Well folks, “Day of the Doctor” was excellent. And now we eagerly await the start of Peter Capaldi’s era. So, now that the 50th anniversary’s episode has aired, I’ve decided to reveal my rankings of all eleven Doctors. I await your flames. (note: This list excludes the War Doctor, because I don’t think one episode and a 7-minute short is enough to base an opinion on. But for the record, John Hurt was excellent in his portrayal.
11. Paul McGann (#8)–I’ve only seen the one movie. I haven’t listened to the audio dramas. But I am going to buy at least one or get it as a gift.
10. Patrick Troughton (#2)–I’ve only seen a handful of Troughton’s run, because that’s all that’s available. But what I’ve seen, I’ve enjoyed and I respect his contribution immensely.
9. William Hartnell (#1)–The grandpa you always wanted. That’s the first Doctor in a nutshell. I have seen quite a lot of his run and I admit Hartnell has charm. I just wish all his episodes were available.
8. Christopher Eccleston (#9)–I love the way Eccleston portrays the Doctor’s pain at all the destruction he caused and how he’s asking himself if he should even continue his mission. And then he meets Rose.
7. Colin Baker (#6)–Colin Baker’s run should’ve been so much better than it turned out. I feel so sorry for Colin. He got the dream job he always wanted, and then Michael Grade turned it into Hell. And the bad scripts brought it further down.
6. Peter Davison (#5)–Davison’s Doctor was the gentlest of the Doctors and that makes his run all the more heart-wrenching because it’s the most tragic. It contains the first on-screen death of a companion since Hartnell’s era. This era is middle of the road for me. I do enjoy Davison’s performance, but Tegan kind of ruins it for me.
5. Matt Smith (#11)–I love the energy and child-like wonder the Doctor brings to the role and he makes the show so much fun. He’s basically the Peter Pan Doctor.
4. Jon Pertwee (#3)–Pertwee’s run is so much fun! The Master, The Autons, Bessie–what’s not to like?
3. Sylvester McCoy (#7)–McCoy’s run is probably, in my opinion, the most underrated run of the entire series. It was right after the “Trial of a Time Lord” saga and got off to a bad start, but when Ace comes into the picture, it really picks up and continues on to a great end. McCoy did his best to save the show from the brink of death and in my opinion, he succeeded, even though the show was cancelled.
2. David Tennant (#10)–Tennant is just awesome! He plays the role so well and I like the fact that he’s so popular, because he clearly deserves it. He brings in so much fun to the role and the funny moments really work, and so do the tender moments. He is a Doctor who has finally broken free of his inner prison caused by the Time War and is just perfect. He’s also almost as crafty as McCoy’s Doctor.
1. Tom Baker (#1)–Tom Baker is still my Doctor. He had the longest run of all the Doctors. He brought such joy to the role. The best part is that you were never sure exactly what the Doctor was going to do. His plans were so much fun to watch and he gleefully exploited all his enemies’ weaknesses. This is a Doctor who loves to cause his enemies to underestimate him, leading to their inevitable downfall.
And there you have it. I’m not sure where Capaldi will go, but not one of the Doctor’s runs were bad, so I can’t wait!
“The way I see it, every life has a pile of good things and bad things. The good things don’t always soften the bad things, but vice versa the bad things don’t always spoil the good things and make them unimportant.”
As I post this, I am eagerly awaiting Peter Capaldi’s start as the 12th Doctor. Why has Doctor Who maintained popularity, despite a cancellation? I believe it’s because the premise has so much freedom. It’s also because, in my opinion, not one of the actors has done a bad job as the Doctor. So let’s conclude this with a spotlight on Matt Smith.
About MattSmith
At 31 years, Matt Smith is the youngest actor to play the Doctor (before him, it was Peter Davison). He was born in Northampton, England. He initially wanted to be a football player, but that changed when he contracted spondylosis. (this was alluded to in “The Lodger”. ) He became an actor in 2003, starring in BBC productions based on works by Phillip Pullman (of The Golden Compass fame). His first major role was in Party Animals in 2007.
Changes
Russell T. Davies stepped down as show-runner and handed over the role to Steven Moffat.
The show went through four different openings, with the fourth bringing back the feature of the Doctor’s face. This is the most an opening has had.
Beginning with Series 6, each season was cut in half.
Conclusion
Although Matt Smith isn’t my new #1 Doctor (he’s #5 for me), I’m sorry to see him go. I’ve enjoyed his child-like energy and the familial relationship he had with Amy, Rory, and River.
The Companions:
River Song (Alex Kingston)
With Matt Smith, River became even more interesting. We learned she has Time Lord DNA (in “A Good Man Goes to War” and “Let’s Kill Hitler”) and that her parents are Amy and Rory. She is also the Doctor’s wife and was conditioned by a conspiracy to kill the Doctor, but eventually overcame it.
Amy Pond and Rory Williams (Karen Gillan and Arthur Darvill)
First Appearance: “The Eleventh Hour” (note: Rory does not officially join until “Vampires in Venice”)
Last Appearance: “The Angels Take Manhattan”
Amy and Rory are the only married couple we’ve ever seen in the TARDIS. For this reason, I thought it best to spotlight them simulataneously. Amy’s determination makes her an excellent character and I love how she plays the Doctor’s moral compass. Rory was the companion time could not kill, though it tried several times (it finally caught up with him in “The Angels Take Manhattan”, sadly), and he had lots of awesome moments.
The Paternoster Gang [Madame Vastra, (Neve McIntosh), Jenny Flint (Catrin Stewart), and Commander Strax (Dan Starkey)
First Appearance: “A Good Man Goes to War”
Most Recent Appearance: “The Name of the Doctor”
These three characters are not companions in the traditional sense, but they are too important to skip over. They specialize in paranormal investigation and it’s hinted that Vastra and Flint were the inspiration for Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson (note: Steven Moffat also controls Sherlock) and have aided him several times. Strax is my favorite of the three.
Clara Oswin Oswald (Jenna Louise-Coleman)
First Appearance: “Asylum of the Daleks” (does not officially join until “The Snowmen”)
Most Recent Appearance: “The Name of the Doctor”
Clara is “the impossible girl”. She appeared to the Doctor in three different timelines before he finally acquired her in “The Bells of St. John”. She fought the Great Intelligence (an old enemy dating back to Troughton’s era in the missing episodes “The Abominable Snowman” and “The Web of Fear”) by spreading herself out throughout the Doctor’s timeline, eventually meeting all his incarnations.
Best Stories
“The Eleventh Hour”
This is an excellent introduction to Matt Smith’s character and the arc for series 5.
“The Beast Below”
This is a story that greatly imitates Classic Doctor Who while keeping things fresh. I thought the “space whale” was a neat idea.
“Time of the Angels/”Flesh and Stone”
The Weeping Angels are back and even creepier than before! We also learn much more about River Song.
“The Hungry Earth”/”Cold Bood”
This story reintroduces the Silurians, who haven’t been seen since “Warriors of the Deep”, during Peter Davison’s era.
