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Classic Doctor Who, Season 25 Review
Usually by the second series of a Doctor's run I have a pretty good grasp of their character and what the actor in the role is ultimately aiming for, but it's not until the end of this one that I really felt like I've met the Seventh Doctor. It really highlights both how short his overall tenure is, and how the shorter season format doesn't mask the fact that there are, in fact, fewer episodes. (Seasons 24 and 25 combined is 28 episodes, which is around the length of what a single season previously was.) Suffice to say, much like last season this season feels like a very mixed bag. Though, unless it's a fluke, by the end it really feels like the show and the new head writer have found their footing. Though, in a weird way, it didn't evoke a lot of strong feelings in me as a whole, so I suspect this might be the shortest review I've written so far.
Like the previous twenty-four seasons, the serials are available to watch via streaming on Britbox. Ranking this season felt very... odd. The stories all felt very different so it was strange comparing them, though picking my favorite story in the bunch was relatively easy.
Characters
Sylvester McCoy as The Seventh Doctor - Revising a Doctor's characterization this late in the game is a bold choice, but one I think mostly works, even if the payoff for the Cartmel Masterplan never actually came to fruition. (Which is for the best IMO. I'm actually pretty thrilled the current Timeless Child arc has neutered the worst parts of the pseudo "The Doctor is Time Lord Jesus" thing they were trying to set up.) A Doctor that leans heavily into the Troughton-esque tactic of making people think he's a witless fool, he has a darker edge that no previous Doctor - not even the Sixth - has quite exhibited before. Not that I'm suggesting he's a villain or has less than altruistic motives, but you get the distinct feeling that he's operating by a different playbook than everyone else in the story, including Ace. The latter two stories especially lean into this aspect, and I'm excited to see where the next season ultimately takes it.
Sophie Aldred as Ace - At the end of Season 24 I characterized Ace as a companion with "potential", and this season definitely makes good on that. My fears that they would turn the "Ace" catchphrase from her first story into a recurring bit never came to fruition, and instead this season focused on her more reckless tendencies and inquisitive nature - which are qualities that make for a very engaging companion. This pairs well with the Doctor's new characterization this season, and allows her to take on the role of an audience surrogate moreso than any companion has in years, since she's just as in the dark about the lore being hinted at as we are. Her different perspective also allows her to challenge the Doctor without getting into fights with him the way Tegan or Peri did.
This season also has the brief, final turn of Terry Molloy as Davros... and he was certainly there.
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.
4) Serial 1, Episodes 1-4 - Remembrance of the Daleks
After how much I enjoyed the penultimate story in this arc (Revelation), this one was not only very underwhelming but also felt like a letdown. So much had been built up over the course of the series - since Destiny of the Daleks back in season 17 - that it really felt like the Daleks went out with a whimper. It only makes me appreciate the latter addition that this conflict lays the stage for the Time War, since it gives this story more gravitas than it really deserves. And it's not that this story wasn't trying, it clearly was, but it introduced so many ideas that it never seemed interested in examining beyond lipservice. It makes the most direct connection the Classic series ever has been the ideology of the Daleks and contemporary human racism, but doesn't push it any further than a couple of visual cues hinting at the depths of John Smith's bigotry. Not to mention that when his allegiance with a Dalek faction is revealed, it's met with a collective shrug by everyone except for Ace, whose fury feels welcome but only goes to further alienate the audience from a guest cast that feels thinly defined. Each one is clearly designed to be a callback to figures from the show's past, particularly The Brigadier and Liz Shaw, but because the Doctor can't tell them much lest he disrupt the timeline it just leads to multiple scenes where they all talk about how mysterious he is and how frustrating it is that they don't have answers.
Also, after how big a role he's played in the previous four stories, Davros only actually appears at the very end of this story. This is especially egregious considering how present he was at the beginning of the Dalek Civil War in Revelation. His anticlimactic escape from the exploding ship clumsily indicates this wouldn't be the last we see of him, only making it feel less impactful. The whole plotline with the Doctor hiding the Hand of Omega at the place where it all began felt overly indulgent and, to be honest, stupid. I'm honestly baffled that this story is held is such high esteem, and it wasn't until I typed all this out that I realized how much I disliked this story. At least Ace was great in it. The scene where she destroyed a Dalek with a bat and caused that explosion at the end of the first episode was more than worth sitting through the rest of it.
