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Classic Doctor Who, Season 18 Review
Coming off of this season felt felt weird compared to the last few, and especially when compared to the exit seasons of the previous three Doctors. In some ways it felt disjointed and mixed in the way that season 15 did, but otherwise i found six of the seven stories at least serviceable, and many of them felt radically different from each other which made them especially hard to compare for a ranking, or to even examine this season as one cohesive thing. A big reason for this can probably be attributed to major cast overhauls through the seasons, as well as the introduction of two overarching story arcs that essentially divided the season into three, fairly distinct parts that don't really resemble each other at all. It's to the point where I went ahead and watched the "Behind the Sofa" segments from the season bluray before writing this review just so I had a fresher idea in my head of what each story was like.
A lot of this can be attributed to the fact that John Nathan-Turner took over from Graham Williams as producer and immediately pushed for a number of stylistic changes, some good and some bad, so coming off the previous season it immediately felt jarring. It also involves a lot of plot and character setup for the next season and the new era of the show, while not seeming to pay much attention to the era that's ending. One of the strengths of the Third Doctor's exit was how many elements from his tenure ultimately came into play with his ultimate end, but that was very much not the case here, which was disappointing. I suspect my feelings on this season in the future will ultimately be influenced by what I think of the Fifth Doctor's era. Right now I'm just thinking about how far this all feels from the Fourth Doctor's debut.
Like the previous seventeen seasons, the serials are available to watch via streaming on Britbox. This season had seven stories, and as stated above is easily the hardest and perhaps most involved ranking I've ever had to do for this show.
The Characters
Tom Baker as The Fourth Doctor - Tom Baker has made no secret in interviews that he did not like John Nathan-Turner, and the rough patch in his relationship with Lalla Ward during production of this season is infamous to the point where its been discussed on official commentaries. So while all this stuff does bleed into his performance, he's still Tom Baker playing the Doctor, and he's really good at that. His onscreen presence, especially at the beginning of the season, is as magnetic and commanding as ever. However, there's a weird lack of focus on his character towards the end of the season. This is partially due to the introduction (or reintroduction) of other characters taking precedence, but it also stems from the fact that he seemed more muted in the role. In Logopolis especially, he feels weirdly subdued, like he's going through the motions, which isn't the note you want any Doctor, especially this one, to go out on. As an aside, while I think the question mark motif is terrible, I actually quite like the Doctor's new costume this season. It still has a variation of the iconic hat and scarf, but introduces a new color palette for what's essentially a new era of the show, and allows for something new for Romana's extensive wardrobe to pair with.
Lalla Ward as Romana - Unlike other actors, Ward's growing frustration with the show bled onscreen on the most, leaving otherwise warm and well-executed interactions with the Doctor feeling weirdly tight-lipped. Her scenes with Adric especially are awkward and it's extremely obvious that the two actors did not get along, with certain lines of dialogue containing much more malice than they reasonably should. All that said, Ward is extremely suited to this role and does carry the same style and charm she had last season, and the cloud hanging over her head does at least better inform the character's growing anxiety over returning to Gallifrey. Unfortunately, a lot of this potential is squandered as she's given a rather rushed and poorly executed exit that's somehow even sloppier than Leela's. It's really a shame, and one of my favorite companions of the show so far deserved a better note, and a better environment, to go out on.
John Leeson as K9 Mark II - Leeson returns to the role after a season away to a final outing that involves K9 being damaged in some way in most of the stories. The opening scene of the season made me laugh out loud, as it was clearly a clumsy attempt to explain the voice changing back, but then the show went out of the way to repeatedly destroy the poor robot. This did foreshadow his ultimate breakdown and exit in null space with Romana, but even then it still felt rather rushed. The character had been a mainstay of the show for four seasons, and I wish his final arc felt more cohesive than it ended up being. Still, while it might be the end of the road for this particular model, I'm glad that K9 is still able to live on in the universe of Doctor Who with Leeson along for the ride.
