OK, so this thread is inspired by my comment on The War Machines which firmly established a template for contemporary settings and established the potential for the Pertwee era long before it was even an idea. So much that “The War Machines” does for the first time is often assumed to be pretty typical and generic for DW ever since, yet it’s only right at the end of the First Doctor’s televised stories that we see this template emerge properly for the first time (“Planet of Giants” is a very different beast altogether). In that sense, “The War Machines” is an absolute gamechanger with a lasting impact on DW to this day.
Another that easily lays claim to being a game changer would be The Deadly Assassin. It completely changed our perception and understanding of Gallifrey and the Time Lords, again still reflected to this day. Contentious at the time, it became a benchmark for so much that we take for granted.
Which other televised stories would people describe as game changers and why? 
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Surely The Tenth Planet has to figure here, but probably coupled with Power of the Daleks. Replacing the main character was a huge risk.
The Time Meddler also significantly shifts the series into a narrative where history can be changed and the Doctor isn’t the only one of his people out there. The TARDIS isn’t even unique!
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I think they both are game changers in their own way as well as when taken together. The introduction of regeneration was huge and is THE reason why we are still getting new episodes after 61 years.
Is there a case to be made that “The Tenth Planet” is also the first true Base Under Siege story? It certainly is one of the purest early examples. Add to that, the first appearance of the Cybermen (now very much a regular fixture of the series).
As for “Power of the Daleks”, it’s a game changer for its introduction of our first new Doctor, but also because it’s the first non-Nation penned Dalek story (excepting the Spooner segments of DMP, but that was still very much Nation’s vision). It showed the Daleks to be so much more than Nation’s interpretation which was fun but much more comic book. Whitaker’s Daleks are much more devious and political. Whilst the Daleks were already popular, they were limited to a certain type of story. Whitaker ripped up that template and, I believe, turned the Daleks into a much more interesting threat. His more cerebral and psychological take on these psychotic pepper pots lies behind modern stories such as “Dalek” and “Asylum of the Daleks” as well as paving the way for concepts like RTD’s Cult of Skaro.
Absolutely! Yes, a total game changer! I love this story.
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Might seem like an odd example but I’d argue The Rescue. Structurally and pace wise it feels very much like a prototype NuWho story to me, but literally about 40 years earlier. I doubt any actual inspiration for the format came from it, but it still feels this way to me.
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It’s also the first time a new regular joins the team. It really helps that Maureen O’Brien is so likeable as Vicki. Plus, yes, a short and punchy story that I could see being made today. I see what you mean.
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Yeah that’s a much more valid argument, lol. But yeah just a delightful story and as you say, I could easily see it happening today.
#BringBackKoquillion
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Beginnings and Ends of Eras: An Unearthly Child (classic), Survival (end of classic), The TV Movie (attempted revival), and Rose (revival)
Big Villians: The Daleks, Terror of the Autons
The Three Doctors as well for being the first multi-doctor story and anniversary
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I think “Survival” is also the first time that we see the everyday, somewhat run down urban estate setting that RTD would make very much a part of modern DW. It’s a world apart from the contemporary settings of DW before then.
End of an era, first of a new era in a way.
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Yes, the parallels between the urban landscape of Survival and that of Rose is striking considering how far apart those two stories were broadcast.
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Hugely influential. Funny how the last story in the classic era was so pivotal for the future.
I’m tempted to say…
…it was the end, but the moment had been prepared for!
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Though I am well aware that a part of fandom really doesn’t care for this one, I would say that The Timeless Children is a game changer, it certainly was for the 13th Doctor for the rest of her tenure, and with the 15th Doctor picking up this thread. I am feeling quite certain that we haven’t heard the last of that.
Also it quite firmly killed the Morbius Doctors debate in fandom 
Like the Time Meddler in the Classic era with the introduction of another of the Doctor’s people, then the ending of Utopia served the same purpose for many viewers in series 3 
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Here’s an odd one, though.
Whilst “The Woman Who Fell to Earth” was the first story with a female Doctor, surely the game changing episode here was “Hell Bent” in showing the first Time Lord sex change via regen or, perhaps, “Dark Water” in showing us a previously male Time Lord as female?
Yes, I think “Dark Water” is the trailblazer here.
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Even goes back to that Matt Smith episode where he mentions The Corsair that switched back and forth between Time Lord and Time Lady
Was that the Doctor’s Wife or am I way off?
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You’re right, yeah, it’s The Doctor’s Wife
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Absolutely right! Also, whether popular or not at the time has little relevance in its impact going forward which, as you rightly say, continues to be significant.
I think a number of game changing episodes were less than lauded to start with. “The Deadly Assassin” is probably THE key example here, though I think “Survival” was seriously underrated at the time of broadcast.
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I partly agree, but only partly. After all, the Doctor lies frequently and sometimes just for effect. It’s far more groundbreaking to show us, which “Dark Water” does. Such a shame that “Death in Heaven” failed to deliver (for me) because “Dark Water” is a stand out episode.
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So this is what you are going for then?
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There is a coherent thought in here somewhere which my brain is too fuzzy to put together right now, but surely Romana’s debut as a Time Lord companion is pretty revolutionary. But also Leela, I would argue, gives way to a whole different type of companion - until her, we hadn’t really been led to see companions are really alien (except Susan, maybe) and that paves the way for all of Five’s fun alien companions.
Someone make that make sense 
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Quite so. Both Leela and Romana are uniquely different. Both quite extraordinary.
I think “The Face of Evil” is also the first story where we properly see the Doctor coming back to face the consequences of his prior actions, isn’t it?
As for “The Ribos Operation” (I know it divides opinion but I love it so much), it’s the opener of the Key to Time season, which is something of a game changer itself. It also follows very few of the “rules” of a conventional DW story. It’s wonderful!
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