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Classic Doctor Who, Season 20 Review
While I've enjoyed every season of Classic Who so far, I think it's been pretty obvious that my enthusiasm has been dampened a bit during the previous two seasons, since it felt like for every great thing they did there was another two things that felt underwhelming. So with that in mind, it really feels like the show got a massive shot in the arm this season, and it may actually be among my favorites of the whole series. While last season struggled to balance an usually large regular ensemble, this season more than rose to the challenge while also following up on several major characters and story arcs from across the whole history of the show. I had high hopes going in, but this really reminded me how much I love this show, and couldn't have been a better lead up to something I've been anticipating for years - The Five Doctors, which, after some consideration, I'll be reviewing separately from this season.
I've previously acknowledged John Nathan-Turner and Eric Saward's proclivity toward longer, ongoing story arcs, but this is the season where it feels like it really bears fruit. The Black Guardian Trilogy in particular stands out not just in this season, but among the previous E-Space and New Beginnings Trilogies. Considering how much it was built up, and with the Black Guardian getting the occasional namedrop since The Key to Time arc in season 16, this could have so easily shit the bed. However, I feel like it ended up being easily the best Fifth Doctor material thus far, and I wouldn't be surprised if it grew in my esteem upon rewatch. It's also incredible to think that it also deftly handled the return of Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart, the introduction of Turlough, and the departure of Nyssa.
Like the previous nineteen seasons, the serials are available to watch via streaming on Britbox. This season had six stories, and honestly ranking most of these felt like comparing apples to oranges. I still did though.
The Characters
Peter Davison as The Fifth Doctor - I thought Davison was perfectly fine last season, and cleared the bar of doing something different with the role than his predecessor while still feeling like he was portraying the same character. This season it really feels like he stepped up his game, showing the Doctor to be much cagier and underhanded than I ever expected him to be. I was genuinely thrown at points about what his motivations were, but never in a way that made me doubt the writing or Davison's acting ability. As far as his relationships go, leaning into his tension with Tegan was an interesting choice, considering how well he ended up gelling with Nyssa as a solo companion, and how frought his dynamic with Turlough ended up being. It certainly allowed for some much more dynamic scenes, especially since they weren't shy about regularly pairing off the Doctor with different characters. I will also note that I found the scene in Enlightenment where he swapped out the wilting celery on his jacket for a new one to be weirdly charming.
Sarah Sutton as Nyssa - I knew going into this season that Nyssa would be leaving in the middle of a major story arc, and I was worried she'd be short-changed again like she was through most of the previous season. Not only did those fears not come to pass, but this may actually be her strongest showing. As Tegan was largely separated from the rest of the cast during the first two stories, and was pared off with Turlough in the fourth, Nyssa ended up getting a lot of material with The Doctor as the "primary companion". And like I noted last season, she is very competent in the role and gels really well with him, all without needing to sacrifice her capabilities as previous companions have had to. Even her departure ends up being a celebration of the characters virtues and abilities, with her desire to use her mind to help others winning out and choosing to leave the Tardis. I feel like the show could have gotten a lot more mileage out of her, but she certainly left on a high note, and with the audience (me) wanting more.
Janet Fielding as Tegan Jovanka - I ended last season wondering where they were going to go with Tegan, since they'd seemingly reached the end to her current character arc. However, they managed to develop her in a way I didn't expect, but in a way that feels very true to her character as she's been up to now. No longer the reluctant companion, she makes the decision to stay but is not only faced again with the trauma of the Mara, but with internal conflict in the Tardis driven by a clash of personalities. With Nyssa leaving, she finds herself in opposition to the Doctor inviting both Turlough and Kamelion to travel with him on the Tardis, falling into the same argumentative pattern once again. Only this time, her frustration stems out of the Doctor not giving her opinions the same weight he may have given Nyssa's. She's now the enthusiastic companion, but she's also the one that's expected to stay in the Tardis while the Doctor and a new companion they've just met go off on an adventure on their own. And considering how thrilled Turlough himself is about this, it creates a very combative and divided Tardis team that makes for some excellent, heated scenes. And Tegan definitely brings the necessary energy.
Mark Strickson as Vislor Turlough - Turlough is a companion I've seen name-dropped before, I suspect partially because he's the rare male companion (and someone that can theoretically be shipped with the Fifth Doctor in fanfiction). That, and that this is when he shows up, really marks the beginning and end of my knowledge of the character going into this, so I was very pleasantly surprised by how strong an impression he made and how unlike any other previous companion he was. In many ways, he's the show's version of a pre-Harry Potter Draco Malfoy, down to the antagonism driven more by moral failing and cowardice rather than outright malice, and by the end guilt-ridden by the situation he's found himself entangled in. This is only compounded by the Doctor inexplicably offering him a place on the Tardis, and Tegan warming to him after initially refusing to trust him at all. Like I said above, the polarized personalities in the Tardis make for very good television, and I was pleasantly surprised by how much screentime was allowed to build Turlough up as a character rather than just have him as a flat vessel for the Black Guardian plot. Much like Tegan last season, he ends the season more or less in a state of flux, initially desiring to return home but seemingly intrigued by the Doctor's promises of adventure. I'm very excited to see how the character grows now that the shadow of the Black Guardian is no longer looming over him.
