I find it simultaneously really sad and hilarious that despite the Doctor brushing off Adric's death in like two minutes and saying that he wouldn't want them to mourn him unnecessarily, in the PREVIOUS STORY to Earthshock they had stayed around to attend a funeral for a guy they barely met other than the time he kidnapped Nyssa and tried to kill them.
Just a thought, but I think that the Doctor would have an impossible task trying to scoop up, gather and even locate, the billions of pieces Adric is blown up into, to have enough of his eviscerated body to warrant a coffin in which to dump them and attend a makeshift interment with Tegan and Nyssa..... Their attendance of George Cranleighs funeral was nothing more than a gesture of respect and kindness - not an indication that they were more bereaved by the demise of a disfigured, mute who could only communicate by lowering and raising the yo-yo of dribble , permanently dangling from his hooter....
I really like 5. He is basically the "brave-heroic-selfless" template for all the new doctors. He should've gotten another season. Just when I started to think "I know this doctor" ...he left. Him saving Peri, a companion that literally got introduced in the last episode before his regeneration, meaning he didn't even really know her, just shows how much he cared and how much he was willing to risk just for others. Honestly, fav regeneration... Underrated doctor.
When he started in the role, he got some advice from Patrick Troughton to do three seasons and get out for fear of typecasting. Looking back, Davison has said now that he wished he had stayed on for another season.
I'm glad I'm not the only one who really rates "Enlightenment". The entire cast is on top form and it's an intriguing story, well-written and well-directed. It also looks beautiful - even without the excellent CGI tweaks on the DVD. A fine story.
Actually it's quite telling that post-regeneration, Five switched between the personas of some of his previous regenerations. Never finding *himself* until the very end.
This is. A really good point I never considered. There's hints of them all but my big take away? 5 just wasn't ready to be 5, not when it happened in Logopolis, and he spends a lot of early days just, angry. Frustrated at pretty much everyone all the time.
You do make a really good point regarding the flaws of this era. They had great opportunities for character growth but never take advantage of them. E.g. Adric dies at the end of Earthshock and after 5 minutes his death is dismissed in Time Flight. Nyssa's dad is taken over by the Master- great potential as a subplot, adds an extra darkness to the Ainley Master and its barely brought up and the Master is an easily stopped monster of the week. It does feel like every big thing that happened to them was almost retconned by the characters acting exactly the same later.
"My smol little Maths boy" has been my exact mental nickname for Adric from the moment he was introduced. I'm just. So thrilled to see someone else genuinely *love* him.
@@mattthesilent777RED he started a tradition of *really* questioning the Doctor's decisions that wasn't ever really picked up again until Martha and Donna in New Who-- everyone else the Doctor could ignore the opinion of, but Adric just didn't let him ignore him--which is why I think a lot of people considered him annoying. But he was laying the prototype for a type of New Who companion decades before their time. Donna *especially.*
Although 5 is 'my Doctor' and Nyssa is my favorite companion, I do appreciate how you weren't afraid to point out the flaws of the early JNT era, as there are quite a bit. I do think Big Finish did a fantastic job developing 5 and Nyssa's characters and dynamic. Great video, as always! Proud subscriber.
I’d say 5 starts as being this breathlessly energetic and earnestly stressed bundle of Hartnell, Troughton, and Pertweeisms, almost a bit too caught up in reflecting and distilling older Doctors to quite embrace his own style vibes, carrying an almost *nervous* wit, slowly becoming more calm and collected over time, his Hartnell and Troughton aspects simmering into a more confident and unexpectedly sharp sarcasm akin to a cobra bite, but definitely a degree more distanced, treating nearly everything with a seriousness befitting a stroke. Fussy and self righteous and just panicked during moments of high stress, while still trying to do the moral thing ~~for the most part~~
7:19 I was incredibly high the first time I watched Earthshock, to the point that I nearly forgot I was watching a Cybermen episode by the end of part 1 (despite deciding to watch it because it was a Cybermen story, somehow). I will never replicate how blown my mind was by that reveal.
@@peterthompson1989 That's what I said, in my review. Especially, now that we have: 'World Enough In Time/The Doctor Falls;' I feel a lot of people really like this story, simply because it brought back the older Cybermen, and put them up against a newer Doctor.
@@carealoo744 I would strongly disagree with you that World Enough In Time in any way overshadows Spare Parts, Personally I find its plot aimless and pandering with some of the worst of Steven Moffat's bullshit, and it directly leads into a character assassination of One on top of all that.
I loved the family dynamic in season 19, haven't watched the rest of his run but I felt adric and Tegan were very human and I loved that. Flawed and therefore relatable, sure they were annoying at times but everyone is! But you're very right, the doctor never really seemed to want to involve his companions. He just goes off, does his own thing and saves his companions afterwards. It is very strange.
The writers didn't push the family dynamic nearly as much as they could have between Adric, Tegan ans Nyssa. I always said they had the potential to be the Zoe, Jamie and Victoria or the Davidson era. Honestly it just seemed like the writers *didn't like* them as a group and couldn't think of too many positive ways for them to interact? It always frustrated me because growing up Adric's death gutted me and once he was gone it just wasn't the same and I couldn't stand Turlough. Once the season 19 family shattered, that was it for me and Classic Who.
I know I’m late, but I’ve tried to put the way this doctor acts into perspective. He tries to resist emotion due to the fact he could get hurt by them. So when he talks to Adric like a friend in Earthshock, after his death he shuts off again because of this. This for me also explains the sixth doctor personality. He’s had enough of suppressing emotion and just lets it all out. That’s just what I like to interpret now.
as someone whos just finished binging through the new show for the first time, these videos are such a great guide for which episodes to buy and which episodes not to buy for the classic doctors
The Fifth Doctor really is my favourite Doctor, and even though I disagree with him on that, his episode recommendations are pretty spot on. (Although I think Planet of Fire is actually quite good....except for the whole.... Master Small bit.... But I promise the rest is good!)
