The First Doctor

[Tardis-Console]

The First Doctor was the second classic Doctor that I saw (after Three) when I watched An Unearthly Child a few months back and he really surprised me in this story. In the other one I saw he came off as very grumpy and cantankerous but in this he is a lot warmer and more 'grandfatherly' if that makes sense. It makes me more keen to see the stories that came in between now as I guess that it was quite a development that took place over time. I liked him anyways, but from what I have seen of this story so far, I like him a whole lot more now.

[Tardis-Console]

Also, with his speech. Are the fluffs actual fluffs, or a deliberate part of the character or both? I had a look online and people seem split on the topic

[poprockgeek]

I think he was great in this story too. Much more instantly likeable than he is earlier on. And I love that even right back then that he makes the point that he doesn't kill, although he does add that he will if his life is in danger. And he is funnier in this story than I'd seen him previously - helped lighten things a bit in quite a serious story.

As for the fluffs - I'm no expert but I've been told it was purely because of the way the show was filmed back then - they didn't have the luxury of doing constant retakes therefore any mistakes were left in. I noticed a small one from Barbara in this ep as well which would seem to bear that out. I'm sure some of our Classics experts could clear this up though. Personally I find some of them quite amusing 

[Peri-Peri]

The First Doctor has always been one of my favourites and he really does go on a great journey, character wise, from AUC through to his regeneration. You can see the differences between each performance as he softens and becomes a warmer character

[Nyki]

Yes, I think the fluffs were genuine (everyone made a few, as PRG says because of the speed it was made at) but it fits his character so well it doesn't matter.

The Doctor changed a good deal over the course of the first series - probably the most important scene for that is at the end of Edge of Destruction (I won't spoil it if you haven't seen that).  There's very much the sense that travelling with people he had to come to terms with (as opposed to Susan, who he could dominate) helped to humanise him.

[TheDoctorDonna]

I do love how in this story, despite it being quite a straight story, they gave the Doctor lots of little one liners. Either that or Hartnell just played them that way, but when he got the opportunity he had quite the comic timing

[Aneurin]

I've always been really fond of the first doctor. He is the first classic Doctor that I remember watching and it was cool, as other have said, seeing him changing as the stories go on

[Twisted-Sister]

Love, love, love the First Doctor. Even when he is being a grumpy know it all. Definately in my top three, though the rankings sometimes change

[Saber]

Yea the first Doctor was great but I understand why he isnt always so popular. I think some people can't see past the grumpy exterior he had in the early days. He is definately worth sticking with though