116. Logopolis

It's the end but the moment has been prepared for...

For the season finale of the 18th season, Tom Baker, the 4th Doctor, reaches the end of his 7 year tenure. What started with Sarah Jane and the Brigadier, comes to a close with a relative bunch of strangers after saving the universe. With the return of the Master, an old rivalry is renewed and costs the Doctor his life. And with Adric in tow, the Doctor soon picks up Nyssa from last story and Australian air stewardess Tegan Jovanka crashes in too. This is the first time since the original days of Doctor Who that the Doctor has more than 2 companions. The reboot that began at the beginning of this season come to full fruition by the end of the story with a new Doctor, new companions, new theme, new opening, a new Master, etc etc.

While last season's story were a bit bad, this season was a welcomed changed with an injection of new energy. Overall, very consistent and good stories, this Doctor's swan song is a fitting ending to the longest tenured incumbent. While his early days seem more like a golden age of Doctor Who, his ending paved the way for a new ear of classic stories.

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

115. The Keeper of Traken

I am the Master and you will obey me!

After the 5 year absence of the Master, he returns in full force here. Picking up where Peter Pratt left off, Geoffrey Beevers delivers a masterful performance. Without the fried-egg eyes mask, Beevers is better able to express himself through his face but it is his voice that makes this version of the character. 

We also meet Anthony Ainley as Tremas and Sarah Sutton as his daughter Nyssa, both of which will have huge parts to play going forward in Doctor Who. It's interesting to see the Doctor and Tremas working together throughout the story, knowing Tremas' eventual fate. It's also nice to see Nyssa in her home environment, being brilliant as ever. Knowing what is to come, it's rather sad to watch this again and think of all the destruction the Master will soon wreak upon this peaceful planet. 

The surprise ending with the Master taking over Tremas' body and re-casting Anthony Ainley as the new Master was brilliant and sad at the same time. Ainley would go on to play the Master for the next 8 years, but it's nice to see him play a good guy this once. And Tremas' relationship with the Doctor adds to the tragedy of the Master killing Tremas. As the 4th Doctor's penultimate story, it is par excellence!

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

114. Warriors' Gate

You were the BEST Romana!

After nearly 3 seasons, nearly 2 in her second incarnation, Romana departs the TARDIS with K9 Mk II in E-Space to help an enslaved species. This has been building over the last few episodes as the Doctor has been trying (unsuccessfully) to get Romana back home to Gallifrey at the Time Lord's request. This led to a detour through E-Space and now to this interdimensional gateway.

This is actually a good departure story for Romana. Thankfully they didn't write her out by having her falling in love with someone or some other naff excuse. Only Romana could leave to a crusader, but she learned from the best. And she had on the cutest little Chinese top and slacks. Very active wear but the silks are lovely.

With the departure of Romana, the end of the 4th Doctor's reign is coming to an end....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warriors%27_Gate

113. State of Decay

Blah! Blah! Blah! I want to bite your neck!

Season 18 gets a dose of classic Phillip Hinchcliffe with Uncle Terrance bringing vampires to Doctor Who. And we find out the vampires are the ancient enemy of the Time Lords! Who knew! After picking up stow away Adric last story, he now stumbles into trouble and gets mixed up with a bad crowd. The Doctor and Romana stumble into their own nest of bats and Romana nearly gets sacrificed in a beautiful white satin dress with exquisite beading and brocade work in the bodice. Her outfit throughout the rest of the story is a beautiful beige number with cute boots and spats. Tom's appearance continues to deteriorate to the point where he now is starting to visibly grey. By the end of the story, the Doctor and Romana seem to have accepted Adric into the fold, whether they like it or not. And the adventures continues.

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

112. Full Circle

Enter Adric!

The Doctor and Romana are sucked into E-Space en route to Gallifrey and hilarity ensues. Actually it is the beginning of the end for Romana, at least. The Time Lords have summoned her home but she seems less than excited. Conveniently the TARDIS takes them on a detour. 

Full Circle is somewhat of a return to classic Doctor Who with Marshmen emerging from the water (ala Sea Devils), giant spiders emerging from coconuts shells (ala Planet of the Spiders), and a backwards community of people (ala Face of Evil reversed). It's actually a good story and holds up well after all these years.

Then of course there is Adric. For his debut story, he's hits all the typical Adric points and says all the Adric things in his special Adric way. You can tell immediately that Romana has no patience for him and annoys her. Of course Adric's bother is quite cute and would have been a better companion. For good or bad, let the era of Adric begin!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Full_Circle_(Doctor_Who)

111. Meglos

You're a prickly one, Meglos!

The stylistic reboot of Doctor Who continues with more outer space drama. They're getting better at using the CSO. The makeup is quite good. The titular villain Meglos, a cactus who can take one human form, it quite good when his prickers are out. Tom Baker does an excellent double turn as both the Doctor and as Meglos. Romama seems a little side lined in this story and her outfit is atrocious for this setting. The treat of the story is the return of Jacqueline Hill, who played original companion Barbara Wright from 1963-1964, this time playing Lexa. While a very different role from Barbara, she plays it wonderfully and with relish. Her noble sacrifice at the end to save Romama it touching especially when you consider this was Jacqueline's final work with the series before her death in 1993 from breast cancer. 

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

110. The Leisure Hive

Welcome to the age of John Nathan-Turner!

And on the turn of dime, Doctor Who changes completely again! New theme music! New opening title sequence! New costume! New incidental music! New look and feel! Old K9 voice! This is probably the biggest reboot of the series since the transition from 1969 to 1970, from Patrick Troughton to Jon Pertwee, from black & white to color. 

There is also a marked difference in Tom Baker's personality. He is more somber, more serious and darker. The change in costume to burgundys is a visible sign of this change. Of course, this is the beginning of the end for the 4th Doctor as this will be Tom Baker's 7th and final season of the titular Doctor. While it was unknown at the time that Baker was ill, you can see the difference in his face and body and how he's changed over the 7th years. Even the spark between Tom and Lalla/ Doctor and Romama seems tempered and non-existent at this point. And even though this isn't my favorite Romama outfit, it is cute and appropriate for Brighton Beach. 

The story itself is actually pretty good and holds up well all these 33 years later. A far cry better than most of the stories of season 17 and set the tone for Tom's swan song season.

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