Warriors of the Deep

(Series 21, Episodes 1-4)

Summary: There’s something fishy in the water outside a nuclear base in 2084… Two superpowers are still at war so the Silurians and the Sea Devils conspire to get the humans to wipe each other out so they can reclaim the Earth. The Doctor has to wear a spacesuit belonging to a man with body odour issues and Turlough proves both his loyalty and his pragmatism.

Watch it because: “There should have been another way.”

Original Air Date: 5-13 January 1984.
Doctor: Peter Davison.
Companions: Tegan Jovanka (Janet Fielding) & Vislor Turlough (Mark Strickson).
Writer: Johnny Byrne.
Director: Pennant Roberts.
Producer: John Nathan-Turner.

The Five Doctors

(Special)

Summary: A mysterious black-gloved hand kidnaps the Doctor and his companions – in all five incarnations – to help break into the Tower of Rassilon and gain immortality. One enjoys a bite to eat, Two rocks a giant fur coat and banters with an ever-sceptical Brigadier, Three builds a zipwire, Four gets stuck in the time vortex and Five learns to play the harp. The Master lasts about five minutes being the good guy before teaming up with the Cybermen. Mostly, it’s just a good fun “Doctor – this is your life.”

Watch it because: No. Not the mind probe.

Original Air Date: 23 November 1983 (US); 25 November 1983 (UK).
Doctor: Peter Davison, Richard Hurndall, Patrick Troughton & Jon Pertwee. Pus Tom Baker (scene from Shada) and William Hartnell (scene from The Dalek Invasion of Earth).
Companions: Tegan Jovanka (Janet Fielding), Vislor Turlough (Mark Strickson), Susan (Carole Ann Ford), Brigadier Alistair Lethbridge-Stewart (Nicholas Courtney), Sarah Jane Smith (Elisabeth Sladen), Romana II (Lalla Ward), Jamie McCrimmon (Frazer Hines), Zoe Heriot (Wendy Padbury), Liz Shaw (Caroline John) & K9 (John Leeson).
Writer: Terrance Dicks.
Director: Peter Moffatt.
Producer: John Nathan-Turner.

The King's Demons

(Series 20, Episodes 21-22)

Summary: Sir Gilles Estram – you’re not fooling anyone, especially with your accent slipping all over the place. The Doctor gets mistaken for a demon and has to foil a plot to discredit King John in order to stop the Magna Carta from being signed. The Doctor shows off his sword fighting skills, adopts a robot friend that Tegan is jealous of and then jets off to see the Eye of Orion after some confusion over whether or not Tegan wants to go home.

Watch it because: Kamelion playing a lute – truly a thing of beauty. What a voice.

Original Air Date: 15-16 March 1983.
Doctor: Peter Davison.
Companions: Tegan Jovanka (Janet Fielding), Vislor Turlough (Mark Strickson) & Kamelion (Gerald Flood).
Writer: Terence Dudley.
Director: Tony Virgo.
Producer: John Nathan-Turner.

Enlightenment

(Series 20, Episodes 17-20)

Summary:Is it bad that Turlough is such a dick that I miss Adric?  The TARDIS goes all explodey as wibbly visions of the White and Black Guardian (who, let me tell you, are really rocking that whole dead-bird-on-the-head look) warn that the winner takes all (who knew they were Abba fans?).  Team TARDIS join an Edwardian yachting crew who turn out to be racing on historical vessels through space, there are space pirates and eternals who read minds and think they can outwit the Doctor and Marriner has a crush on Tegan but courts her with all the social skills of a newt.

Watch it because: Lynda Baron makes a helluva baddie.

Original Air Date: 15-23 February 1983.

Doctor: Peter Davison.

Companions: Tegan Jovanka (Janet Fielding) & Vislor Turlough (Mark Strickson).

Writer: Barbara Clegg.

Director: Fiona Cumming.

Producer: John Nathan-Turner.

Terminus

(Series 20, Episodes 13-16)

Summary: Turlough buggers up the Tardis and they end up on an abandoned ship haunted by spooky noises and gropey hands that’s being raided by raiders with impractically large space helmets and patrolled pasty guards who are hooked on drugs.  Turlough tries to flirt his way out of trouble but Tegan’s having none of it, the skull décor isn’t the most reassuring and Nyssa’s looking a bit peaky.  Who’s afraid of the big bad wolf robot?

Watch it because: Nyssa finally gets to fulfil her scientific potential.

Original Air Date: 15-23 February 1983.

Doctor: Peter Davison.

Companions: Nyssa (Sarah Sutton), Tegan Jovanka (Janet Fielding) & Vislor Turlough (Mark Strickson).

Writer: Stephen Gallagher.

Director: Mary Ridge.

Producer: John Nathan-Turner.