“Vincent and the Doctor”
The Doctor meets one of my favorite painters, Vincent Van Gogh. I love the ending!
“The Pandorica Opens”/”The Big Bang”
The first finale of Matt Smith’s era resolves the arc of series 5 and shows the Doctor at his most methodological. He is a true guile hero.
“The Impossible Astronaut”/”Day of the Moon”
This story introduces the Silence and answers more questions about River Song.
“The Doctor’s Wife”
Neil Gaiman’s first story for Doctor Who proves he has what it takes to write for the show (was there ever any doubt?).
“Let’s Kill Hitler”
A story where Rory punches Hitler? YES, PLEASE!
“The Doctor, The Widow, and The Wardrobe”
Verity Lambert, the first producer of Doctor Who, described the Doctor as CS Lewis meets Father Christmas. So why not an episode that pays tribute to CS Lewis? It’s my favorite Christmas episode so far.
“A Town Called Mercy”
This was a great western-themed story.
“Bells of St. John”
Clara officially joins and we get reintroduced to The Great Intelligence. I should also note that “The Web of Fear” has mostly been restored with some animation.
“The Rings of Akhaten”
Clara learns the responsibility of being a companion in this beautiful story.
“Nightmare in Silver”
Gaiman’s second story brings in Warwick Davis of Willow and Return of the Jedi fame. It’s excellent! Please Mr. Gaiman, write more stories!
Worst Stories
“The God Complex”
I’m not bothered by the fact that two atheists have run Doctor Who since its revival because, for the most part, both have treated Christianity with an air of respect. This is a hypocritical episode and I did not enjoy it at all.
“The Power of Three”
I wanted to like this one because it was introducing Kate Steward, the daughter of Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart. Although I really hope we see more of her, the story was so slowly paced that I could not really enjoy it.
You can spend the rest of your life with me, but I can’t spend the rest of mine with you. I have to live on. Alone. That’s the curse of the Time Lords.
With Eccleston gone, a new actor was chosen: David Tennant. Within one or two years, he became the most popular actor of the revival, almost beating Tom Baker’s status in the Classic period.
About David Tennant
Tennant was born to Essdale Helen and Rev. Alexander “Sandy” McDonald. Like Colin Baker before him, David was a lifelong fan of Doctor Who and cited it as the reason he wanted to become an actor. At sixteen, he attended the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. During this thime, he changed his last name to Tennant, inspired by Pet Shop Boys’ lead singer Neil Tennant (they’re his favorite band.) because the Equity Union already had a David McDonald. He starred in an episode of Dramarama. He joined the Dundee Repertory Theatre in the 90’s. He also became a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company. He also played Barty Crouch Jr in Harry Potter and the Goblet of FIre. His most recent role was in Nativity 2: Danger in the Manger.
Changes
Beginning with “The Runaway Bride”, a new opening was used, complete with a slightly new logo.
“School Reunion” and “Doomsday” both started spinoffs. “School Reunion” started the Sarah Jane Adventures and “Doomsday” started Torchwood.
First appearance of the Ood: “The Impossible Planet”
Four of the Doctor’s adventures were solo, for the first time since Tom Baker’s “The Deadly Assassin”.
First appearance of the Judoon: “Smith and Jones” (although the Judoon have yet to appear again, they have appeared in a Sarah Jane Adventures episode.)
First appearance of the Weeping Angels: “Blink”
John Simm became the seventh actor to play the Master in “Utopia”
Conclusion
David Tennant is my favorite revival era Doctor. He is the most romantic of the Doctors, and that doesn’t bother me in the slightest. He was a fun character anda welcome change from Eccleston’s depressed attitude. He was very energetic. While he didn’t beat Tom Baker in my favorite Doctor rankings, I still think he was a great choice and I was sorry to see him go.
The Companions
Rose Tyler
It’s always interesting seeing how a new Doctor changes the dynamics. With the ninth Doctor, Rose helped him overcome his survivor’s guilt. With the tenth, he seemed more willing to express his love for her (the friendly kind anyway)
Mickey Smith
With the Tenth Doctor, Mickey finally got the respect he deserved. He was far from Mickey the Idiot anymore. I thought this was a great change.
Captain Jack Harkness
Despite only appearing twice in the main show, Harkness continued to be busy, thanks to Torchwood. His relationship with the Tenth Doctor was a bit softened, and they seemed to be better friends.
Martha Jones (Freema Agyeman)
(Note: because Donna doesn’t join until after Martha’s departure, I put Martha first)
First Appearance: “Smith and Jones”
Last Appearance: “Last of the Time Lords” (returns in “The Sontaran Strategem” and “Journey’s End”)
Martha is a wonderful and pretty companion. I loved her relationship with the Doctor and the sense of wonder she expressed. She is also the only character from the main show to appear in Torchwood, besides John Harkness of course.
Donna Noble (Catherine Tate)
First Appearance: “The Runaway Bride” (does not officially join until “Partners in Crime”)
Last Appearance: “Journey’s End”
I loved Donna! She was so much fun and was the shot in the arm the Doctor desperately needed. I loved how she freely spoke her mind when she objected to what the Doctor was doing,which seemed like every story.
River Song (Alex Kingston)
First Appearance: “Silence in the Library”
Most Recent Appearance: “The Name of the Doctor” (with 11th)
Ah, the enigmatic River Song. What a confusing, but enjoyable, character you are. I think I should really hold off until next time for her.
Best Stories
“The Girl in the FIreplace”
The Doctor learns just how terrible time travel can be in what I think is one of the saddest stories ever.
“School Reunion”
How could I not like this story? It brought back Sarah Jane! It was great to see her again, and her spinoff series is excellent, especially for a kids show. Why Netflix doesn’t have it is beyond my understanding.
“The Impossible Planet”/”The Satan Pit”
Doctor vs. the devil? Yes, please!
“Fear Her”
A story about a little girl who can trap people in her drawings. Very weird, but I enjoyed it.
“The Shakespeare Code”
The Doctor and Martha meet William Shakespeare himself! This was a real treat for a Shakespeare buff like me.
“Human Nature”/”Family of Blood”
The Doctor gives up his status as a Time Lord and becomes human in this story inspired by a novel. This is my favorite Martha story
“Blink”
The first appearance of the Weeping Angels. Moffatt at his best!
“Utopia”/”The Sound of Drums”/”The Last of the Time Lords”
While I still think Roger Delgado was the best Master, John Simm certainly was great in this version.
“Planet of the Ood”
Any time you see the Ood, expect a great story. This was a great commentary on humanity’s tendency towards exploitation.
“The Unicorn and the Wasp”
As an Agatha Christie fan, this was a real treat for me. The Doctor meeting another one of my favorite writers. Now all we need is one where he meets Tolkien.
“Silence in the Library”/”Forest of the Dead”
The Vashta Narada need to make a comeback. They are too scary for just one story.