For me 5 was at his best while traveling with Peri and Erimem. Erimem is one of my favourite companions, a weird mix of adorable and badass, she definitely brought the best out of 5 and Peri.
"Master small...... Peri stop sneezing MASTER SMALL!!" I'm literally watching this in the dead of night and I had to physically cover my mouth to stop from laughing out loud. I actually quite like Planet of Fire. Especially the fifth Doctor and Turlough in it. I felt the backstory they gave him actually worked incredibly well with the character they established and the tension that builds between the Doctor and Turlough over all of his lying is really well done. Not to mentions Turlough's departure. Not very big or dramatic sure, but it doesn't need to be. In the same way that Martha's departure didn't need to be. I like all of the audio dramas you mentioned (particularly Castle of Fear and Singularity). I think a list of my favourites would have included Spare Parts, The Church and the Crown, Creatures of Beauty, The Game, and Circular Time. I think the Fifth Doctor is probably one of my all time favourite Doctors. Mostly to do with the Caves of Androzani particularly and nearly everything they do with the character in Big Finish.
There was definitely wasted potential in the 5th Doctor's era. Adric's death is glossed over, and the Master should have returned as a villain for Nyssa in particular as he wore her father's face. But it had some amazing qualities too. Tegan and Turlough are some of my favourite companions ever in Dr Who, especially Turlough. He's abrasive and creates friction but he's also part of the crew. His character introduction was like no other companion Dr Who ever had. My top 5 stories: Castrovalva, Kinda/Snakedance, Enlightenment, The Awakening, Frontios I find the Caves of Androzani to be overrated. The Doctor and Peri just land in the wrong place and wrong time, and are trying to survive. They have little to no effect on what's going on around them. I'll try rewatching it to see what people like about it, but storywise I don't like it. I also don't get why people love The Visitation so much, even Davison himself. The companions are written terribly in it.
Having The Master be a nemesis for someone who ISN'T the doctor would have been a great shake up to the formula-- Nyssa having all of that anger and the Doctor trying to control it so she doesn't "do something she'll regret" while The Master (at least, feints) disinterest in The Doctor for something *different* would have done a lot for Davidson's era.
I can definitely see the similarities from the fifth and thirteenth Doctors. I loved Tegan, such an underrated companion. Turlough, is the most underutilized companion, he was very interesting, and could have been great if used properly. And I 100 percent agree about Nyssa. The Master is walking around with her dead fathers face, and they couldn’t turn this into an interesting storyline. It was a plot point they just forgot about.
I totally agree with you on Enlightenment. It's by far my favorite Davison story and quite possibly my favorite story during JNT's run on the show. Arc of Infinity isn't nearly as weak as people tend to think. I love a couple of the designs and Davison gives a strong performance.
My all-time favorite Davison story is the audio Creatures of Beauty. It's so strange, the non-linear plot is incredibly engaging, and it ties up in such a satisfying way at the end. I remember listening to it for the first time and gushing about it for hours.
Nyssa is such a disappointment. The Master pretty much killed her father and then destroyed her planets. It would've been OK if she wasn't afraid of him, but hated his guts instead. In fairness to Kameleon, the guy who built apparently died and told nobody how to control the damn thing. Turlough is great. Especially on audio. Arc of Infinity has Colin Baker being so extra...I can't place it in Bottom 5. I'm going to disagree with all audios are good, because we had Nekromenteia. I'm yet to meet a person that liked this one. Also in worst list - Divided Loyalties book, which has an iconic line by Adric : “Tegan’s always getting possessed. She just wants attention!” and also reveals to us that Adric never bathes (thanks, Gary). Also a super porno-ish scene between Adric and Celestial Toymaker.
Earthshock and resurrection of the daleks stand out for me as 2 all time great episodes. I prefer these cybermen to the nuWho ones.. Idk.. just something menacing about them, maybe the big head.
I gotta say, I really enjoy your videos, but the thumbnails alone are absolutely stellar. I was tripping so hard the other day, and I kept my phone screen on for hours, just carrying the 4th Doctor with me. I've got them all lined up in a playlist now, and I've already decided that next time 8 is gonna get the top spot. Great thumbnails. 😂
Turlough's short shorts did leave rather a lasting impression on my memory...I often wonder just how many decisions, life choices, and realisations were made in impressionable minds during that scene where a soaked, speedoed Strickland collapsed by a sodden Bryant on the beach...
I'm fascinated by your opening point because I have the exact same feelings about Tennant I grew up with Tennant's doctor he was everything I wanted to be, it would have been the greatest compliment to be told one was like him, it was barely worth asking anyone my age who the greatest doctor was because everyone would say Tennant. Watching the series through recently after getting my partner interested in the show I have realised I have the exact same feeling of having outgrown his portrayal a touch. Which isn't to say I'm not entertained or Tennant is any less fantastic on the show but I find a lot of parts of those episodes and the idea of being like the tenth doctor unrealistic and childish. He always comes out on top in every conversation, he is ridiculously good at everything he does from organ playing to horse riding and is always always right. As an adult I've found a much deeper appreciation of Peter Capaldi's portrayal, which is much calmer, more open to being flawed and to me a more realistic interpretation. Just my opinion.
Glad you choose Enlightenment - as that is probably my favourite Doctor Who story of all time, I love the surrealness of the sailing ships in space and of course Turlough's moral dilemma.