Matthew Waterhouse as Adric - I don't understand the hate for Adric? I actually think that out of all the regular characters, he was the most engaging and had the most consistently strong performances, especially considering he was acting opposite co-stars who clearly hated his guts. He helped balance out the Tardis team during the E-Space trilogy as it allowed the show to use the traditional Doctor-Companion dynamic without having to resort to giving Romana stupid pills, and weirdly the character really gelled with K9. His best stories this season were actually towards the tail end, where he was still able to command attention in his scenes despite them becoming increasingly crowded with new cast members, and was the most active and involved of the new companions introduced this season. I'm really curious to see what his role is like next season, but if it's even a fraction as compelling as this season I guess you can sign me up as an Adric apologist.
Geoffrey Beavers and Anthony Ainley as The Master - I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about the show reintroducing The Master, but they definitely knocked it out of the park on both castings. The last gasps of the "Crispy Master" were deliciously played by Beavers, who infused the incarnation with a lot more ethos than Peter Pratt did in season 14 (though I suspect this was partially due with the change in the character's makeup). The real star is Ainley though, who deftly pulls off the double act of the endearing Tremas and a deliciously evil Master. His inaugural portrayal is so well done that he actually upstages Tom Baker in his final outing as the Doctor! I'm really excited to see more of this incarnation going forward, and if he'll have any further entanglements with Nyssa.
Sarah Sutton as Nyssa - I feel like I don't have a great grasp on this character yet, as while she appeared in two stories it was in a very supporting capacity. I did think her screen time in the finale with The Master was a particular standout in a very crowded story, and I see a lot of potential with the character and the groundwork they've laid with her. I'm glad she's sticking around and I'm looking forward to seeing what she brings to the show next season.
Janet Fielding as Tegan Jovanka - Like Nyssa, I don't have a great grasp on her character yet because she only appeared in one, very busy story. I can't help but feel like the character would've been better served being introduced in next season's opener along with the Fifth Doctor. What little we do get with her is interesting, and she clearly does have potential, but I guess it's playing a waiting game to see how it all shakes out. I like her outfit a lot.
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.
7) Serial 5, Episodes 17-20 - Warriors' Gate
That brings me to the part that I am most upset about: It's a bad exit for Romana and K9. Their goodbye scene at the end feels extremely tacked on, and isn't foreshadowed at all in the story. If anything, a big confrontation regarding Gallifrey that tied into Romana's main story arc is what was hyped throughout the season, and would've been an extremely satisfying way for the character to leave, but instead they gave us... this. It feels like a ton of wasted potential both story and character-wise. Romana is one of my favorite companions and that this is the last we'll see of her (aside from recycled Shada footage in The Five Doctors) really bums me out and makes me feel bitter toward the whole production this season. God only knows what Ward thought of it.
6) Serial 1, Episodes 1-4 - The Leisure Hive
5) Serial 7, Episodes 25-28 - Logopolis
The other performances in this story are fine. Tegan and Nyssa are serviceable enough in a story that doesn't really allow them room to breathe. Adric is as solid as ever, and acts as a good mediary between the Doctor and the two new companions. Tom Baker is, again, fine, but what really hurts his performance is that he really needs to keep things close to the vest in order for the "twist" to work. And by that I mean the Achilles heel of this story: The Watcher. A figure who's presence is never really explained except that maybe he is the Doctor? A version that knows what's about to happen? He can't be an apparition though because he pilots the Tardis and brings Nyssa to Logopolis, and talks to both the Doctor and Adric in scenes we do not hear. We don't know what the ultimate purpose of his character is aside from aiding in a regeneration the Doctor apparently knew was imminent? It's all so vague and complicated, and doesn't pay off in any meaningful way aside from robbing the Doctor's regeneration of some of the poignancy it rightfully deserved. I will say, aside from that element, the regeneration sequence itself was solid. The choice for the Doctor to see flashes of his old friends and foes was a nice touch, and reminded you how long and how great his era has been - and it's more than just the odd notes of this story.
