The Five Doctors

The Five Doctors
by Terrance Dicks
Originally Broadcasted: November 25th, 1983

A rogue Time Lord is taking the five incarnations of the Doctor out of time, and the Master has been called upon by the Time Lords to save the Doctor. Really he's just another ploy in the Death Zone, the ancient Game of Rassilon. This rouge Time Lord is after immortality, and he'll do anything to get it...

John Nathan Turner, then producer of the show, ramped up into a promotional overdrive in 1983. Each story that season featured the return of an old enemy of the Doctor's (such as the Mara, the Black Guardian, and the Master). Then there was a special anniversary celebration at Longleat in England that drew thousands of fans to see actors, writers, and more celebrities from the show's history. And this all culminated in a special 90 minute episode of Doctor Who celebrating 20 years of this great show. Skillfully written by Terrance Dicks, The Five Doctors weaves in so many elements of the show's past. Most importantly featured are the Doctors themselves. Although interestingly, only three actors to have played the Doctor took part in this story. William Hartnell had sadly passed away by this time, and Tom Baker turned down the offer, as he thought it too soon after he had left the show. So a different actor (Richard Hurndall) is brought in to play the First Doctor, and the Fourth Doctor is featured through some clips from the half-completed serial Shada and then helpfully gets stuck in time for the rest of the story. On top of that, we get the greatest number of companions ever featured in a Doctor Who story, with Susan, the Brigadier, Zoe, Jamie, Liz Shaw, Mike Yates, Sarah Jane Smith, Romana, Tegan, and Turlough! One Dalek is featured, while the Cybermen are given a more leading role as they try to destroy the TARDIS and enter the Tower of Rassilon. Upon the Doctor being trapped in the Death Zone, the Time Lords call upon the Master to save the Doctor. This presents an unusual role for the character, as he's sort of trying to help the Doctor. Of course, it's revealed he's really after immortality himself. But the Master was really just a pawn in the real bad guy's game, Lord President Borusa. I thought it a clever twist to make the grand Time Lord President (who had been featured in three previous stories) into the bad guy. The Death Zone itself was an interesting idea, and although it was clearly filmed in the English countryside, there's still something about it that just works. Speaking of just working, we get a one off baddie in this story, in the form of the Raston Warrior Robot. This was one of the coolest parts of the show, a gripping scene that keeps you on the edge of your seat. Only of the deadliest enemies ever featured in Doctor Who. The Five Doctors is a jolly good story all the way through. It keeps your attention for the whole running time, constantly throwing different things at your eye sockets. What a perfect way to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Doctor Who!

Luke's Rating: 9/10