Valentine Dyall as the Black Guardian and Cyril Luckham as the White Guardian - Back in my review of The Key to Time, I noted that neither of these characters really left an impression - only that they didn't look particularly similar. That's not the case anymore, since in the full costume and without the mustache and beard, there actually is a fair amount resemblance. This time around they definitely made more of an impression as well, with Dyall in particular allowed to really be deliciously, cartoonishly evil onscreen in a surprising number of scenes where he torments Turlough. His plan is a bit muddled though, and its really only on the strength of Enlightenment that it really all comes together in hindsight. It also provides a much more satisfying "exit" for these characters, as the confrontation is more direct than in The Armageddon Factor and feels a bit more grand and final, even though they intentionally leave the door open for another return that never materializes.
Nicholas Courtney as Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart - Nothing makes you notice the passage of time more than a returning cast member. Courtney still looks good, but is noticably longer in the tooth than he was during his original run on the show. That said, he was the perfect character to bring back for this, even knowing they'd almost used Ian or Harry. The Brigadier has a legacy with this show unlike any other character, and I was pleasantly surprised how much Mawdryn Undead focused on him. The plot of the story allowed for a scene with numerous callbacks I wasn't expecting and made me weirdly emotional. As far as performance goes, even with his memory messed up, Courtney still delivers a performance that feels like the same character.
Anthony Ainley as The Master - Much like I said last season, Ainley has really acclimated to the role to a degree that's really impressive. Unfortunately he didn't really have much of a presence this season because he really only appeared in one episode. While I appreciate the return to the format used during the Delgado years, I'm hoping they'll be more versatile with how they use him in the future. Ainley is a talented performer and he's at his best when he's allowed to own the screen and really butt heads with the Doctor.
Gerald Flood as Kamelion - Kamelion is a character I've seen alluded to in oblique terms, so I was interested to see how/when he showed up and what he would be like. I will say I commend the ambition that went into creating this character. It is a big creative swing that I'm not sure pays off... though it doesn't not pay off. It mostly boils down to the fact that we don't really get a sense of Kamelion as an actual character, despite his insistence that he has his own consciousness and will in the closing moments. If he were a more prominent character going forward I could forgive it, but I know he isn't (through no fault of the production staff, but through tragic circumstances with those responsible for operating the prop). I'm hopeful in what little screen time we have left, some of this unrealized potential is realized, because if there's one thing this character has in spades, it's potential.
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.
6) Serial 6, Episodes 21-22 - The King's Demons
As far as the rest of the story goes, the whole construction of it seemed confused and felt out of sorts with how well-realized the rest of this season was. They clearly had no idea what to do with Turlough in this and just inexplicably threw him in the dungeon and let him flail about. The Doctor and Tegan just kind of wander aimlessly while wondering aloud what is going on until the Master reveals himself... where they largely do the same thing but with a tad more purpose. The best scene in this was probably the ending, where King John is revealed to actually be the android Kamelion, and the Doctor successfully frees him from The Master's control and spirits him away in the Tardis. Turlough follows close behind waving at sword, referring to the Master as "whoever you are", which I think is a perfect summation of what this story actually accomplished. An appetizer for The Five Doctors this was not.
5) Serial 1, Episodes 1-4 - Arc of Infinity
When I finished this story, I was pretty confident it would land towards the top of this list, which I think says a lot about how much I ended up loving this season that it's all the way down here. The main reason it did end up landing so low is, like with The Deadly Assassin and The Invasion of Time, I'm just not that enamored with Gallifrey. I will say that of the three I definitely enjoyed this one the most, and a big part of that are the sequences that are inexplicably shot on location in the streets of Amsterdam. It's a clear attempt to recreate the success of City of Death, and I'm not mad about it. Especially looking back on this nearly 40 years later, it's honestly fascinating to see the sights of the city during this slice of time, and the ending when the Doctor chased Omega around might have been my favorite bit of the story.