Everyone bashes the Fifth Doc for how many companions he has, but Billy's Doc had Susan, Ian and Barbara. Pat had Ben, Polly and Jamie. Jon's Doc had U.N.I.T, and Tom had Adric, Nyssa and Tegan first, so why pick on Pete? 😕
I'm okay with the 5th Doctor's occasional murders. It shows what happens when the nice Doctor is pushed too far. 13 shows shades of these attributes with scarring Tim Shaw with his own devise. Look I get the whole spider thing. I don't think she really cared for their feelings until the big one started showing emotion.
Tony Parker I’m impartial to them as well, it’s one of the few times a classic Doctor is pushed outside of his comfort zone. It’s just that it becomes contradictory when the show (or maybe admittedly, just the fans) try to assert that these are the absolute good Doctors. Hell, 9 was better than either.
Wow - kudos for not trashing Tegan! I genuinely think she was a great companion, though admittedly I had a thing for her at the time. It's painfully obvious just how alone I am in that. I can't blame the writers for not doing much with her or Nyssa for character development, That had never been DW's thing back then. Turlough and Ace were tentative experiments in that direction, but it remains a mainstay of the revived series alone. I once read a fan theory that the 5th was manic depressive. Works for me, makes sense. I was amazed just how well I took to Davison and his entire era. Most aspects of it push my buttons. I haven't seen any of it in ages, though, someday I'll give it a re-evaluation...but I expect to love it all the same. Like many Americans, Tom Baker was my first and the handover to Davison the first time I had to adjust to a whole new Doctor and era. When I first saw pictures of the new guy and his costumes I balked - no freakin' way this Ken doll was the Doctor. So happy to have been wrong! 5 is still one of my favorite Doctors.
Adric is my favorite character! Yet, I wished he got more to work with but didn't get. I also wished that Adric was given more of a chance as he had such good potential, which I think is explored in some big finish audios. Yet most posts I find of him are negative, sadly. I don't know, I just love this character when no one else does besides you.
I really enjoyed the book "Divided Loyalties". The 5th Doctor going against the Toymaker, but not only that there's a whole segment about the young Doctor at Timelord University where we discover a damaging secret from his past!
If Peter had had more stories written by Bob Holmes, Terrance Dicks or Barry Letts, Bob Baker and Dave Martin, Philip Martin or Douglas Adams, his whole timeline could have been so much better. ☺
You should give more respect to Chameleon. That thing actually was a revolutionary piece of robotic technology created by an IRL genius. The only reason it failed is because the guy who made it suddenly (mysteriously) passed away, and no one else knew how to operate it.
Good video. I agree with choices. I think resurrection of the daleks and Castrovalva worth adding to anyone’s list trying to watch a few stories. Also Mawdryn undead which is a good timey wimey thing. What is the book shown during arc of infinity, some sort of programme guide.
A few years ago I decided that I would watch all classic Doctor Who episodes that were not deleted. I completed that goal, and I found the 5th doctor REALLY hard to get through. I was really bored and don't really remember any of his episodes.
Im hyped af for the season 21 collection boxset not for androzani in better quality but for behind the sofa of mark and janet watching the warriors of the deep cliffhanger😂
Davidson is a talented character actor. Unfortunately he followed Baker and the twice weekly format lost some of the 'magic' of the Saturday nights' slot. So the show itself felt like it was now out of its proper context, with a younger blander characterisation. Not Davidson's fault. The producer has to take most of the blame.
This was actually one of the best Who videos I've seen on this platform! BTW, have you checked out the Big Finish stories The Kingmaker and Circular Time? They're both amazing in my opinion and Circular Time will make you love Nyssa.
I think the 4th episode of Warriors of the Deep is actually really good. Also, I like the Stingray vibes in episode 1. Also, Time Flight is great. I actually think that Davidson's last season is better than any season that came before.
The Fifth Doctor's era is less about the Doctor being the star and more about a group of four or three time travelers knocking about together in the TARDIS...just the fact Tom Baker is gone means the show is just more varied, more interesting, more experimental, more free... but the fact there's no giant persona like Tom Baker anymore is a pity, too. The Fifth Doctor is the Doctor, but he is no longer the domineering presence. Somehow this ends up working for me... I find the vulnerable, fallible, struggling Fifth Doctor a bit more relatable as a character precisely because he is not a larger than life figure who is always the focus.
Kinda like the Hartnell era. Hartnell had such a big persona in his acting but it never felt like he overshadowed the co-stars coz he was THE MAIN lead. It felt like an ensemble cast and everyone got the same share of story/scenes/quality etc.
(Like Holes in the road)there were flaws-a-plenty in The Peter Davison Era (Doctor Who No 5-1981/1984) Flaws of Witch, Should never have been allowed to happen & could have easily been avoided, but, in a lot of cases, were ignored (or,as in some cases, easily Dismissed.)
