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Classic Doctor Who, Season 12 Review
I recently changed my username on Twitter, so yesterday I went back and updated the links on my previous reviews. While I was at it I fixed some formatting issues and changed out some images that were hosted on Photobucket with native hosting. Honestly, it feels like just yesterday that I started watching Classic Doctor Who, but it's really been two and a half years. With the Covid-19 quarantine in effect, my goal of finishing the series before I turn 30 is much more realistic now. Hell, there's even a slim chance I could wrap it all up before I turn 29!
So I was surprised at how... smooth? I guess that would be the word. How smooth the transition was between the Third Doctor era and the Fourth Doctor era. This is probably due, in part, to the continued presence of last season's supporting cast, and I know most of them are leaving soon which is a bummer. But part of what makes this series so engaging is how it changes over the years.
Like the previous eleven seasons, the serials are available to watch via streaming on Britbox. This season had five stories, and was particularly strong, which made it interesting to try to rank, and with this season in particular it's possible I'll come back to this in a few days and have a completely different ranking.
The Characters
Tom Baker as The Fourth Doctor - Tom Baker's take on the Doctor is wildly different from his predecessors. There are shades of the Second Doctor in there, but he's much more cheerfully chaotic by nature, and, at least so far, doesn't have their combative nature. If we ascribe to the theory that interactions during the previous incarnations shape the new one, I think that having a grounded "home" and supporting group of characters was good for him. Made him into someone who could smile while in a tense situation with someone as different from him as Sarah Jane Smith. I can see why this Doctor is so popular, and I'm really excited to see where he goes in the next six seasons.
Elisabeth Sladen as Sarah Jane Smith - Paired with a marginally more agreeable Doctor, Sarah Jane doesn't have to be as combative and feels much more relaxed without losing any of her conviction. Even in serials this season where she was more on the sidelines, Sladen's charisma easily fills in the gaps. Among the most satisfying moments this season is when she is ignored and dismissed by the Doctor while he's trying to think of a solution only to reveal that she has come up with it. Also, there's something really delightful in her being in a senior position in the TARDIS to someone like Harry Sullivan.
Ian Marter as Harry Sullivan - In many ways, Harry is a character that is very ill-suited for a companion role while also being overqualified for the role. I know from outside knowledge that the role was created in case they went with an older actor for the Doctor, like when they had Ian and Steven on during the First Doctor's tenure. That aspect of his role didn't really stick around, and instead there's in amusing, playful antagonism between him and the Doctor that's very unusual for the show and is very entertaining. That said, as the secondary companion to Sarah Jane, he's the one whose most prone to getting sidelined - most notably in Genesis of the Daleks. However, having an actual medical Doctor on the show in a nice change of pace and opens up certain story opportunities that they definitely took advantage of. Marter is also very charming in the role, I just wish that every time he was onscreen I wasn't overcome with the desire to reach through the screen and shave off his mutton chops.
Nicholas Courtney as Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart - The Brigadier only appeared in one serial this season, but it was amusing as ever to see him have to deal with yet another incarnation of The Doctor. This serial also had an abundance of "The Brigadier confidently making decisions and immediately making things worse" which is not something that happens often but is always very amusing.
John Levene as RSM Benton - Benton got a promotion! After all the stuff he's had to put up with over the years, its nice to see him get the recognition towards the end of his tenure on the show. He also got to be in every action scene of the first serial as the only remaining named soldier (even when it went against continuity whoops), so we got to see a lot of him even if he didn't get a ton of lines.
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.
5) Serial 3, Episodes 9-10 - The Sontaran Experiment
4) Serial 1, Episodes 1-4 - Robot
3) Serial 5, Episodes 17-20 - Revenge of the Cybermen
As far as the actual plot of the episode goes, I appreciate that it deviated from the usual Cybermen storylines so far in that their goals didn't have much to do with converting people or conquering earth. Rather, it had to do with a separate conflict with the Vogans, whose planet of gold poses a threat to them. I thought the design of the Vogans and their planet was neat, and the two separate but connected conflicts on land and in space made the serial very engaging all the way through, as it felt unpredictable. More than anything though, I appreciated that all three of the main characters felt active and vital in this story.
