Favourite is a different catagory. A favourite excites a strong emotional reaction, which isn't to say "best" epispodes can't do that - after all, its a pretty poor episode of anything which makes you feel nothing - but favourite is a love you can't necessarily qualify. Utopia and Trial of a Timelord are two of my favourites, and they have me in gibbery heaps, but I wouldn't exactly recommend them to anyone else, because their personal response might be different.
And this, the "desert island", is a different catagory yet again. It has to be rewatchable, indeed it has to be something you'll watch at all. It should be something you love, but at the same time it needs to be representative of all the rest - for when you get that inevitable craving for an episode you haven't got. And preferably, it should be good. However much I enjoy some of Who's worse outings, I wouldn't want to be stuck with them lest any new friends are curious about my favourite show. Something with some class.
So here's me, hypothetically chopping every doctor down to a single episode.
First - It has to be Unearthly Child really, especially in terms of showing it to new friends.
Second - I've only seen two, but this makes the decision harder - because I didn't like or dislike either especially. I suppose Mind Robber is probably the better of the two, but I was a bit emotionally null towards it until episode 4. Tomb of the Cybermen hasn't worn well in memory, but at the time I was enjoying it so much I started rewatching it before I'd even finished all four episodes - a personal record, I think. In the end, it's a single scene that sells it - you'll know the one - in Tomb, between Victoria and the Doctor. That was the moment I decided Two was a Doctor really worth paying attention to. Plus, the other character stuff is pretty irresistable. Ignoring the darn Cybermats, the effects are OK, and my sister (a casual fan at best) decided Troughton was her second favourite Doctor on the strength of it. And she didn't even get as far as the killer scene! Plus, while atypical is always better Who in my book, The Mind Robber may just be a little too unconventional to show to a new viewer.
Third - easy. Inferno, no contest. Its both my favourite and the best of those I've seen, and has the added bonus of being 7 episodes long. In addition, I wouldn't be embarassed to show it to anyone - the atmosphere and effects are still effective, pretty much as good as and if if a new viewer did think they were daft, then they're a lost cause.
I'm terribly fond of Claws of Axos, and its pretty well done, but the effects are shaky and even when I've got an hour spare, I still can't help but go through and watch all the bits with the Master in, several times over, in preferance towatching the whole thing. Pretty much the same problems arise with The Three Doctors - my finger starts itching towards "skip" every time Omega opens his mouth, and the sheer cuteness factor of the character moments would be lost on a new viewer, probably distracted by the antimatter beasties and godawful music. Didn't think much of Spearhead from Space. And my feelings on Planet of the Spiders are very well known indeed.
Fourth - another simple one, Pyramids of Mars. Like the above, it's great, the effects stand up to scrutiny, and I would not be embarassed to show it to anyone. In fact, this would be the episode I'd choose had I the whole lot to hand. Classic Doctor + classic Companion + best villain of all time. Robot is another tempting one - the Doctor's a lot of fun, and I'd consider showing that to an outsider. Genesis of the Daleks is another obvious pick, but its length troubles me. I'd take Inferno because its lengthy and doesn't waste a minute. Here, I'd be worried about skipping the wasteland, the clams and everything involving the radioactive rocket in favour of the Davros bits. I liked Android Invasion, but it wouldn't be my first pick if I came home in a foul temper. Neither would Keeper of Traken, though it has strong sentimental value as the first classic episode I saw. Logopolis is tempting - Adric and Tegan are great in it, and its got a really good atmosphere, as well as a lovely rambling plot. But death is a downer, and its not an obvious pick for a first watch - despite the fact it was my second. Neither is The Deadly Assassin, and I'd choose Trial or Arc of Infinity as favourite Gallifrey episodes anyway, even if they are technically less good. I wasn't a great fan of Brain of Morbius. City of Death is one I would certainly show to a new viewer, but again its not one I would miss if I were away.
Fifth - naturally harder, as I've seen almost all of them, and haven't disliked any either. With some regret, even before assessing the other options, the only possible candidate is Mawdryn Undead. Its joint favourite with Enlightement, really deserves its full running length, and its got that fanbaiting montage which pays tribute to everything before. And the effects are fine enough - are there any? I'm loath to leave Enlightenment, but as part three of the Black Guardian thang, I could never show it to anyone who hadn't seen Mawdryn first - surely I could take both? Please? Arc of Infinity is fine, but not one I'll miss. I won't cry if I'm without Time Flight, The Visitation or Castrovalva either. Caves has already proved itself to be dangerously rewatchable - twice within a few days, got it out of the house before I could watch it a third. Its certainly worthy to show a stranger, but it also has the power to put me in a state of complete misery - not exactly the best thing to watch all alone miles from home. The same rules go for Planet of Fire - its a breakdown in a box. Kings Demons is very tempting - but its only two episodes long. Pity, because I will miss that Master. That leaves Black Orchid, which is again a two parter. What have I forgotten? Resurrection of the Daleks. I will miss that a lot, but it can't be helped.
Six - No, this is the hardest. I thought Five would be tricky, but its this that's going to hurt. I've only seen Trial and I want to take all of it. I wouldn't show Mysterious Planet to anyone, but anything later than that is a continuity nightmare. Mindwarp's the best of the three, but its as depressing as hell and there's barely any proper Doctor at all. As Terror of the Vervoids and Ultimate Foe are packed onto the same video in my tin, I suppose that's the only choice - I'm not sure introducing a stranger to the wonderfulness of the Sixth Doctor is the best idea anyway, considering most proper fans can't stand him. I get six episodes instead of four, I get the best of the individual adventures, and of course The Ultimate Foe. Which would also solve my absence of Master.
Seven -I've only seen Curse of Fenric and Ghost Light. They're both sterling bits of telly. I still think Fenric would be a better pick to show a new fan - its deeply layered classic, satisfyingly complex, and it doesn't look bad either. But I'm tempted by Ghost Light. The tangled, or should I say, absent plot makes it very very rewatchable - drown in the details, but with no story to tire of.
Eight - no choice, and again no point because I can take as many books and audios as I like. It's the movie or nothing. Despite that, it ticks the "appeal to a first time viewer" box very strongly indeed.
This article is mostly academic anyway, because I won't have a video player, and Fenric and Ghost Light are the only two classics I have on DVD. The others are saved on Skyboxes, owned on video, watched live or borrowed off other people. So in the event, if I take Inferno or Mawdryn I won't be able to watch them, so it's pointless to speculate whether others would find them engaging. And its pointless to choose between those two, as they're the only ones I can take. I'm going to be sick of McCoy by Christmas.
Afterword - in the event, I took School Reunion, Utopia, Blink, the entirety of Season 4, Ghost Light and Curse of Fenric. I bought Timelash, Warriors of the Deep and Four to Doomsday here - though I've traded the latter for Earthshock until xmas (hmmm, I'm feeling glum and I feel like some five - Earthshock or Warriors of the Deep? Could be worse. Still, I'm amused). And i have Castrovalva on my portable movie thing, for my Master quota. And Death to the Daleks has been aquired on video. It ain't so bad.
Since discovering a video player here, the first two videos I requested were Mawdryn Undead and Enlightenment, then Trial of a Timelord.
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