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Classic Doctor Who, Season 3 Review
I've reached the part of my Classic Doctor Who watch where more episodes are lost to time than survive, so I got through this season at a slightly faster clip than I had the first two. The ones still completely available can be streamed on Britbox in the United States, while the rest I had to buy as audio tracks from Audible.
This season is weird in that I think the writing in general has gotten stronger, but this season is a bit of a mess when it comes to it's characters. The decision not to renew Maureen O'Brien's contract meant that we got a rotating cast of female companions alongside Steven and the Doctor, to mixed results. Like always, these rankings aren't completely hard-and-fast and may be different if you ask me about it six months from now. Here's a quick rundown of my thoughts, based more on my own enjoyment rather than any critical evaluation.
This serial is pretty universally disliked and there's good reason why. Aside from Purves and Lane's clear enjoyment of the material, there's nothing here that works particularly well, especially when viewed in the context of Doctor Who as a whole. The whole plot is stitched together by the earworm "Ballad of the Last Chance Saloon" that made me want to die in a shootout every time it came on (which was between basically every single scene change). The main characters are largely pulled along by the whims of the characters of the day, whose motivations range from dull to flat out annoying to watch. Couple that with the bad American accents and the kitschy Western aesthetic, it makes for a very tedious and predictable viewing experience. The only real praise I can give this episode is that the set designers did a very good job, and the serial itself looks nice.
8) Serial 3, Episodes 6-9 - The Myth Makers (All 4 episodes as an Audio Play)
I usually enjoy the historical serials on some level, and this one is no exception. However, the plot threads involving the Doctor and Steven are fairly weak, mostly involving them being bullied and manipulated by the characters they've been roped into helping. The star of this serial is Vicki, which is appropriate as this marks her exit from the show. Her romance is more thinly drawn but much more believable than the one set up for Susan when she exited the show, and O'Brien sells it better even just listening to the audio track. While she didn't have a grand exit scene with the Doctor or Steven, her moment alone with Troilus at the end is a very fitting tribute to the character. Oh, and she got poor Katarina to join the Doctor in her place.
7) Serial 5, Episodes 22-25 - The Massacre of St Bartholomew's Eve (All 4 episodes as an Audio Play)
This serial has a lot of elements that work but its weighed down by a series of misunderstandings and the local characters believing ill intent of the Tardis team - something that often weighs down these historical serials. That said, some really clever plot mechanics and the well-written closer really elevates this from being run of the mill. The decision to case Hartnell as the Abbot and not have that character be the Doctor in disguise is an inspired one I'm sure Hartnell appreciated, as was Steven's struggle to stay safe throughout the city. The real strength of this serial comes at the end, when the Doctor seemingly abandons a young woman named Anne Chaplet to die in the Massacre and Steven, seeing the Doctor's actions over the past two serials as apathy in the face of death, decides to leave. That this is only available in audio is a tragedy, as the Doctor's reflections after Steven storms out is some of the best work Hartnell has done on the show. The subsequent return of Steven and introduction of Dodo is a clever bit of writing as well, if a bit too neat.
6) Serial 7, Episodes 30-33 - The Celestial Toymaker (Episodes 30-32 as an Audio Play)
I suspect this serial may have ranked higher had all the episodes survived in their original form, as so much of this story seems dependent on the visuals shown onscreen. That said, this serial is whimsical and charming in a very refreshing way, and I enjoyed the campiness of all of the Steven and Dodo scenes. The Toymaker himself is an interesting villain that did not get nearly enough screentime, and the Doctor's presence was felt albeit minimal. I really don't understand the dislike people have for this serial, as it really highlights many of the strengths of the old classic serials: camp, wit, and an undercurrent of foreboding. I just wish the Toymaker would resurface at some point to follow up on this episode's promise.
5) Serial 1, Episodes 1-4 - Galaxy 4 (Episodes 1-2 and 4 as an Audio Play)
For a serial with a lot of behind the scenes difficulties, it doesn't really show in the final product. Galaxy 4 is a simple and well constructed story that weaves a compelling narrative about bigotry and empathy. The Doctor, Vicki, and Steven all get moments to shine and all the aliens and robots are visually interesting in ways they aren't always are. In a way this serial felt very timely, with the villains valuing their prejudices over their own survival. The Chumbley robots were also very cute and I wish that the last one didn't have to destroy itself, even if it was just a robot.
