147. The Trial of a Time Lord: The Ultimate Foe

The End of the Line for the Doctor!

After 12 episodes wandering around time and space to convict the Doctor, we finally get some answers. Let's tick these boxes off:

- Ravalox is actually Earth that the Time Lords moved a few light years off course to cover up some secrets including some tapes of the Matrix stashed underground

- Peri did not die but is now King Ykronos' Queen

- The Master brings Glitz and Mel to the courtroom to be witnesses for the Defense. Thank you Master!

- And the BIG revelation is that the Valeyard is an amalgamation of the darker sides of the Doctor's personality somewhere between his 12 and final incarnation. What that means, God only knows. 

The Doctor and the Valeyard lock horns in final battle at part of the Matrix explodes. The Valeyard seemingly dies, the Doctor is cleared of al charges, and returns Mel to her proper place in time and space. The closing moments reveal that the Valeyard is alive!

And so ends the 6th Doctor's era. After two tumultuous seasons, Colin Baker exits on a sour note with the words "carrot juice". Fired without a proper finale or a proper regeneration, I feel robbed and cheated. The 6th Doctor and Colin Baker deserved better. A victim of circumstance, the BBC Controller had it out for Colin for the beginning and never had a chance. Despite the best efforts to save the show during this Trial, it wasn't enough to save the 6th Doctor. It has been gratifying to hear the rehabilitation of the 6th Doctor through his Big Finish audios. A kinder, gentler Doctor has emerged and better relationships with Peri and Mel are fleshed out. We have also been introduced to new companions Dr. Evelyn Smyth and Flip, even Jamie McCrimmon returns. And we finally have the 6th Doctor and the Brigadier together. 

In the end, it's very sad to see the 6th Doctor go. After bursting on to the scene with a loud flash and bang, he exits with nothing but a whimper. Good night sweet prince.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ultimate_Foe

146. The Trial of a Time Lord: Terror of the Vervoids

Murder on the Vegetable Express!

After the shocking events of the last story, the Doctor now presents evidence in his defense and this time from the future. We're quickly introduced to new companion Melanie Bush d/b/a Mel, exercising the Doctor and force feeding him carrot juice. It's a far cry from Peri, that for sure. She's high energy, very perky and annoyingly chipper. She seems to work better with the Doctor than her predecessor. 

The story itself is very much a Murder on the Orient Express homage with killer vegetables running amok. The Vervoids are a great monster, very much in the veil of the classics. They put some money into these costumes and it certainly shows on screen. It's a shame the Doctor commits genocide and kills them all or else they could make a fantastic return. I think an alliance between the Vervoids and the Krynoids would be a real tossed salad!

The supporting cast are pretty top notch and well defined. Of course Honor Blackman is the star of the show, as a former Bond Girl now turned Who Girl. Thankfully everybody does not die but we do end up with a compost heap of bodies. The Doctor saves the day but is then charged with committing genocide (as if he could get any bigger a punishment than forfeiting all his lives).

With only two episodes left in the season, the writers have a task before them to wrap up this season!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terror_of_the_Vervoids

145. The Trial of a Time Lord: Mindwarp

Let's do the Mindwarp again!

Like the worm in a tequila bottle, Sil has returned. And he got a facelift. And went from brown to green. And lost his backbone. What started as a great character get completely watered down. Of course I don't think that's the focus of the story.

As the trial continues, the Doctor and the Valeyard continue to trade barbs. The Valeyard prepares to present the most damning evidence yet. The Doctor and Peri land on Thoros Beta, home of Sil, and get into some deep doo doo. The Doctor gets brainwashed, or so it appears, betrays Peri. Peri starts hanging with Brian Blessed, who's a warrior king, and his werewolf companion. It's kind of mess all over. 

In the end, Sil's boss gets his brain transferred into Peri's body and Brian Blessed kills everybody, through the will of the Time Lords. And of course, they're blaming the Doctor for the whole thing. The Doctor doesn't remember any of this though because he was taken out of time. The whole scene is rather shocking and harkens back to Adric's death. Too bad it doesn't last.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mindwarp

144. The Trial of a Time Lord: The Mysterious Planet

Law and Order: Gallifrey!

After an 18 month "hiatus", Doctor Who returns to stand trial- both in the story and in the public eye. With a new theme tune, returning back to the 25 minute format, and one title for the whole season, Season 23 was a unique beast. Not since the Key to Time season has there been such a tight story arc, to the point of the one title. 

We are quickly introduced to the Gallifreyan Court of Law with the Valeyard and the Inquisitor. For the 14 episodes of the season, the 3 exchange banter, insults and quips as the Doctor fights for his life. It quickly becomes obvious more is going on here than what appears as the Doctor, once again, stands trial for interfering in time and space. 

