Kinda

(Series 19, Episodes 9-12)

Summary: Or what I initially thought was the most non-committal story ever until I realised I was pronouncing the title wrong.  The Doctor gets excited over some elaborate wind chimes that put Tegan to sleep, Nyssa takes a nap and yet another crazy man takes a shine to Adric.  Tegan has a creepy out-of-body experience and should really avoid eating apples when there’s serpent imagery and talk of paradise.  The Doctor’s pronouncement that it’s “the end of everything” may be a little hasty as the Mara can’t stand the sight of itself in a mirror, and it seems that the Doctor may have the hots for Todd but who can blame him?

Watch it because: Hindle and Sanders after their transformation are a delight.

Original Air Date: 1-9 February 1982.

Doctor: Peter Davison.

Companions: Adric (Matthew Waterhouse), Nyssa (Sarah Sutton) & Tegan Jovanka (Janet Fielding).

Writer: Christopher Bailey.

Director: Peter Grimwade.

Producer: John Nathan-Turner.

Four to Doomsday

(Series 19, Episodes 5-8)

Summary: Tegan seems so determined to get back to make her flight – she should really just take the opportunity to slack off through time and space.  The TARDIS lands on a spaceship containing three green crusties with a suspicious interest in fashion who are on their way to Earth.  They’ve got what appears to be a bunch of kidnapped people from various Earth cultures throughout history on board but it’s ok because it turns out everyone’s a cyborg.  Adric sucks up to a power-crazed autocrat just because he calls him smart, Nyssa gets brainwashed and the Doctor foils a crackpot plan to travel in time and enslave the people of Earth using poisonous frogs.

Watch it because: The Doctor’s penchant for puns.

Original Air Date: 18-26 January 1982.

Doctor: Peter Davison.

Companions: Adric (Matthew Waterhouse), Nyssa (Sarah Sutton) & Tegan Jovanka (Janet Fielding).

Writer: Terence Dudley.

Director: John Black.

Producer: John Nathan-Turner.

Castrovalva

(Series 19, Episodes 1-4)

Summary: Problems with his regeneration mean the Doctor has to hang out in the Zero Room whilst the Master uses Adric as a stooge to programme the TARDIS controls to fly them into the Big Bang.  Adric’s caught in the Master’s web, luring the Doctor to Castrovalva - the only place where he can sort out his regeneration complications – where Tegan and Nyssa set out with the Doctor in the Zero cabinet in very unsuitable shoes.  Everyone becomes trapped in a splintering universe and a suspicious librarian saves the day.

Watch it because: I’ve got a feeling it’s going to be absolutely splendid.

Original Air Date: 4-12 January 1982.

Doctor: Peter Davison.

Companions: Adric (Matthew Waterhouse), Nyssa (Sarah Sutton) & Tegan Jovanka (Janet Fielding).

Writer: Christopher H. Bidmead.

Director: Fiona Cumming.

Producer: John Nathan-Turner.