4) Serial 2, Episodes 5-8 - Meglos
Much like The Leisure Hive, this story was a victim of pacing more than anything. The whole first episode is mostly exposition, with the Doctor and Romana faffing about on the Tardis and ending up trapped in a time loop. It's only in episode 2, when the Doctor and Romana work out a way to break the loop while Meglos masquerades as the Doctor in order to steal the Dodecahedron, that it feels like the story really takes off. And the story we ultimately get feels weirdly short because there's essentially only three episodes of it, and as a result the guest characters feel weirdly underwritten. Lexa is only memorable because she was played by Jacqueline Hill (who played Barbara Wright), and Zastor feels like he should be a prominent character but fades into the background. On the other hand, Meglos and his allies feel just present enough, and the episode does take full advantage of the doppleganger hijinks that ensue. And that's really where this episode succeeds: On Tom Baker's performance both as the Doctor and as Meglos. Despite everything going on behind the scenes, it must've been fun for Baker to play a different role on the show, and as Meglos pretends to be the Doctor he is delightfully "off" in a way that shows how good he is navigating the Doctor's character. The effects work in this is a coin toss, and poor K9 is essentially just a prop in this, but this story ends up perfectly serviceable. I just wish that in their last adventure as a duo, we'd get more scenes with the Doctor and Romana.
3) Serial 3, Episodes 9-12 - Full Circle
This story begins following the same kind of structure as Meglos, in that the first episode has the Doctor and Romana hanging out in the Tardis while the plot begins to unfold without them. However, it's not an issue here because that plot revolves around Adric, the first of this season's new companions, and allows the audience to get to know him before he wanders inside the Tardis in a panic. His introductory story does a really good job of showcasing many facets of his character, both good and bad, and by the time you see him decide to stow away on the Tardis at the end you have a pretty good understanding of what makes this guy tick. And honestly? I really like him. I like his messy but well-meaning approach, how he's equal parts selfish and concerned for the well being of people he'd just met like Romana. I also thought this story was very well constructed, and a good showing by a brand new writer who was only eighteen at the time. The plot twists served the themes it was exploring well, while also taking it in directions I didn't see coming. It also set up and explained the premise of the E-Space Trilogy thoroughly and in a way that was easy to understand... which doesn't always happen on Doctor Who. The lore of the planet was clearly well thought out and everything (except for the river fruit I guess) ultimately tied together and had a payoff.
I will say one of my favorite scenes of the story is at the beginning when Romana goes into her room and laments that she doesn't want to go back to Gallifrey, and knows they're going to punish her for not returning after her mission to collect the pieces of the Key to Time ended. It was a lovely back-and-forth between her and the Doctor that really showed how much those two characters had grown to love each other. I just wish the season had worked to pay that off more.
2) Serial 4, Episodes 13-16 - State of Decay
While it's easily the best Doctor-Romana story of the season, K9 gets a fair bit to do as well despite being camped out in the Tardis. He has some nice sparring with Adric, and later proves instrumental in defeating the Giant Vampire. His scene on the "throne" of the ship, echoing an earlier scene were the Doctor and Romana sat down and chatted, was visually brilliant and got a chuckle out of me. Adric didn't have a ton to do in this (aside from piss off Romana) but it was an interesting pay off to the stowaway ending of the previous story, in a way that was completely different from when Zoe did it back in season 6. I also have to say, the vampires, the villagers, and the "rebels" are all very wonderfully realized, and help create a very memorable weirdly cozy atmosphere for this story that was decidedly not warm and cozy. I guess maybe Steven Moffat should've rewatched this before writing his recent Dracula adaption for the BBC.
1) Serial 6, Episodes 21-24 - The Keeper of Traken
As for the master himself, Geoffrey Beavers does an excellent job, especially considering he's essentially doing voiceover work for much of the serial. Kassia is also extremely compelling as someone who almost begins as a willing subject of the Master before seeming to realize too late how grave an error she's made - ultimately paying with her life. The tension that runs through this story is palpable, and it's actually incredible how well they were able to execute it considering how easy it would've been to derail it all.