The first piece of evidence the Valeyard presents is pretty standard fodder for a Doctor Who adventure. Peri's hair has grown and has on a nice blazer and slacks. Her relationship with the Doctor seems to have calmed down and they actually seem like friends now. The Doctor also seems to have settled in to his "new" body and his personality stabilized. The guest stars are pretty average with the exception of Glitz and Dibber. But the mystery of the identity of this Mysterious Planet is at the root of the story and of course leads to a bigger can of worms for the Time Lords.

After the first piece of evidence is presented, we're left feeling a little lack luster but teased with the magnitude of the next piece of evidence the Valeyard was about to present. Dum dum dumdum!! 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Mysterious_Planet

143. Revelation of the Daleks

How to get a head in business!

Season 22 comes to a close with the return of two of the Doctor's most nefarious archenemies- Davros and the Daleks. Terry Molloy resumes the role of Davros with relish to continue his vendetta with the Doctor, now on to the 6th Doctor. Of course we never learn how Davros got from the end of Resurrection of the Daleks to Revelation. Or how he managed to become a disembodied head and took possession of a cemetery. And his process of turning humans into Daleks seems to take a while to hatch. By this point Davros has created an army of white Daleks to do his bidding. Thus begins the Dalek civil war. 

The Doctor and Peri are pretty low key throughout. The guest actors are quite good, although the DJ still annoys me. The story is actually quite violent and gruesome. While I am not a huge fan of violence, I understand its use in story telling. And in Doctor Who, there is a level of acceptable violence. But it seemed in Season 22, there was a higher level throughout. This story I think was a turning point for the series in more way than one. While the Doctor seems to have settled down, the stories be written around him are becoming more and more violent. 

The last line of the story is cut short so the Doctor doesn't say Brighton Beach, for the next planned story in Season 23 The Nightmare Fair. As history played out, Doctor Who went on an 18 month hiatus while the producers retooled the next season, quite literally putting Doctor Who on trial. After a pretty dynamic and extreme season, the Doctor is now being reigned in.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revelation_of_the_Daleks

142. Timelash

Let's do the Timelash again!

After two great stories, we had to get to a stinker. Timelash is just so, so, bad. This could be considered a celebrity historical on an alien planet, with the under cover HG Wells but it's not done that well. The rumor that the Borad is the Loch Ness Monster is just plain silly. Paul Darrow is as Paul Darrow should be, WAY over the top and that's standing next to Colin Baker. Herbert George Wells is annoying but cute and could have been an interesting companion for a while. The 3rd Doctor also gets name checked and is even seen in a painting and Jo Grant is seen in a photo, referencing an unseen adventure they had previously on this planet and apparently brought other people with (Benton? Yates? The Brig? A whole UNIT regiment?) Over all it's a pretty lack luster story and is literally lack luster in design!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timelash

141. The Two Doctors

My giddy Aunt! It's the 2nd Doctor and Jamie!!

Homecoming week comes early to Doctor Who! The 6th Doctor is united with his previous incarnation the 2nd Doctor on a wild adventure against the Sontarans and crazy alien chefs. While not an anniversary event, this is truly a special episode. From the opening moments showing the Patrick Troughton and Frazer Hines back in the TARDIS in black and white (briefly), it's wonderful to see old friends. Even though we just saw the 2nd Doctor two years previous, this feels more special and certainly showcases the duo. Although they look a little old, a little grayer, we overlook those things with love.

By this point, the 6th Doctor and Peri seem to have settled into a somewhat peaceful co-existence in the TARDIS. Although Peri still seems very insecure and uncertain of herself, which is really exasperated by the 6th Doctors bravado and grandiose personality. Of course the magic of the story is the eventual meeting of Doctors. This is a 3 part 45 minute episode story and it takes until episode three for the two Doctors to meet. While the on screen magic between the 2nd and 3rd Doctor was classic, the chemistry between 2 and 6 is just as lovely. Of course they fight and quibble with the 2nd Doctor visibly looking older than the 6th. Also having been capture by the Sontarans puts the 2nd Doctor in a slightly vulnerable position.

And those Sontarans. Oh my. While I was happy they returned to the show after quite a few years away, the production team did them all wrong. They are WAY too tall. Their masks are not quite right. Even their suits are a bit too shiny. And there's only two. This could have been the glorious return of the Sontaran Empire, who last we saw were invading Gallifrey the home of the Time Lords, but alas ends up with a slightly lackluster appearance. 