4) Serial 9, Episodes 38-41 - The Savages (All 4 episodes as an Audio Play)
Hitting some of the same themes as Galaxy 4, The Savages feels very timely and is a very thoughtful look at bigotry and exploitation - especially through science rather than ideology. The villain gaining an essence of the Doctor and having his eyes opened to the injustice he is helping perpetuate is an inspired arc and one that really sets this on another level. While this is Steven's swan song, this is one of Dodo's strongest outings and the Doctor owns every scene he's a part of. In all honesty, Steven's departure is my only real criticism of this story. Had it been set up properly, it would've tied together nicely with his character's origins and the lessons he's learned on his travels with the Doctor. Instead it's tacked on at the end with seemingly little fanfare, leaving the audience to do the heavy lifting without much help from the writers.
3) Serial 6, Episodes 26-29 - The Ark
Classic Doctor Who is a show that rarely takes full advantage of the opportunities presented by its format of multi-episode serials. So whenever it does it's a treat, especially if it works on both narrative and thematic levels. The Ark is a strong example of this, splitting up the story into do distinct acts and inform one another. The first part is relatively simple and shows the effects of the common cold spread among a populace that doesn't have immunity to it. It's a plot development that seems logical, and even the Doctor and Steven mention onscreen that it's something they should have thought about in their travels. The second half is the payoff to a series of seemingly inconsequential moments from the first, with the TARDIS crew having caused massive changes in the history of the people they'd left for hundreds of years. The ultimate plot outcome is clever enough so its not predictable but not so out of the box that it doesn't read as the logical conclusion. Also, the opening scenes with Dodo are about as charming as the show has allowed her to be.
2) Serial 2/4, Episodes 5 and 10-21 - Mission to the Unknown / The Daleks' Master Plan (Episode 5 as an Animated Reconstruction; Episodes 10, 12-13, 15-18, 20-21 as an Audio Play)
For what's essentially a thirteen part serial, The Daleks' Master Plan makes a better case for its length than many of the preceding serials that clock in at half the running time. Part of this is due to regular cast changes that happen over the course of the story, but largely it's due to the sheer scope of it. It's the logical progression of the Daleks as a threat from what was presented in The Chase, and what parts of this story are filler are so enjoyable it's hard to fault the writers for their inclusion. That said, the clumsy way Katarina as written off paired with certain plot points set up in Mission to the Unknown that were abandoned in the main serial keep this from being ranked as the best of the season. In the end there were just too many moving parts to address everything, but what was addressed resulted in some of the best, and darkest, storytelling on the show to date.
1) Serial 10, Episodes 42-45 - The War Machines
The War Machines feels like it may be a turning point in Doctor Who, both in terms of the types of stories it tells and the polish with which it tells them. It certainly helps that this serial clearly has the biggest budget to date, and visually it holds up better than anything that's come before it. Tonally, it seems more modern and confident, and Polly and Ben instantly infuse a new, contemporary, and youthful energy into the show that Dodo was never really allowed to have, and Vicki and Steven were too far removed from to inhibit. The Doctor himself is firmly the star of the show, with Hartnell regularly showing off his ability to steal every scene he's in and acting as the primary narrative drive of the story. That said, Dodo's exit was abrupt and could have been handled much better, though at least they tried to be creative in their approach. The cliffhanger ending also shows how Doctor Who has matured in it's writing, and bodes well for how the show will handle the massive changes that are fast approaching.
This season is weird in that I think the writing in general has gotten stronger, but this season is a bit of a mess when it comes to it's characters. The decision not to renew Maureen O'Brien's contract meant that we got a rotating cast of female companions alongside Steven and the Doctor, to mixed results. Like always, these rankings aren't completely hard-and-fast and may be different if you ask me about it six months from now. Here's a quick rundown of my thoughts, based more on my own enjoyment rather than any critical evaluation.
The Characters
William Hartnell as The First Doctor - The Doctor is really the only truly consistent aspect of this season, and it's one that really cements a characterization more adverse to violence that would see later in the show. Hartnell really sells the Doctor's increasing anxiety over his companions leaving him, even if the script doesn't allow him much breathing room to do so (this season very much doesn't). There are also fewer serials where the Doctor is absent for several episodes, and the ones where it does happen aren't as noticeable. The final serial in particular shows the First Doctor at the top of his game and in the thick of the action, something the show has shied away from in the past in favor of his younger male companions.