Tegan's reintroduction was also clever, having her fly in and then reveal that she was fired from her job as a stewardess. Her investigative scenes here without the Doctor are a treat, and really shows how much she's grown from her confused flailing in Logopolis. The real standout companion here though is Nyssa, who really excels in the role of a solo companion for the Doctor. While she clearly has some stage direction that was originally intended for Leela, it just makes her feel all the more rounded as a character, and it was nice seeing her get a lot of stuff to do and a lot of one-on-one scenes with the Doctor. I do have to single out Peter Davison, who ends up playing the dual role of the Doctor and Omega. He really brings a nice energy to the latter, giving off this kind of foreboding energy as he moves and emotes completely differently from the Doctor. He also brings a different energy and approach to the Gallifrey scenes than Tom Baker did, making a lot of similar beats feel fresher as a result.
4) Serial 2, Episodes 5-8 - Snakedance
This story only has a pacing problem in the sense that it kind of abruptly ends a moment after the threat is defeated, in a way that kind of reminds me of season 7's The Ambassadors of Death. Hell, there was even a scene in the following story that was clearly intended to be part of the concluding moments of this one, but they ran out of space for it. Up until that point, everything it did felt absolutely correct. A follow up to last season's Kinda, it directly addresses Tegan's lingering doubts about the Mara and the time it spent controlling her mind. As a result, we're once again treated to a delightful performance by Janet Fielding, embodying the Mara with even more confidence and allowed to stay in the role for the entire length of the story. This also means that we essentially get another story with Nyssa as the "solo" companion, and I'm once again impressed by Sutton and Davison's chemistry and the easy dynamic they've formed.
The story itself is also just really fun. The fairgrounds on Manussa feels like a western depiction of a Middle Eastern marketplace, and putting aside that the entire planet seems to comprise of white people, this makes for a setting that instantly engaging. Other parts of the planet seem to have a more Greco-Roman influence, giving off the vibe of a civilization during that time which very much suits the story of the Mara. It's also nice to have a story that zeroes in more on what the Mara actually is, and while it doesn't explain the visions Tegan had in Kinda it does provide context for them. Lon, the ruler's son, is also a perfectly realized character and even though its clear from the beginning what's going to happen with him, it doesn't make it any less compelling.
3) Serial 3, Episodes 9-12 - Mawdryn Undead
I love the entirety of The Black Guardian Trilogy, hence why it's topping this list, but I had a very hard time ranking the three stories within in. While I similarly adore this part, the reason it ended up the lowest of the three were mostly technicalities. Mainly, I thought it managed to thread the needle in a very confusing plot and concept, but there were still a couple of elements that felt off looking back on it. Chiefly among them, I don't think I would've known that Turlough wasn't a normal boy and was actually, in fact, an Alien stranded on Earth if I hadn't looked it up, and the way the Doctor offered him a place on the Tardis after he'd spent the entire story acting really shady felt kind of weird. I'd assumed they were going somewhere with that later bit, and they kind of do, but the execution felt a bit sloppy and I doubt it translated to viewers the way they'd intended it to.
The rest of this story, however, blew me away. I thought Turlough was an inspired character to introduce, and he works perfectly right from this introduction, which really allows to show a range of conflicted motivations right off the bat. The Black Guardian's reintroduction immediately gives the story further stakes, as the "main plot" of the episode unfolds rather slowly. The real treat here is the reintroduction of the Brigadier, which could have felt like blatant fanservice but ends up being very significant to the plot. For a time travel show, it's surprising how little the idea of meeting one's past self has actually come up and been utilized (aside from the multi-Doctor stories, which are a different beast altogether). It's also nice to have the Brigadier back considering UNIT just kind of faded away in the early years of the Fourth Doctor, and to see how those people have moved on with their lives was surprisingly moving and made me feel nostalgic for stories I'd watched less than a year ago. As far as Mawdryn goes, he is very gross looking, but the ideas put forth by that character also feel like they should be no-brainers for a show like this, and is an interesting execution of the moral quandary of trying to achieve immortality. It also puts the Doctor in the very conspicuous position of having to give up part of himself in order to save those he cares about, paying more of a price than he ever has before. In the end it all ends up working out, but in the moment it feels more tense and consequential than Doctor Who has felt in a long time.
2) Serial 4, Episodes 13-16 - Terminus
This story also manages to pull off being in the midst of a major arc by pairing off Turlough with Tegan in the "B" plot. This allows the show to establish the dynamics of their relationship - one that will be central to the show going forward - and allowing the Black Guardian storyline to continue to develop without stepping on Nyssa's exit. The balancing act here is impressive, and makes every scene feel important. In particular, I really enjoyed how Tegan's distrust of Turlough wasn't dropped, but rather explored by making her forced to spend time with him for the entire story. Turlough similarly manages to form a bond with the person who was most hostile toward him, causing him even more internal conflict over helping the Black Guardian. Turlough repeatedly going back to help Tegan when he could have abandoned her multiple times really further endeared him to me, and really made me excited for where they would go in the saga's conclusion.