“The Stolen Earth”/”Journey’s End”
It was about time Davros showed up in the revival. Bringing back all the companions meant the TARDIS was rather crowded (in fact, this story sets the record for most companions), but thankfully, the story gave them enough time.
“The Waters of Mars”
Ever wonder why the Doctor doesn’t want to mess with fixed points? This episode gives a very good reason: because it gets worse.
Worst Stories “Love and Monsters”
What a disgusting story! The Absorbalon is a terrible master. And the ending: no, just no.
“Daleks in Manhattan”/”Evolution of the Daleks”
Note to anyone writing a Doctor Who episode: The Daleks do not need lackeys. It never works.
“Voyage of the Damned”
I really wanted to like this episode. An outer space version of the Titanic actually sounded interesting. But there were so many problems and the climax just wasn’t very satisfying.
Note: There was no regeneration from Eighth Doctor to Ninth, so I linked his first scene instead. Oh, I did it again; I picked another stupid ape! I should’ve known. It’s not about showing you the universe, it never is. It’s about the universe doing something for you!
Now I can talk the revived, modern version of Doctor Who, right? Yes, but first there’s a few more “wilderness years” to cover. So I’ll adopt a timeline format.
1999–BBC airs the Comedy Relief charity special “Curse of the Fatal Death”, featuring Rowan Atkinson (of Mr. Bean fame), Richard E. Grant, Jim Broadbent, Hugh Grant, and Joanna Lumley, as the Doctor. This is a spoof, so it’s not considered canon. I highly recommend watching this. It’s on Youtube, so go check it out. You will laugh, guaranteed.
2001–“Death Comes to Time”, an audio drama featuring the Seventh Doctor and Ace airs on BBCi, the Internet version of the BBC.
2002–“Real Time”, an audio drama featuring the Sixth Doctor and Big Finish exclusive companion Evelyn Smythe airs on BBCi
2003–an animated version of “Shada” airs on BBCi, this time featuring the Eighth Doctor and the second Romana. Also on November 13, the BBCi aired the 40th anniversary special “Scream of the Shalka”, featuring Richard E. Grant as the unofficial “ninth Doctor (for this reason, he is often called the “Shalka Doctor”) and Derek Jacobi as The Master, a role he would later reprise in the episode “Utopia”.
In 2004, Russel T. Davies began work on the return of Doctor Who, coming off the success of his controversial program Queer As Folk. He brought on Mark Gatiss, Paul Cornell, and Rob Shearman as writers, all of whom had written either Doctor Who novels and/or audio plays for Big Finish. He also brought on Stephen Moffatt, writer of “Curse of the Fatal Death”. The first episodes aired the next year.
About Christopher Eccleston
Christopher is the youngest of three sons and was born in Lancashire, England. At the age of 19, he was inspired to become an actor. His first role was in Let Him Have It. His first TV roles were in Inspector Morse, Cracker, and Poirot. Also, prior to Doctor Who, he starred in Gone in 60 Seconds and 28 Days Later.
When Eccleston starred on Doctor Who, he became the first actor playing the role who was born after the series began. According to Davies, Eccleston’s contract only lasted for one season because it was uncertain if the revival would be successful. He played Destro in the first GIJoe movie, Rise of the Cobra. He will play Malekith in the upcoming Thor: The Dark World.
Changes
The show’s episodes were no longer serialized, although some stories do take more than one episode. The show’s episodes now run for 45 minutes.
Murray Gold became the new composer. Although the new arrangement is fine, I don’t really care for the logo sequences on the new show. However, because I’ve been showing the changes in the logo, here you go:
Davies introduced the concept of the Time War to explain the Eighth Doctor’s off-screen regeneration. Very little of the Time War is known, but is understood that the Doctor is now the last of his kind.
First Christmas episode: “The Unquiet Dead”
First appearance of the Slitheen: “Aliens in London”
Conclusion
Eccleston’s tenure ranks the lowest for me, more for it being so short than anything else. I enjoyed his moody portrayal, which seemed to be the result of PTSD. His relationship with Rose really helped her become one of my all-time favorite companions. It was a great foundation for the revival.
The Companions
Rose Tyler (Billie Piper)
First Appearance: “Rose”
Last Appearance: “The End of Time” (w/10th)
I really don’t get all the Rose Tyler hate, she’s received in recent years. I think she was a fine companion, giving the Doctor a reason to love again. She was kind, feisty, and had the sense of wonder I think was in all the best companions. The show works best when the Doctor is in a mentor role, as he was with companions like Jo, Sarah Jane, and Ace. Rose was a fine companion, despite her flaws.
Mickey Smith (Noel Clarke)
First Appearance: “Rose”
Last Appearance: “The Age of Steel” (with 10th)
Mickey was an excellent character, especially for comic relief. I feel that his initial status as supporting character helped him to prove himself as an ally to the Doctor. He was a great source of tension for the Doctor and I enjoyed his character a lot.
Adam Mitchell (Bruno Langley)
First Appearance: “Dalek”
Last Appearance: “The Long Game”
Adam was a first for the show: the first bad companion. “wait, what about Vislor Turlough?”, you say? Well, I don’t think he was that bad a companion. Yes, he was self-serving, but he was still loyal to the Doctor. Adam left Rose to die with a Dalek in his first episode. That she survived is irrelevant. And he had the audacity to blame the Doctor when he caught him trying to send information from the future to his own time. He deserves that hole in his head.
Captain Jack Harkness (John Barrowman)
First Appearance: “The Empty Child”
Last Appearance: “Journey’s End” (with 10th)
Harkness is another first: the first bisexual companion. You would think because I’m a Christian, I would have a problem with this character. However, Harkness’s nobility is enough to make me overlook this. His charming personality makes him a great character.
Best Stories
“Rose”– This is how you start a show. Give the faithful continuity nods to show that their loyalty is appreciated and give the newbies a foundation so that they don’t have to watch the Classic version (but they still totally should).
“The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances”–This is Colin Baker’s favorite Doctor Who story. He’s not wrong, folks. You want to know why the Doctor is such a great hero? Watch these episodes. “Everybody lives, Rose! Just this once, everyone lives!”
“Father’s Day”–A great story about why the Doctor tries his best not to mess with time, even if it seems like an innocent mistake.
Worst Stories
“Aliens in London/World War Three”
I did like this story at first. But then Sarah Jane Adventures began using the Slitheen as recurring villains. It’s hard to be intimidating if a normal woman, some meddling kids, and a robot dog can defeat you as easily as that cast did every time.
“I love humans. Always seeing patterns in things that aren’t there.”
The period between 1989 and 2005 is often dubbed by Whovians as the Wilderness Years. During this time, other media such as Big Finish were still producing Doctor Who material, even though the BBC wasn’t.
