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Classic Doctor Who stories for a New Who watcher: Part 2 – the Eighties Doctors

By Raphael Kiyani

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Earthshock is one of a few key stories that New Who fans should watch from Classic Doctor Who.

(Photo credit: Doctor Who/BBC.

Image obtained from: official Doctor Who website.)

New to Classic Doctor Who, but not sure what stories to check out? Here are a few stories from the eighties that are well worth watching for New Series fans.

In a previous article I wrote here on Doctor Who Watch, I set out to recommend Classic stories to a Doctor Who viewer unaccustomed with this era. To keep things simple, I limited my choices to the first four Doctors. But we Doctor Who fans always want more. So, I am back to round off the Classic era with my recommendations for the remaining Doctors – the Fifth (Peter Davison), Sixth (Colin Baker) and finally the Seventh (Sylvester McCoy).

With Doctor Who Series 12 not airing until 2020, there’s no better time to delve into the Classic era. There’s so much content to get lost in and it will be certain to entertain during the 2019 gap year. Without further ado, let us begin:

Earthshock

Earthshock is the second Cyberman story to enter my list of recommendations and it’s a great illustrator on how the villains have altered over the years. Unlike Tomb of the Cybermen, the Eighties depictions of them are less ghoulish, less zombie-like and are instead more brutishly space-age. They’re terrifyingly formidable with Earthshock masterfully balancing pace, tension and threat. The sense of impending doom and relentless force will ensnare you into this story with great verve.

For those that enjoyed the large TARDIS Team in Series 11, but felt it was flawed in places, Earthshock will offer you a similar style, but with better effect. Meet companions Tegan, Nyssa of Traken and Adric. All of whom feel fully defined and operate as a unit with zeal.

I adore larger teams; it allows for a pleasant sense of family and it also presents varied dynamics with the Doctor. This story represents this form of Doctor Who well.

Moreover, Peter Davison’s portrayal of the Fifth Doctor is particularly impactful here. Youthful innocence, sensitivity and more overtly humane mannerisms are all shown, but he also exhibits firm resilience, honour and rambunctiously launches himself into danger.

This is one of the best stories exploring what the Fifth Doctor is made of. Above all else, Earthshock establishes the heartbreaking truth: the Doctor may be powerful and clever, but he’s not infallible and fail he sometimes does…

Not just one of the best regeneration stories, but The Caves of Androzani is regularly thought of as one of the greatest Doctor Who stories ever made.

(Photo credit: Doctor Who/BBC.

Image obtained from: official Doctor Who website.)

The Caves of Androzani

The first regeneration story in this feature, and what a special one it is too. The Caves of Androzani is a seminal piece of science-fiction and one of the finest stories to ever come out of Doctor Who. Landing on a desolate world dominated by a mining corporation, the Doctor and companion Peri soon find themselves trapped within a political matrix of deceit and greed.

Not one element feels flawed or out of place. Everything sumptuously fits together to produce a stunning story that contains magnificent world-building, well-defined political themes, engaging performances, all with an overarching atmosphere of bleak foreboding.

It’s stunning in ambition and genius in its execution. If you don’t believe all the superlatives, watch it for yourself and revel in the lucid creative talents of writer Robert Holmes and director Graeme Harper.

The Caves of Androzani is a stupendous story in and of itself, but it also serves as a fitting swansong to the Fifth Doctor. It demonstrably proves you don’t need a million-strong Dalek army to be epic or the end of the universe to be riveting. You need well-defined stakes, an interesting story and emotional investment.

This story has all three. It’s the adventure of this one man battling against all odds, sacrificing himself in the process, to save a woman who he’s just met. Its stories like this that made me fall in love with the programme.

Vengeance on Varos is without a doubt one of the stronger stories from Six’s era.

(Photo credit: Doctor Who/BBC.

Image obtained from: official Doctor Who website.)

Vengeance on Varos

Two things I really enjoy are Doctor Who and dystopian fiction. Vengeance on Varos combines both of these to deliver a uniquely dark story. In fact, it could be the closest Doctor Who has been in emulating prophetic literary classic 1984, and it’s all the better for it. It’s dour, grim and squalid – you really are drawn into this dystopia with morbid curiosity.

Over the past half decade, dystopian universes in television and film have been on an upward trajectory in pop culture. This will make this story feel relevant and ahead of its time for some New Who watchers.

