Where To Watch Old Doctor Who Episodes? Your Complete Guide

Are you wondering Where To Watch Old Doctor Who Episodes and dive into the classic era of this iconic show? At thebootdoctor.net, we understand the allure of the original series and want to guide you through the best starting points and viewing options, while ensuring you have happy and healthy feet for all your adventures. Discover the best viewing options for every episode, along with essential recommendations to enhance your experience.

1. What Makes Classic Doctor Who Special?

Classic Doctor Who, spanning from 1963 to 1989, offers a unique charm that sets it apart from the modern series. The classic series offers a distinctive narrative format, often presented in four to six 25-minute episodes per adventure, allowing for comprehensive storytelling and character development, but it can be challenging to find and stream these vintage adventures.

1.1 Why Dive Into The Classic Era?

Unique Storytelling: Extended episode formats enable deep, intricate plots.
Charming Nostalgia: Experience the origins of beloved characters and monsters.
Character Development: Get to know each Doctor and their companions intimately.

2. Where Can You Watch Classic Doctor Who Episodes?

Finding where to watch old Doctor Who episodes can be tricky. Fortunately, several platforms offer streaming options, making it easier than ever to enjoy these vintage adventures.

2.1 Streaming Services

Tubi: Free streaming with ads (US)
BritBox: Paid subscription with a vast selection.

2.2 Digital Purchases

Amazon Prime Video: Purchase individual episodes or seasons.
Google TV: Buy digital copies for convenient viewing.

2.3 Reconstructions and Fan Projects

BBC Animated Reconstructions: High-quality animated versions of missing episodes.
Fan Reconstructions: Community projects filling in the gaps with telesnaps and audio recordings.

3. What Are the Best Starting Points for Classic Doctor Who?

Choosing a starting point in Classic Doctor Who can feel overwhelming. Here are our top recommendations to get you hooked. Starting with a Doctor known for humor and consistency, particularly from the show’s golden period (Second to Fourth Doctor), is highly recommended.

3.1 The Fourth Doctor – Tom Baker

Tom Baker’s charm and the high quality of writing during his era make him an excellent choice. Tom Baker, with his magnetic personality and iconic scarf, is a perfect entry point due to the fantastic collaboration between producer Philip Hinchcliffe and script editor Robert Holmes during his tenure.

Why Start Here?: Baker’s era is celebrated for its wit and thrilling adventures, complemented by a memorable cast of companions, including the beloved Sarah Jane Smith, familiar to fans of the modern series.
Recommended Episode: Pyramids of Mars stands out with its witty script and chilling villain.

3.2 The Second Doctor – Patrick Troughton

Patrick Troughton beautifully transitioned the Doctor into a new era, establishing the character’s mythological scope. Patrick Troughton’s era is marked by his exceptional character acting, which redefined the Doctor.

Why Start Here?: Troughton’s portrayal is both odd and endearing, bringing immense mythological depth to the show.
Recommended Episode: Tomb of the Cybermen is atmospheric and showcases the comedic relationship between the Doctor and his companion, Jamie.

3.3 The Third Doctor – Jon Pertwee

Jon Pertwee’s era, while atypical, features a cozy, familial atmosphere and thrilling adventures on Earth. Jon Pertwee’s tenure introduces a unique dynamic with the Doctor stranded on Earth, working as a scientific advisor for UNIT.

Why Start Here?: The supporting cast creates a familial atmosphere, and the adventures are thrilling, particularly if you enjoy stories set on 1970s Earth.
Recommended Episode: Spearhead from Space is a perfect introduction to Pertwee’s era, showcasing the Doctor’s adventures with UNIT.

4. The First Doctor – William Hartnell

The show’s initial seasons are a mixed bag as the series found its identity, blending ensemble dynamics with sci-fi horror. Starting at the beginning with William Hartnell is an option for the truly dedicated fan.

4.1. Season 1 (William Hartnell)

This is a show trying to find its feet. Is it an ensemble show, or is the main character the mysterious man billed in the credits (really) as “Dr. Who”? Is it an educational children’s history show or a scifi horror drama? It’s all of those things! So many classic moments which still work, from the first scenes in An Unearthly Child to the grim moral dilemma of The Aztecs. If you’re up for it, it’s also totally possible to start the show at the beginning.