Then, in the mid-90’s, hope seemed to arrive. Philip David Segal, a television producer working with Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Entertainment, proposed an American version of Doctor Who. His credits included Seaquest DSV (one of my all-time favorite shows!) and Young Indiana Jones Chronicles. The movie aired in 1996 on Fox and starred Paul McGann as the new Doctor. Sadly, the pilot failed.
About Paul McGann
Paul McGann was born in 1959 in Kensington, Liverpool and was the third of six children. He was encouraged to be an actor by his parents. In fact, all three of his brothers are actors. He starred with all three of his brothers in the 1995 serial The Hanging Gale. Prior to Doctor Who, his biggest claim to fame was his role as Percy Toplis in The Monocoled Mutineer. After the failed pilot, he starred as David Talbot in the film version of Anne Rice’s Queen of the Damned. His most current role was in Waking the Dead in 2011.
Pros and Cons of the Movie
While I do think the Doctor Who TV movie is good, there are a few flaws I want to address.
First, there’s the demise of the Seventh Doctor. I think it happened too quickly and too early, and did not involve the heroism of most of the past regenerations and those afterward. (excluding the Sixth’s of course) Remember, Doctor Who would be reaching a new audience as well as the faithful in the BBC. It was not as well-known a property in America as it is now. It needed to accommodate to new viewers as well as old, and I think this impeded that.
Then there’s Eric Roberts. He seems more like Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Terminator than the Master. This is not what the Master is about–he is supposed to be a crafty schemer, the Doctor’s equal. And he’s also given new abilities that are thankfully discarded in later versions. He can now spit and hypnotize people, and turns into a crude CGI cobra. Time Lords do NOT shape-shift.
And of course, there’s the “half-human” revelation. This completely ruins years of continuity. Fortunately, when Big Finish did audio plays featuring the Eighth Doctor, they glossed over this scene to keep it in the already established canon.
So, what worked? Firstly, the set of the TARDIS is magnificent, very much like HG Wells’s Time Machine. (we even see the Seventh Doctor reading the book) Second, Paul McGann is great as the Doctor and so is Daphne Ashbrook as Dr. Grace Halloway. It’s a shame nothing else could be done with her, even in the extended “canon” of novels, comics, and audio plays. When the movie failed, Fox retained the copyrights to characters created for it, as well as a portion of the ownership of the show itself. BBC fought hard to bring the show back. There are also several continuity nods:
1: When the Doctor regenerates into Paul McGann, he steals an outfit from a hospital locker room, just like Jon Pertwee’s Doctor did in his first episode, “Spearhead From Space.”
2: When we see the TARDIS interior, we see that the Eighth Doctor has a Sonic Screwdriver. Granted, he never uses it, but this is enough for me.
3: The Doctor gives a jelly baby to a policeman, just like the Fourth Doctor would do.
Fortunately, the TV movie has finally arrived on DVD. I recommend picking it up if you’re curious about Paul McGann’s sole TV appearance as the Eighth Doctor.
“Crush the lesser races! Conquer the galaxy! Unimaginable power! Unlimited rice pudding! Et cetera, Et cetera!”
Colin Baker was sadly the first Doctor to be fired. He was offered to come back to pass the torch on, but refused because he was understandably bitter about the whole affair. And who was it passed to? Sylvester McCoy, who would become the final doctor of the Classic period.
About Sylvester McCoy
Sylvester’s real name is Percy James Patrick Kent-Smith and is of Irish decent. He got his stage name while working on the Ken Campbell Roadshow. It was a character he portrayed; when a reviewer mistook the joke in the show’s credits for a real person, the name stuck. In 1979, he had a role with Laurence Olivier in Dracula. He was mostly a stage actor prior to and after Doctor Who. After Doctor Who, McCoy appeared in the BBC Radio 4 series Cabaret of Dr. Caligari. He appeared as the Sheriff of Nottingham in a Robin Hood musical. He worked with the Royal Shakespeare COmpany, where he played alongside Ian McKellan (Gandalf in Lord of the Rings)in King Lear in 2007. He is currently starring in Peter Jackson’s trilogy of Hobbit movies as Radagast.
Changes
The final opening is not one of my favorites. While I like the logo and the impressive animation for its time, I don’t much care for the theme’s arrangement.
In season 25, Andrew Cartmel became the show’s final script editor. He proposed to take the show in a darker direction and give hints to the Doctor’s origins.
Conclusion
Sylvester McCoy was my second-favorite Doctor until David Tennant assumed the role (now he’s my third-favorite). The Doctor’s start as a bumbler didn’t appeal to me, but the darker path under Cartmel certainly did. This Doctor was a brilliant planner, strategizing much like a chess player and wasn’t above using people as pawns if necessary. It’s a shame we didn’t get to see the full scope of Cartmel’s plans.
The Companions
Melanie Bush (Bonnie Langford)
I HATE Mel! She’s not pretty in my opinion. She’s annoyingly condescending and utterly useless. And her voice is the worst. I don’t think there is any companion I could hate more, except maybe Dodo.
Ace (Sophia Aldred)
First appearance: “Dragonfire”
Last appearance: “Survival”
I love Ace! She’s so much fun! She has a unique relationship with the Doctor, who she calls “Professor”. She has a penchant for blowing things up, and that’s the best thing about her. But she also has a tender side, as seen in “Ghost Light.” According to the Sarah Jane Adventures episode “Death of the Doctor”, she now runs a charity called A Charitable Earth (get it? ACE?)
Best Stories
“Dragonfire” (3 episodes)
This is Mel’s final story, and it’s great to see her go. We also see an appearance of Sabalom Glitz, who was last seen in “Trial of a Time Lord”. The whole story is great, and we even see hints of the darker direction that would come in the following season.
“Remembrance of the Daleks” (4 episodes)
The Doctor goes back to the day it all began and finds himself in the middle of a Dalek civil war. It’s also the first time we see a floating Dalek! Oh, and Ace gets her best moment in the show: destroying Daleks with a baseball bat and a rocket launcher. Aw yeah.
“The Greatest Show in the Galaxy” (4 episodes)
The Doctor becomes an unwilling participant in an intergalactic circus where he must entertain the gods or die. The story was meant as a criticism of the fans who were becoming more and more disinterested in the show.
“Battlefield” (4 episodes)
This is the final story to feature The Brigadier and takes us back to Arthurian England. It’s really sad that we didn’t get to see more from the Brigadier, even in the modern version (but at least he appeared in an episode of The Sarah Jane Adventures.
“Ghost Light” (3 episodes)
One of my favorites! The Doctor and Ace go to a haunted house she visited as a child. The story was a victim of meddling, but it’s still well-written, albeit confusing.
“Survival” (4 episodes)
I might as well include the final Classic Doctor Who story. It includes an excellent performance by Anthony Ainley, proving that yes, with the right script, he can be a great villain.
Worst Stories
“Time and the Rani” (4 episodes)
This is the first story to feature the Seventh Doctor, and sadly it’s one of the clumsiest episodes of the show.