Maureen O'Brien as Vicki Pallister - O'Brien continued to infuse Vicki with more charm and depth than the scripts really allowed, which is why it's such a shame that her contract wasn't extended due to behind the scenes tormoil. At the time, I would lament that her exit seemed rushed, but it ended up being the only one this season that the writers seemed to provide set-up for. Leaving the Tardis for a life with a man echoes a bit too much of Susan's exit last season, but plays out so much differently that I can't be too upset about it. Ultimately, I wish her exit serial had survived, as I really would've liked to see her on screen for the last time instead of just listening to it.
Peter Purves as Steven Taylor - The other MVP this season, light of my life Steven Taylor facilitated possibly the most emotionally heavy moment at the end of the serial "The Massacre of St Bartholomew's Eve" when he accuses the Doctor of apathy in light of the recent deaths of several of their companions and threatens to leave the TARDIS. More brash than previous male companion, Ian, he managed to carry the weight of serials where he was either by himself or the other companion wasn't bringing much to the table. His exit, while thematically satisfying upon analysis, doesn't read that way in a casual viewing and feels very tacked on, and I wish he had been given a more spotlighted send-off. Like Vicki, I wish his exit serial had survived, as I really would've liked to see him on screen for the last time instead of just listening to it.
Adrienne Hill as Katarina - Only appearing in part of two serials, the writers seemed to give up on the character immediately rather than rise to the challenge of crafting something interesting with her. Hill is charming enough as the naive woman who thinks she's on her way to the afterlife, but she's given little to do aside from tend to Steven's wounds and dying under ambiguous circumstances. While some readings of this story have been more generous, I think they really had a missed opportunity to tie together her mistaken belief that she was already dead with her "sacrifice" part of the way through The Daleks' Master Plan.
Jean Marsh as Sara Kingdom - On the surface, Sara really works well as a companions and folds into the TARDIS crew fairly seamlessly throughout her single serial appearance. Unfortunately it becomes fairly obvious why the character was doomed from the start, as she murders her brother in the episode she's introduced. Under deceitful orders or not, that's not something that can be a part of an regular character's backstory on a children's program unless they're a villain. All that said, Marsh is excellent in this role and we can only imagine what could've happened if they wrote the role with the intention of making her a full-time companion.
Jackie Lane as Dodo Chaplet - When Dodo was written off the show, it was because the producers had deemed the character a failure. Ultimately I think that was the right call, but I don't think any fault in that belongs to Lane, who did her best to add energy to a character the writers weren't interested in writing depth for. Introduced as a narrative gimmick at the end of a serial, they lay out a fairly complex backstory for her that they don't do anything with. Instead, they're content to float by on her passing resemblance to Susan and making her a spunky sidekick to Steven and the Doctor while getting no stories of her own. As far as exits go, her's was interesting but ultimately happened offscreen. A metaphor for this character's treatment if there ever was one.
Anneke Wills as Polly Wright and Michael Craze as Ben Jackson - Two companions introduced at the very end of the season, both feel more like authentic young people of the '60s than any of the previous companions on the show. Polly in particular shows great promise, following a character model that isn't derivative of either Barbara nor Susan. The dynamic between the two characters is also much different than anything we've seen before, and in the closing scenes it felt like the show had been infused with a new, brighter energy.
William Hartnell as The First Doctor - The Doctor is really the only truly consistent aspect of this season, and it's one that really cements a characterization more adverse to violence that would see later in the show. Hartnell really sells the Doctor's increasing anxiety over his companions leaving him, even if the script doesn't allow him much breathing room to do so (this season very much doesn't). There are also fewer serials where the Doctor is absent for several episodes, and the ones where it does happen aren't as noticeable. The final serial in particular shows the First Doctor at the top of his game and in the thick of the action, something the show has shied away from in the past in favor of his younger male companions.
Maureen O'Brien as Vicki Pallister - O'Brien continued to infuse Vicki with more charm and depth than the scripts really allowed, which is why it's such a shame that her contract wasn't extended due to behind the scenes tormoil. At the time, I would lament that her exit seemed rushed, but it ended up being the only one this season that the writers seemed to provide set-up for. Leaving the Tardis for a life with a man echoes a bit too much of Susan's exit last season, but plays out so much differently that I can't be too upset about it. Ultimately, I wish her exit serial had survived, as I really would've liked to see her on screen for the last time instead of just listening to it.
