Tom Baker to Peter Davison: Seven classic ‘Doctor Who’ stories to watch
Doctor Who is timeless, figuratively and literally. The eccentric time traveler has been a pop culture staple for decades, and it continues fascinate new viewers every day.
Jodie Whittaker’s version of the doctor is not slated to return until 2021. The good news is that Doctor Who’s been around long enough to have a lot of old stories to rediscover. So if you’re jonesing for more sci-fi drama, why not dive into these classic episodes?
“Remembrance of the Daleks”
The Seventh Doctor (Sylvester McCoy) and baseball bat-swinging Ace (Sophie Aldred) take on the perennial alien menace in this 1988 action blockbuster in which the Daleks arrive in 60s London in search of an ancient doomsday device.
“Vengeance on Varos”
Stranded on a planet run by violent reality TV, this story is a highlight of the much-maligned Sixth Doctor (Colin Baker) era. The main villain is an evil slug man. Need we say more?
“Earthshock”
A taut thriller where the peaceable Fifth Doctor (Peter Davison) must escape a spaceship hijacked by recurring bad guys, the Cybermen. The “shock” of the title is a jaw-dropping twist ending.
“City of Death”
The iconic Fourth Doctor (Tom Baker) battles a spaghetti-faced alien in an adventure involving a fake Mona Lisa and the creation of life on Earth. Written by Douglas Adams (Dirk Gently).
“The Claws of Axos”
A visitation by seemingly benevolent aliens offering a gift that seems too good to be true. Classic Earthbound action starring the Third Doctor (Jon Pertwee).
“The Tomb of the Cybermen”
Sinister archeologists uncover the frozen hive of the Cybermen, and it’s up to the Second Doctor (Patrick Troughton) to stop its thaw.
“An Unearthly Child”
The eerie pilot episode introducing the anti-heroic First Doctor (William Hartnell). The scenes with the cavemen are alright.
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Doctor Who, like most other TV shows, has suffered delays due to COVID-19. There have not been any plot points confirmed for the upcoming season 13, but Jodie Whittaker confirmed that she’s coming back as the titular character.
Whittaker told Entertainment Weekly that she is eager to step back into the col0rful world of the doctor. “Yes, I’m doing another season,” she stated. “That might be a massive exclusive that I’m not supposed to say, but it’s unhelpful for me to say [I don’t know] because it would be a massive lie! I absolutely adore it. At some point, these shoes are going to be handed on, but it’s not yet. I’m clinging on tight!”
Whittaker also addressed criticisms of her performance and season 12 as a whole. “It’s never been that great for me to immerse myself in noise that you can’t control, good or bad,” she reasoned. “I think both are a rabbit hole that you shouldn’t necessarily go down. We know that we work really hard for the show to be the best it can be in this moment. Once it’s out in the ether, how people feel, in a way, is kind of irrelevant.”
Season 13 return date
The last season of Doctor Who ended on a cliffhanger, so fans are eager to delve into the repercussions of the episode and resolve the world-ending threat. BBC reported that season 13 started filming in October or November 2020, and will be ready for release sometime in 2021.
Showrunner Chris Chibnall confirmed that he will be helming the main storyline. “I do know I’m coming back for a third season,” he told Entertainment Weekly. “Yeah, absolutely. We are already planning the stories. Once you see the end of this series, you’ll realize there are some stories we’re already setting in train for next series. We have very big, ambitious plans for our third series together.”