An Unearthly Child – Watch- I’d watch the first (superb) episode of the serial – which is eerie and strange – The Twilight Zone meets Narnia, but the rest is very cheesy and painfully dated. Skip all of that and go on to good stuff.
The Daleks – Watch- A decent introduction to the Doctor’s most iconic enemies. There’s a lot of filler later on though. If I were being honest, this is more of a “maybe,” but from a history-of-the-show viewpoint, it is iconic. If nothing else, watch the unsettling first Dalek cliffhanger and the brutal first full appearance of the monsters.
The Edge of Destruction – Watch- A tight, paranoid 45 minute drama inside the TARDIS – worth seeing. This is also a turning point for the Doctor, who until this point has been cold and withdrawn.
Marco Polo (all episodes missing) – Skip- All of this seven-episode serial is lost, which is a terrible shame – the reconstructed version makes it seem like this would have been visually spectacular. The story itself is interesting and epic in scope, but it meanders in the middle and ultimately, not enough happens to justify its length (or at least, not enough to seek out a reconstruction).
The Keys of Marinus – Skip- Not bad – a sequence of adventures from Terry Nation – but not exactly great either. A filler episode.
The Aztecs – Watch- A really terrific, fascinating historical episode which lets the characters sink their teeth into some solid drama. Do we have a right to interfere in history? Barbara takes it on herself to try. Best of the First Doctor, in my humble opinion.
The Sensorites – Skip- A few nice moments, but it’s largely tedious and too long. Do, however, watch Susan give us our first description of the Time Lords’ home planet. And here’s a nice scene as the group reflect on their adventures.
The Reign of Terror (episodes 4 – 5 missing) – Maybe- If you’re willing to endure a few reconstructed episodes, this is a good, dark serial where our heroes have to stay alive in the French Revolution. The Doctor ponces about in a plumed hat, which is worth the price of admission.

4.2. Season 2 (William Hartnell)

The second season is a bit more pedestrian, but still has fine moments. The TARDIS team have bonded and William Hartnell is much more avuncular and twinkly in the lead role.

Planet of Giants – Watch- A fun, short (no pun intended) adventure where the team get miniaturized and has to thwart an evil plot.
The Dalek Invasion of Earth – Watch- Kind of overrated, but full of iconic visuals, and the last scene is rightly considered one of the First Doctor’s best, as he delivers a speech for all time. No, I’m not going to link to it – go watch the episode.
The Rescue – Skip- A middling, short story which introduces companion, Vicki. There’s nothing here that’s unmissable.
The Romans – Watch- It’s a fun, dorky historical and Ian spends a lot of time in a toga, so it comes highly recommended from me. Also the First Doctor accidentally ends up swept up on a journey that leads him to the court of Nero himself where he has to engage in “the gentle art of fisticuffs.” Clearly, the Doctor is starting to take a more proactive role in the story.
The Web Planet – Skip- It’s not awful, but between some really weird stylistic choices (Vaseline on the camera lens?) and a fairly slow plot, it’s pretty skippable. I do love the weird character designs and movements, though – props for ambition, ambition for props.
The Crusade (episodes 2 & 4 missing) – Watch- A terrific historical, which is compelling despite the two missing episodes. Julian Glover guest stars as Richard the Lionheart and Jean Marsh as his sister Joanna – the two have extraordinary chemistry. It all just works.
The Space Museum – Skip- Not super memorable. Neat idea, but it doesn’t go anywhere.
The Chase – Maybe- Character goodbyes probably make this adventure worth watching – farewell, Ian and Barbara…(if you skip, here’s their exit, which you definitely need to see.)
The Time Meddler – Maybe- A bit slow, but this is the first Time Lord we meet who isn’t related to the Doctor (and with his own TARDIS), so that’s pretty cool. It’s a neat medieval milieu as well.