Final Thoughts
Change, and a willingness to change, is what has allowed Doctor Who to continue and grow for nearly sixty years, but it's also nice when the show pays tribute to it's past. Overall, this season appears more concerned with looking to the future than reflecting on it's past, which usually isn't a bad thing for me, but considering this was the Fourth Doctor's swan song I wish it had been taken more into consideration. Though I suppose it accomplished it's ultimate goal: I'm really excited to see what happens in the Fifth Doctor era. Like season 15, this has been a mixed bag as the show, under direction of a new showrunner, tries to create a new image for itself while utilizing characters and stories left over from the previous team. So in that regard, I can't judge it too harshly. And I know that for every decision that's puzzled me, there's others that feel inspired. (Such as K-9 and Company, which I've decided to separate into it's own review rather than as an add-on to this one).
I do plan on taking another short break on watching Classic Who like I did between seasons 15 and 16, as I've decided I'm going to be dipping my toes in the water of other scifi series involving some of the same creative talent from Doctor Who. Namely, I will be starting Blake's 7 and Sapphire & Steel, and I'm (tentatively) planning on writing out some reviews similar to these. I also have more special features from my Bluray box sets of Classic Who seasons 10, 12, and 18 to explore, and the American release of season 14 is only a couple of weeks away. I feel like I've chosen a really fun time to get into Classic Who, and it's really been a lifeline during this global pandemic. I'm happy I get to hold onto it for just a little bit longer.
A lot of this can be attributed to the fact that John Nathan-Turner took over from Graham Williams as producer and immediately pushed for a number of stylistic changes, some good and some bad, so coming off the previous season it immediately felt jarring. It also involves a lot of plot and character setup for the next season and the new era of the show, while not seeming to pay much attention to the era that's ending. One of the strengths of the Third Doctor's exit was how many elements from his tenure ultimately came into play with his ultimate end, but that was very much not the case here, which was disappointing. I suspect my feelings on this season in the future will ultimately be influenced by what I think of the Fifth Doctor's era. Right now I'm just thinking about how far this all feels from the Fourth Doctor's debut.
Like the previous seventeen seasons, the serials are available to watch via streaming on Britbox. This season had seven stories, and as stated above is easily the hardest and perhaps most involved ranking I've ever had to do for this show.
The Characters
Tom Baker as The Fourth Doctor - Tom Baker has made no secret in interviews that he did not like John Nathan-Turner, and the rough patch in his relationship with Lalla Ward during production of this season is infamous to the point where its been discussed on official commentaries. So while all this stuff does bleed into his performance, he's still Tom Baker playing the Doctor, and he's really good at that. His onscreen presence, especially at the beginning of the season, is as magnetic and commanding as ever. However, there's a weird lack of focus on his character towards the end of the season. This is partially due to the introduction (or reintroduction) of other characters taking precedence, but it also stems from the fact that he seemed more muted in the role. In Logopolis especially, he feels weirdly subdued, like he's going through the motions, which isn't the note you want any Doctor, especially this one, to go out on. As an aside, while I think the question mark motif is terrible, I actually quite like the Doctor's new costume this season. It still has a variation of the iconic hat and scarf, but introduces a new color palette for what's essentially a new era of the show, and allows for something new for Romana's extensive wardrobe to pair with.
Lalla Ward as Romana - Unlike other actors, Ward's growing frustration with the show bled onscreen on the most, leaving otherwise warm and well-executed interactions with the Doctor feeling weirdly tight-lipped. Her scenes with Adric especially are awkward and it's extremely obvious that the two actors did not get along, with certain lines of dialogue containing much more malice than they reasonably should. All that said, Ward is extremely suited to this role and does carry the same style and charm she had last season, and the cloud hanging over her head does at least better inform the character's growing anxiety over returning to Gallifrey. Unfortunately, a lot of this potential is squandered as she's given a rather rushed and poorly executed exit that's somehow even sloppier than Leela's. It's really a shame, and one of my favorite companions of the show so far deserved a better note, and a better environment, to go out on.