3) Serial 3, Episodes 8-10 - Silver Nemesis
I will say though, for a "25th Anniversary Story"... it really didn't feel like one. It was a decent sendoff for the Cybermen though, which is nice considering their decidedly mixed run in the Classic series.
2) Serial 2, Episodes 5-7 - The Happiness Patrol
This story is both creative and well constructive while at the same time being silly and self-indulgent, and for the most part it really works. The aesthetic for it is great, and feels like more candy-colored version of what Paradise Towers from last season was giving mixed with a proto-80's version of The Hunger Games. I really loved the Kandy Man both from a visual standpoint and as a villain, and I'm really bummed that he can't be used again in the future. However, this isn't a story that you can think about too much otherwise the premise starts to fall apart right away. The idea that everyone needs to be happy is a good one, but there are many characters shown to be part of this faction who are clearly not happy. Helen A seems more frustrated than she is cheerful, and doesn't work as a commentary on Margaret Thatcher as was apparently intended.
The biggest issue with this story was that it was clearly missing some connective scenes. Characters got from point A to B, both literally and figuratively, without any explanation, which made it very confusing to watch at times. Ace's portion of the story suffers from this the most, and it tangibly effects how much the characters around her can be empathized with. Apparently these scenes exist, which makes me wonder if it was simply poor planning or if it was originally intended to be four episodes instead of three. Either way, this story still managed to be extremely fun and engaging, so I'm crossing my fingers it gets an extended cut when this season eventually makes its way to Blu-ray.
1) Serial 4, Episodes 11-14 - The Greatest Show in the Galaxy
This story has a bit of an odd start, having the Doctor and Ace wander around a desert outside the circus for a full episode, mostly only serving to set up a couple of the story's side characters. However, once they actually arrive, it really picks up the pace and becomes extremely engaging. The guest characters in particular are real standouts. I didn't expect to end up loving Mags as much as I did, and I totally get why Big Finish ended up making her an audio companion a couple of years ago. I was confused by Captain Cook at first but was pleasantly surprised at how his arc ended up unfolding and how his motives actually ended up making sense rather than just being a bother for no reason (which sometimes happens in Classic Who). The Chief Clown, despite not having much in terms of actual character work, is an immediate standout because of his great look and the actor's complete commitment to the vibe. He ended up being more intimidating than the actual villains, who looked very cool for what it's worth.
What really took this story above and beyond for me though was the Doctor and Ace. After work-shopping it all season it really felt like this is where McCoy really nailed this new trickster characterization, and I loved that he got to utilize some party tricks in the final act. I also liked that, while he may know more than he seems to, he's not portrayed and infallible. He admits early on that he should have listened to Ace when she voiced her concerns outside the circus tent, and ultimately depends on her actions in order to defeat the Gods of Ragnarok. It was also fun to see Ace run around and do more action set pieces, and lead some of the other supporting characters on their own mission. I can definitely see why this duo is as popular as they are.
Final Thoughts
While I enjoyed this season, I think I'm much more excited for the next one, even if it is the end. The writers and actors have really settled in, and history indicates that that's when the show really brings it's A game. Heading towards the end I have a lot of mixed feelings, but I also have that nebulous, mixed barrel of Wilderness Years content as well as the Eighth Doctor film to look forward to, and I suspect 2022 will end up being a giant New Who rewatch as well. I still haven't decided if I'm gonna tackle the 90's novels or any additional Big Finish material, but I can always play that by ear. Right now I'm just having a good time.
As an aside, I'm still working on the companion novels I was planning on reading before I proceeded further, but it became clear that I wouldn't finish in time in order to jump back to this before the new season of New Who started (October 31st!! I'm very excited). The Edge of Reality's release for the Nintendo Switch got pushed back as well, so it looks like I'll be spending the latter part of next week playing that, so that's my new target for finishing the mainline Seventh Doctor, before I jump into the Wilderness Years and the Eighth Doctor film post-Series 13.
Like the previous twenty-four seasons, the serials are available to watch via streaming on Britbox. Ranking this season felt very... odd. The stories all felt very different so it was strange comparing them, though picking my favorite story in the bunch was relatively easy.