Peter Purves as Steven Taylor - The other MVP this season, light of my life Steven Taylor facilitated possibly the most emotionally heavy moment at the end of the serial "The Massacre of St Bartholomew's Eve" when he accuses the Doctor of apathy in light of the recent deaths of several of their companions and threatens to leave the TARDIS. More brash than previous male companion, Ian, he managed to carry the weight of serials where he was either by himself or the other companion wasn't bringing much to the table. His exit, while thematically satisfying upon analysis, doesn't read that way in a casual viewing and feels very tacked on, and I wish he had been given a more spotlighted send-off. Like Vicki, I wish his exit serial had survived, as I really would've liked to see him on screen for the last time instead of just listening to it.
Adrienne Hill as Katarina - Only appearing in part of two serials, the writers seemed to give up on the character immediately rather than rise to the challenge of crafting something interesting with her. Hill is charming enough as the naive woman who thinks she's on her way to the afterlife, but she's given little to do aside from tend to Steven's wounds and dying under ambiguous circumstances. While some readings of this story have been more generous, I think they really had a missed opportunity to tie together her mistaken belief that she was already dead with her "sacrifice" part of the way through The Daleks' Master Plan.
Jean Marsh as Sara Kingdom - On the surface, Sara really works well as a companions and folds into the TARDIS crew fairly seamlessly throughout her single serial appearance. Unfortunately it becomes fairly obvious why the character was doomed from the start, as she murders her brother in the episode she's introduced. Under deceitful orders or not, that's not something that can be a part of an regular character's backstory on a children's program unless they're a villain. All that said, Marsh is excellent in this role and we can only imagine what could've happened if they wrote the role with the intention of making her a full-time companion.
Jackie Lane as Dodo Chaplet - When Dodo was written off the show, it was because the producers had deemed the character a failure. Ultimately I think that was the right call, but I don't think any fault in that belongs to Lane, who did her best to add energy to a character the writers weren't interested in writing depth for. Introduced as a narrative gimmick at the end of a serial, they lay out a fairly complex backstory for her that they don't do anything with. Instead, they're content to float by on her passing resemblance to Susan and making her a spunky sidekick to Steven and the Doctor while getting no stories of her own. As far as exits go, her's was interesting but ultimately happened offscreen. A metaphor for this character's treatment if there ever was one.
Anneke Wills as Polly Wright and Michael Craze as Ben Jackson - Two companions introduced at the very end of the season, both feel more like authentic young people of the '60s than any of the previous companions on the show. Polly in particular shows great promise, following a character model that isn't derivative of either Barbara nor Susan. The dynamic between the two characters is also much different than anything we've seen before, and in the closing scenes it felt like the show had been infused with a new, brighter energy.
The Serials
I've ranked the serials based off my own personal preference which is only tangentially related to how good they are on a critical level.
I've ranked the serials based off my own personal preference which is only tangentially related to how good they are on a critical level.
9) Serial 8, Episodes 34-37 - The Gunfighters
The Gunfighters breaks convention like the previous serial did, but not in a good way. Bad accents aside, it wasn't as fun as it wanted to be and it felt like the TARDIS crew were just set dressing. Also, I'm pretty sure I'll hear "Ballad of the Last Chance Saloon" when I die. (x)
This serial is pretty universally disliked and there's good reason why. Aside from Purves and Lane's clear enjoyment of the material, there's nothing here that works particularly well, especially when viewed in the context of Doctor Who as a whole. The whole plot is stitched together by the earworm "Ballad of the Last Chance Saloon" that made me want to die in a shootout every time it came on (which was between basically every single scene change). The main characters are largely pulled along by the whims of the characters of the day, whose motivations range from dull to flat out annoying to watch. Couple that with the bad American accents and the kitschy Western aesthetic, it makes for a very tedious and predictable viewing experience. The only real praise I can give this episode is that the set designers did a very good job, and the serial itself looks nice.
8) Serial 3, Episodes 6-9 - The Myth Makers (All 4 episodes as an Audio Play)
The Myth Makers is a very well structured story with a much more believable exit romance than The Dalek Invasion of Earth. However, I wish Vicki had been afforded a grand exit scene with her cast mates like Susan, Ian, and Barbara were. Like always, I enjoy the historical serials (x)
I usually enjoy the historical serials on some level, and this one is no exception. However, the plot threads involving the Doctor and Steven are fairly weak, mostly involving them being bullied and manipulated by the characters they've been roped into helping. The star of this serial is Vicki, which is appropriate as this marks her exit from the show. Her romance is more thinly drawn but much more believable than the one set up for Susan when she exited the show, and O'Brien sells it better even just listening to the audio track. While she didn't have a grand exit scene with the Doctor or Steven, her moment alone with Troilus at the end is a very fitting tribute to the character. Oh, and she got poor Katarina to join the Doctor in her place.