1) Serial 5, Episodes 17-20 - Enlightenment
Watching this story honestly felt magical to me, and it definitely leaned more into a fantasy element than Doctor Who normally allows itself to. When it comes to special effects I instinctively have my expectations in check because, hey, it was a low budget television show in the 80's. So the reveal of the ships flying through space honestly took my breath away, and I know it has a version with updated effects that I'm also very curious to see. While I know this has nothing to do with pirates, it visually harkens to that era which I enjoy since I'm a huge fan of those kinds of stories, and the way it blends with a sci-fi setting just really works for me on every level. I also thought the way the introduced and used the Eternals was very well done both thematically and in terms of the show's mythology, and it paired well with the similarly deity-like Guardians. Marriner's relationship with Tegan in particular was fascinating to watch unfold, and the ultimate resolution was both heartbreaking and unsettling. The idea of "higher beings" using "lower beings" as playthings is a concept the show has explored before, but this is definitely the most thoughtful the show has been about it, and I'm very disappointed that this is the only story Barbara Clegg ended up writing for Doctor Who. I must also commend Fiona Cumming for nailing a very cool and specific atmosphere throughout the entire story. The guest cast, with the notable exception of Wrack's first mate, are absolutely sublime and are some of the best one-off casting the show has ever had. Adding depth to characters that by their nature are detached is an extremely difficult feat, and the fact that not one but multiple actors managed to pull it off is an impressive achievement.
The ultimate conclusion to the Black Guardian arc and Turlough's journey in particular was a bit rough around the edges, but still resonated with me because the elements that worked worked. Turlough being abandoned by the Black Guardian and threatened with immortality, and then immediately trying to commit suicide is not something I expected from this show. The continued uncertainty of his motivations was extended much further than I thought was possible, and his ultimate choice to reject accepting "Enlightenment" in order to save the Doctor, and the realization that his choice was the actual Enlightenment, really felt like the perfect culmination for the character and the story arc. That said, how much the Doctor knows and when he knows it is seemingly left ambiguous for dramatic effect, but it makes him feel more detached from the action than he would be normally. I think this still mostly works as, unlike his relationship with Nyssa, his dynamic with both Turlough and Tegan is much more fraught so it makes sense he would be more reserved.
Final Thoughts
I can understand why some of the cast may have been unhappy with the character conflicts towards the end of the season, but it sure as hell made for interesting television. The conflicts in season 19 served as a build up for Adric's exit, but these conflicts serve more as a way to explore how the Doctor, Tegan, and Turlough all have different motivations and values. Watching them bounce off each other is a treat, and I'm excited to see how this dynamic will progress as the show goes forward. My hope is that they'll continue to use it as a means of growth, and with a major story arc done it really feels like they can go anywhere with these characters. I know next season they all leave, so I hope the end of the journey is as satisfying as this bit was. I said before that this has been the highlight of the Fifth Doctor's era so far, and with The Five Doctors and Season 21 on the horizon I genuinely feel my enthusiasm for the show at the highest its been since that magical, messy run in Season 17.
It took me a while to write this review, as I had a lot of thoughts (and probably a lot of typos). I'm going to watch The Five Doctors on Monday, November 23, and then my goal is to finish the Fifth Doctor's run by the time 2020 ends. I also may go back and do a more extensive revisions of my previous reviews, fixing some of the glaring typos, formatting, and repetitive phrasing but leaving them otherwise untouched. Sometimes I'm annoyed with myself that I decided to do these reviews since they're very time consuming, but having them around to look back on has honestly been such a gift. I can only watch Classic Who for the first time once, and I'm really happy I've managed to craft such an extensive record of my experience.
I've previously acknowledged John Nathan-Turner and Eric Saward's proclivity toward longer, ongoing story arcs, but this is the season where it feels like it really bears fruit. The Black Guardian Trilogy in particular stands out not just in this season, but among the previous E-Space and New Beginnings Trilogies. Considering how much it was built up, and with the Black Guardian getting the occasional namedrop since The Key to Time arc in season 16, this could have so easily shit the bed. However, I feel like it ended up being easily the best Fifth Doctor material thus far, and I wouldn't be surprised if it grew in my esteem upon rewatch. It's also incredible to think that it also deftly handled the return of Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart, the introduction of Turlough, and the departure of Nyssa.
Like the previous nineteen seasons, the serials are available to watch via streaming on Britbox. This season had six stories, and honestly ranking most of these felt like comparing apples to oranges. I still did though.