The Best: Earthshock [7:04] Snakedance [8:09] Enlightenment [8:50] Castle of Fear, Heroes of Sontar, Singularity, Rat Trap [10:19] The Caves of Androzani [12:33] The Worst: The Warriors of the Deep [13:24] Arc of Infinity [15:53] The King's Demons, Planet of Fire [16:30] Cuddlesome [17:30] Time-Flight [17:38]
My pics: 5 Worst: 5. Black Orchid 4. The Five Doctors(sorry) 3. Time Flight 2. Terminus 1. The King's Demons 5 Best: 5. Enlightenment 4. Four to Doomsday 3. Earthshock/The Visitation 2. The Caves of Androzani 1. Frontios/Kinda
My favorite Doctor! (Well favorite Classic Doctor) 5 is the absolute best. And frankly his I love his companions. Tegan is my favorite companion(well favorite classic companion)
My top 5 1. Castrovalva 2. Black Orchid 3. Terminus 4. Warriors of the Deep (yes) 5. Caves of Androzani My bottom 5 1. Kinda 2. Arc of Infinity 3. The Visitation 4. The Awakening 5. Time Flight
Tom Bakers run had 42 stories, most of them pretty good robot genesis of the daleks (many regard this as one of the best dr who stories ever) pyramid of mars hand of fear (goodbye Sarah Jane) Talons of When Chang invasion of time key to time saga (six seperate stories but one over arching one) city of death shada state of decay keeper of traken Logopolis give these a try dont think you'd be disapointed
the novel divided loyalties gave nyssa a great story to explore how she deals with the master walking around looking like her dead father. its a really under rated story because everyone else who read it hates it. but i love it. the celestial toymaker is back and gives him an origin story that i can't help but enjoy too much, adric is exactly the same as all his other stories (naive, argumentative and always after food XD). teegan also gets quite a lot to do and for one of my least favorite comapnions thats saying something. I reckon you'd enjoy the novel
The only two actually poorer Davison stories are Time-Flight and Warriors of the Deep. Other than that it's generally excellence to very good all around. The only other story that should have been distinctly more than it was is Terminus but that still works. The only real problem with this era was that it lasted 3 seasons. It also lost the last story of Season 20 Return of the Daleks (which became Resurrection the next year) and he wasn't allowed to finish out the season since JNT wanted to introduce the new Doctor in the last story of the season. So that'd be two more stories and 8 more episodes.
The myrka scene in bloodtide is truly amazing, sadly there was no budget to do something like that because the concept is good but in the episode instead of terrifying it was silly
I remember the jump from a charismatic Pertwee to an uber charismatic Baker. So to go from Baker to this watery,out of breath, supercilious version really disappointed me.
I can definitely see why people compare 5 and 13's eras so often, but, for whatever reason, 5's early era is an all-time favourite of mine, and I can't stand the Chibnall era. I feel like 5 is 13 done right, and I genuinely think that the three companions work.
Rats We’re rats We’re the rats We prey at night We stalk at night We’re the rats I’m the giant rat who makes all of the rules Let’s see what kind of trouble we can get ourselves into
Lmao Davison is my favourite Classic doctor and I’m one of the few people who actually likes the Jodie era better than most of what Moffat did as a showrunner (season 5 is incredible though). At least I’m consistent I guess?
Singularity felt like a New Who season final? I would say it was, back in the day I watched end of season 3 and Master brings in those ball Aliens and I was like its the humans from the end of time who where abandoned!!!! They doing Singularity how can they have redone three story’s in first three seasons and sure enough it was them. Would you not all agree?
I find it simultaneously really sad and hilarious that despite the Doctor brushing off Adric's death in like two minutes and saying that he wouldn't want them to mourn him unnecessarily, in the PREVIOUS STORY to Earthshock they had stayed around to attend a funeral for a guy they barely met other than the time he kidnapped Nyssa and tried to kill them.
Just a thought, but I think that the Doctor would have an impossible task trying to scoop up, gather and even locate, the billions of pieces Adric is blown up into, to have enough of his eviscerated body to warrant a coffin in which to dump them and attend a makeshift interment with Tegan and Nyssa.....
Their attendance of George Cranleighs funeral was nothing more than a gesture of respect and kindness - not an indication that they were more bereaved by the demise of a disfigured, mute who could only communicate by lowering and raising the yo-yo of dribble , permanently dangling from his hooter....
I really like 5. He is basically the "brave-heroic-selfless" template for all the new doctors. He should've gotten
another season. Just when I started to think "I know this doctor" ...he left. Him saving Peri, a companion that literally got introduced in the last episode before his regeneration, meaning he didn't even really know her, just shows how much he cared and how much he was willing to risk just for others. Honestly, fav regeneration... Underrated doctor.
When he started in the role, he got some advice from Patrick Troughton to do three seasons and get out for fear of typecasting. Looking back, Davison has said now that he wished he had stayed on for another season.
It’s nice to know he’s someone else’s favorite, and for the same reason. We’re not the biggest bunch.
I'm glad I'm not the only one who really rates "Enlightenment". The entire cast is on top form and it's an intriguing story, well-written and well-directed. It also looks beautiful - even without the excellent CGI tweaks on the DVD. A fine story.
Actually it's quite telling that post-regeneration, Five switched between the personas of some of his previous regenerations. Never finding *himself* until the very end.
This is. A really good point I never considered. There's hints of them all but my big take away? 5 just wasn't ready to be 5, not when it happened in Logopolis, and he spends a lot of early days just, angry. Frustrated at pretty much everyone all the time.
Maybe that’s our whole life journey. Not really finding ourselves until our journey ends
You do make a really good point regarding the flaws of this era. They had great opportunities for character growth but never take advantage of them. E.g. Adric dies at the end of Earthshock and after 5 minutes his death is dismissed in Time Flight. Nyssa's dad is taken over by the Master- great potential as a subplot, adds an extra darkness to the Ainley Master and its barely brought up and the Master is an easily stopped monster of the week. It does feel like every big thing that happened to them was almost retconned by the characters acting exactly the same later.
"My smol little Maths boy" has been my exact mental nickname for Adric from the moment he was introduced. I'm just. So thrilled to see someone else genuinely *love* him.
Adric is best classic companion, anyone else otherwise has no soul
@@mattthesilent777RED he started a tradition of *really* questioning the Doctor's decisions that wasn't ever really picked up again until Martha and Donna in New Who-- everyone else the Doctor could ignore the opinion of, but Adric just didn't let him ignore him--which is why I think a lot of people considered him annoying. But he was laying the prototype for a type of New Who companion decades before their time. Donna *especially.*
Spare Parts didn't even get a mention in the good Big Finish section? Well, that surprised me. It really surprised me.