John Leeson as K9 Mark II - Leeson returns to the role after a season away to a final outing that involves K9 being damaged in some way in most of the stories. The opening scene of the season made me laugh out loud, as it was clearly a clumsy attempt to explain the voice changing back, but then the show went out of the way to repeatedly destroy the poor robot. This did foreshadow his ultimate breakdown and exit in null space with Romana, but even then it still felt rather rushed. The character had been a mainstay of the show for four seasons, and I wish his final arc felt more cohesive than it ended up being. Still, while it might be the end of the road for this particular model, I'm glad that K9 is still able to live on in the universe of Doctor Who with Leeson along for the ride.
Matthew Waterhouse as Adric - I don't understand the hate for Adric? I actually think that out of all the regular characters, he was the most engaging and had the most consistently strong performances, especially considering he was acting opposite co-stars who clearly hated his guts. He helped balance out the Tardis team during the E-Space trilogy as it allowed the show to use the traditional Doctor-Companion dynamic without having to resort to giving Romana stupid pills, and weirdly the character really gelled with K9. His best stories this season were actually towards the tail end, where he was still able to command attention in his scenes despite them becoming increasingly crowded with new cast members, and was the most active and involved of the new companions introduced this season. I'm really curious to see what his role is like next season, but if it's even a fraction as compelling as this season I guess you can sign me up as an Adric apologist.
Geoffrey Beavers and Anthony Ainley as The Master - I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about the show reintroducing The Master, but they definitely knocked it out of the park on both castings. The last gasps of the "Crispy Master" were deliciously played by Beavers, who infused the incarnation with a lot more ethos than Peter Pratt did in season 14 (though I suspect this was partially due with the change in the character's makeup). The real star is Ainley though, who deftly pulls off the double act of the endearing Tremas and a deliciously evil Master. His inaugural portrayal is so well done that he actually upstages Tom Baker in his final outing as the Doctor! I'm really excited to see more of this incarnation going forward, and if he'll have any further entanglements with Nyssa.
Sarah Sutton as Nyssa - I feel like I don't have a great grasp on this character yet, as while she appeared in two stories it was in a very supporting capacity. I did think her screen time in the finale with The Master was a particular standout in a very crowded story, and I see a lot of potential with the character and the groundwork they've laid with her. I'm glad she's sticking around and I'm looking forward to seeing what she brings to the show next season.
Janet Fielding as Tegan Jovanka - Like Nyssa, I don't have a great grasp on her character yet because she only appeared in one, very busy story. I can't help but feel like the character would've been better served being introduced in next season's opener along with the Fifth Doctor. What little we do get with her is interesting, and she clearly does have potential, but I guess it's playing a waiting game to see how it all shakes out. I like her outfit a lot.
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.
7) Serial 5, Episodes 17-20 - Warriors' Gate
Warriors' Gate is, most charitably, a story whose ambitions were beyond what the show could realistically execute at the time. Most cynically, it's a overly complicated mess that muddles a major story arc and provides an unsatisfying exit for two extremely important characters. (x)
This is the only story whose ranking I was completely sure of as soon as I was finished with the season. While other stories have failed critically in my eyes (Underworld) and others have, for whatever reason, earned my disdain (Nightmare of Eden), this one lands firmly in the intersection of both and might be my least favorite story of the Fourth Doctor era. There are three big reasons for this, all stemming from the overarching reason that this was a badly written story. It is overstuffed and confusing, and it makes sense that it was only made because they did not have time to write anything to replace it with. It closes out the E-Space Trilogy in a way that's extremely confusing and unsatisfying, and makes a whole otherwise solid arc feel like a complete waste. The direction and effects work is also a mess. It's clear that they were trying to create something that looked cool visually, but only succeeded in making an already confusing script even more confusing to follow, and there were large chunks of the story where I had no idea what was happening. I couldn't tell what the motivations for any of the characters were or why I should care about whatever was happening to them. It all probably wouldn't have mattered as much if it wasn't so important for the plot of the show this season.That brings me to the part that I am most upset about: It's a bad exit for Romana and K9. Their goodbye scene at the end feels extremely tacked on, and isn't foreshadowed at all in the story. If anything, a big confrontation regarding Gallifrey that tied into Romana's main story arc is what was hyped throughout the season, and would've been an extremely satisfying way for the character to leave, but instead they gave us... this. It feels like a ton of wasted potential both story and character-wise. Romana is one of my favorite companions and that this is the last we'll see of her (aside from recycled Shada footage in The Five Doctors) really bums me out and makes me feel bitter toward the whole production this season. God only knows what Ward thought of it.