The Characters
Peter Davison as The Fifth Doctor - I thought Davison was perfectly fine last season, and cleared the bar of doing something different with the role than his predecessor while still feeling like he was portraying the same character. This season it really feels like he stepped up his game, showing the Doctor to be much cagier and underhanded than I ever expected him to be. I was genuinely thrown at points about what his motivations were, but never in a way that made me doubt the writing or Davison's acting ability. As far as his relationships go, leaning into his tension with Tegan was an interesting choice, considering how well he ended up gelling with Nyssa as a solo companion, and how frought his dynamic with Turlough ended up being. It certainly allowed for some much more dynamic scenes, especially since they weren't shy about regularly pairing off the Doctor with different characters. I will also note that I found the scene in Enlightenment where he swapped out the wilting celery on his jacket for a new one to be weirdly charming.
Sarah Sutton as Nyssa - I knew going into this season that Nyssa would be leaving in the middle of a major story arc, and I was worried she'd be short-changed again like she was through most of the previous season. Not only did those fears not come to pass, but this may actually be her strongest showing. As Tegan was largely separated from the rest of the cast during the first two stories, and was pared off with Turlough in the fourth, Nyssa ended up getting a lot of material with The Doctor as the "primary companion". And like I noted last season, she is very competent in the role and gels really well with him, all without needing to sacrifice her capabilities as previous companions have had to. Even her departure ends up being a celebration of the characters virtues and abilities, with her desire to use her mind to help others winning out and choosing to leave the Tardis. I feel like the show could have gotten a lot more mileage out of her, but she certainly left on a high note, and with the audience (me) wanting more.
Janet Fielding as Tegan Jovanka - I ended last season wondering where they were going to go with Tegan, since they'd seemingly reached the end to her current character arc. However, they managed to develop her in a way I didn't expect, but in a way that feels very true to her character as she's been up to now. No longer the reluctant companion, she makes the decision to stay but is not only faced again with the trauma of the Mara, but with internal conflict in the Tardis driven by a clash of personalities. With Nyssa leaving, she finds herself in opposition to the Doctor inviting both Turlough and Kamelion to travel with him on the Tardis, falling into the same argumentative pattern once again. Only this time, her frustration stems out of the Doctor not giving her opinions the same weight he may have given Nyssa's. She's now the enthusiastic companion, but she's also the one that's expected to stay in the Tardis while the Doctor and a new companion they've just met go off on an adventure on their own. And considering how thrilled Turlough himself is about this, it creates a very combative and divided Tardis team that makes for some excellent, heated scenes. And Tegan definitely brings the necessary energy.
Mark Strickson as Vislor Turlough - Turlough is a companion I've seen name-dropped before, I suspect partially because he's the rare male companion (and someone that can theoretically be shipped with the Fifth Doctor in fanfiction). That, and that this is when he shows up, really marks the beginning and end of my knowledge of the character going into this, so I was very pleasantly surprised by how strong an impression he made and how unlike any other previous companion he was. In many ways, he's the show's version of a pre-Harry Potter Draco Malfoy, down to the antagonism driven more by moral failing and cowardice rather than outright malice, and by the end guilt-ridden by the situation he's found himself entangled in. This is only compounded by the Doctor inexplicably offering him a place on the Tardis, and Tegan warming to him after initially refusing to trust him at all. Like I said above, the polarized personalities in the Tardis make for very good television, and I was pleasantly surprised by how much screentime was allowed to build Turlough up as a character rather than just have him as a flat vessel for the Black Guardian plot. Much like Tegan last season, he ends the season more or less in a state of flux, initially desiring to return home but seemingly intrigued by the Doctor's promises of adventure. I'm very excited to see how the character grows now that the shadow of the Black Guardian is no longer looming over him.
Valentine Dyall as the Black Guardian and Cyril Luckham as the White Guardian - Back in my review of The Key to Time, I noted that neither of these characters really left an impression - only that they didn't look particularly similar. That's not the case anymore, since in the full costume and without the mustache and beard, there actually is a fair amount resemblance. This time around they definitely made more of an impression as well, with Dyall in particular allowed to really be deliciously, cartoonishly evil onscreen in a surprising number of scenes where he torments Turlough. His plan is a bit muddled though, and its really only on the strength of Enlightenment that it really all comes together in hindsight. It also provides a much more satisfying "exit" for these characters, as the confrontation is more direct than in The Armageddon Factor and feels a bit more grand and final, even though they intentionally leave the door open for another return that never materializes.
Nicholas Courtney as Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart - Nothing makes you notice the passage of time more than a returning cast member. Courtney still looks good, but is noticably longer in the tooth than he was during his original run on the show. That said, he was the perfect character to bring back for this, even knowing they'd almost used Ian or Harry. The Brigadier has a legacy with this show unlike any other character, and I was pleasantly surprised how much Mawdryn Undead focused on him. The plot of the story allowed for a scene with numerous callbacks I wasn't expecting and made me weirdly emotional. As far as performance goes, even with his memory messed up, Courtney still delivers a performance that feels like the same character.
