztec priest. Details Episode 29 Aired Jun 6, 1964 The Aztecs: The Bride of Sacrifice Barbara is given an honored position. Details Episode 30 Aired Jun 13, 1964 The Aztecs: The Day of Darkness The Doctor and companions face danger. Details Episode 31 Aired Jun 20, 1964 The Sensorites: Strangers in Space The TARDIS lands on a 28th-century spaceship. Details Episode 31 Aired Jun 12, 2024 The Celestial Toymaker: The Hall of Dolls (Colour) A mysterious traveler can visit any point in space and time. Details Episode 32 Aired Jun 27, 1964 The Sensorites: The Unwilling Warriors Telepathic beings control the spaceship. Details Episode 32 Aired Jun 12, 2024 The Celestial Toymaker: The Dancing Floor (Colour) A mysterious traveler can visit any point in space and time. Details Episode 33 Aired Jul 11, 1964 The Sensorites: Hidden Danger The Sensorites fear human exploitation. Details Episode 33 Aired Jun 12, 2024 The Celestial Toymaker: The Final Test (Colour) A mysterious traveler can visit any point in space and time. Details Episode 34 Aired Jul 18, 1964 The Sensorites: A Race Against Death Humans want the Sensorites' molybdenum. Details Episode 35 Aired Jul 25, 1964 The Sensorites: Kidnap Spacemen poison the Sensorites' water. Details Episode 36 Aired Aug 1, 1964 The Sensorites: A Desperate Venture The Doctor helps the Sensorites. Details Episode 37 Aired Aug 8, 1964 The Reign of Terror: A Land of Fear A mysterious traveler can visit any point in space and time. Details Episode 38 Aired Aug 15, 1964 The Reign of Terror: Guests of Madame Guillotine A mysterious traveler can visit any point in space and time. Details Episode 39 Aired Aug 22, 1964 The Reign of Terror: A Change of Identity A mysterious traveler can visit any point in space and time. Details Episode 40 Aired Aug 29, 1964 The Reign of Terror: The Tyrant of France A mysterious traveler can visit any point in space and time. Details Episode 40 Aired Aug 29, 1964 The Reign of Terror: The Tyrant of France A mysterious traveler can visit any point in space and time. Details Episode 41 Aired Sep 5, 1964 The Reign of Terror: A Bargain of Necessity A mysterious traveler can visit any point in space and time. Details Episode 41 Aired Sep 5, 1964 The Reign of Terror: A Bargain of Necessity A mysterious traveler can visit any point in space and time. Details Episode 42 Aired Sep 12, 1964 The Reign of Terror: Prisoners of Conciergerie A mysterious traveler can visit any point in space and time. Details

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Photos

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Doctor Who — Season 1

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Director
Waris Hussein, Henric Hirsch, John Gorrie, John Crockett, Richard Martin, Mervyn Pinfield, Christopher Barry, Frank Cox, David Devjak

Creator
Sydney Newman

Executive Producer
David Devjak

Screenwriter
John Lucarotti, Terry Nation, Dennis Spooner, Peter R. Newman, Anthony Coburn

Network
BBC

Rating
TV-PG

Genre
Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Adventure, Drama

Original Language
British English

Release Date
Nov 23, 1963
Doctor Who: Season 1 | Rotten Tomatoes (2024)

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