2) Serial 4, Episodes 11-16 - Genesis of the Daleks
I'd be remiss not to mention the creation and design of Davros is a stroke of genius, and I understand why they've gone out of their way to revive him despite how this story ends. He fits into the lore of these villains like a glove, and its weirdly gratifying to see just how much of himself he put into his creations.
1) Serial 2, Episodes 5-8 - The Ark in Space
As the first post-debut adventure for Harry, he gets a lot to do, particularly in his role as a medical doctor. The ways he is weirdly unsuited for being a companion, particularly his combativeness with the Doctor, and overcoming them also makes it very engaging to watch. Sarah Jane also gets a great deal to do, and her role in coming up with the solution and executing it makes her vital to the success of this story. The Fourth Doctor also gets to really shine in his first story without the constraints of UNIT and be the big personality on screen calling all the shots. Really, there doesn't feel like there's a moment in this that feels extraneous or wasted. Additionally, it's connections to The Sontaran Experiment and Revenge of the Cybermen only help to add to this serial's significance in the larger scheme.
Final Thoughts
I didn't quite know what to expect going into this season. Aside from the fact that I know people adore the Fourth Doctor and this era of the show in particular, I've mostly been going in blind. If the rest of Four's tenure is as solid as his freshman outing I completely get why it's so revered. That said, I did appreciate the touches of the Third Doctor's era aside from Sarah Jane that still linger, even though I know that will not be for much longer. It's part of the reason I'm so excited for next season while at the same time it feels bittersweet.
Monster-wise, I'm glad the Daleks and the Cybermen got such strong showings when I know they're not going to really be present in this era (which is fine honestly). I'm glad they decided to bring back the Sontarans and establish another recurring alien/villain, and I'm interested to see what else emerges in the next few seasons (especially since I know the Time Lords become more of a presence soon).
I know the first serial of the next season was original intended to be the finale of this one, so I wonder how much that will come across beyond the stinger at the end of this one. I'm not sure what else to say, so I think I'll end on this note: I was not expecting Four's voice to sound the way it does. I'd heard Tom Baker speak in The Day of the Doctor but I haven't rewatched that in ages so I guess it didn't stick. I'm not sure what I was expecting but I guess I thought it would be something... softer? Maybe more similar to Pertwee or Troughton's voices? Not sure why.
So I was surprised at how... smooth? I guess that would be the word. How smooth the transition was between the Third Doctor era and the Fourth Doctor era. This is probably due, in part, to the continued presence of last season's supporting cast, and I know most of them are leaving soon which is a bummer. But part of what makes this series so engaging is how it changes over the years.
Like the previous eleven seasons, the serials are available to watch via streaming on Britbox. This season had five stories, and was particularly strong, which made it interesting to try to rank, and with this season in particular it's possible I'll come back to this in a few days and have a completely different ranking.
The Characters
Tom Baker as The Fourth Doctor - Tom Baker's take on the Doctor is wildly different from his predecessors. There are shades of the Second Doctor in there, but he's much more cheerfully chaotic by nature, and, at least so far, doesn't have their combative nature. If we ascribe to the theory that interactions during the previous incarnations shape the new one, I think that having a grounded "home" and supporting group of characters was good for him. Made him into someone who could smile while in a tense situation with someone as different from him as Sarah Jane Smith. I can see why this Doctor is so popular, and I'm really excited to see where he goes in the next six seasons.
Elisabeth Sladen as Sarah Jane Smith - Paired with a marginally more agreeable Doctor, Sarah Jane doesn't have to be as combative and feels much more relaxed without losing any of her conviction. Even in serials this season where she was more on the sidelines, Sladen's charisma easily fills in the gaps. Among the most satisfying moments this season is when she is ignored and dismissed by the Doctor while he's trying to think of a solution only to reveal that she has come up with it. Also, there's something really delightful in her being in a senior position in the TARDIS to someone like Harry Sullivan.
Ian Marter as Harry Sullivan - In many ways, Harry is a character that is very ill-suited for a companion role while also being overqualified for the role. I know from outside knowledge that the role was created in case they went with an older actor for the Doctor, like when they had Ian and Steven on during the First Doctor's tenure. That aspect of his role didn't really stick around, and instead there's in amusing, playful antagonism between him and the Doctor that's very unusual for the show and is very entertaining. That said, as the secondary companion to Sarah Jane, he's the one whose most prone to getting sidelined - most notably in Genesis of the Daleks. However, having an actual medical Doctor on the show in a nice change of pace and opens up certain story opportunities that they definitely took advantage of. Marter is also very charming in the role, I just wish that every time he was onscreen I wasn't overcome with the desire to reach through the screen and shave off his mutton chops.