6) Serial 1, Episodes 1-4 - The Leisure Hive
The Leisure Hive seems more interested in showing off a lot of seemingly unnecessary special effects and the show's other aesthetic changes than it is in the actual story it's telling. The story itself feels like it's treading water until the big reveal in the final episode. (x)
This story is honestly fine. It's most here because it was confusing and had some very bad pacing, and didn't have standout character or story elements the way other stories this season did. As stated above, it felt like it was treading water until the big reveal at the top of the final episode, which was more interesting than the first three and honestly should've been the focus of the whole story. The idea of a secret alien mob doing some hit jobs didn't really land and was ultimately more confusing than it was worth, but the child of the machine staging a coup and raising an army was engaging and raised the stakes at the very end. This story also has two very strong elements going for it: The enduring chemistry between Tom Baker and Lalla Ward, who I believe were mostly getting along with each other and not with John Nathan-Turner during the production of this, and the very good special effects. That said, I don't know why so much money was poured into this story, as while the special effects look cool they don't really serve any purpose aside from creating a visual look that's a very distinctive departure from the previous season. I will say, I enjoyed the opening scene at Brighton Beach more than I probably should have, as it was so dumb and over the top I couldn't help but latch onto it.5) Serial 7, Episodes 25-28 - Logopolis
Logopolis feels like a story more concerned with setting up a new era for the show rather than paying tribute to the Fourth Doctor's, leading to a send-off where he feels weirdly peripheral. The intentionally ambiguous Watcher figure and the entropy plot all felt too confusing. (x)
It really bums me out that I'm ranking this serial so low. I couldn't justify ranking it any higher though because it's one of the three stories I had to resort to wiki summaries in order to understand what was going on. It's also probably the weakest performance Tom Baker turns in all season, which is especially frustrating since it's his final story. It's not really his fault though, because this story is jam-packed with so many things, most of them serving as set-up for the following season and the Fifth Doctor's era of the show: The introduction of Tegan Jovanka, Nyssa's return as a companion, and the debut of Anthony Ainley in the role of the Master. Of all these elements, Ainley comes out the strongest, turning out a performance that ultimately outshines everyone, including Baker, in every scene he's in. And while his tete-a-tete is a definite strong point of this story, the real highlight for me was his first scene with Nyssa, where he tricks her into believing he's still her father. It's the kind of dark, twisted place the show doesn't hit very often, and it really helps establish what kind of person this incarnation of The Master is.The other performances in this story are fine. Tegan and Nyssa are serviceable enough in a story that doesn't really allow them room to breathe. Adric is as solid as ever, and acts as a good mediary between the Doctor and the two new companions. Tom Baker is, again, fine, but what really hurts his performance is that he really needs to keep things close to the vest in order for the "twist" to work. And by that I mean the Achilles heel of this story: The Watcher. A figure who's presence is never really explained except that maybe he is the Doctor? A version that knows what's about to happen? He can't be an apparition though because he pilots the Tardis and brings Nyssa to Logopolis, and talks to both the Doctor and Adric in scenes we do not hear. We don't know what the ultimate purpose of his character is aside from aiding in a regeneration the Doctor apparently knew was imminent? It's all so vague and complicated, and doesn't pay off in any meaningful way aside from robbing the Doctor's regeneration of some of the poignancy it rightfully deserved. I will say, aside from that element, the regeneration sequence itself was solid. The choice for the Doctor to see flashes of his old friends and foes was a nice touch, and reminded you how long and how great his era has been - and it's more than just the odd notes of this story.
