A Quick Guide to Classic Who Season 19

Brief Summary

This video summarizes season 19 of Doctor Who, highlighting key plot points, character developments, and behind-the-scenes decisions. It covers each story arc, from the spatially impossible town of "Castrovalva" to the shocking events of "Earthshock," while also critiquing weaker episodes like "Time-Flight."

Peter Davison's Fifth Doctor is assessed, noting his initial challenges and eventual growth.
The season's highs and lows are discussed, including the controversial death of Adric and the return of the Cybermen.
The video provides insights into the production decisions and the impact of script editor Eric Saward.

Introduction

The Fifth Doctor, played by Peter Davison, entered the role already famous, unlike previous Doctors. Davison's Doctor had a different personality, described as blonde and vanilla, which was a challenge. The video aims to fairly assess his first season, acknowledging that it is better than season 18.

Castrovalva

"Castrovalva" is the third part of the Master trilogy. The Doctor is recovering from a difficult regeneration, cycling through past incarnations. The story is set in Castrovalva, a town of simplicity and peace that is actually a trap created by the Master, who has captured Adric. The Master disguises himself effectively, using different personas and pseudonyms. Castrovalva itself is a spatially impossible town, unstable and shrinking, and the Master's escape from certain death is unexplained. Despite this, the story has good costumes and optical effects.

Four to Doomsday

In "Four to Doomsday," the TARDIS misses its target and lands on a ship owned by Monarch, a green alien. Monarch plans to wipe out humanity and take over Earth, also seeking to witness the Big Bang to confirm his belief that he is God. Adric betrays the TARDIS crew, and Tegan speaks a 40,000-year-old Aboriginal dialect. The story is considered silly but enjoyable.

Kinda

"Kinda" is a popular story where Nyssa is absent from two episodes. The plot involves the Kinder, a race of psychics, and a human expedition exploring a planet for colonization. Tegan is trapped in a dream and contacted by Amara, an evil snake monster. One of the humans goes insane and plans to destroy their dome. The story is unique and interesting, despite the terrible snake special effects.

The Visitation

"The Visitation" is the weakest story of the season and the first historical. The TARDIS lands in 1666 London during the Great Plague and the eve of the Great Fire. The Grim Reaper is a robot working for Terileptil criminals who plan to augment the Black Death. The TARDIS crew teams up with a theatrical actor turned highwayman. This story marks the first script by Eric Saward and the last appearance of the sonic screwdriver until the Paul McGann TV movie.

Black Orchid

"Black Orchid" is the final pure historical, a two-part story where the TARDIS crew attends a fancy dress party in the 1920s. A series of murders occur, linked to a mysterious Black Orchid. The story is mostly pointless, existing to showcase Tegan dancing the Charleston and using Edwardian tropes. The murders are committed by the manor owner's son, who went insane searching for the Black Orchid. The DVD commentary is noted for being critical of the story.

Earthshock

"Earthshock" is considered the most important story of the season, featuring two major shocks. It brings back the Cybermen for the first time since season 12. The second shock is the death of Adric, who is trapped on a spaceship that may have wiped out the dinosaurs. This is the first companion death since season three. The Cybermen's design remains consistent until the end of the classic show. The directing is top-notch, but some casting choices are questionable, and the end credits are silent over Adric's destroyed badge.

Time-Flight

"Time-Flight" is the last story of the season and is considered terrible. The Master, disguised in what is perceived as a racist caricature, steals Concordes from Heathrow and enslaves the passengers in primordial Earth. The TARDIS crew investigates by boarding a Concorde. The Master's disguise is pointless, added because the original script didn't include him. Tegan leaves at the end, but returns in the next season's first story, making this episode skippable.