Normally that always gets the top position
Right but does it even need saying at this point though
Think it’s overrated. The best Fifth Doctor Big Finish story is Autumn (from Circular Time).
All of Circular Time is better than Spare Parts
@@SamyulDavis a human of taste! What’s some more of your favorite Fifth picks?
I could tell you weren't on about the current series because you said 'alien worlds' and 'monsters'
Although 5 is 'my Doctor' and Nyssa is my favorite companion, I do appreciate how you weren't afraid to point out the flaws of the early JNT era, as there are quite a bit. I do think Big Finish did a fantastic job developing 5 and Nyssa's characters and dynamic. Great video, as always! Proud subscriber.
Nicolle Anne Loved this comment. And yes, to some’s dismay- I am getting more critical...otherwise each one turns into an identical praise-fest.
@Dildo Insaney so? The 60th anniversary Tennant specials will be pure fanwank too
I’d say 5 starts as being this breathlessly energetic and earnestly stressed bundle of Hartnell, Troughton, and Pertweeisms, almost a bit too caught up in reflecting and distilling older Doctors to quite embrace his own style vibes, carrying an almost *nervous* wit, slowly becoming more calm and collected over time, his Hartnell and Troughton aspects simmering into a more confident and unexpectedly sharp sarcasm akin to a cobra bite, but definitely a degree more distanced, treating nearly everything with a seriousness befitting a stroke. Fussy and self righteous and just panicked during moments of high stress, while still trying to do the moral thing ~~for the most part~~
Nyssa is one of the best companions who’s potential was never used!!
Only in Big Finish
7:19 I was incredibly high the first time I watched Earthshock, to the point that I nearly forgot I was watching a Cybermen episode by the end of part 1 (despite deciding to watch it because it was a Cybermen story, somehow). I will never replicate how blown my mind was by that reveal.
I don’t know why I laughed so hard at “MASTER SMOL”
Spare Parts? Just the best Cyberman story in my opinion and works extra well with the 5th Doctor
I enjoyed it but felt after everyone bigged it up felt it overrated. Will have to listen again
@@peterthompson1989 That's what I said, in my review.
Especially, now that we have: 'World Enough In Time/The Doctor Falls;'
I feel a lot of people really like this story, simply because it brought back the older Cybermen, and put them up against a newer Doctor.
@@carealoo744 I would strongly disagree with you that World Enough In Time in any way overshadows Spare Parts, Personally I find its plot aimless and pandering with some of the worst of Steven Moffat's bullshit, and it directly leads into a character assassination of One on top of all that.
I loved the family dynamic in season 19, haven't watched the rest of his run but I felt adric and Tegan were very human and I loved that. Flawed and therefore relatable, sure they were annoying at times but everyone is! But you're very right, the doctor never really seemed to want to involve his companions. He just goes off, does his own thing and saves his companions afterwards. It is very strange.
The writers didn't push the family dynamic nearly as much as they could have between Adric, Tegan ans Nyssa. I always said they had the potential to be the Zoe, Jamie and Victoria or the Davidson era. Honestly it just seemed like the writers *didn't like* them as a group and couldn't think of too many positive ways for them to interact? It always frustrated me because growing up Adric's death gutted me and once he was gone it just wasn't the same and I couldn't stand Turlough. Once the season 19 family shattered, that was it for me and Classic Who.
I know I’m late, but I’ve tried to put the way this doctor acts into perspective. He tries to resist emotion due to the fact he could get hurt by them. So when he talks to Adric like a friend in Earthshock, after his death he shuts off again because of this. This for me also explains the sixth doctor personality. He’s had enough of suppressing emotion and just lets it all out. That’s just what I like to interpret now.
as someone whos just finished binging through the new show for the first time, these videos are such a great guide for which episodes to buy and which episodes not to buy for the classic doctors
The Fifth Doctor really is my favourite Doctor, and even though I disagree with him on that, his episode recommendations are pretty spot on. (Although I think Planet of Fire is actually quite good....except for the whole.... Master Small bit.... But I promise the rest is good!)
Been waiting for this! So happy, another great episode Samyul!
I really like these retrospective videos! It's so fun listening to your opinions - keep going!
For me 5 was at his best while traveling with Peri and Erimem. Erimem is one of my favourite companions, a weird mix of adorable and badass, she definitely brought the best out of 5 and Peri.
"Master small...... Peri stop sneezing MASTER SMALL!!" I'm literally watching this in the dead of night and I had to physically cover my mouth to stop from laughing out loud.
I actually quite like Planet of Fire. Especially the fifth Doctor and Turlough in it. I felt the backstory they gave him actually worked incredibly well with the character they established and the tension that builds between the Doctor and Turlough over all of his lying is really well done. Not to mentions Turlough's departure. Not very big or dramatic sure, but it doesn't need to be. In the same way that Martha's departure didn't need to be.
I like all of the audio dramas you mentioned (particularly Castle of Fear and Singularity). I think a list of my favourites would have included Spare Parts, The Church and the Crown, Creatures of Beauty, The Game, and Circular Time. I think the Fifth Doctor is probably one of my all time favourite Doctors. Mostly to do with the Caves of Androzani particularly and nearly everything they do with the character in Big Finish.
Taya Van Great post. I’m glad my weird sense of humour tickles at least somebody else haha
@@SamyulDavis Lol absolutely! I love the Planet of Fire, but the whole bit with the Master being small is admittedly ridiculous!
Here's what I most remember about Planet of Fire: Peri in a bikini.
@@stevenkranowski5141 For me it's Turlough in short shorts.
