Doctor Who: a look back at the time when time travel wasn’t cool yet (retrospective)

So then, good Nestizens, 1963, a year when Beatlemania was just taking off, and another British invasion was quietly brewing on the BBC. Enter Doctor Who, a show about a grumpy old man with a time machine, which was, incidentally, a police box. A police box, folks! Imagine calling the cops and a time machine shows up. Only in the 60s, right?

This quirky show was birthed by Sydney Newman, who thought, “Hey, why not make a show that could fill that awkward Saturday evening slot and appeal to literally everyone?” And so, Doctor Who was born, a show that not only entertained but sneakily educated its audience about history and science. Crafty, BBC, very crafty. Let’s talk about William Hartnell, the first Doctor, who basically set the standard for all future “mad men with a box.” He was the kind of grandpa you weren’t sure would give you candy or a lecture. Joining him was his on-screen granddaughter Susan, played by Carole Ann Ford, who, despite being from another planet, somehow ended up as the most relatable teenager ever. Then there were the schoolteachers, Ian and Barbara, because what’s a time-traveling adventure without a history and a science teacher?

The first season took viewers on a wild ride through time and space, from cavemen (fire bad, TARDIS good) to the Aztecs (no, Barbara, you can’t change history), and even to the far future where viewers met the Daleks for the first time. Ah, the Daleks, basically space pepper pots with anger issues and a dislike for stairs.

The writing of this show was a mix of genius and “what were they thinking?” It swung from historical edutainment to outlandish sci-fi shenanigans. Remember The Edge of Destruction? That was basically a two-episode bottle episode inside the TARDIS. Budget cuts or creative storytelling? You decide.

Directorially, Doctor Who was mostly in the hands of junior directors, but they sure did a fantastic job with the wobbly sets and the even wobblier aliens. Filming was like, “We’ve got 30 minutes to get this right, no pressure.” Spoiler: There was pressure.

Now, let’s pour one out for the lost episodes. BBC, in its infinite wisdom, decided to erase several episodes. Thanks, BBC. Now we’ll never see all of Marco Polo, and I guess we’re okay with that? In terms of viewership, Doctor Who started modest but then skyrocketed with the introduction of the Daleks. Who knew that the British public would love homicidal salt shakers so much?

The show kicks off with An Unearthly Child, where schoolteachers Ian and Barbara follow their mysteriously advanced student Susan home, only to find her living in a police box with her peculiar granddad. Because, why not? They all end up traveling back to the Stone Age, proving that meddling with history is a bad idea, especially when you’re stuck with cavemen who haven’t quite figured out fire yet.

Next up, the Daleks make their grand entrance in The Daleks. Imagine being so iconic in your debut that you secure a permanent spot in British pop culture (and children’s nightmares). These villains were less “exterminate” and more “let’s cause a ruckus on Skaro.”

Then there’s The Edge of Destruction, a story set entirely in the TARDIS. It’s like the crew said, “We’ve got no money for sets this week. Let’s just have everyone go bonkers inside the TARDIS.” Budget constraints or creative genius? You decide.

Marco Polo, ah, the serial that time forgot – literally, since the BBC wiped it off the face of the Earth. Seven episodes of historical adventures, and all we have left are some telesnaps and our imaginations.

In The Keys of Marinus, the crew hops across the planet Marinus, looking for keys. It’s like a cosmic scavenger hunt, but with more acid seas and brain creatures. Because what’s a quest without a little brain creature action?

Then we take a detour to Mexico in The Aztecs, where Barbara gets mistaken for a reincarnated priestess. Historical accuracy? Meh. Entertainment? Absolutely.

The Sensorites brings us a tale of aliens so sensitive they could give modern-day Twitter a run for its money. It’s a story of misunderstandings, poison, and, well, more misunderstandings.

Critics had a field day with this show, ranging from “this is the best thing since sliced bread” to “what in the world is this madness?” But one thing’s for sure, Doctor Who had a charm that even the most hardened critic couldn’t deny.

In retrospect, the first season of Doctor Who was like that experimental dish you try cooking – a little bit of this, a dash of that, some weird ingredients, and voilà! You’ve got something that’s surprisingly palatable and leaves you wanting more. It was the start of a sci-fi legacy, a cornerstone of British television, and proof that you can indeed educate and entertain at the same time. And to think it all started with an old man in a police box. Time travel, you’ve come a long way.