Image of the Fendahl

(Series 15, Episodes 9-12)

Summary: When archaeologists go bad…they fondle glowing skulls and start bonkers cults who dress in monks’ habits.  The Doctor resembles Orinoco the Womble more and more every day as he and Leela attempt to visit the home of the Fendahleen only to find the Time Lords have stuck it in an inaccessible time loop.  Back on earth, the Doctor, Leela, a witch and her grandson defeat a serpent that may or may not have been made in a primary school art lesson.

Watch it because: Just lob some salt at it!

Original Air Date: 29 October – 19 November 1977.

Doctor: Tom Baker.

Companions: Leela (Louise Jameson).

Writer: Chris Boucher.

Director: George Spenton-Foster.

Producer: Graham Williams.

The Invisible Enemy

(Series 15, Episodes 5-8)

Summary: Not wanting to nit-pick, but the enemy is pretty visible, tbh – it’s a giant asthmatic prawn on wheels.  Teeny tiny Doctor and Leela clones play a game of cat and mouse inside the Doctor’s brain and people start shooting lightning bolts from their crazy silver eyebrows.  The Doctor tries to come up with a clever solution but it all goes wrong so he just blows everything up (as Leela suggested in the first place).

Watch it because: “K9 is my best friend!”

Original Air Date: 3 – 24 September 1977.

Doctor: Tom Baker.

Companions: Leela (Louise Jameson) & K9 Mk I (John Leeson).

Writer: Bob Baker and Dave Martin.

Director: Derrick Goodwin.

Producer: Graham Williams.

Horror of Fang Rock

(Series 15, Episodes 1-4)

Summary: There’s a spot of nominative determination going on at Fang Rock, where a boatload of snobs get marooned in a lighthouse and menaced by a fluorescent green jellyfish with a talent for electrocution.  Bottom line: everyone dies and Leela’s eyes change colour.

Watch it because: Leela kicks some serious ass.

Original Air Date: 3 – 24 September 1977.

Doctor: Tom Baker.

Companions: Leela (Louise Jameson)

Writer: Terrance Dicks.

Director: Paddy Russell.

Producer: Graham Williams.

The Talons of Weng-Chiang

(Series 14, Episodes 21-26)

Summary: Finally, Leela looks warm whilst the Doctor looks like Sherlock Holmes as they visit smoggy Victorian for the story of the Phantom of the Palace Theatre.  The ventriloquist’s dummy is creepy as hell but unfortunately the giant rat is about as scary as a Spielberg shark.  It’s all a little uncomfortably racist, but if you can get past that, a pretty atmospheric story.  Beware the eyes of the dragon!

Watch it because: Jago & Litefoot – what a pair.

Original Air Date: 26 February – 2 April 1977.

Doctor: Tom Baker.

Companions: Leela (Louise Jameson)

Writer: Robert Holmes.

Director: David Maloney.

Producer: Philip Hinchcliffe.