“In all my travelling throughout the universe, I have battled against evil, against power-mad conspirators. I should have stayed here. The oldest civilization: decadent, degenerate, and rotten to the core. Power-mad conspirators, Daleks, Sontarans, Cybermen – they’re still in the nursery compared to us. Ten million years of absolute power. That’s what it takes to be really corrupt.”
During the filming of “The Five Doctors”, Patrick Troughton advised Peter Davison not the play the Doctor for more than four years to avoid being typecast. Davison took his advice and left before the end of his final season (he is the second Doctor to do so). Colin Baker stepped in and was initially ecstatic. If he only knew what was in store.
About Colin Baker
Colin Baker was a huge fan of Doctor Who practically from the beginning and grew up with the show. In fact, like David Tennant, it was the sole reason he became an actor. He starred in an episode of Blake’s Seven, a cult BBC sci-fi program created by Terry Nation, who also created the Daleks for Doctor Who. He is the only Doctor so far to have previously acted on the show. (this has happened with companions. For instance, both Nicholas Courtney and Karen Gillan had small roles in stories before landing their most famous roles as the Brigadier and Amy Pond, respectfully) Ironically, Colin had wanted to beat Tom Baker’s seven-year span as the Doctor. After Doctor Who, Colin spent most of his career in stage productions, such as HMS Pinafore and Woman in White. He returned to his role as the Sixth Doctor for many Big Finish productions, and I’ve heard his audio plays are better than his TV version. He also appeared as the character in an episode of the BBC racing program Top Gear. Since 1995, he has written a weekly column for the Bucks Free Press. He is the current president of the Doctor Who Appreciation Society.
Changes:
Colin Baker is the first Doctor to have a line after the previous Doctor’s regeneration. This did not happen again until the modern version of the show.
The show had two openings during Colin’s era. The first is similar to Peter Davison’s, but with a new logo (which is actually similar to the previous logo, just colored purple and slightly bent in the middle). For Colin Baker’s final season, a new theme and opening was created, but the logo remained.
Beginning with this era, only fourteen episodes were produced for each season. For part of Colin Baker’s first season, some episodes were actually 45 minutes long, just like the modern version of the show. (but still done in a serial format) However, for the final season of the era, the episodes were returned to their original 25-minute length.
Conclusion
I really feel sorry for Colin. His era was plagued by terrible writing and backstage politics. There was actually an 18-month hiatus between his first full season and his last season. The reason? Michael Grade, the head of the BBC at the time, hated science fiction, especially Doctor Who. He felt the show was too violent and a drain on the company budget. During the hiatus, the cast of Doctor Who formed an organization called Who Cares and began a campaign to bring the show back sooner. Part of the campaign was a song called “Doctor in Distress.” (It was the 80’s. This was done a lot. Surely you’ve heard of “We Are the World”, “Sun City”, and “Do They Know It’s Christmas”?) There’s a big reason this was a bad idea. Unlike the songs I mentioned, none of the people behind “Doctor in Distress” could either sing or write a song. Want to hear just how bad it was? Click the link below.
As for Colin’s performance, I don’t think it was bad. He was a great smug Doctor and in my opinion, he wasn’t annoyingly so. Oh, and for the record, I like the outfit.
The Companions:
Peri Brown
Peri goes back and forth between decent and bad as a companion, depending on the episode’s overall strength. She’s not the worst companion, but she’s not the best either, in my opinion. I hear she’s slightly better in the audio plays.
Melanie Bush (Bonnie Langford)
First Appearance: “Trial of a Timelord part 9 (aka “Terror of the Vervoids” part 1)
Last Appearance: “Dragonfire” (with 7th)
I’d rather wait til next time to discuss this companion, as I feel she is better associated with the 7th Doctor. She only has two stories with the Sixth Doctor.
Best Stories
“Vengeance on Varos” (2 episodes)
This story introduces Sil, who earns the award for Most Disgusting Doctor Who Villain. Just listen to that laugh. What I think makes him even creepier is that you know this is an actual person in the outfit. This is something I think is lost today, not just in Doctor Who. CGI has replaced the days of Ray Harryhausen. I’m not saying we should go back to mechanical monsters, but sometimes they seem better than the CGI ones we have today.
“Mark of the Rani” (2 episodes)
This story introduces the Rani, a rogue Time Lady who appears in two more stories; “Time and The Rani” and the awful “Dimensions in Time” special. Kate O’Mara is excellent as this character. It’s a shame she only had one good story.
“Trial of a Time Lord” (14 episodes)
“Trial of a Time Lord” is a unique story. It’s really four stories linked together: “The Mysterious Planet” (parts 1-4), “Mindwarp” (parts 5-8), “Terror of the Vervoids” (parts 9-12) and “The Ultimate Foe” (parts 13 and 14). The story uses the unreliable narrator formula, most famously used in Edgar Allan Poe’s classic short story “The Tell-Tale Heart”. It’s not the most celebrated Doctor Who story, but it deserves a look. I’m really hoping Stephen Moffat refers to it when the 12th Doctor Who era commences, because there’s a prediction in the plot.
Worst Stories
“The Twin Dilemma” (4 episodes)
“The Twin Dilemma” is almost universally considered the worst Doctor Who story ever. The biggest complaint comes from the scene where the Doctor actually strangles Peri. It also has a terrible plot and pacing.
“Revelation of the Daleks” (2 episodes)
This is in my opinion the worst Dalek story of the Classic period. It seems like an incoherent mess that is paced haphazardly. The interaction between the Doctor and Peri isn’t at its best, as it is in “Attack of the Cybermen” or “Vengeance on Varos”. Davros doesn’t seem as menacing as he should be, either.
“When did you last have the pleasure of smelling a flower, watching a sunset, eating a well-prepared meal?…For some people, small, beautiful events are what life is all about!”
Tom Baker wasn’t getting along with John Nathan Turner, who had just started his tenure as executive producer. His main problem was that Turner had proposed a change in wardrobe. Turner wasn’t worried; now he could take the show in a whole new direction for a modern audience. The 80’s were underway.
Changes
Peter Davison is the first Doctor since Troughton to only have one opening. It’s basically the same as Tom Baker’s final season.
The show now aired twice a week rather than once.
In “The Visitation”, the Sonic Screwdriver was destroyed. Turner thought it had become a crutch.
First Children in Need Special: “The Five Doctors (also the 20th Anniversary episode)
About Peter Davison
Peter Davison was born Peter Moffett on April 13, 1951 in Streatham, London. He started acting as a member of the Byfleet Players, an amateur company.
He studied at the Central School of Speech and Drama. His first job as an actor was stage manager at the Nottingham Playhouse. It was here that he adopted his stage name so as not to be confused with director Peter Moffatt.
In 1975, he got his first TV gig in an episode of The Tomorrow People. It was in 1978 that he got his most famous role outside of Doctor Who, Tristan in All Creatures Great and Small. He also played in the TV version of Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.
Peter Davison was the youngest to play the role before Matt Smith. He was twenty-nine at the time. After his era concluded, Peter Davison returned to the role for charity and Big Finish.