4.3. Season 3 (William Hartnell)

An uneven season which grows stronger as it progresses, and shoots for the moon with the ambitious epic The Daleks’ Master Plan. The Doctor really starts to contemplate his losses and the weight of his traveling. Hartnell is also much stronger here – his health is still not what it was, but he’s certainly not flubbing lines as often as he was in season 2.

Galaxy 4 (episodes 1 – 2 & 4 missing) – Skip- While there are some really good moments in the second and third episode (plot reversals! dramatic dream sequences!), it’s just not worth it for the long periods waiting for robots – “Chumblies” – to trundle across the ground.
Mission to the Unknown (missing) – Maybe- This one filler episode was created to set up The Daleks’ Master Plan and give viewers something to watch while all the main cast are on vacation. The original is missing but some fans remade it, and you can watch it here.
The Myth Makers (all episodes missing) – Skip – Just kill me now. This story was probably pretty entertaining when it could be seen, as the Doctor gets mistaken for Zeus at the siege of Troy and that had to be fun, but it’s a chore to listen to tons and tons of exposition in still pictures. The third episode picks up a bit, but it’s all too brief. It also helps to be familiar with Greek mythology – or rather, Shakespeare – as it turns out (spoiler!) Cressida and Diomedes were actually Vicki and Steven. Vicki – I mean, Cressida – ends up falling for Troilus and that’s how she leaves the TARDIS. Meanwhile, Trojan maid Katarina joins the TARDIS team.
The Daleks’ Master Plan – (episodes 1, 3 – 4, 6 – 9, and 11 – 12 missing) – Watch- A dark, immense tale which does what The Chase wanted to do, but better. It’s a bit bloated, but it also doesn’t shy away from some real consequences for the Doctor, and William Hartnell has seldom been better. A magnificent epic. Do, however, skip The Feast of Steven, which is a Christmas filler episode that my sister aptly described as “one long headache.”
The Massacre of St Bartholomew’s Eve (all episodes missing) – Maybe- The story’s a little bit hard to follow in a reconstruction, but the ending is serious and thoughtful, as Steven grapples with the realities of non-interference in history. If nothing else, you have to watch that ending, which is really excellent drama – and which melds into a Hartnell monologue with near David Tennant levels of Doctor Pathos. Also – hahahaha – he totally kidnaps Dodo because she reminds him of Susan.
The Ark – Watch- A dorky time travel adventure that originates several important scifi ideas that will pop up in the show again.
The Celestial Toymaker (episodes 1 – 3 missing) – Watch – A gonzo ride into the mind of the Celestial Toymaker, a god who forces his captives – in this case, the Doctor, Steven, and Dodo – to play a series of nonsense games or be trapped in his universe for eternity. It’s interesting and, for those days, high concept. Slightly overrated, yes (season 6’s The Mind Robber is the platonic ideal of this type of tale), but it’s a neat story.
The Gunfighters – Maybe- Here’s the thing – you get to see daffy old William Hartnell get mistaken for Doc Holliday in Tombstone. But on the other hand, it’s too long and they repeat the earworm theme song every three minutes. I don’t know, I rather liked it. It’s part of the First Doctor Experience.
The Savages (all episodes missing) – Watch – Alas, there’s nothing left of this episode, which is a shame, because it’s an interesting morality tale in which the Doctor gets to be thunderingly righteous in the aid of an oppressed minority people. He even talks about human beings in terms of souls, which makes his argument all the stronger.
The War Machines – Maybe- The last complete Hartnell episode. It’s an okay story, introducing new companions Ben and Polly and providing an exit for Dodo Chaplet. Kind of forgettable otherwise, though. Polly is the best female companion we’ve had since Barbara. Watch her meet Ben here, to get an idea of their personalities.

4.4. Season 4 (William Hartnell and Patrick Troughton)

It’s happening! William Hartnell’s increasingly frail health prompts the BBC to find a way to recast the lead in their hit series. Remarkably, instead of casting a William Hartnell lookalike, they decide to go with Patrick Troughton, an impish little man with a Beatles moptop and a twinkle in his eye that may be friendly or may be cunning. He’s certainly not the man we knew, and he’s not interested in holding our hand through the craziness of the first regeneration.