7) Serial 5, Episodes 22-25 - The Massacre of St Bartholomew's Eve (All 4 episodes as an Audio Play)
The Massacre of St Bartholomew's Eve was one of the weaker historical scenarios but hit the theme of "you shouldn't change history" much harder and more concisely than anything else has so far. The introduction of Dodo was also much different than that of past companions. (x)
This serial has a lot of elements that work but its weighed down by a series of misunderstandings and the local characters believing ill intent of the Tardis team - something that often weighs down these historical serials. That said, some really clever plot mechanics and the well-written closer really elevates this from being run of the mill. The decision to case Hartnell as the Abbot and not have that character be the Doctor in disguise is an inspired one I'm sure Hartnell appreciated, as was Steven's struggle to stay safe throughout the city. The real strength of this serial comes at the end, when the Doctor seemingly abandons a young woman named Anne Chaplet to die in the Massacre and Steven, seeing the Doctor's actions over the past two serials as apathy in the face of death, decides to leave. That this is only available in audio is a tragedy, as the Doctor's reflections after Steven storms out is some of the best work Hartnell has done on the show. The subsequent return of Steven and introduction of Dodo is a clever bit of writing as well, if a bit too neat.
6) Serial 7, Episodes 30-33 - The Celestial Toymaker (Episodes 30-32 as an Audio Play)
The Celestial Toymaker is fantastical in a way that most serials really haven't allowed themselves to get and that's pretty refreshing. That said, it's unfortunate how much of this serial is missing, as it's such a visual piece and audio-only doesn't really have the same effect. (x)
I suspect this serial may have ranked higher had all the episodes survived in their original form, as so much of this story seems dependent on the visuals shown onscreen. That said, this serial is whimsical and charming in a very refreshing way, and I enjoyed the campiness of all of the Steven and Dodo scenes. The Toymaker himself is an interesting villain that did not get nearly enough screentime, and the Doctor's presence was felt albeit minimal. I really don't understand the dislike people have for this serial, as it really highlights many of the strengths of the old classic serials: camp, wit, and an undercurrent of foreboding. I just wish the Toymaker would resurface at some point to follow up on this episode's promise.
5) Serial 1, Episodes 1-4 - Galaxy 4 (Episodes 1-2 and 4 as an Audio Play)
Galaxy 4 has an aesop that really holds up and while it has a predictable twist I don't think that detracts from it at all. The design in this was also a lot more dynamic than many of the other "deserted alien planet" episodes have been. And the Chumbleys were cute! (x)
For a serial with a lot of behind the scenes difficulties, it doesn't really show in the final product. Galaxy 4 is a simple and well constructed story that weaves a compelling narrative about bigotry and empathy. The Doctor, Vicki, and Steven all get moments to shine and all the aliens and robots are visually interesting in ways they aren't always are. In a way this serial felt very timely, with the villains valuing their prejudices over their own survival. The Chumbley robots were also very cute and I wish that the last one didn't have to destroy itself, even if it was just a robot.
4) Serial 9, Episodes 38-41 - The Savages (All 4 episodes as an Audio Play)
The Savages is really solid and definitely one of the better "alien civilization at conflict" stories this show has done. However, I wish it had functioned better as a send off for Steven. :( (x)
Hitting some of the same themes as Galaxy 4, The Savages feels very timely and is a very thoughtful look at bigotry and exploitation - especially through science rather than ideology. The villain gaining an essence of the Doctor and having his eyes opened to the injustice he is helping perpetuate is an inspired arc and one that really sets this on another level. While this is Steven's swan song, this is one of Dodo's strongest outings and the Doctor owns every scene he's a part of. In all honesty, Steven's departure is my only real criticism of this story. Had it been set up properly, it would've tied together nicely with his character's origins and the lessons he's learned on his travels with the Doctor. Instead it's tacked on at the end with seemingly little fanfare, leaving the audience to do the heavy lifting without much help from the writers.