The supporting cast throughout the story is top notch from Chesene to Oscar Botchaby. Stand out performances. And strangely enough, Peri and Jamie actually make a good pair of companions together and could have been good on-going if the 6th Doctor wanted to change time.  All in all, I real high point of season 22.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Two_Doctors

140. The Mark of the Rani

You'll have a FABULOUS time at the Bathhouse with the Rani!

Mark of the Rani is hands down my favorite story of the Colin Baker era. The introduction of Kate O'Mara as the evil Time Lady The Rani is the best thing to happen to Doctor Who in years. She's the perfect counter point to the Master and a fantastic foil for the Doctor. Evil loves evil and the Master and the Rani's witty barbs are a joy to watch. And the exchanges between the Rani and the Doctor are magic on screen. 

Kate O'Mara plays evil so well and was born top play the Rani. While Anthony Ainley's Master has gotten to over the top, the Rani is more subdued and calculated. Despite being disguised as an old crone running a bath house, the Rani emerges from her disguises in a fabulous 80's blouse and tight black leather pants and high heel boots! Gorgeous! She is every gay man's dream! There are also few attractive young men running around this story. We even get to see Luke's wood. Yum!

Despite the Master being more of a comic relief, the Rani shines through. She even has a fabulous TARDIS console room. While she does return once more in the classic series, I wish she returned more!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Mark_of_the_Rani

139. Vengeance on Varos

As the worm turns!

After the trot down memory lane last story, we get a whole new antagonist this time. Sil is a nasty little worm that laughs, laughs, laughs. The Doctor sulks for the first episode with Peri prodding him along. The Doctor actually kills a few people in this one, on live television. Peri gets turned into a bird. And Sean Connery's son runs around shirtless. Good times.

This story has seemed to become a classic amongst classics and stands out from its fellow stories of the era. The level of violence is quite high and the commentary of the public watching and voting on TV, long before American Idol, is quite interesting. Also the torture and execution of people based on popular votes,especially of elected officials was a cautionary tale decades ahead of its time. 

The Doctor's and Peri's relationship is still quite abrasive and argumentative. They spend quite a bit of time in the TARDIS "repairing" things before landing on Varos. But throughout Colin Baker is showcasing his acting talents and stretching the range of the Doctor's personality. While not my favorite 6th Doctor story, it is one of the better ones.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vengeance_on_Varos

138. Attack of the Cybermen

Everything old is new again!

Season 22 kicks off the 6th Doctor's freshman season with the return of a classic monster- the Cybermen. And this story is a sequel of sorts to half a dozen old stories. And, if that wasn't enough, the Doctor fixes the Chameleon Circuit... temporarily. The TARDIS lands back in 76 Totters Lane, of the first episode of Doctor Who. We see the return of Commander Lytton from last season's Dalek story. The Doctor and crew head back to Telos, home of the Tombs of the Cybermen, and we see the Cyber Controller for the first time in 15 years. And apparently the Controller's been dipping into the box of cyber chocolates a bit too much over the years. Basically they threw everything including the kitchen sink into this one.

The Doctor seems to have calmed down after his manic regeneration. We also see his relationship with Peri reach a baseline for this season with her chasing him around in heels, whining about everything. Where when the 5th Doctor and Tegan argued, the Doctor was quiet about it. The arguing between the 6th Doctor and Peri seems louder and more bombastic, as the 6th Doctor is. And while I adore the 6th Doctor and this stage of his relationship with Peri is now classic, I do enjoy the point when they actually act like friends and good traveling companions. 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attack_of_the_Cybermen

137. The Twin Dilemma

Once flew over the cuckoos' nest!

Season 21 concludes slightly out of tradition, with a full story introducing the new Doctor instead of ending on a regeneration as has been done for the past 3 Doctors. So with Peter Davison bowing out last story, Colin Baker explodes on the scene making his debut at the 6th Doctor. And from the get-go, the 6th Doctor is the absolute antithesis of the 5th Doctor. Crazy, cranky, manic, depressive, homicidal, over the top, brash, obnoxious, and the list goes on. While the 5th Doctor was quiet and unassuming, the 6th Doctor is very LOUD and stands out in every crowd. 

So let's talk about the costume. It's the United Colors of Benneton tossed in the blended. Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat. As the story goes, John Nathan-Turner wanted the 6th Doctor in an outfit that was totally tasteless, and that's what we got. While his costume reflected his mental state, it would have been interesting if the Doctor's costume had evolved over his tenure to become more solid and coherent as his psyche also became more coherent and settled. Colin's been quoted as saying he wished his costume was all black, like the Masters. He's also been seen in an all blue version which actually looks quite lovely. 