The Smugglers (all episodes missing) – Skip- A rote historical episode in which nothing of note occurs. If you want, you can watch the first scene, where Polly and Ben realize they’ve accidentally ended up on an adventure through time and space (and it really was an accident, instead of the usual kidnapping! Character development!)
The Tenth Planet (episode 4 missing) – Watch- Not the most exciting plot, but it’s the introduction of a key villain (man, their design here is so much better than the new series) and the occasion of the first regeneration. I’d say essential, but since it’s harder to get a hold of, I guess not. Still, it’s a big moment in the show’s history.
The Power of the Daleks (all episodes missing) – Watch- It’s worth watching a reconstruction (I always prefer the fan-made versions, cobbled together from BBC telesnaps, instead of animated versions), as this one’s a classic. Patrick Troughton is a zany, alienating, unpredictable version of the man we knew as the Doctor. He may be good, but is he safe?
The Highlanders (all episodes missing) – Skip- The Doctor is still attempting to find himself, which translates to dressing up every chance he gets, putting on silly accents, and coveting a selection of hats. The main important thing which occurs in this episode is the introduction of new companion, Jamie McCrimmon, but otherwise, it’s a bit of a snoozefest.
The Underwater Menace (episodes 1 & 4 missing) – Skip- There are a few fun bits with Patrick Troughton mugging in funny hats with his recorder, but it’s slow. Really slow. Check out this famously corny line delivery so you will get the memes.
The Moonbase (episodes 1 & 3 missing) – Watch- A taut (and in Classic Who, that word hardly ever gets used) base-under-siege episode and one of the best episodes for this iconic villain. A fine Polly episode too. Troughton has found his Doctor.
The Macra Terror (all episodes missing) – Skip- The Doctor and company land in a utopian society that – you won’t be shocked – turns out to be not so utopian after all. Despite all the decadence on display, there’s clearly a dark secret undergirding this paradise, and the Doctor is determined to find out what it is. This is kinda quirky and intriguing, but despite the genuinely memorable monster and some cool atmosphere, it doesn’t end up going anywhere.
The Faceless Ones (episodes 2, 4, 5 & 6 missing) – Maybe- The Doctor investigates a murder mystery at an airport. It’s fine. The aliens have an interesting motivation for stealing “faces.” It’s mostly notable for how it shows the developing relationship between Patrick Troughton and Frazer Hines – they make a terrific double act. But Polly and Ben barely feel involved, ironically – as it’s their last episode. If nothing else, watch the final scene.
The Evil of the Daleks (episodes 1, 3 – 7 missing) – Maybe- An interesting episode which starts to introduce a more complex side to the Daleks, and showcases the Second Doctor’s more manipulative side. The first half is really terrific, but the dropoff in the second half is rough. It features one terrific showdown between Troughton and the Daleks which is worth watching, but the rest of it isn’t really worth the slog through reconstructions.

5. The Second Doctor – Patrick Troughton

Finally, some complete Patrick Troughton episodes! Let’s be honest, you probably didn’t slog through the previous almost-entirely-missing season, so this season is probably your introduction to the man, the myth, the legend. He’s firmly established in the character by now, with a wonderful rapport with his definitive companion, 18th Century highlander, Jamie McCrimmon. A great season, introducing a handful of new monsters, though it ends with a clunker.

