83. The Android Invasion

Doctor Who meets the Invasion of the Body Snatchers. Just this time they are android replicas controlled by rhino-looking aliens set on invading Earth. This also marks the true end of the UNIT era with a final appearance of Harry Sullivan and Benton. The best image from the story is people's faces falling off to reveal the inner circuitry of the android duplicate. Of course this adventure is a fun romp around the home counties of England and getting a nice tour of local village life. For UNIT's swan song, it's rather anti-climatic and doesn't do the UNIT family justice after nearly 7 year run. Thank goodness the 5th Doctor story Mawdryn Undead forms a lovely coda to the UNIT era.

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

82. Pyramids of Mars

Are you my Mummy?? Pyramids of Mars is THE quintessential 4th Doctor/ Sarah Jane Smith adventure. Alien threat? Check. Scary monsters? Check. TARDIS console room? Check. Ancient evil? Check. Quick witty humor alongside dire situations? Check! Pyramids of Mars is a classic among classics with the magic at its best. Using the classic horror of the Mummy coupled with the ancient alien threat of Sutekh, wrapped in turn of the 20th century England coupled with the exploration and excavation of Egypt we get quite possibly the perfect Doctor Who story. We'll even discount the mysterious 'hand of sutekh's cushion'. Great casting all around. Gabriel Woolf is stupendous as the voice of Sutekh in the same league as James Earl Jones as Darth Vader. It doesn't get any better than this!

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

81. Planet of Evil

Planet of Evil has been compared to most frequently Jekyll & Hyde with Sorenson turning from man to monster because of his consumption of anti-matter juice. While the near invisible anti-matter monster is  a threatening presence throughout the story, it is the human conflict between the ships crew and Sorenson's machinations that are the true drama of the piece. This story also kicked off an unofficial arc to the season of monsters in the vein of classic horror and literature. This also returns the TARDIS crew to two with just the Doctor and Sarah Jane after the past season with Harry. 

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

80. Terror of the Zygons

Terror of the Zygons is the final Tom Baker story to be released on DVD. Scheduled for a September 2013 release, I am looking forward to seeing this classic episode, especially with the return of the Zygons in the 50th anniversary special in November. 

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

79. Revenge of the Cybermen

The Cybermen are back! And it's about time! And GOLD!

After a 7 year hiatus, a rag tag group of Cybermen return to terrorize humanity and destroy the planet Voga, a planet of gold. After the more impressive invasions of the Patrick Troughton era and the complete absence during the Jon Pertwee era, their return here is rather lackluster. 

The Doctor and company manage to return to Nerva Beacon, at an earlier point in its timeline, after bouncing around time and space on a Time Ring from the Time Lords. It's slightly paradoxical that in this first season of Tom Baker's, he meets 3 major recurring villains but only travels in the TARDIS once.

Of course the Doctor defeats the Cybermen, saves the planet of gold and is reunited with the TARDIS. And so ends Tom's first season. As introductory seasons for a new Doctor goes, season 12 stands heads above the rest. While previous Doctor's freshmen years are good and really represent their era, Tom's larger than life performance with the return of old enemies alongside new threats capitalizes on the shows history and moves it forward for a new era.

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

75. Robot

The Doctor is dead! Long live the Doctor!

The era of Tom Back has begun. From humble beginnings we the the 4th Doctor emerge for what will be an historic tenure of 7 years.

After a quick recap of the 3rd Doctor's regeneration, we are quickly introduced via the antagonists POV that is a robot out to kill. What has now become a standard post-regeneration, the Doctor goes through a few different costume changes before he settles on his standard bohemian chic with long scarf. His friendship with the Brigadier re-cements itself and dynamic duo is back together.

The cliff hanger to episode one is one of my all time favorite with the reveal of the Giant Robot. This gleaming shiny piece of 1970's science fiction engineering is truly a classic from 50 years of Doctor Who. I remember as a child, seeing the Robot for the first time and being scared and fascinated at the same time. It has the best voice, menacing and yet vulnerable. This character still stands as one of the most tragic characters ever. 

Despite this story being a hold over the previous production teams reign, it feels fresh and new for the beginning of season 12. It's a great introduction to Tom Baker's Doctor, we quickly see Liz Sladen's Sarah Jane bond with her Doctor, and the addition of Ian Marter's Harry Sullivan as comic relief, creates a fantastic new team that drives one of the best seasons of Doctor Who to date.

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

78. Genesis of the Daleks

This is it. The story that essentially and fundamentally changed the Daleks forever. After 12 years of terrorizing the universe and returning time after time to battle the Doctor, the Daleks become second fiddle. Terry Nation, creator of the Daleks, give us Davros, the creator of the Daleks. A scarred and deformed Kaled scientist whose bottom half is a Dalek, Davros is crazy and makes his monsters in his own image. Played to the hilt by Michael Wisher, this introduction to the character is legendary and unforgettable. Another iconic performance that will carry the character throughout the next 14 years of the original show and 40 years of the show overall. Of course Davros returned for each of the Daleks next 4 appearance in the classic show and become the mouth piece for the them. Thankfully the new show took its time resurrecting Davros to great effect and has not let him overshadow his creations. 

This story didn't too lightly veil that analogy of the Kaleds to the Nazis. The morality play throughout the 6 episodes especially with the Doctor's mission from the Time Lords to either destroy or slow down the development of the Daleks is great stuff. Racial purity is re-introduced here with Davros striving for genetic perfection for the Daleks. But hands down this is a quintessential story and an all time classic episode.

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