4) Serial 2, Episodes 5-8 - Meglos
Meglos is a relatively straightforward story that is thrown off by some very weird pacing. The first episode feels superfluous, but the other three episodes feel like they're quickly burning through story. Some characters, particularly Zastor and Lexa, feel weirdly underutilized. (x)
Much like The Leisure Hive, this story was a victim of pacing more than anything. The whole first episode is mostly exposition, with the Doctor and Romana faffing about on the Tardis and ending up trapped in a time loop. It's only in episode 2, when the Doctor and Romana work out a way to break the loop while Meglos masquerades as the Doctor in order to steal the Dodecahedron, that it feels like the story really takes off. And the story we ultimately get feels weirdly short because there's essentially only three episodes of it, and as a result the guest characters feel weirdly underwritten. Lexa is only memorable because she was played by Jacqueline Hill (who played Barbara Wright), and Zastor feels like he should be a prominent character but fades into the background. On the other hand, Meglos and his allies feel just present enough, and the episode does take full advantage of the doppleganger hijinks that ensue. And that's really where this episode succeeds: On Tom Baker's performance both as the Doctor and as Meglos. Despite everything going on behind the scenes, it must've been fun for Baker to play a different role on the show, and as Meglos pretends to be the Doctor he is delightfully "off" in a way that shows how good he is navigating the Doctor's character. The effects work in this is a coin toss, and poor K9 is essentially just a prop in this, but this story ends up perfectly serviceable. I just wish that in their last adventure as a duo, we'd get more scenes with the Doctor and Romana.
3) Serial 3, Episodes 9-12 - Full Circle
Full Circle has one of the best Doctor-Romana scenes in ages, before mostly sidelining her and K9 for the rest of the story. This mostly works okay as they instead give Adric a very prominent role in his introductory story, while also laying the groundwork for a larger season arc. (x)
This story begins following the same kind of structure as Meglos, in that the first episode has the Doctor and Romana hanging out in the Tardis while the plot begins to unfold without them. However, it's not an issue here because that plot revolves around Adric, the first of this season's new companions, and allows the audience to get to know him before he wanders inside the Tardis in a panic. His introductory story does a really good job of showcasing many facets of his character, both good and bad, and by the time you see him decide to stow away on the Tardis at the end you have a pretty good understanding of what makes this guy tick. And honestly? I really like him. I like his messy but well-meaning approach, how he's equal parts selfish and concerned for the well being of people he'd just met like Romana. I also thought this story was very well constructed, and a good showing by a brand new writer who was only eighteen at the time. The plot twists served the themes it was exploring well, while also taking it in directions I didn't see coming. It also set up and explained the premise of the E-Space Trilogy thoroughly and in a way that was easy to understand... which doesn't always happen on Doctor Who. The lore of the planet was clearly well thought out and everything (except for the river fruit I guess) ultimately tied together and had a payoff.
I will say one of my favorite scenes of the story is at the beginning when Romana goes into her room and laments that she doesn't want to go back to Gallifrey, and knows they're going to punish her for not returning after her mission to collect the pieces of the Key to Time ended. It was a lovely back-and-forth between her and the Doctor that really showed how much those two characters had grown to love each other. I just wish the season had worked to pay that off more.
2) Serial 4, Episodes 13-16 - State of Decay
State of Decay has a wonderful Gothic atmosphere, both visually and textually. The concept of Vampires could've gone very wrong on this show, but they strike the perfect balance. The Doctor and Romana are a great double act and ooze chemistry, and K9's scenes are delightful. (x)
One of the hardest parts of compiling this list was choosing my top two, as they kept switching back and forth in my head since they were so starkly different and had such vastly different strengths. I actually think this story is nearly pitch-perfect, and I only bumped it down because this was the less vital of the two. As the middle chapter of the E-Space Trilogy, it's light on story arc but big on adventure, as it devotes most of it's time to a Gothic romp involving space vampires and an old spaceship that looks like a medieval castle. It earns high marks on it's visuals alone, from the set design to the makeup and styling, to the expertly done directing. I'm really glad the Director fought for the version of the script that served his vision, because it was perfectly realized in a way that didn't rely on special effects. Some of the best sequences are the Doctor and Romana standing together in the woods, a slight tension in the air (partially because Baker and Ward were obviously having a disagreement, but still). One scene in particular that sticks out is when the Doctor and Romana have been captured, and as they brainstorm on what the villain's ultimate plan is and how to defeat it, the Doctor vocalizes his appreciation and admiration of Romana in a way that absolutely melted my heart. Those two had insane chemistry, and when the show allowed itself to lean into it it paid dividends.While it's easily the best Doctor-Romana story of the season, K9 gets a fair bit to do as well despite being camped out in the Tardis. He has some nice sparring with Adric, and later proves instrumental in defeating the Giant Vampire. His scene on the "throne" of the ship, echoing an earlier scene were the Doctor and Romana sat down and chatted, was visually brilliant and got a chuckle out of me. Adric didn't have a ton to do in this (aside from piss off Romana) but it was an interesting pay off to the stowaway ending of the previous story, in a way that was completely different from when Zoe did it back in season 6. I also have to say, the vampires, the villagers, and the "rebels" are all very wonderfully realized, and help create a very memorable weirdly cozy atmosphere for this story that was decidedly not warm and cozy. I guess maybe Steven Moffat should've rewatched this before writing his recent Dracula adaption for the BBC.
