Just recently I finished the Fifth Doctor’s last story. I’m
a little apprehensive about continuing with the Sixth Doctor, but I’m
determined to do it. But first, I really enjoyed the Fifth Doctor. In a way
he’s a bit of a legend in his own right, with his daughter playing the Doctor’s
daughter and his future son-in-law playing the Tenth Doctor, but we’ll probably
touch on that more later.
Season 19
 |
The Doctor finally returned Tegan to
her job, only for her to return later. |
Top Story:
Time-Flight
I had low expectations of this story, since
Peter
Davision had said on his panel at SLC Comic Con last year that he would
have redone this one. All the same, this story had a very fresh take on time
travel, which I enjoyed. Kind of like how “The Day of the Doctor” used the
rifts in time, instead of the TARDIS, to get the three Doctors together.
Flop Story: Four to
Doomsday
The worst part of this story was just how slow it started. I
almost picked “Castrovalva”. The premise is interesting, having figures from
multiple eras on Earth all put together. However, I spent a long time on this
story waiting for something to happen. The mystery of the story was satisfying,
but the new Doctor spent a long time standing around.
 |
| The Cybermen returned in "Earthshock" |
Honorable Mention:
Earthshock
Despite how much modern Doctor Who fans talk about the
companions always dying, it’s not that common. It took almost 20 years for a
regular companion to die (Katarina died with the First Doctor, but she wasn’t
around that long… it’d be like if
Adam had died on
Satellite 5). Amy and Rory lived out their lives in the past, Clara was pulled
out of time, Donna was mind-wiped, and so on. However, it’s uncommon for a
companion to straight up die. That’s what happened to Adric. So even though I
didn’t care for him, it was a tragic episode for the Doctor to lose a friend.
Season 20
 |
| Tegan and the Doctor get captured by Omega. |
Top Story: Arc of
Infinity
I enjoyed the fresh take on time travel. Like Time-Flight it
was refreshing to see something new. This episode also saw the return of Omega,
who was last seen and defeated in ”The Three Doctors”. It was also nice to see
Tegan return. Despite her annoying whining when she was first taken by
accident, she grew on me. But more on that later.
Flop Story: The
King’s Demons
The return of the Master and the introduction of Kamelion.
Again, interesting premise, but the use of Kamelion was too complex. Kind of
over-complicated the story, in my opinion. In the end it was just one of those
stories that I had a hard time getting into.
 |
| The Brigadier returned, but with amnesia |
Honorable Mention:
Mawdryn Undead
We got Turlough introduced here. Not my favorite companion,
but not my least favorite. More importantly in my mind is that this was the
return of the Brigadier (first appearance since “Terror of the Zygons” seven
years before) and the Black Guardian (first appearance since “The Armageddon
Factor”). I didn’t particularly care for the trilogy of Black Guardian stories,
but it was great to have these characters return.
Season 21
 |
Turlough tricked everyone into thinking
a coat rack was a weapon. |
Top Story: Frontios
This story had the kind of feel that I like in modern Doctor
Who; the TARDIS is gone, the natives are suspicious of the Doctor and
companions, and some alien mystery starts unfolding. I liked the way the story
unfolded, built up, and then resolved itself. Nice and clean.
Flop Story: Warriors
of the Deep
I don’t know what it is, but I guess I just don’t like
Silurian stories. I’ve
said it before,
but the Silurian stories all feel the same. Again, maybe I’d feel differently
if I hadn’t seen the Eleventh Doctor Silurian story, but still. Madame Vastra
though, I’ll take her any day.
 |
| A crack in time. Deja vu..... |
Honorable Mention:
The Awakening
The story overall was kinda meh, but I’m giving this one
honorable mention for one reason alone: the crack in time and space. It
functioned differently than the crack in the Eleventh Doctor era, but I’d be
cool if it was also crack caused by the TARDIS exploding.
 |
| Four Doctors defeat Rasillon in the Death Zone |
Special Episode: The Five
Doctors
The 20th Anniversary called for a return from the
five doctors and five companions. It would have been wonderful if Tom Baker had
agreed to return, with Sarah Jane as his companion. However, it was clever of
them to use leftover footage from an unfinished story to include the Fourth Doctor
and Romana anyway. If I had to change any of them companions, I’d have put
Jamie or Zoe with the Second Doctor instead of the Brigadier and I’d have put
Jo with the Third Doctor. All the same, just look at how many companions
returned, even just as hallucinations. I’m also glad they could tastefully have
another actor play the First Doctor. That paved the way for another actor to
play him this Christmas.
COMPANIONS:
Adric (4th
Doctor) - Earthshock
Nyssa (4th
Doctor) - Terminus
Tegan (4th
Doctor) - Resurrection of the Daleks
Turlough Mawdryn
Undead - Planet of Fire
Peri Planet
of Fire - (6th Doctor)
 |
I like companions who can give
equal support and sass |
Favorite Companion:
She annoyed me at first, but I really grew to like Tegan Jovanka. She had some
definite character development. She went from being an annoying, whiny brat to
becoming a loyal, sassy friend for the Fifth Doctor. My biggest complaint is that
her exit was so abrupt. I could kind of see them taking the Doctor in a darker
direction, but Tegan’s reaction seemed to come about suddenly. However, as of
2010 the character is still alive (as noted in the Sarah Jane Adventures) and
the actress Janet Fielding is still alive, so it’s not unreasonable to think
that she could reappear at some point. Fingers crossed.
 |
| Solid ending for a mediocre character |
Least Favorite Companion:
I mentioned
last time
that Adric was my least favorite of the Fourth Doctor companions. It was all
because of Fifth Doctor stories I’d seen. He ends up as this annoying, arrogant
teenager who constantly defies the Doctor and oversteps him. Not only that but on
multiple occasions he selfishly aids the enemy of a given story because he’s
being an angsty, prideful teenager. However, I enjoyed his resolution. He died
a hero and his death was satisfying (and not even because I didn’t like him). I
would love to see more companion exits like that (minus the death part).
Any favorite Fifth Doctor moments? Any companions you'd like to see back? I'd be up for Tegan and Nyssa at least.
 |
The Fifth Doctor returned in the Tenth Doctor era for a
charity short with his future son-in-law. |
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