Of course if you really want to go straight into Classic Who, Jon Pertwee's introduction as the Third Doctor would be a fantastic place to start. It was a relaunch in itself as Doctor Who moved from black and white to colour with a new Doctor, companion and an entirely different set up. The Doctor had been exiled to Earth by the Time Lords and would become the scientific adviser for UNIT, working on and off with the Brigadier for the next several years. The Doctor suffers with post-regeneration trauma and so it is through the Brigadier that the audiences begins to learn about him as the leading Time Lord himself remains unconscious. It was also the first story to feature the Autons and they were a brilliant creation - the moment they attack the streets of London and begin gunning down people at the bus stop is utterly horrific, but morbidly thrilling, to watch. Naturally, though, the Doctor eventually sweeps in to save the day. The Third Doctor is rather arrogant but he has his debonair charm and if you're looking for an alternative hero, Pertwee is a great place to start. His Earth-based stories still hold up today and Spearhead From Space is an exciting way to kick start the proceedings.