Nicholas Courtney as Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart - The Brigadier only appeared in one serial this season, but it was amusing as ever to see him have to deal with yet another incarnation of The Doctor. This serial also had an abundance of "The Brigadier confidently making decisions and immediately making things worse" which is not something that happens often but is always very amusing.
John Levene as RSM Benton - Benton got a promotion! After all the stuff he's had to put up with over the years, its nice to see him get the recognition towards the end of his tenure on the show. He also got to be in every action scene of the first serial as the only remaining named soldier (even when it went against continuity whoops), so we got to see a lot of him even if he didn't get a ton of lines.
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.
5) Serial 3, Episodes 9-10 - The Sontaran Experiment
The Sontaran Experiment is entirely shot on location and looks really good despite the obvious technical limitations. The premise is silly but works just fine for a two-parter. The Doctor gets a lot of grandstanding moments, and Tom Baker's quickly taken complete hold of the role (x)
Honestly, the biggest weakness of this serial is probably how short the runtime is, which means that the story can only be so complex. Otherwise I think this story mostly works. The whole thing is shot on location with minimal set pieces so it looks great, the goal of the mission is relatively straightforward, and the villain is a familiar face with a clear motive. That said, the Sontaran's motive is kind of... dumb, and doesn't really stand up to scrutiny. I will say that the way this serial interconnects with The Ark and Space is very interesting and unusual for the show, and adds an extra dimension to both serials as they both take place within the same world building but in vastly different locations and dealing with very different conflicts. The Doctor's fight with the Sontaran was also fun to watch.4) Serial 1, Episodes 1-4 - Robot
Robot, in a lot of ways, follows the same story format as the 3rd Doctor era, but instead with the 4th Doctor and Harry Sullivan. While it landed perfectly on an emotional level, the zaniness of the plot seemed to mask its flaws in logic. Focused unusually little on regeneration. (x)
Honestly, I'm surprised this one ranks so low on my list because so much of it works for me. The UNIT setting meant that the Brigadier and Benton were around and involved with the story, not to mention the post-regeneration zaniness of a new Doctor feeling his way in his environment. The premise and the moral issues examined were all interesting and well executed. I think where it falls short for me is, towards the end it seemed to almost underwhelm. Once it reached the high of the nuclear standoff, the thing where the Robot essentially became King Kong just felt kind of silly and lacked the impact the rest of the serial did. Also, I grew to empathize with the Robot much like Sarah did, so to have it end with him just kind of insane and dying was a really depressing and unsatisfying note to end on.3) Serial 5, Episodes 17-20 - Revenge of the Cybermen
Revenge of the Cybermen is very different from a lot of Cybermen stories in a ~really~ good way. Everyone felt important and involved in the action, and the Doctor and Sarah in particular got to be front and center as a duo in a way they haven't quite been able to all season. (x)
I get that a lot of people don't like this serial, but this one rises towards the top for me because the interactions between the Doctor and his companions are just so good. One small moment that really sticks out is when the Doctor gets his arm stuck in a door, and Sarah and Harry rush to get him out. When he's freed he warmly thanks Sarah but just eyes Harry warily, and Harry asks Sarah what he did and Sarah just kind of shrugs. It's the kind of weird, funny interaction you don't really get in the revival and it's one that communicates so much about the characters in the midst of all the plot stuff happening. I also really adored how warm the Doctor and Sarah were in the final episode when he returns to the Ark to rescue her.As far as the actual plot of the episode goes, I appreciate that it deviated from the usual Cybermen storylines so far in that their goals didn't have much to do with converting people or conquering earth. Rather, it had to do with a separate conflict with the Vogans, whose planet of gold poses a threat to them. I thought the design of the Vogans and their planet was neat, and the two separate but connected conflicts on land and in space made the serial very engaging all the way through, as it felt unpredictable. More than anything though, I appreciated that all three of the main characters felt active and vital in this story.