Anthony Ainley as The Master - Much like I said last season, Ainley has really acclimated to the role to a degree that's really impressive. Unfortunately he didn't really have much of a presence this season because he really only appeared in one episode. While I appreciate the return to the format used during the Delgado years, I'm hoping they'll be more versatile with how they use him in the future. Ainley is a talented performer and he's at his best when he's allowed to own the screen and really butt heads with the Doctor.
Gerald Flood as Kamelion - Kamelion is a character I've seen alluded to in oblique terms, so I was interested to see how/when he showed up and what he would be like. I will say I commend the ambition that went into creating this character. It is a big creative swing that I'm not sure pays off... though it doesn't not pay off. It mostly boils down to the fact that we don't really get a sense of Kamelion as an actual character, despite his insistence that he has his own consciousness and will in the closing moments. If he were a more prominent character going forward I could forgive it, but I know he isn't (through no fault of the production staff, but through tragic circumstances with those responsible for operating the prop). I'm hopeful in what little screen time we have left, some of this unrealized potential is realized, because if there's one thing this character has in spades, it's potential.
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.
6) Serial 6, Episodes 21-22 - The King's Demons
The King's Demons is a clever introduction for the android companion Kamelion, even if his characterization is a bit strange. Unfortunately, not even the return of the Master can save the rest of this story from being a complete slog. At least the final scene had some bite to it. (x)
Ten minutes into this story I knew it would be at the bottom, if for nothing else than the endlessly irritating supporting cast. The Doctor has encountered combative figures in stories set in the past more often than not, and the show can pull that off in a way that works, which makes the fact that I spent the entirety of this serial rooting for everyone in the castle to die a very bad sign. The worst offender was probably the lord's son, who seems to have a death wish and is constantly drawing his sword and screaming at everyone he came across. To say I was disappointed when none of the instances of someone holding their sword up to his throat ended with them slitting it would be an understatement.As far as the rest of the story goes, the whole construction of it seemed confused and felt out of sorts with how well-realized the rest of this season was. They clearly had no idea what to do with Turlough in this and just inexplicably threw him in the dungeon and let him flail about. The Doctor and Tegan just kind of wander aimlessly while wondering aloud what is going on until the Master reveals himself... where they largely do the same thing but with a tad more purpose. The best scene in this was probably the ending, where King John is revealed to actually be the android Kamelion, and the Doctor successfully frees him from The Master's control and spirits him away in the Tardis. Turlough follows close behind waving at sword, referring to the Master as "whoever you are", which I think is a perfect summation of what this story actually accomplished. An appetizer for The Five Doctors this was not.
5) Serial 1, Episodes 1-4 - Arc of Infinity
Arc of Infinity continues the ongoing saga of Gallifreyan Politics, but is a lot more fun with the inexplicable inclusion of Amsterdam as a secondary location. Nyssa easily holds her own as a solo companion, and Tegan's reintroduction is well-done. Also, they gave Nyssa a gun! (x)
When I finished this story, I was pretty confident it would land towards the top of this list, which I think says a lot about how much I ended up loving this season that it's all the way down here. The main reason it did end up landing so low is, like with The Deadly Assassin and The Invasion of Time, I'm just not that enamored with Gallifrey. I will say that of the three I definitely enjoyed this one the most, and a big part of that are the sequences that are inexplicably shot on location in the streets of Amsterdam. It's a clear attempt to recreate the success of City of Death, and I'm not mad about it. Especially looking back on this nearly 40 years later, it's honestly fascinating to see the sights of the city during this slice of time, and the ending when the Doctor chased Omega around might have been my favorite bit of the story.
Tegan's reintroduction was also clever, having her fly in and then reveal that she was fired from her job as a stewardess. Her investigative scenes here without the Doctor are a treat, and really shows how much she's grown from her confused flailing in Logopolis. The real standout companion here though is Nyssa, who really excels in the role of a solo companion for the Doctor. While she clearly has some stage direction that was originally intended for Leela, it just makes her feel all the more rounded as a character, and it was nice seeing her get a lot of stuff to do and a lot of one-on-one scenes with the Doctor. I do have to single out Peter Davison, who ends up playing the dual role of the Doctor and Omega. He really brings a nice energy to the latter, giving off this kind of foreboding energy as he moves and emotes completely differently from the Doctor. He also brings a different energy and approach to the Gallifrey scenes than Tom Baker did, making a lot of similar beats feel fresher as a result.