Characters
Sylvester McCoy as The Seventh Doctor - Revising a Doctor's characterization this late in the game is a bold choice, but one I think mostly works, even if the payoff for the Cartmel Masterplan never actually came to fruition. (Which is for the best IMO. I'm actually pretty thrilled the current Timeless Child arc has neutered the worst parts of the pseudo "The Doctor is Time Lord Jesus" thing they were trying to set up.) A Doctor that leans heavily into the Troughton-esque tactic of making people think he's a witless fool, he has a darker edge that no previous Doctor - not even the Sixth - has quite exhibited before. Not that I'm suggesting he's a villain or has less than altruistic motives, but you get the distinct feeling that he's operating by a different playbook than everyone else in the story, including Ace. The latter two stories especially lean into this aspect, and I'm excited to see where the next season ultimately takes it.
Sophie Aldred as Ace - At the end of Season 24 I characterized Ace as a companion with "potential", and this season definitely makes good on that. My fears that they would turn the "Ace" catchphrase from her first story into a recurring bit never came to fruition, and instead this season focused on her more reckless tendencies and inquisitive nature - which are qualities that make for a very engaging companion. This pairs well with the Doctor's new characterization this season, and allows her to take on the role of an audience surrogate moreso than any companion has in years, since she's just as in the dark about the lore being hinted at as we are. Her different perspective also allows her to challenge the Doctor without getting into fights with him the way Tegan or Peri did.
This season also has the brief, final turn of Terry Molloy as Davros... and he was certainly there.
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.
4) Serial 1, Episodes 1-4 - Remembrance of the Daleks
Remembrance of the Daleks is a story that has a lot of interesting ideas, from both lore and thematic standpoints, but doesn't explore any of them in great depth. The guest characters mostly just exist to give commentary, leaving the Doctor and Ace to do most of the heavy lifting. (x)
After how much I enjoyed the penultimate story in this arc (Revelation), this one was not only very underwhelming but also felt like a letdown. So much had been built up over the course of the series - since Destiny of the Daleks back in season 17 - that it really felt like the Daleks went out with a whimper. It only makes me appreciate the latter addition that this conflict lays the stage for the Time War, since it gives this story more gravitas than it really deserves. And it's not that this story wasn't trying, it clearly was, but it introduced so many ideas that it never seemed interested in examining beyond lipservice. It makes the most direct connection the Classic series ever has been the ideology of the Daleks and contemporary human racism, but doesn't push it any further than a couple of visual cues hinting at the depths of John Smith's bigotry. Not to mention that when his allegiance with a Dalek faction is revealed, it's met with a collective shrug by everyone except for Ace, whose fury feels welcome but only goes to further alienate the audience from a guest cast that feels thinly defined. Each one is clearly designed to be a callback to figures from the show's past, particularly The Brigadier and Liz Shaw, but because the Doctor can't tell them much lest he disrupt the timeline it just leads to multiple scenes where they all talk about how mysterious he is and how frustrating it is that they don't have answers.
Also, after how big a role he's played in the previous four stories, Davros only actually appears at the very end of this story. This is especially egregious considering how present he was at the beginning of the Dalek Civil War in Revelation. His anticlimactic escape from the exploding ship clumsily indicates this wouldn't be the last we see of him, only making it feel less impactful. The whole plotline with the Doctor hiding the Hand of Omega at the place where it all began felt overly indulgent and, to be honest, stupid. I'm honestly baffled that this story is held is such high esteem, and it wasn't until I typed all this out that I realized how much I disliked this story. At least Ace was great in it. The scene where she destroyed a Dalek with a bat and caused that explosion at the end of the first episode was more than worth sitting through the rest of it.
3) Serial 3, Episodes 8-10 - Silver Nemesis
Silver Nemesis is a story with multiple factions and plot threads in play, but manages to successfully balance most of them without becoming too confusing. The Doctor and Ace have a great showing, though the story itself is a bit overshadowed by the tease of a major lore reveal. (x)
There is a lot of things I like about this story. I liked that it managed to juggle multiple factions without becoming too confusing to follow. I liked that each of the factions were clearly defined, with actors that offered engaging performances and were allowed scenes where they weren't just moving the plot along. I also loved how much screentime the Doctor and Ace got as a duo, and how good the relatively simple filming location looked. The only thing that really dragged this story down for me is that I never really figured out what the Silver Nemesis actually is, other than the MacGuffin that everyone is fighting over. It doesn't help that this story is heavily tied to the Cartmel Masterplan, and as such is filled with a lot of vague promises of a latter plot revelation that wouldn't come to be. However, most of it is vague enough that they could retcon in the Timeless Child arc and it would work pretty well.I will say though, for a "25th Anniversary Story"... it really didn't feel like one. It was a decent sendoff for the Cybermen though, which is nice considering their decidedly mixed run in the Classic series.