Totally agree re Turlough. Probably one of the best companions of the classic era.
There was definitely wasted potential in the 5th Doctor's era. Adric's death is glossed over, and the Master should have returned as a villain for Nyssa in particular as he wore her father's face. But it had some amazing qualities too. Tegan and Turlough are some of my favourite companions ever in Dr Who, especially Turlough. He's abrasive and creates friction but he's also part of the crew. His character introduction was like no other companion Dr Who ever had.
My top 5 stories:
Castrovalva, Kinda/Snakedance, Enlightenment, The Awakening, Frontios
I find the Caves of Androzani to be overrated. The Doctor and Peri just land in the wrong place and wrong time, and are trying to survive. They have little to no effect on what's going on around them. I'll try rewatching it to see what people like about it, but storywise I don't like it. I also don't get why people love The Visitation so much, even Davison himself. The companions are written terribly in it.
Love Tegan and Turlogh combo. Best team ever.
Having The Master be a nemesis for someone who ISN'T the doctor would have been a great shake up to the formula-- Nyssa having all of that anger and the Doctor trying to control it so she doesn't "do something she'll regret" while The Master (at least, feints) disinterest in The Doctor for something *different* would have done a lot for Davidson's era.
I can definitely see the similarities from the fifth and thirteenth Doctors. I loved Tegan, such an underrated companion. Turlough, is the most underutilized companion, he was very interesting, and could have been great if used properly. And I 100 percent agree about Nyssa. The Master is walking around with her dead fathers face, and they couldn’t turn this into an interesting storyline. It was a plot point they just forgot about.
I totally agree with you on Enlightenment. It's by far my favorite Davison story and quite possibly my favorite story during JNT's run on the show. Arc of Infinity isn't nearly as weak as people tend to think. I love a couple of the designs and Davison gives a strong performance.
"Master Smol"
This is really, REALLY fun! Well written, insightful, love it. You’re right - Five is secretly grouchy and super impatient and I love him.
Regardless, I hope you’ll dig this silly song parody: ua-cam.com/video/r8x62xKYZos/v-deo.html
My all-time favorite Davison story is the audio Creatures of Beauty. It's so strange, the non-linear plot is incredibly engaging, and it ties up in such a satisfying way at the end. I remember listening to it for the first time and gushing about it for hours.
Lily Want What a recommendation. Will definitely check that out.
Nyssa is such a disappointment. The Master pretty much killed her father and then destroyed her planets. It would've been OK if she wasn't afraid of him, but hated his guts instead.
In fairness to Kameleon, the guy who built apparently died and told nobody how to control the damn thing.
Turlough is great. Especially on audio.
Arc of Infinity has Colin Baker being so extra...I can't place it in Bottom 5.
I'm going to disagree with all audios are good, because we had Nekromenteia. I'm yet to meet a person that liked this one.
Also in worst list - Divided Loyalties book, which has an iconic line by Adric : “Tegan’s always getting possessed. She just wants attention!” and also reveals to us that Adric never bathes (thanks, Gary). Also a super porno-ish scene between Adric and Celestial Toymaker.
Rob Shearman says he prefers Snakedance (called it his favourite story). Take that Kinda!
Earthshock and resurrection of the daleks stand out for me as 2 all time great episodes. I prefer these cybermen to the nuWho ones.. Idk.. just something menacing about them, maybe the big head.
Resurrection of the Daleks was the first Doctor Who episode I ever saw, so it kinda holds a special place in my heart as does Peter Davidson.
I gotta say, I really enjoy your videos, but the thumbnails alone are absolutely stellar.
I was tripping so hard the other day, and I kept my phone screen on for hours, just carrying the 4th Doctor with me. I've got them all lined up in a playlist now, and I've already decided that next time 8 is gonna get the top spot. Great thumbnails. 😂
Turlough's short shorts did leave rather a lasting impression on my memory...I often wonder just how many decisions, life choices, and realisations were made in impressionable minds during that scene where a soaked, speedoed Strickland collapsed by a sodden Bryant on the beach...
I'm fascinated by your opening point because I have the exact same feelings about Tennant
I grew up with Tennant's doctor he was everything I wanted to be, it would have been the greatest compliment to be told one was like him, it was barely worth asking anyone my age who the greatest doctor was because everyone would say Tennant.
Watching the series through recently after getting my partner interested in the show I have realised I have the exact same feeling of having outgrown his portrayal a touch. Which isn't to say I'm not entertained or Tennant is any less fantastic on the show but I find a lot of parts of those episodes and the idea of being like the tenth doctor unrealistic and childish. He always comes out on top in every conversation, he is ridiculously good at everything he does from organ playing to horse riding and is always always right. As an adult I've found a much deeper appreciation of Peter Capaldi's portrayal, which is much calmer, more open to being flawed and to me a more realistic interpretation. Just my opinion.
Having to watch Warriors of the Deep again for research... Your sacrifice is appreciated Sam.
Glad you choose Enlightenment - as that is probably my favourite Doctor Who story of all time, I love the surrealness of the sailing ships in space and of course Turlough's moral dilemma.
Everyone bashes the Fifth Doc for how many companions he has, but Billy's Doc had Susan, Ian and Barbara. Pat had Ben, Polly and Jamie. Jon's Doc had U.N.I.T, and Tom had Adric, Nyssa and Tegan first, so why pick on Pete? 😕
I'm okay with the 5th Doctor's occasional murders. It shows what happens when the nice Doctor is pushed too far. 13 shows shades of these attributes with scarring Tim Shaw with his own devise.
Look I get the whole spider thing. I don't think she really cared for their feelings until the big one started showing emotion.