4) Serial 2, Episodes 5-8 - Snakedance
Snakedance feels like it should have been an episode longer, but is otherwise a very well constructed story that builds up the Mara into an even more interesting villain. Janet Fielding is sublime, and the Doctor and Nyssa continue to be a really compelling double act. (x)
This story only has a pacing problem in the sense that it kind of abruptly ends a moment after the threat is defeated, in a way that kind of reminds me of season 7's The Ambassadors of Death. Hell, there was even a scene in the following story that was clearly intended to be part of the concluding moments of this one, but they ran out of space for it. Up until that point, everything it did felt absolutely correct. A follow up to last season's Kinda, it directly addresses Tegan's lingering doubts about the Mara and the time it spent controlling her mind. As a result, we're once again treated to a delightful performance by Janet Fielding, embodying the Mara with even more confidence and allowed to stay in the role for the entire length of the story. This also means that we essentially get another story with Nyssa as the "solo" companion, and I'm once again impressed by Sutton and Davison's chemistry and the easy dynamic they've formed.
The story itself is also just really fun. The fairgrounds on Manussa feels like a western depiction of a Middle Eastern marketplace, and putting aside that the entire planet seems to comprise of white people, this makes for a setting that instantly engaging. Other parts of the planet seem to have a more Greco-Roman influence, giving off the vibe of a civilization during that time which very much suits the story of the Mara. It's also nice to have a story that zeroes in more on what the Mara actually is, and while it doesn't explain the visions Tegan had in Kinda it does provide context for them. Lon, the ruler's son, is also a perfectly realized character and even though its clear from the beginning what's going to happen with him, it doesn't make it any less compelling.
3) Serial 3, Episodes 9-12 - Mawdryn Undead
Mawdryn Undead comes dangerously close to being too confusing, but manages to thread the needle. This is doubly impressive as it also serves as one of the most interesting companion introductions in recent memory, and elevates the Brigadier's return beyond a cheap gimmick. (x)
I love the entirety of The Black Guardian Trilogy, hence why it's topping this list, but I had a very hard time ranking the three stories within in. While I similarly adore this part, the reason it ended up the lowest of the three were mostly technicalities. Mainly, I thought it managed to thread the needle in a very confusing plot and concept, but there were still a couple of elements that felt off looking back on it. Chiefly among them, I don't think I would've known that Turlough wasn't a normal boy and was actually, in fact, an Alien stranded on Earth if I hadn't looked it up, and the way the Doctor offered him a place on the Tardis after he'd spent the entire story acting really shady felt kind of weird. I'd assumed they were going somewhere with that later bit, and they kind of do, but the execution felt a bit sloppy and I doubt it translated to viewers the way they'd intended it to.
The rest of this story, however, blew me away. I thought Turlough was an inspired character to introduce, and he works perfectly right from this introduction, which really allows to show a range of conflicted motivations right off the bat. The Black Guardian's reintroduction immediately gives the story further stakes, as the "main plot" of the episode unfolds rather slowly. The real treat here is the reintroduction of the Brigadier, which could have felt like blatant fanservice but ends up being very significant to the plot. For a time travel show, it's surprising how little the idea of meeting one's past self has actually come up and been utilized (aside from the multi-Doctor stories, which are a different beast altogether). It's also nice to have the Brigadier back considering UNIT just kind of faded away in the early years of the Fourth Doctor, and to see how those people have moved on with their lives was surprisingly moving and made me feel nostalgic for stories I'd watched less than a year ago. As far as Mawdryn goes, he is very gross looking, but the ideas put forth by that character also feel like they should be no-brainers for a show like this, and is an interesting execution of the moral quandary of trying to achieve immortality. It also puts the Doctor in the very conspicuous position of having to give up part of himself in order to save those he cares about, paying more of a price than he ever has before. In the end it all ends up working out, but in the moment it feels more tense and consequential than Doctor Who has felt in a long time.
2) Serial 4, Episodes 13-16 - Terminus
Terminus is a decent sendoff for Nyssa, and allows her to be at the center of the narrative and share a fair amount of scenes with the Doctor. The premise itself feels different enough from other "vessel in space" stories, and the Black Guardian subplot remains very compelling. (x)
I knew going into this season that Nyssa would be leaving in the middle of a major story arc, and I was concerned as to how they'd pull it off. Considering the classic series does not have a great track record with Companion exits, I was mentally prepared for her to fade into the background the whole time, and for her exit to feel like an afterthought. I am extremely grateful this was not the case, and it ended up being a story that focused a lot of attention on her in solo scenes and scenes with the Doctor in the serial's "A" plot. Terminus being a leper colony was a twist I didn't see coming, and the uncertain nature of Nyssa's fate give the story real stakes and I was briefly concerned they were going to kill her off. In the end she pulls through, and decides that she should use her scientific knowledge, and the values she'd grown up with on Traken, to help this place find a way to actually care for it's sick and its reluctant crew. It's an exit very befitting the strengths of her character, and one that feels earned - especially after a season that's allowed her to actually take center stage and show how incredible she can be. I also appreciated that her goodbye scene was more of a lowkey affair between her, the Doctor and Tegan. As far as the rest of this storyline goes, I have to say I really enjoyed the wolf guy in this story. I thought he was neat.This story also manages to pull off being in the midst of a major arc by pairing off Turlough with Tegan in the "B" plot. This allows the show to establish the dynamics of their relationship - one that will be central to the show going forward - and allowing the Black Guardian storyline to continue to develop without stepping on Nyssa's exit. The balancing act here is impressive, and makes every scene feel important. In particular, I really enjoyed how Tegan's distrust of Turlough wasn't dropped, but rather explored by making her forced to spend time with him for the entire story. Turlough similarly manages to form a bond with the person who was most hostile toward him, causing him even more internal conflict over helping the Black Guardian. Turlough repeatedly going back to help Tegan when he could have abandoned her multiple times really further endeared him to me, and really made me excited for where they would go in the saga's conclusion.