Post-Doctor Who he has appeared in programs such as A Very Peculiar Practice and Magnum PI.
Conclusion
I like Peter Davison’s gentler approach to the Doctor. To me, it doesn’t seem as if he tried to outdo Tom Baker.
My biggest problem with the Davison era is that the TARDIS seems crowded. For the first half, there’s too many companions and it seems as if the writers had trouble fleshing them out. The latter half seems much better.
The Companions
Adric
Adric is one of the most hated companions. But to me, he doesn’t deserve the “Wesley Crusher of Doctor Who” title. He’s not a Gary Stu, because the Doctor is still allowed to be competent. Wesley Crusher caused that a lot.
Nyssa
Nyssa is my favorite companion from this era. She is pretty, kind, smart, and most of all, stoic. Here is someone who lost everything dear to her, but presses on.
Tegan Jovanka
Tegan is one of my least favorite companions. She doesn’t seem as courageous as some of the others and I think she hinders the story. I also don’t like her voice.
Vislor Turlough (Mark Strickson)
First Appearance: “Mawdryn Undead”
Last Appearance: “Planet of Fire”
Vislor is a first for the show. He’s a companion who starts out working for the Black Guardian. I don’t really think he reformed; he was just saving his own skin.
Kamellion
First Appearance: “The King’s Demons”
Last Appearance: “Planet of Fire”
Kamellion is a great idea, but a bad execution. He was an actual android who could move and even mime speech. There’s just one problem: his inventor died after “The King’s Demons” and left no instructions for how to operate it.
Peripugliam “Peri” Brown (Nicole Bryant)
First Appearance: “Planet of Fire”
Last Appearance: “Mindwarp” (with 6th Doctor)
Peri was supposed to be American, but you’d never know it from her voice. Her most memorable moment in this era is out-shouting the Master in her first story. I’ll talk more about her next time.
Best Stories
Castrovalva (4 episodes)
This is the final story in the trilogy that introduces Anthony Ainley as the Master. It’s a bit on the surreal side, but has some great moments.
Black Orchid (2 episodes)
Black Orchid is a solid period piece and mystery. In my opinion, it’s one of the few good two-parters and makes good use of its time.
Earthshock (4 episodes)
This is Adric’s best story from this era and unfortunately his last. His final moments are well-acted.
The Arc of Infinity (4 episodes)
Omega returns to steal the Doctor’s life force. This features some great moments for Nyssa, and is one of her best stories. We also see an excellent performance from Colin Baker, who we’ll talk about next time.
The Black Guardian Trilogy (4 episodes each)
Mawdryn Undead
Terminus
Enlightenment
This story brings back one of my favorite villains, The Black Guardian. It’s well-paced and a unique trilogy. Mawdryn brings back the Brigadier (the original idea was to bring back Ian Chesterton, but William Russel was unavailable). Terminus is one the best departure episodes.
The Five Doctors
This is my favorite multi-doctor epic. It’s great to see all the characters again and it’s just all-out fun. Richard Hudnall does a great job as the First Doctor. It’s a must for any true Whovian.
Frontios (4 episodes)
Christopher Bidmead is a writer who was brought in by Turner during Tom Baker’s era. This is by far his best story for the show. He’s the one who came up with the “brainy specs” so watch for them!
Resurrection of the Daleks (4 episodes)
The Daleks make their obligatory appearance and there’s lots of action in this story. It’s one of my favorite Dalek stories.
The Caves of Androzani (4 episodes)
Robert Holmes is back for an excellent story (I promise this is the last time I fawn over him). This has a solid villain (thanks to Christopher Gable’s superb acting) and features some great acting from Peter Davison. He truly went out with a bang.
Worst Stories
“Four to Doomsday” (4 episodes)
This story is so s l o w. It’s just boring. And what’s worse, the Doctor goes full deus ex machina.
“Time Flight” (4 episodes)
This story is just a mess. The Master feels out of place in a story that doesn’t really play to Ainley’s strengths. The BBC’s classic Doctor Who site says that the Master really does his best when his plans are on a grand scale, and I totally agree.
“The King’s Demons” (2 episodes)
Why would the Master care if the Magna Carta isn’t signed? Why is he in this story? That’s just the start of my problems. My biggest problem, though, is that the story is very rushed.
“Well, of course I’m being childish! There’s no point being grown-up if you can’t be childish sometimes.”
Jon Pertwee felt as though he’d lost a family. Roger Delgado, the first actor to play The Master, died between the fourth and fifth season of his era. Katy Manning left the show after “The Green Death.” And Barry Letts, who had been like a father to him, was stepping down as producer. (He was allowed to help hire the next successor, however) Originally, Letts wanted to have an older Doctor, but the new head of serials, Bill Slater, suggested Tom Baker. The Fourth Doctor’s era had begun.
About Tom Baker
Tom Baker was born in Scotland Road, Liverpool. He left school at age 15 t0 become a Catholic monk, but left after six years because he had lost his faith. In 1955, he began two years of service in the Royal Army Medical Corps, taking acting as a hobby at first before turning professional in the 60’s. In the 60’s, he was part of Laurence Olivier’s National Theatre Company. He got some movie roles, but was soon unable to make ends meet. In fact, when he became the Fourth Doctor, he wasn’t even acting!
Tom Baker’s era is the longest so far. During his tenure, Doctor Who began airing in both the US and Australia. Before David Tennant, Tom Baker was the most recognizable actor in the role.
After his tenure ended, Baker played Sherlock Holmes in a BBC adaptation of The Hound of the Baskervilles. He also made an appearance on the acclaimed BBC comedy Blackadder. He played Puddleglum in their adaptation of C.S. Lewis’s The Silver Chair. He also had a small role in the so-bad-it’s-good Dungeons and Dragons movie. He was the narrator on Little Britain and recently became the last Classic doctor to play his character in 2009 for Big Finish’s audio dramas.
Changes:
Tom Baker had three producers: Phillip Hinchcliffe was influenced by the Hammer horror films, causing much controversy. In 1977, Graham Wilson took the show in a lighter direction. In 1980, John Nathan Turner began his tenure as the show’s longest-serving producer. Because his changes resulted in Tom Baker’s departure, I’ll talk more about him next time.
Final use of the tunnel opening. In 1980, Turner proposed a new “starfield” opening that was used, with modifications, well after Baker left.
After Baker’s fifth season, six-parters were no longer broadcast. The final six-parter that aired was “The Armageddon Factor” (It would’ve been “Shada”, but a production strike halted it after it was only halfway complete. The story can still be viewed on the BBC’s Classic Doctor Who website, with Tom Baker narrating what’s missing.
First appearance of Davros: “Genesis of the Daleks”
In “The Deadly Assassin”, we learn that the Master has used up all his regenerations. This sets up events in “The Keeper of Traken”, in which Anthony Ainley becomes the new actor for the role.