5.1. Season 5 (Patrick Troughton)

The Tomb of the Cybermen – Watch- A terrific Cyberman story with some truly funny and charming moments. Its only downside is an unfortunately stereotyped African strongman (who nevertheless plays an important and moving role in the plot) and a tendency toward repetition and slow-walking shots and line deliveries because they don’t have quite enough script to fill the time. Still, the first fully complete Patrick Troughton episode shows him at the height of his charms alongside his best companion, Jamie. We get a magical “bigger on the inside” scene and one of Troughton’s greatest monologues. We’re reminded that the Doctor is ancient and mysterious – but also relatable.
The Abominable Snowmen (Episodes 1 & 3 – 6 missing) – Watch- A strong adventure set in the Himalayas with a well-developed supporting cast and a mysterious new villain. Victoria really starts to show some spunk here, redeeming herself after her damsel in distress act in Tomb of the Cybermen. Check out Josh Snares terrific reconstructions of episode one, three, and four.
The Ice Warriors (Episodes 2 – 3 missing) – Skip- A lot of this episode works, with Peter Sallis turning in a particularly good supporting performance. The Ice Warriors, however, are so slow and sinister that they end up becoming a bit boring, and Victoria is back to her old screamer ways (seriously, one week she’s Sarah Jane, the next Mel Bush). The episode is also prone towards preaching on and on about the evils of computers – we know, we get it.
The Enemy of the World – Watch- The Doctor meets his evil doppelganger in this spy thriller. It’s really fun and lets Patrick Troughton flex. Who does Bond. It was lost for decades, but was one of the two serials – the other is The Web of Fear – discovered in Nigeria. Pause a moment and appreciate that – after decades, a lost Doctor Who episode turned up in Africa and just happened to be a classic. Actually, both of them are classics. What a wonderful world.
The Web of Fear (Episode 3 missing) – Watch- A terrific episode set in the London underground – the Yeti are a bit cheesy, but features the introduction of a super-important recurring character, and it’s a great episode for atmosphere. Another great Victoria episode, too.
Fury from the Deep (All episodes missing) – Watch- This was the final serial I watched (well, “watched”) and I must say, it was an excellent note to go out on. Riveting, unsettling, and quickly paced, this is the rare reconstruction which kept me on the edge of my seat throughout (I watched Loose Canon’s reconstruction but I might actually look into getting the animated version). In addition to all its other charms, it has a great emotional arc for Victoria as she starts to decide she’s had enough of the TARDIS life.
The Wheel in Space (Episodes 1 – 2 & 4 – 5 missing) – Skip- It’s the introduction of young genius companion Zoe Heriot, but there’s not enough here to make it worth watching. You do get this line: “Logic, my dear Zoe, merely enables one to be wrong with authority.” And Jamie coins the Doctor’s long-time alias, John Smith. Here’s Zoe meeting the Doctor. And the Doctor welcomes Zoe on board with a little pleasant hazing. Both of those clips are good to watch, and if you were wondering how Jamie was taking Victoria’s exit, here’s a reconstruction of that scene.

5.2. Season 6 (Patrick Troughton)

Troughton’s final season is a mixed bag, but when it’s great, it’s incredible. Iconic moments abound and the season pushes the show’s mythology towards truly incredible heights.

The Dominators – Skip- Meh. Truly awful costumes. Quite forgettable story. Frazer Hines and Patrick Troughton are funny, but sometimes somebody needed to remind them to take the show seriously. (My sister: WHAT seriously? You should put this one on “maybe” because it’s so funny and it’s complete.)
The Mind Robber – Watch- My all-time favorite Classic Who episode. Very strange and meta, questioning the very fabric of the show itself. Insanely ambitious and ahead of its time – the episode tends to split audiences, but its whimsy (some may claim “silliness”) is bolstered by boundless creativity and smart plotting. A true Hall of Fame episode.
The Invasion (Episodes 1 & 4 missing) – Watch- A fun thriller set in London – lots of important plot elements start lining up for the third Doctor’s era. Return of Alistair Lethbridge-Stewart, intro of Benton and UNIT, and the super iconic shot of Cybermen at a famous location. Not strictly essential, but there’s so much here that will turn up later that you really need to watch it.
The Krotons – Skip- Really quite a bad episode. Dull and unmemorable, despite some nice character moments scattered throughout.
The Seeds of Death – Maybe- A fun futuristic episode, introducing yet another key villain. Fantastic set design. It features what may be Patrick Troughton’s most iconic line (and line reading).
The Space Pirates (Episodes 1, 3 – 6 missing) – Skip- Robert Holmes’s second episode does not live up to the heights to which he will eventually rise as a writer. It’s supposed to be about pirates! Not the boring personal drama between a man who looks like he walked right out of a TV Western and the daughter of his rival! Or something! Boring.
The War Games – Essential- The second Doctor’s swan song, an ambitious epic which sometimes feels like Stanley Kubrick’s Paths of Glory (I’