2) Serial 4, Episodes 11-16 - Genesis of the Daleks
Genesis of the Daleks is in many ways the best the show has ever been. The Fourth Doctor gets his first major moral dilemma, and it's easily the most interesting Dalek story the show has done since they were introduced. Still, I wish the Thals and Mutos were more fleshed out. (x)
This one is regarded as one of the series' best, and it's easy to see why. It reinvents the lore of one of the most iconic pieces of the franchise in a way that only makes them more interesting. I've praised previous Dalek stories for departing from the usual template before, but this one is easily the most radical and successful departure. The Doctor is faced with an ethical dilemma here that not only has major implications for this Doctor, but the history of the franchise as a whole. The Nazi parallels are overt but effective and don't feel cheap or exploitative in the least, as the show treats these issues with the appropriate weight. I will say, the companions really felt extraneous in this, but at least Sarah got to be the focus of certain sequences. Harry essentially faded into the background the whole story except when he was being attacked by a giant clam (I saw what they were going for with that but... why).I'd be remiss not to mention the creation and design of Davros is a stroke of genius, and I understand why they've gone out of their way to revive him despite how this story ends. He fits into the lore of these villains like a glove, and its weirdly gratifying to see just how much of himself he put into his creations.
1) Serial 2, Episodes 5-8 - The Ark in Space
The Ark in Space utilizes familiar tropes and story beats in a very streamlined, enjoyable way. The supporting cast is likable, and the main cast each get plenty to do within the story. I also really liked the design of the Ark, as well as of the alien bug creatures. (x)
Russell T Davies and Steven Moffat have both said that this serial is their favorite of the classic series and honestly I can't argue with that choice. This serial is slickly made and all the parts work remarkably well. It first struck me that this story uses a lot of familiar tropes in these kinds of stories - particularly harkening back to the film Alien - before realizing that this serial predates all of those. All the supporting players in this story shine, in particular Wendy Williams as Vira, who goes from a detached, almost antagonistic force to a formidable ally against the alien force aiming to take control of the Ark. (I'd also be remiss not to mention that the design of the Ark is also really cool, especially the outer hallways.)As the first post-debut adventure for Harry, he gets a lot to do, particularly in his role as a medical doctor. The ways he is weirdly unsuited for being a companion, particularly his combativeness with the Doctor, and overcoming them also makes it very engaging to watch. Sarah Jane also gets a great deal to do, and her role in coming up with the solution and executing it makes her vital to the success of this story. The Fourth Doctor also gets to really shine in his first story without the constraints of UNIT and be the big personality on screen calling all the shots. Really, there doesn't feel like there's a moment in this that feels extraneous or wasted. Additionally, it's connections to The Sontaran Experiment and Revenge of the Cybermen only help to add to this serial's significance in the larger scheme.
Final Thoughts
I didn't quite know what to expect going into this season. Aside from the fact that I know people adore the Fourth Doctor and this era of the show in particular, I've mostly been going in blind. If the rest of Four's tenure is as solid as his freshman outing I completely get why it's so revered. That said, I did appreciate the touches of the Third Doctor's era aside from Sarah Jane that still linger, even though I know that will not be for much longer. It's part of the reason I'm so excited for next season while at the same time it feels bittersweet.
Monster-wise, I'm glad the Daleks and the Cybermen got such strong showings when I know they're not going to really be present in this era (which is fine honestly). I'm glad they decided to bring back the Sontarans and establish another recurring alien/villain, and I'm interested to see what else emerges in the next few seasons (especially since I know the Time Lords become more of a presence soon).
I know the first serial of the next season was original intended to be the finale of this one, so I wonder how much that will come across beyond the stinger at the end of this one. I'm not sure what else to say, so I think I'll end on this note: I was not expecting Four's voice to sound the way it does. I'd heard Tom Baker speak in The Day of the Doctor but I haven't rewatched that in ages so I guess it didn't stick. I'm not sure what I was expecting but I guess I thought it would be something... softer? Maybe more similar to Pertwee or Troughton's voices? Not sure why.
no subject
Tom has a very distinct voice indeed, yes. I'm amused somehow that it came as such a shock. XD
But, yeah, lots of ups and downs as ever, but some really good stuff still to come as well, particularly in the next season.