Tony Parker I’m impartial to them as well, it’s one of the few times a classic Doctor is pushed outside of his comfort zone. It’s just that it becomes contradictory when the show (or maybe admittedly, just the fans) try to assert that these are the absolute good Doctors. Hell, 9 was better than either.
Stressed is like the perfect word to describe 5
Wow - kudos for not trashing Tegan! I genuinely think she was a great companion, though admittedly I had a thing for her at the time. It's painfully obvious just how alone I am in that. I can't blame the writers for not doing much with her or Nyssa for character development, That had never been DW's thing back then. Turlough and Ace were tentative experiments in that direction, but it remains a mainstay of the revived series alone.
I once read a fan theory that the 5th was manic depressive. Works for me, makes sense. I was amazed just how well I took to Davison and his entire era. Most aspects of it push my buttons. I haven't seen any of it in ages, though, someday I'll give it a re-evaluation...but I expect to love it all the same. Like many Americans, Tom Baker was my first and the handover to Davison the first time I had to adjust to a whole new Doctor and era. When I first saw pictures of the new guy and his costumes I balked - no freakin' way this Ken doll was the Doctor. So happy to have been wrong! 5 is still one of my favorite Doctors.
Adric is my favorite character! Yet, I wished he got more to work with but didn't get. I also wished that Adric was given more of a chance as he had such good potential, which I think is explored in some big finish audios. Yet most posts I find of him are negative, sadly. I don't know, I just love this character when no one else does besides you.
Peter is actually in my top 5 Doctors and is my second favourite classic doctor
I really enjoyed the book "Divided Loyalties". The 5th Doctor going against the Toymaker, but not only that there's a whole segment about the young Doctor at Timelord University where we discover a damaging secret from his past!
If Peter had had more stories written by Bob Holmes, Terrance Dicks or Barry Letts, Bob Baker and Dave Martin, Philip Martin or Douglas Adams, his whole timeline could have been so much better. ☺
The older I get and the more I watched from him the more I start to really appericiate him
You should give more respect to Chameleon. That thing actually was a revolutionary piece of robotic technology created by an IRL genius.
The only reason it failed is because the guy who made it suddenly (mysteriously) passed away, and no one else knew how to operate it.
Good video. I agree with choices. I think resurrection of the daleks and Castrovalva worth adding to anyone’s list trying to watch a few stories. Also
Mawdryn undead which is a good timey wimey thing. What is the book shown during arc of infinity, some sort of programme guide.
A few years ago I decided that I would watch all classic Doctor Who episodes that were not deleted. I completed that goal, and I found the 5th doctor REALLY hard to get through. I was really bored and don't really remember any of his episodes.
all 139 stories! wow. that's some acheivement 5th is not one of my favourites but he does have some fun moments
Love that Donna theme, probably my second favorite companion theme. Right behind...
I started listening to Big Finish a few months ago, and 5 is kinda my fave.
Im hyped af for the season 21 collection boxset not for androzani in better quality but for behind the sofa of mark and janet watching the warriors of the deep cliffhanger😂
Davidson is a talented character actor. Unfortunately he followed Baker and the twice weekly format lost some of the 'magic' of the Saturday nights' slot. So the show itself felt like it was now out of its proper context, with a younger blander characterisation. Not Davidson's fault. The producer has to take most of the blame.
I don't always agree with your choices but I love your reviews.
'Cause, let's fan out on this
In all fairness to Kamelion, its inventor died without passing on the necessary info to make the robot work and function right.
1:27 - I know this isn’t relevant to the video but I spied the Scooby Doo live action movies. That’s dope.
Leo Caldwell dude. You don’t know the half of it. Search my name into UA-cam with Scooby doo.
Wasn't Kamelion built by a guy who died, and was the only person who knew how the puppet worked?
This was actually one of the best Who videos I've seen on this platform!
BTW, have you checked out the Big Finish stories The Kingmaker and Circular Time? They're both amazing in my opinion and Circular Time will make you love Nyssa.
I listened to rat king free from my library and it was amazing 👏 honestly one of my favourites! 😀
I love the mutant phase by big finish. The first and best big finish I have heard.
I loved Nyssa (when I'm was 13)
I think the 4th episode of Warriors of the Deep is actually really good. Also, I like the Stingray vibes in episode 1. Also, Time Flight is great. I actually think that Davidson's last season is better than any season that came before.
I remember watching snakedance when I was 8 or 9 and just being so confused I felt like I was on another plain of being
The Fifth Doctor's era is less about the Doctor being the star and more about a group of four or three time travelers knocking about together in the TARDIS...just the fact Tom Baker is gone means the show is just more varied, more interesting, more experimental, more free... but the fact there's no giant persona like Tom Baker anymore is a pity, too. The Fifth Doctor is the Doctor, but he is no longer the domineering presence. Somehow this ends up working for me... I find the vulnerable, fallible, struggling Fifth Doctor a bit more relatable as a character precisely because he is not a larger than life figure who is always the focus.
Kinda like the Hartnell era. Hartnell had such a big persona in his acting but it never felt like he overshadowed the co-stars coz he was THE MAIN lead. It felt like an ensemble cast and everyone got the same share of story/scenes/quality etc.
17:17
Master Smol
_Peri stop sneezing_
*MASTER SMOL.*
that music at the start from series 4 was so goooood
Also notice control panel in Warriors of the Deep is a re-used prop from The Power of Kroll. & wtf is that font?
(Like Holes in the road)there were flaws-a-plenty in The Peter Davison Era (Doctor Who No 5-1981/1984) Flaws of Witch, Should never have been allowed to happen & could have easily been avoided, but, in a lot of cases, were ignored (or,as in some cases, easily Dismissed.)
