Brief Summary
This video summarizes the 25th season of Doctor Who, highlighting the transformation of the Doctor's persona, the celebration of the show's history, and the quality of the season's stories. It covers the Dalek-centric narrative of "Remembrance of the Daleks," the satirical "The Happiness Patrol," the flawed "Silver Nemesis" featuring the Cybermen, and the meta-commentary in "The Greatest Show in the Galaxy."
- The Seventh Doctor evolves into a more strategic and epic figure.
- "Remembrance of the Daleks" is a standout story, rich with series history and complex themes.
- "The Greatest Show in the Galaxy" offers a meta-narrative on Doctor Who fandom and the show's own imperfections.
Introduction to Doctor Who Season 25
The Seventh Doctor underwent a significant transformation between seasons 24 and 25, evolving from a primarily comic figure into a more brooding and strategic character. This new personification of the Doctor is portrayed as a chess master, often having planned his victory before the episode even begins. The season marks the 25th anniversary of the show, with efforts made to celebrate its history, particularly in the first story, "Remembrance of the Daleks."
Remembrance of the Daleks
"Remembrance of the Daleks" is set in 1963 and features the Daleks, the junkyard, and the school from "An Unearthly Child." The Daleks are in London to locate and steal the Hand of Omega, a Time Lord device used to turn Galifrey's star into a supernova, which became the Eye of Harmony, powering Time Lord civilization. The Doctor manipulates Davos into using the Hand of Omega on Scaroth, revealing that he reprogrammed it to destroy any sun it's used on, leading to the destruction of Skaro and Davos's command ship. The story also contains themes of anti-racism, with white supremacists teaming up with the Daleks, and introduces the special weapons Dalek.
The Happiness Patrol
"The Happiness Patrol" is set on Terra Alpha, where sadness is illegal under the rule of the dictator Helen A. The Happiness Patrol hunts down "killjoys," who are then handed over to the Candyman, a psychotic sweet-based monster. The Doctor and Ace bring down the government by manipulating the law, making the revolutionaries happy and thus unarrestable, which in turn makes the Happiness Patrol sad. The story is noted for its clever central idea and metaphors for homophobia, but design choices make it harder to appreciate.
Silver Nemesis
"Silver Nemesis" is the last Cyberman story of the classic show and involves the TARDIS landing in Windsor Castle, where a living weapon called the Nemesis is set to crash in 1988. Various factions, including Lady Painforte, neo-Nazis, and the Cybermen, vie for control of the Nemesis. The Cybermen, who now die if gold merely touches them, seek to use it to conquer Earth. The story is considered a low point, despite a Cyberman redesign.
The Greatest Show in the Galaxy
"The Greatest Show in the Galaxy" is set on the planet Sega, where the Doctor takes Ace to a psychic circus run by the Gods of Ragnarok. The performers are forced to entertain the gods until they die, and the Doctor and Ace must find a way to destroy the circus and escape. The story features eccentric guest characters, including a Victorian explorer, a werewolf, and the meta Whiz Kid, a nerdy fan of the circus. The story is a meta-commentary on Doctor Who fandom and the show's imperfections, contrasting with the message of "Love and Monsters."
Costumes and Conclusion
The video touches on the 80s Doctor costumes and the use of question marks, with the presenter expressing fondness for the Seventh Doctor's jumper and umbrella. Season 25 is considered an improvement over season 24, with the show on the mend story-wise before its end after the next season. The video concludes by teasing the final classic Who appearances of the Master and the Brigadier in the next season.
