The most jarring aspect of Doctor Whos first few seasons, for fans of the current series, will probably not be the lower production value, the serialized 25 minute episodes, or even the fact that its shot in black and white. What will be most unsettling (and hopefully intriguing) is the character of the Doctor, himself. Not only is William Hartnells First Doctor significantly older in appearance than Eccleston, Tennant or Smith, there is also precious little about him, initially, that is in any way endearing or heroic. Cold, gruff, impatient, condescending, and even callous, the First Doctor can make Ecclestons battle-scarred Ninth seem warm and cuddly by comparison. And yet If one looks closely, the Doctors fundamental character is already there: Every Doctor, after all, has his moments of impatience, arrogance, and insensitivity. But while these traits may have been more pronounced in Hartnells Doctor, they, in no way, obscure the eccentricity, the analytical brilliance or the gleam of childlike mischief in the eyes that have become the Doctors most consistent and recognizable traits. And as Doctor Who evolved, Hartnell and the series writers allowed the Doctor to evolve with it: learning, softening, growing into a warmer, whimsical, grandfatherly figure, more reminiscent of the Time Lord we know today. Of course, back then, no one knew anything of Time Lords, regenerations, or other Doctors. Hartnell was The Doctor. The only Doctor. And, even more so than today, his true identity was shrouded in mystery
The Essentials:
An Unearthly Child (Season 1, Episode 1)
Its hard to imagine what it must been like. Fifty years ago, TV audiences followed schoolteachers Ian Chesterton and Barbara Wright as they pursued an unpleasant and eccentric old man into what appeared to be an ordinary police box, only to find themselves in the console room of an alien craft. Though the impact of that moment will be unavoidably diminished for anyone already familiar with Doctor Who, Unearthly Child still possesses moments of magic and mystery that, back in 1963, let first-time viewers know that this show was going to be something unique. Something special. This is where it all started.
The Dalek Invasion Of Earth (Season 2, Episode 2) 
The second appearance of the Daleks in Doctor Who, one can skip their Season 1 debut, appropriately titled The Daleks, in favor of this all-time classic. Recasting the post-war, Skaro-bound mutants of that serial as aggressive interplanetary dominators who have seized control of 22nd Century Earth, The Dalek Invasion of Earth is an epic Doctor Who story that, at its best, often feels less like a TV show than a thoroughly entertaining 1960s sci-fi B movie. Buoyed by extensive location shooting (theres something genuinely chilling about seeing the Daleks roaming the streets of post-apocalyptic London), and featuring some of the Hartnell eras best writing, it also marks the first departure of a companion in the series: a heartbreaking, beautiful moment that has become iconic in Doctor Who history. A landmark episode for more reasons than one, its the perfect reintroduction to these menacing monsters that have become almost as integral to Doctor Who as the Doctor, himself.
The Exceptional
The Time Meddler (Season 2, Episode 9)
A trifle of a story, but a thoroughly enjoyable one, The Time Meddler cements its place in the Doctor Who pantheon by being the first episode of the series to feature another Time Lord (Susan, notwithstanding). Slyly setting the viewer up to expect another straight historical serial, when the TARDIS arrives on the coast of England in 1066, it quickly becomes clear that all is not as it should be. Though neither the Doctors race, nor his planet of origin are ever mentioned by name (that was a ways off, yet), the titular time meddlers true nature becomes unquestionably clear when companions Steven and Vicky stumble their way into another TARDIS. Light comedy and clever banter abound, keeping the episodes energy afloat and allowing Hartnell to display his Doctors comic side. Not really essential viewing, but definitely worth your time
The Expository
The Tenth Planet (Season 4, Episode 2)
The episode that changed everything. And it would be nice to say that The Tenth Planet, which introduced both the Cybermen and, more importantly, the concept of regeneration to Doctor Who, was a riveting adventure that built to a heartrending climax. But it isnt. Truth be told, its as sterile as the Antarctic wasteland in which it is set, as monotonous as the robotic voices of its antagonists. It doesnt much help that Hartnell, weary with age and illness, was frequently absent during production, meaning the Doctor spends much of his time sleeping it off in a bunk. Even worse, the fourth and final episode i.e. the one that really makes this serial significant exists only in telesnap form (a series of stills with full audio accompaniment). Only the short few minutes that make up the series historical first regeneration scene, as William Hartnells First Doctor transforms into Patrick Troughtons Second, exist on shabby film stock. If you find yourself wanting to just skip ahead to the end, nobody would blame you
The Execrable
The Gunfighters (Season 3, Episode 7)
Unless youve got a hankering for wobbly American accents, embarrassing costumes, and quite literally show-stopping performances of awe-inspiringly bad Western ballads, you can leave Doctor Whos cringe worthy take on the American Western collecting dust A Town Called Mercy it aint A Few Extras For those interested in exploring the Hartnell era a little further, you can also check out The Romans, which is good comedic fun, and The War Machines, which embarrassing narrative oversights aside really set up what would become the formula for the classic series. The Crusade and the epic Dalek Masterplan are both considered high watermarks, but the majority of episodes exist only in telesnap form.