3) Serial 6, Episodes 26-29 - The Ark
The Ark really takes advantage of the multi-part serial format by essentially splitting the story into two acts with two different conflicts - with the first half providing some foreshadowing of what would happen in the second half. I'm glad Dodo changed her outfit at the end. (x)
Classic Doctor Who is a show that rarely takes full advantage of the opportunities presented by its format of multi-episode serials. So whenever it does it's a treat, especially if it works on both narrative and thematic levels. The Ark is a strong example of this, splitting up the story into do distinct acts and inform one another. The first part is relatively simple and shows the effects of the common cold spread among a populace that doesn't have immunity to it. It's a plot development that seems logical, and even the Doctor and Steven mention onscreen that it's something they should have thought about in their travels. The second half is the payoff to a series of seemingly inconsequential moments from the first, with the TARDIS crew having caused massive changes in the history of the people they'd left for hundreds of years. The ultimate plot outcome is clever enough so its not predictable but not so out of the box that it doesn't read as the logical conclusion. Also, the opening scenes with Dodo are about as charming as the show has allowed her to be.
2) Serial 2/4, Episodes 5 and 10-21 - Mission to the Unknown / The Daleks' Master Plan (Episode 5 as an Animated Reconstruction; Episodes 10, 12-13, 15-18, 20-21 as an Audio Play)
Mission to the Unknown is a neat concept and reminded me how much I like the Daleks when their stories aren't entrenched in bureaucracy. Good, simple execution that's got me hyped for The Daleks' Master Plan. The council of villains thing at the end was super cool! (x)
The Daleks' Master Plan is very long and somehow manages to justify its length. But oh man this one was a bloodbath, with three promising "companions" dying onscreen. It has a weight that hasn't always been present in other serials perhaps because of that. (x)
The Daleks' Master Plan is very long and somehow manages to justify its length. But oh man this one was a bloodbath, with three promising "companions" dying onscreen. It has a weight that hasn't always been present in other serials perhaps because of that. (x)
For what's essentially a thirteen part serial, The Daleks' Master Plan makes a better case for its length than many of the preceding serials that clock in at half the running time. Part of this is due to regular cast changes that happen over the course of the story, but largely it's due to the sheer scope of it. It's the logical progression of the Daleks as a threat from what was presented in The Chase, and what parts of this story are filler are so enjoyable it's hard to fault the writers for their inclusion. That said, the clumsy way Katarina as written off paired with certain plot points set up in Mission to the Unknown that were abandoned in the main serial keep this from being ranked as the best of the season. In the end there were just too many moving parts to address everything, but what was addressed resulted in some of the best, and darkest, storytelling on the show to date.
1) Serial 10, Episodes 42-45 - The War Machines
The War Machines had an honest-to-goodness ~budget~. All the outdoor shots and overall feel felt more cinematic and modern than anything that's come before it. Excellent introduction to Polly and Ben, creative yet ho hum exit for Dodo, great showcase of the First Doctor. (x)
The War Machines feels like it may be a turning point in Doctor Who, both in terms of the types of stories it tells and the polish with which it tells them. It certainly helps that this serial clearly has the biggest budget to date, and visually it holds up better than anything that's come before it. Tonally, it seems more modern and confident, and Polly and Ben instantly infuse a new, contemporary, and youthful energy into the show that Dodo was never really allowed to have, and Vicki and Steven were too far removed from to inhibit. The Doctor himself is firmly the star of the show, with Hartnell regularly showing off his ability to steal every scene he's in and acting as the primary narrative drive of the story. That said, Dodo's exit was abrupt and could have been handled much better, though at least they tried to be creative in their approach. The cliffhanger ending also shows how Doctor Who has matured in it's writing, and bodes well for how the show will handle the massive changes that are fast approaching.
Final Thoughts
The third season of Doctor Who was very much a season of constant transition - as I suspect the next will be as well. While plenty of missteps were made - primarily in the writing of the female companions that aren't named Vicki or Polly - it weathered those changes well and produced many fine serials that are still a joy to watch in 2018. I'm not doing the arbitrary alien ranking this go around because it's gotten too arbitrary and the Daleks always win.
The third season of Doctor Who was very much a season of constant transition - as I suspect the next will be as well. While plenty of missteps were made - primarily in the writing of the female companions that aren't named Vicki or Polly - it weathered those changes well and produced many fine serials that are still a joy to watch in 2018. I'm not doing the arbitrary alien ranking this go around because it's gotten too arbitrary and the Daleks always win.
Watch Status Roundup:
Natsume's Book of Friends - 50/80
Digimon Frontier - 20/50
The Golden Girls Extended Universe - 76/442
Natsume's Book of Friends - 50/80
Digimon Frontier - 20/50
The Golden Girls Extended Universe - 76/442