Conclusions
Tom Baker is my Doctor. He was the first Doctor I ever watched. I instantly loved how witty and clever he was, always ready with a snide remark. For instance, when he encounters a rather hammy villain in “The Pirate Planet”, he asks him “What would you want with the Earth? You wouldn’t know what to do with it, besides shout at it.” He had a childlike glee, possibly fueled by too many jelly babies, which he would constantly offer to friend or foe alike. He even offered one to Davros in “Destiny of the Daleks”! I do enjoy the others, but for me, none will ever top Tom Baker.
The Companions
Sarah Jane Smith
Instead of repeating what I said last time, I’ll explain why Sladen left the show. As her time went on, Sladen noticed that her character arc had downgraded. In her words, she had become a “cardboard cutout.” She was tired of constantly being kidnapped or hypnotized.
Dr. Harry Sullivan (Ian Marter)
First Appearance: “Robot”
Last Appearance: “Terror of the Zygons”
(note: made a guest appearance in The Android Invasion)
Dr. Harry Sullivan is boring. Part of the problem is that he was cast before Baker, when they were going for an older actor. Sullivan was originally meant to be the person doing the action scenes. But Baker was actually capable of doing stunts (until he broke his collarbone in “The Sontaran Experiment”). Instead, they decided to make him a bumbler. It’s sad when the most memorable thing I can think of that he did was cause the Doctor to shout “Harry Sullivan is an imbecile!”
Leela (Louise Jameson)
First Appearance: “The Face of Evil”
Last Appearance: “The Invasion of Time”
Leela comes from a race of primitive humans called the Sevateem. The first time she met the Doctor, she was frightened of him because he resembled their god of evil. When she learned she had nothing to fear, she joined him out of curiosity. I thought it was neat how the Doctor constantly took her aside in attempts to educate her to rely on science rather than superstition.
K-9 (voiced by John Leeson in every appearance except in episodes filmed between 1979-1980, in which David Brierly voiced instead)
First Appearance: “The Invisible Enemy”
Last Appearance: “Warrior’s Gate”
K-9 the robot dog is probably the most recognizable companion, since he’s almost the mascot of the show. He can fire lasers, scan the area and provide info the doctor. He can even play chess!
K-9 was not without problems. It’s radio signal was on an AM band and interfered with the cameras. It would often careen into objects or people.
There were actually three K-9s, all played by the same prop. The first one, Mark I, left in “The Invasion of Time” and was replaced by Mark II in the same story. Mark II left in “Warrior’s Gate”. Mark III appeared in the failed pilot for K-9 and Company.
Romana I (Mary Tamm)
First Appearance: “The Ribos Operation”
Last Appearance: “The Armageddon Factor”
Romana is a Time Lady fresh out of the Gallifreyan Academy when she is appointed by the White Guardian to assist the Doctor in finding the fragments of the Key to Time. I liked her smug attitude and she had such great chemistry with the Doctor. One of my favorite scenes is when the Doctor suggests that her Gallifreyan name, Romanadvoratrelundar, was far too long.
The Doctor: By the time I’ve called that out, you could be dead! I’ll call you Romana.
Romana I: I don’t like Romana.
The Doctor: It’s either Romana or Fred.
Romana I: All right, call me Fred!
The Doctor: Good. Come on, Romana!
Romana II (Lalla Ward)
First Appearance: “Destiny of the Daleks”
Last Appearance: “Warrior’s Gate”
In “Destiny of the Daleks”, Romana grew tired of her body, so she decided to regenerate. This Romana had mannerisms similar to the Doctor’s. She also had great chemistry with the Doctor, so much so that they were married in real life–for sixteen months.
Adric (Matthew Waterhouse)
First Appearance: “Full Circle”
Last Appearance: “Earthshock” (w/5th)
Adric is probably one of the most hated companions ever. In my opinion, he doesn’t deserve it. Yes, he was smug and a little bratty. But he was also very intelligent and very good at outsmarting villains by pretending to side with them. I think he was a great character, just poorly written at times. I’ll explain more about him next time.
Nyssa (Sarah Sutton)
Fist Appearance: “The Keeper of Traken”
Last Appearance: “Terminus” (w/5th)
Nyssa wasn’t originally intended to be a full-fledged companion. However, the writers liked her character so much that they decided to keep her around. I’ll keep her around for next time.
Tegan Jovanka (Janet Fielding)
First Appearance: “Logopolis”
Last Appearance: “The Resurrection of the Daleks” (w/5th)
John Nathan Turner created Tegan because of the show’s popularity in Australia. (Although to me, Janet didn’t sound very Australian) Since I consider her more of a Fifth Doctor’s companion, I’ll save her for next time as well. Best Stories:
Genesis of the Daleks (6 episodes)
This is the episode you must watch if you watch any story from the Classic period. It was, according to Russel T. Davies, the “first shot of the Time War”. It’s an excellent introduction to Davros.
Pyramids of Mars (4 episodes)
One of Robert Holmes’s best stories. The Doctor encounters Sutekh, a Martian pharoah. Sutekh is a bone-chilling villain, all thanks to Gabriel Woolf’s voice.
The Brain of Mobius (4 episodes)
This story was a great twist on Frankenstein, with a scene that was quite controversial for its time.
“The Robots of Death” (4 episodes)
I had a hard time selecting just one Leela story. I finally chose this one because it’s an excellent homage to Isaac Asimov.
The Key to Time Arc:
The Ribos Operation (4 episodes)
The Pirate Planet (4 episodes)
The Stones of Blood (4 episodes)
The Androids of Tara (4 episodes)
The Power of Krull (4 episodes)
The Armageddon Factor (6 episodes)
This is the introduction of Romana, who was appointed by the White Guardian to help the Doctor locate the fragments of the Key to Time. To really enjoy the story, you should watch all six stories I listed above. This is the highlight of Tom Baker’s era.
City of Death (4 episodes)
Before Douglas Adams wrote his magnum opus, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, he was a script editor and occasional writer for Doctor Who. This story is almost universally hailed as one of his best.
The E-space Trilogy
Full Circle (4 episodes)
State of Decay (4 episodes)
Warrior’s Gate (4 episodes)
This is actually part of a larger arc themed around the concept of entropy. The stories are quite cerebral, but well-handled. You really need to watch the entire trilogy, that’s why I picked all the stories in it.
The Keeper of Traken (4 episodes)
Anthony Ainley’s version of The Master debuts in this story and it’s an excellent introduction. The story is well-paced and excellently written and Sarah Sutton’s small role as Nyssa is an example of great acting.
Logopolis (4 episodes)
This is it, the grand finale for Tom Baker. It’s one of the best finales ever, with a great battle between him and the Master.
Worst Stories
The Creature From the Pit (4 episodes)
Oh, dear God, this story SUCKS! The script is weak and the monster is terrible, even for its time. Oh, and it was originally intended for Mary Tamm’s version of Romana, not Lalla Ward’s.