2) Serial 2, Episodes 5-7 - The Happiness Patrol
The Happiness Patrol has a premise with an imperfect thematic execution, and often feels like it's missing scenes. However, it manages to work through the sheer power of its great vibe and set design, and it's clear all the actors are having a lot of fun. The Kandy Man is an A+ (x)
This story is both creative and well constructive while at the same time being silly and self-indulgent, and for the most part it really works. The aesthetic for it is great, and feels like more candy-colored version of what Paradise Towers from last season was giving mixed with a proto-80's version of The Hunger Games. I really loved the Kandy Man both from a visual standpoint and as a villain, and I'm really bummed that he can't be used again in the future. However, this isn't a story that you can think about too much otherwise the premise starts to fall apart right away. The idea that everyone needs to be happy is a good one, but there are many characters shown to be part of this faction who are clearly not happy. Helen A seems more frustrated than she is cheerful, and doesn't work as a commentary on Margaret Thatcher as was apparently intended.
The biggest issue with this story was that it was clearly missing some connective scenes. Characters got from point A to B, both literally and figuratively, without any explanation, which made it very confusing to watch at times. Ace's portion of the story suffers from this the most, and it tangibly effects how much the characters around her can be empathized with. Apparently these scenes exist, which makes me wonder if it was simply poor planning or if it was originally intended to be four episodes instead of three. Either way, this story still managed to be extremely fun and engaging, so I'm crossing my fingers it gets an extended cut when this season eventually makes its way to Blu-ray.
1) Serial 4, Episodes 11-14 - The Greatest Show in the Galaxy
The Greatest Show in the Galaxy juggles a lot of pieces, but does a good job to keeping track of all of them and building a satisfying, cohesive narrative. This is a great showcase for the Seventh Doctor, and Mags is a standout amongst a cast of well-rounded guest characters. (x)
This story has a bit of an odd start, having the Doctor and Ace wander around a desert outside the circus for a full episode, mostly only serving to set up a couple of the story's side characters. However, once they actually arrive, it really picks up the pace and becomes extremely engaging. The guest characters in particular are real standouts. I didn't expect to end up loving Mags as much as I did, and I totally get why Big Finish ended up making her an audio companion a couple of years ago. I was confused by Captain Cook at first but was pleasantly surprised at how his arc ended up unfolding and how his motives actually ended up making sense rather than just being a bother for no reason (which sometimes happens in Classic Who). The Chief Clown, despite not having much in terms of actual character work, is an immediate standout because of his great look and the actor's complete commitment to the vibe. He ended up being more intimidating than the actual villains, who looked very cool for what it's worth.
What really took this story above and beyond for me though was the Doctor and Ace. After work-shopping it all season it really felt like this is where McCoy really nailed this new trickster characterization, and I loved that he got to utilize some party tricks in the final act. I also liked that, while he may know more than he seems to, he's not portrayed and infallible. He admits early on that he should have listened to Ace when she voiced her concerns outside the circus tent, and ultimately depends on her actions in order to defeat the Gods of Ragnarok. It was also fun to see Ace run around and do more action set pieces, and lead some of the other supporting characters on their own mission. I can definitely see why this duo is as popular as they are.
Final Thoughts
While I enjoyed this season, I think I'm much more excited for the next one, even if it is the end. The writers and actors have really settled in, and history indicates that that's when the show really brings it's A game. Heading towards the end I have a lot of mixed feelings, but I also have that nebulous, mixed barrel of Wilderness Years content as well as the Eighth Doctor film to look forward to, and I suspect 2022 will end up being a giant New Who rewatch as well. I still haven't decided if I'm gonna tackle the 90's novels or any additional Big Finish material, but I can always play that by ear. Right now I'm just having a good time.
As an aside, I'm still working on the companion novels I was planning on reading before I proceeded further, but it became clear that I wouldn't finish in time in order to jump back to this before the new season of New Who started (October 31st!! I'm very excited). The Edge of Reality's release for the Nintendo Switch got pushed back as well, so it looks like I'll be spending the latter part of next week playing that, so that's my new target for finishing the mainline Seventh Doctor, before I jump into the Wilderness Years and the Eighth Doctor film post-Series 13.