The Best:
Earthshock [7:04]
Snakedance [8:09]
Enlightenment [8:50]
Castle of Fear, Heroes of Sontar, Singularity, Rat Trap [10:19]
The Caves of Androzani [12:33]
The Worst:
The Warriors of the Deep [13:24]
Arc of Infinity [15:53]
The King's Demons, Planet of Fire [16:30]
Cuddlesome [17:30]
Time-Flight [17:38]
I loved Time Flight after watching it for the first time.
one of the differences between 5 & 13 is that 5's 3 companions were already known somewhat and jodies were new
as a child, i loved enlightenment, and recently re-watched it some 3 decades on, this time with cgi effects.....
My pics:
5 Worst:
5. Black Orchid
4. The Five Doctors(sorry)
3. Time Flight
2. Terminus
1. The King's Demons
5 Best:
5. Enlightenment
4. Four to Doomsday
3. Earthshock/The Visitation
2. The Caves of Androzani
1. Frontios/Kinda
Cuddlesome is great. Camp yes but definitely not as bad as warriors of the deep or the awakening.
My favorite Doctor! (Well favorite Classic Doctor) 5 is the absolute best. And frankly his I love his companions. Tegan is my favorite companion(well favorite classic companion)
My top 5
1. Castrovalva
2. Black Orchid
3. Terminus
4. Warriors of the Deep (yes)
5. Caves of Androzani
My bottom 5
1. Kinda
2. Arc of Infinity
3. The Visitation
4. The Awakening
5. Time Flight
finally some else sees the connation between five and 13 other than me. I thought I was the only one.
my favourite doctor
When’s the best and worst and 4 coming out? I’m looking for some good baker stories to watch.
Tom Bakers run had 42 stories, most of them pretty good
robot
genesis of the daleks (many regard this as one of the best dr who stories ever)
pyramid of mars
hand of fear (goodbye Sarah Jane)
Talons of When Chang
invasion of time
key to time saga (six seperate stories but one over arching one)
city of death
shada
state of decay
keeper of traken
Logopolis
give these a try dont think you'd be disapointed
He's actually my favorite classic who doctor
the novel divided loyalties gave nyssa a great story to explore how she deals with the master walking around looking like her dead father. its a really under rated story because everyone else who read it hates it. but i love it. the celestial toymaker is back and gives him an origin story that i can't help but enjoy too much, adric is exactly the same as all his other stories (naive, argumentative and always after food XD). teegan also gets quite a lot to do and for one of my least favorite comapnions thats saying something. I reckon you'd enjoy the novel
Rob McClory Very interested! There’s so little you have to do with Nyssa to make me take notice of her! Will check out, thanks
@@SamyulDavis with the right material, Nyssa is a great companion. I'm also part of the fan base that likes Afldric 😂
The only two actually poorer Davison stories are Time-Flight and Warriors of the Deep. Other than that it's generally excellence to very good all around. The only other story that should have been distinctly more than it was is Terminus but that still works.
The only real problem with this era was that it lasted 3 seasons. It also lost the last story of Season 20 Return of the Daleks (which became Resurrection the next year) and he wasn't allowed to finish out the season since JNT wanted to introduce the new Doctor in the last story of the season. So that'd be two more stories and 8 more episodes.
Great video
Frontios and Planet of Fire are the only two I haven't seen.
I have a theory why the 5 Doctor is more aggressive in „Time Crush“: he is part of the present 10 Doctor and remembers the Time War
5 was always that bitchy
The myrka scene in bloodtide is truly amazing, sadly there was no budget to do something like that because the concept is good but in the episode instead of terrifying it was silly
Needless to say that Caves of Androzani is a Robert Holmes script, is it?
"I'm too drunk for this bullshit Tom Baker" - sad but true
Great reviews, Samuel! Love em!
-sad but true
What do you mean sad. Him being drunk on sets made him great.
i thought he was so vanilla until i heard his big finish stuff he is a great doctor
I'd rather have every incarnation be Davison than accept Whittaker as canon, her era has proven that
Time Flight episode one is incredible, then... oh dear
Best 5 stories
5. Spare parts
4. Resurrection of the daleks
3. Black orchid (nice bit of fun)
2. Earthshock
1. Caves of androzani
Looking forward to the New Years Special? Title's not great but I'm looking forward to the Dalek's redesign.
Ben Warburton I can’t do dalek redesigns
@@SamyulDavis Ah just slap a new colour on and it'll be fine
I thought no returning monsters this series?
@@oldaccount537 Does the special count as part of the series?
I remember the jump from a charismatic Pertwee to an uber charismatic Baker. So to go from Baker to this watery,out of breath, supercilious version really disappointed me.
I can definitely see why people compare 5 and 13's eras so often, but, for whatever reason, 5's early era is an all-time favourite of mine, and I can't stand the Chibnall era. I feel like 5 is 13 done right, and I genuinely think that the three companions work.
Rats
We’re rats
We’re the rats
We prey at night
We stalk at night
We’re the rats
I’m the giant rat who makes all of the rules
Let’s see what kind of trouble we can get ourselves into
Hey, I liked Arc of Infinity, I actually prefer it to the Three Doctors!
You compare the great peter Davison to ... Jodie .
Lmao Davison is my favourite Classic doctor and I’m one of the few people who actually likes the Jodie era better than most of what Moffat did as a showrunner (season 5 is incredible though). At least I’m consistent I guess?
aww i love Timeflight! its just bananas lol
Singularity felt like a New Who season final? I would say it was, back in the day I watched end of season 3 and Master brings in those ball Aliens and I was like its the humans from the end of time who where abandoned!!!! They doing Singularity how can they have redone three story’s in first three seasons and sure enough it was them. Would you not all agree?