The Horns of Nimon (4 episodes)
This story had a weak script and budget restraints and was on the verge of the strike that halted “Shada”. It was basically a recipe for disaster.
this post is dedicated to the memory of Caroline John and Elizabeth Sladen.
“Courage isn’t just a matter of not being frightened, you know. It’s being afraid and doing what you have to do anyway.”
The 70’s began the transition from black-and-white to color. A new producer, Barry Letts, had signed on. He would be considered one of the show’s best producers. I should also note that he was a Buddhist, and many stories from his tenure were influenced by this. All that was needed was a new Doctor. And thus, the Jon Pertwee era began.
About Jon Pertwee
Pertwee was born in Chelsea, England. Acting ran in his family–his father was actor Roland Pertwee, and his cousin Bill was in the comedy Dad’s Army. There’s even a connection to Doctor Who: Pertwee’s godfather was Henry Ainley, father of Anthony Ainley, the fourth actor to portraytThe Master!
Pertwee was also an officer in the Royal Navy, and was one of the few survivors of the HMS Hood after it was sunk in WW II. This was also when he acquired the tatoo that can occasionally be seen on the Third Doctor. After the war, he became a well-known comedy actor. He also appeared in The Navy Lark,which also became one of his most famous roles. He was also a spy! Quite fitting, considering his era seems like a serialized James Bond movie.
During his era, Pertwee felt a familial connection with the cast and crew, especially Katy Manning, Barry Letts, and Roger Delgado, the first actor to portray The Master.
After he left Doctor Who, Pertwee took the title role in Worzel Gummridge, which earned him fame as well. He also did voice work for SuperTed and video games based on Terry Pratchett’s Discworld books.
Changes
Pertwee’s era had two openings. The first was the final use of the howlaround. In his final season, the first tunnel opening appeared, beginning with the episode “The Time Warrior.” There was also a disco version of the song, complete with Pertwee “singing” lyrics.
and here’s the disco version
During the 60’s, a typical season ran around 40 episodes. In the 70’s, this went down to 25-26. Beginning with Pertwee’s second season, no Doctor Who serial lasted longer than 6 parts.
First story arc was used, linking five stories featuring The Master
First appearance of the Autons: “Spearhead From Space”
First appearance of the Silurians: “The Silurians”
First appearance of the Master: “Terror of the Autons“
First multi-doctor story: “The Three Doctors“
First appearance of the Sontarans: “The Time Warrior“
First usage of “regeneration” when the Doctor dies and first mention of Gallifrey: “Planet of the Spiders“
Conclusion:
I love the Pertwee era! It’s so much fun! The cars (“Bessie” and the “Whomobile”), the Master, and even Sarah Jane Smith’s earliest appearances are all great to witness. They tried making the Doctor something akin to an action hero, even having him do “Venusian” aikido. And best of all–no missing episodes! True, some of the restorations of what was originally lost are in black-and-white, but it’s better than nothing.
Last appearance: “Battlefield” (with 7th) note: also appeared in the Sarah Jane Adventures episode “Enemy of the Bane”
I love Lethbridge-Stewart! He’s the perfect foil for the Doctor because their philosophies are so opposed. And yet, they still maintained a great friendship. I should also mention that when Courtney died in 2011, the episode “The Wedding of River Song” worked it into the plot as a memorial by revealing that the Brigadier had died in his sleep. I thought it was a fitting memorial to such a great character.
Dr. Liz Shaw (Caroline John)
First Appearance: “Spearhead From Space”
Last Appearance: “Inferno”
Shaw was a scientist who worked with UNIT and was nearly as smart as the Doctor himself. This created a problem because Letts and script editor Terrance Dicks felt that she was difficult for the audience to relate to. (John herself also felt she should leave the show as well because she had become pregnant with her first child. In spite of this, I thought she was a great character. I should also mention that Shaw appeared in the Doctor Who spin-off PROBE.
Jo Grant (Katy Manning)
First appearance: “Terror of The Autons”
Last appearance: “The Green Death”
When I first saw Jo, I was displeased. She was such a klutz! Thank God they developed her character and turned her into a courageous woman. And I loved her guest spot in the Sarah Jane Adventure “Death of the Doctor”. It’s revealed in that episode that she married the man she met in “The Green Death” and they had a family. They now travel around the world as protesters.
Sarah Jane- Smith (Elizabeth Sladen)
First appearance: “The Time Warrior”
Last appearance: (in classic period) “The Hand of Fear” (with 4th Doctor)
(in reboot) “The End of Time”
(in Sarah Jane Adventures) “The Man Who Never Was”
Sarah Jane is everything you could want in a companion: feisty, courageous, witty, and pretty! She’s my all-time favorite companion and I was pleased to see how she started out, as I was only familiar with her run with Tom Baker. I’ll talk more about her next time, but for now I want to say that I really miss Elizabeth Sladen.
Best Stories
“Inferno” (7 episodes)
The Doctor accidentally travels to a parallel world where Britain is is fascist. (and the Brigadier is now a Brigade-Leader and wears an eyepatch). This story is paced so well, I felt more like two and a half hours had passed instead of three and a half.
“The Daemons” (5 episodes)
I can sum up the awesomeness in one sentence: The Master summons demons! (okay technically they’re demonic aliens, but it’s still awesome) And I love the scene where the Brigadier nonchalantly orders a soldier “Chap with wings there, five rounds rapid” when they spot a demon.
“The Curse of Peladon” (4 episodes)
The Doctor is forced to travel to the planet Peladon to change a key event in their history. It’s an excellent use of a formula that has served the show well. The story has some great twists and the BBC gives it high marks on their Classic Doctor Who era website.
“The Sea Devils” (6 episodes)
The Master and the Sea Devils, “cousins” of the Silurians, join forces in the most epic battle of Delgado’s tenure. Also contains a great swordfight between the Doctor and the Master in which the Doctor actually eats the Master’s sandwich!
“Frontier in Space” (6 episodes)
This is Jo’s shining moment–she actually manages to defeat the Master’s hypnosis by mentally reciting nursery rhymes.
“The Time Warrior” (4 episodes)
This is Sarah Jane’s first appearance and a great introduction to my favorite companion. It’s also written by my favorite writer for the classic show, Robert Holmes.
Worst Stories
“The Time Monster” (6 episodes)
The Master invents the TOMTIT (stop snickering back there!), a device he hopes will conjure a monster named Kronos, who will give him control over time itself. I have two problems with the episode. First, the TOMTIT’s appearance looks like something Sigmund Freud would’ve dreamed up. Second, it feels like they stretched it out too slowly and it would be better suited as a 4-parter.
“Invasion of the Dinosaurs” (6 episodes)
This story proves that dinosaurs aren’t always awesome. The story moves way too slowly and the dinosaurs look awful. I know I shouldn’t expect Ray Harryhaussen-level designs, but they should at least look decent. And while I like the way the Whomobile looks, it should actually contributed something of value to the story.
Aspie Catholic 