It’s also experimental in its narrative style. It tells great swathes of the story via the citizens of this society – characters that don’t ever interact with the Doctor and company. This framework fleshes out this world in a way not really done in Doctor Who before, but it works excellently here as it makes this society feel more personable and relatable to the viewer.

Railing against this exploitative system is the fiery and stubborn Sixth Doctor, who challenges the status quo with his typical wit and flippancy.

Integral to the creepy charm of the episode is the antagonist Sil who’s as disgusting as he is entrancing. The best villains entertain, but also play off against the hero with screen chemistry. Sil steps up to this role and is one of the most memorable villains in the Classic series – with a performance and voice work that will make your skin crawl.

The Trial of a Time Lord begins with The Mysterious Planet.

(Photo credit: Doctor Who/BBC.

Image obtained from: official Doctor Who website.)

The Mysterious Planet

The first serial in the fourteen part epic, The Trial of a Time Lord is a solid story. It’s not a masterpiece or even as memorable as prior stories in this feature, but it has a very good reason for being here. It’s due to the fact it’s a first entry into a wholly different type of Doctor Who series – a long form arc where the Doctor is put on trial.

This is an essential story for New Who watchers eager to see more of the Time Lords. Here, the Doctor is put on trial for transgressing the First Law of Time – the Time Lord’s non-interference policy. Interestingly, and appropriately, a Time Lord’s trial consists of watching and analysing events from their past, present and future.

Colin Baker is never better as the Sixth Doctor. His defiant and impassioned performance during the trial segments are a highlight and his chemistry with companion Peri is one of the most endearing relationships in the show’s history in my opinion.

Standing against him, is the sinister Valeyard, who has become an important part of Doctor Who lore. An astute villain that can really embed and play with the Doctor’s psyche creating many a moral quandary.

Delta and the Bannermen is perhaps one of the better stories from McCoy’s first season.

(Photo credit: Doctor Who/BBC.

Image obtained from: official Doctor Who website.)

Delta and the Bannermen

The first season of McCoy’s run isn’t well loved by many fans. Many of the stories are considered weak and Mel isn’t seen as one of the best companions either. There’s also a distinct undercurrent of silliness and buffoonery that didn’t sit well with some.

But I think there’s one story that definitely transcends that and actually utilises the season’s zaniness to great effect, and that’s Delta and the Bannermen. It represents McCoy era eccentricity perfectly and is so positively bonkers in its approach that you can’t help but enjoy it.

It features an alien intergalactic travel company known as ‘Nostalgia Tours’ aiming to reach Disneyland in 1959. Unbeknownst to the alien customers, there’s a Queen from a particular alien race hiding from persecution. The ship crashes in Wales whereby they have to reside in a hostel.

It’s barking mad, but gloriously so.  Featuring a slew of boisterous characters, a weird contrast of people and setting – it’s a story unlike any other in the Whoniverse.

Our last recommendation is the final story of the classic series: Survival, featuring the return of the Master.

(Image credit: Doctor Who/BBC.

Image obtained from: official Doctor Who website.)

Survival

We started with the start and now we’re ending with the end. The last ever story in the Classic era, Survival is aptly about loss and continuation – a superb end to a run that started all the way back in 1963.

More from Winter is Coming

Lead script editor Andrew Cartmel makes his vision finally take shape in earnest in McCoy’s last season. He really began to reinvigorate the franchise with fresh ideas, modernisation of the companion and a darker more fantasy-esque tone.

He also developed the Seventh Doctor by injecting more mystery into the character; McCoy really comes into his own as a manipulative and strategic incarnation. You can see all of this come to fruition here in Survival.

New Who viewers may be taken aback at how many similarities to the modern series are here, particularly in companion Ace. The DNA for the 2005 relaunch can be seen manifesting itself in the late 80’s.  Survival has a modern flair to hook you in but it’s also a tremendous Classic-feeling adventure.

The Cheetah people are incredibly well-realised and look better than most creatures seen in New Who with inspired creative direction. A last appearance from Anthony Ainely’s Master further adds to the story. He is deliciously evil and hypnotic, dripping with style and authority.

Next. Gallifrey review: Romana and Leela’s friendship becomes stronger in Spirit. dark

Have you checked out any of these stories previously? Which is your favorite of the six? And do you have any suggestions of your own for New Who fans to check out? Let us know in the comments below.

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