1) Serial 6, Episodes 21-24 - The Keeper of Traken
The Keeper of Traken has a unique enough premise and is well paced, but its real asset is a stand out cast. Adric works very well as a solo companion, and it serves as both a great reintroduction to the Master and the actor who will play him, as well as future companion Nyssa. (x)
Coming off the low point of Warriors' Gate, to say I wasn't expecting much from the end of this season is an understatement. But this story blew past my highest expectations because of how deftly it reintroduced the Master and told a compelling story that at first glance is a return to the stand-alone structure. While this story also introduces soon-to-be companion Nyssa, she's very much a supporting role in a story that sees Adric take on the role of the Doctor's sole companion, which actually works very well without Romana and K9. He's very proactive, and in their solo scenes he and the Doctor bounce off each other really well and drive the story forward at a steady clip (a trend that could continue in Logopolis). He also hits it off instantly with Nyssa, and the two share a similar archetype of the teen genius but manifested in a slightly different way. Unlike Adric, Nyssa had a stable and reliable father figure to rely on, and that's where we get to Anthony Ainley. Even in this role that's decidedly not the Master, he's extremely charismatic and has good chemistry with Tom Baker. He successfully makes you root for him to succeed and make it out of this situation alive with his daughter, which only makes the ending even more tragic.As for the master himself, Geoffrey Beavers does an excellent job, especially considering he's essentially doing voiceover work for much of the serial. Kassia is also extremely compelling as someone who almost begins as a willing subject of the Master before seeming to realize too late how grave an error she's made - ultimately paying with her life. The tension that runs through this story is palpable, and it's actually incredible how well they were able to execute it considering how easy it would've been to derail it all.
Final Thoughts
Change, and a willingness to change, is what has allowed Doctor Who to continue and grow for nearly sixty years, but it's also nice when the show pays tribute to it's past. Overall, this season appears more concerned with looking to the future than reflecting on it's past, which usually isn't a bad thing for me, but considering this was the Fourth Doctor's swan song I wish it had been taken more into consideration. Though I suppose it accomplished it's ultimate goal: I'm really excited to see what happens in the Fifth Doctor era. Like season 15, this has been a mixed bag as the show, under direction of a new showrunner, tries to create a new image for itself while utilizing characters and stories left over from the previous team. So in that regard, I can't judge it too harshly. And I know that for every decision that's puzzled me, there's others that feel inspired. (Such as K-9 and Company, which I've decided to separate into it's own review rather than as an add-on to this one).
I do plan on taking another short break on watching Classic Who like I did between seasons 15 and 16, as I've decided I'm going to be dipping my toes in the water of other scifi series involving some of the same creative talent from Doctor Who. Namely, I will be starting Blake's 7 and Sapphire & Steel, and I'm (tentatively) planning on writing out some reviews similar to these. I also have more special features from my Bluray box sets of Classic Who seasons 10, 12, and 18 to explore, and the American release of season 14 is only a couple of weeks away. I feel like I've chosen a really fun time to get into Classic Who, and it's really been a lifeline during this global pandemic. I'm happy I get to hold onto it for just a little bit longer.