As for the Doctor's poor companion, Peri becomes a victim of circumstances. After a few lovely stories with the 5th Doctor where she seems fine, she causes the Doctor to die and witnesses his regeneration. So as the 6th Doctor is a manic nutcase, Peri is bouncing around trying to catch up, stay up and not get killed by the Doctor. Granted, this probably was the most unstable regeneration to date and a lesser companion would probably have bailed on the Doctor quite quickly. But Peri stuck in there and for the next season and a half, her relationship with her Doctor becomes the stuff of legends,or infamous.

The story and season ends with the Doctor reaffirming that he is the Doctor whether we like it or not with a cat-like grin. And with that, I fell in love with the 6th Doctor.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Twin_Dilemma

136. The Caves of Androzani

It feels different this time....

After 3 seasons, we bid adieu to Peter Davison as the 5th Doctor. As the youngest actor cast to play the Doctor, up to that point, and as the first Doctor to grow up having watched Doctor Who, he played the role brilliantly and with a great youthful wisdom. The old man in a young mans body. This story has been lauded as one of the best Doctor Who stories ever and certainly the crown jewel of the 5th Doctor's era. 

Having picked up Peri last story, it's somewhat strange to see her companioned with Peter Davison's Doctor as we have gotten to know her much better as a 6th Doctor companion. I must say though, that the Doctor's regeneration is all her fault! If she hadn't so clumsily fallen into the spectrox nest and gotten her and the Doctor infected, he would never had to regenerate. So all her complaining about the 6th Doctor's personality issues can be laid on her shoulders. Of course we won't talk about the circumstances of the 6th Doctor's regeneration....

Peter Davison does an amazing job playing off so many of the great guest actors in this story as he bounces between them, reacting more than acting. His single mindedness in finding a cure to save Peri shines through in this story, for a girl he just met. With 30 years hindsight, it would have been interesting if Peri had died and was brought back from some of the Doctor's regeneration spilling over to her. Just a thought. 

For the first time, the new Doctor actually get to say something right after the regeneration before episodes ends. And based on the few sentences uttered, we in for a very different Doctor in the form of Colin Baker....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Caves_of_Androzani

135. Planet of Fire

Ginger Speedo!!

We say hello and good bye (again) in this story as Peri joins the TARDIS crew and we bid farewell to Turlough. Like Nyssa who shed her Trakenite velvet and donned comfortable clothes as she left, so to does Turlough. After a year stuck in his English school boy suit, he wears shorts and a beach shirt! and when Peri, in her revealing bikini, begins to drown, Turlough strips down to a Speedo to save her. A Speedo!!! Be still my heart! The 11 year old me was VERY excited to see this and has never forgotten. :) 

This also sees the end of mechanical traveling companion Kamelion. First introduced in the King's Demons, he hasn't been seen since and was put out of his misery here. Great concept but mechanical issue plagued the robot from the beginning and never fully functioned properly. Fitting that it would be the Master that would bring about its end, as he first introduced the character. And speaking of the Master, he pops up again with no explanation of his survival or escape and then seemingly dies again here. 

This story has some great location shooting throughout and the story benefits from not being studio bound. It's nice to see the normal cast in more casual clothes. The costumes of the people of Sarn are scant and lovely. All the men look like 80's porn stars. Yum. And I must also make note that Peri's stepfather is HOT! 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planet_of_Fire

134. Resurrection of the Daleks

Good bye mouth on legs!

After two seasons and two Doctors, we bid farewell to Australian air hostess Tegan Jovanka. She was not always the easiest of traveling companions. She was not always the most optimistic of companions. And she wasn't always the most cooperative of companions. But she would do anything for her friends and always did what was right. Despite the circumstances of her decision to depart the TARDIS (the slaughter of so many innocent people by the Daleks), I can't imagine her leaving any other way. She definitely wouldn't run off to marry someone. She wouldn't run off to save the planet. And she wouldn't just walk away all happy go lucky like. It could only be over some emotional strife that would tear her away from the Doctor. 

The other notable thing about this story is the return of Davros, as played by Terry Malloy. While filling the shoes of character originator Michael Wisher was not easy, Malloy does it with his own style and flair. The fact that he returns to the role twice more on television and numerous times on Big Finish audio speaks to his strong connection to the character. This story begins the Civil War between Davros' Daleks and the Emperor's Daleks, that plays out for the rest of the classic series.

While most Dalek stories are not picnics in the park, this story seems extra specially brutal. I don't think anyone gets out alive of this one, except Lytton. There's a bit of body horror, a bit of mind control, and plenty of full front on the Daleks. As the 5th Doctors only real Dalek story, it does stand out against the plethora of previous Dalek stories.

With the departure of Tegan, the era of the 5th Doctor begins to wind down.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Resurrection_of_the_Daleks