1) Serial 5, Episodes 17-20 - Enlightenment
Enlightenment has a great design and look, and it's a lot of fun watching the cast walk around an old sailing ship in space. The ending feels a bit abrupt considering all the build-up over the past three stories, but the Doctor, Tegan, and Turlough are all given great material. (x)
Watching this story honestly felt magical to me, and it definitely leaned more into a fantasy element than Doctor Who normally allows itself to. When it comes to special effects I instinctively have my expectations in check because, hey, it was a low budget television show in the 80's. So the reveal of the ships flying through space honestly took my breath away, and I know it has a version with updated effects that I'm also very curious to see. While I know this has nothing to do with pirates, it visually harkens to that era which I enjoy since I'm a huge fan of those kinds of stories, and the way it blends with a sci-fi setting just really works for me on every level. I also thought the way the introduced and used the Eternals was very well done both thematically and in terms of the show's mythology, and it paired well with the similarly deity-like Guardians. Marriner's relationship with Tegan in particular was fascinating to watch unfold, and the ultimate resolution was both heartbreaking and unsettling. The idea of "higher beings" using "lower beings" as playthings is a concept the show has explored before, but this is definitely the most thoughtful the show has been about it, and I'm very disappointed that this is the only story Barbara Clegg ended up writing for Doctor Who. I must also commend Fiona Cumming for nailing a very cool and specific atmosphere throughout the entire story. The guest cast, with the notable exception of Wrack's first mate, are absolutely sublime and are some of the best one-off casting the show has ever had. Adding depth to characters that by their nature are detached is an extremely difficult feat, and the fact that not one but multiple actors managed to pull it off is an impressive achievement.
The ultimate conclusion to the Black Guardian arc and Turlough's journey in particular was a bit rough around the edges, but still resonated with me because the elements that worked worked. Turlough being abandoned by the Black Guardian and threatened with immortality, and then immediately trying to commit suicide is not something I expected from this show. The continued uncertainty of his motivations was extended much further than I thought was possible, and his ultimate choice to reject accepting "Enlightenment" in order to save the Doctor, and the realization that his choice was the actual Enlightenment, really felt like the perfect culmination for the character and the story arc. That said, how much the Doctor knows and when he knows it is seemingly left ambiguous for dramatic effect, but it makes him feel more detached from the action than he would be normally. I think this still mostly works as, unlike his relationship with Nyssa, his dynamic with both Turlough and Tegan is much more fraught so it makes sense he would be more reserved.
Final Thoughts
I can understand why some of the cast may have been unhappy with the character conflicts towards the end of the season, but it sure as hell made for interesting television. The conflicts in season 19 served as a build up for Adric's exit, but these conflicts serve more as a way to explore how the Doctor, Tegan, and Turlough all have different motivations and values. Watching them bounce off each other is a treat, and I'm excited to see how this dynamic will progress as the show goes forward. My hope is that they'll continue to use it as a means of growth, and with a major story arc done it really feels like they can go anywhere with these characters. I know next season they all leave, so I hope the end of the journey is as satisfying as this bit was. I said before that this has been the highlight of the Fifth Doctor's era so far, and with The Five Doctors and Season 21 on the horizon I genuinely feel my enthusiasm for the show at the highest its been since that magical, messy run in Season 17.
It took me a while to write this review, as I had a lot of thoughts (and probably a lot of typos). I'm going to watch The Five Doctors on Monday, November 23, and then my goal is to finish the Fifth Doctor's run by the time 2020 ends. I also may go back and do a more extensive revisions of my previous reviews, fixing some of the glaring typos, formatting, and repetitive phrasing but leaving them otherwise untouched. Sometimes I'm annoyed with myself that I decided to do these reviews since they're very time consuming, but having them around to look back on has honestly been such a gift. I can only watch Classic Who for the first time once, and I'm really happy I've managed to craft such an extensive record of my experience.
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