With the second series of the New Doctor Who just three weeks away I felt this a good time to review the special 20th Anniversary story from 1983. The reason I feel the significance to review this story is the fact that many characters from this story are returning for the upcoming series.
The Five Doctors ------------------------
The Doctor played by Peter Davison takes his companions to The Eye of Orion, allegedly one of the most calming places in the Universe. While there he decides to rebuild the Tardis console as it has been damaged by Cybermen and had become unstable. No sooner has work completed than the Doctor feels a little unwell; his health soon deteriorates dramatically as he collapses to the floor.
Across the universe in another time in his retired life the first Doctor played by Richard Hurndall (as the original actor to play the part William Hartnell had died in 1976) is enjoying a stroll through the grounds of a vast garden. As he looks into the sky he sees a giant triangle floating towards him, although he tries to get away the triangle is soon upon him. And in a flash of light both he and the triangle are gone.
At UNIT HQ (UNIT are a military force used in Doctor Who mainly during the Jon Pertwee era) the Brigadier and his successor are arranging a get together of UNIT personnel. With some delight the Doctor in his second form played by Patrick Troughton arrives, he and the Brigadier walk through the grounds discussing previous adventures. Their short lived reunion is overshadowed by the arrival of the triangle, not content with its first attack on the Doctor now it takes the second incarnation and the Brigadier too.
In similar circumstances the third Doctor in the form of Jon Pertwee is too removed as is his car, and the forth Doctor played by Tom Baker and his companion Romana are also taken whilst taking a punt up a river.
But it's not just the Doctor that is taken from across the universe old companions of are plucked out of space and time, and old enemies
too.
When the Tardis, Tegan and Turlough and of course The Doctor are removed from existence they find themselves in The Dead Zone, an area of the Doctors home planet of Gallifrey used for war games. Although weakened the Doctor realises that he needs to meet up with all of his other selves in order to establish what has happened.
Across the Dead Zone the Doctor in his various forms comes face to face with his past, a variety of evil forces have arrived on Gallifrey a Dalek, a Yeti and the Master. And of course the linchpin of all that is evil, a massive army of Cybermen who have arrived with the thought of destroying all the Time Lords.
Overview ----------------
In 1973 the producers of Doctor Who decided what better a way to celebrate Doctor Who's tenth anniversary than to bring back all the Actors that had played the character. Ten years later it was obvious that the same should be done. Originally screened as part of the Children In Need Celebrations, the Five Doctors was one of the most talked about TV events of the year. Rather than being split up in instalments the story was shown in one movie length episode.
A difficult task was ahead of the producers, the first Doctor played by William Hartnell had died and as a result a look a like was hired for the role, and he did a rather impressive job. The next major issue was Tom Baker, after just two years of being away from the role Tom Baker said it was too soon to have any involvement. As a result the Producers had to be very creative; an issue of terrible misfortune in 1980 suddenly became a saving grace. In 1980 a strike at the BBC forced the 17th season to be cut short, during this time a story called Shada was not completed. The producers took appropriate extracts from Shada and used then to create the scenes featuring Tom Baker. They incorporated this into the story in an ingenious manner, because they were obviously limited to what Tom could do they decided to have his Doctor become trapped in time, and the other Doctors needed to save him.
From the minute the story begins with the original William Hartnell appearing in glorious Black and White saying that one day he will come back, you know you're in for something good. The story links well from scene to scene despite what could have been a planning disaster. As ultimately one 25 minute episode of runtime was given to each of the four participating Doctors, so that each character got significant screen presence.
Anthony Ainley returned as the Master; he, a rogue Time Lord was employed by the high Council to go into the Dead Zone and save the Doctor. However despite his best intentions the Doctor chose to ignore his help and you can't help but feel sorry for the Master. If he had succeeded in his mission, all the Master's crimes would have been both forgotten and forgiven. And as if that were not enough, The Master would be given a whole new life cycle (the master had used all his 13 regenerations); something worth bearing in mind for the future of Doctor Who as the Doctor rapidly approaches his 13th regeneration. Ainley did turn out one of his finest performances for this episode, and although he appeared in many other stories this will always for me by the way I'll remember him as the Master.
Despite all the other inclusions this is very much a Cyberman story, they with the exception of the man behind the whole incident are the prominent evil force. They charge through the wastelands of the Dead Zone causing havoc and menace wherever they go. Their goal is to topple the powers of Gallifrey and make the planet their own. Now in 2006 he Cybermen of course have particular significance this year, as not only is it their 40th anniversary from their first appearance on Doctor Who, but the upcoming series of Doctor Who is dominated by them as they appear in four stories.
Another welcome inclusion is Sarah Jane Smith and her robot dog K9, both of whom were popular with the fans of the show. In 2005 Sarah Jane was voted as the best Doctor Who companion of all time. Although K9 is given only restricted screen time, Sarah Jane takes a pivotal role in the story. She served time with two incarnations of the Doctor and in this story she is returned to the arms of the third Doctor Jon Pertwee. K9 the Doctors pet robot spent considerable time with the fourth Doctor and fans were devastated when he was written out of the series. Another significant point in reviewing this story is the fact that both Sarah Jane and K9 return to the new series of Doctor Who in the story School Reunion to be screened on the 29th April.
Susan Foreman, last seen in the story The Dalek's Invasion Of Earth, returned in The Five Doctors. She is the Doctor's Granddaughter, and although greeted warmly by the first incarnation. When she meets the Doctor in his fifth incarnation (Peter Davison), he seems surprisingly disinterested in her. And barely spares her a minute of on screen time.
The story of The Five Doctors, all surrounds the thirst for immortality, in an Agatha Christie style plot one of The Time Lords desperately seeks immortality and is not revealed until quite late on in the story, leaving you to wonder who did it.
Production values were quite high for the story, no wobbly sets here and to help in the funding Australian television chipped in. Most of the story is on set, with the few studio pieces having with what for the time were considered lavish sets.
The musical score was above ordinary for Doctor Who, and featured a nice touch of the original 1963 theme and the 1983 version combined.
As a celebration piece The Five Doctors works incredibly well, it's a phenomenal reunion of cast that could never be repeated again. And for a fan of the new Doctor Who, this is an absolute must, as without it many may not see the massive significance of the return of Sarah Jane and K9 to the 2006 series.
Cast ------ Peter Davison (The Doctor), Janet Fielding (Tegan Jovanka), Mark Strickson (Turlough), Jon Pertwee (The Doctor), Patrick Troughton (The Doctor), Richard Hurndall (The Doctor), Tom Baker (The Doctor), William Hartnell (The Doctor), Elisabeth Sladen (Sarah Jane Smith), Nicholas Courtney (Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart), Carole Ann Ford (Susan), Anthony Ainley (The Master), Lalla Ward (Romana), Philip Latham (Lord President Borusa), Dinah Sheridan (Chancellor Flavia), Paul Jerricho (The Castellan), Frazer Hines (Jamie McCrimmon), Wendy Padbury (Zoe Heriot), Caroline John (Liz Shaw), Richard Franklin (Captain Mike Yates), John Leeson (K9), Richard Mathews (Rassilon), David Banks (Cyber Leader), Mark Hardy (Cyber Lieutenant), David Savile (Crichton), Roy Skelton (Dalek Voice), John Scott Martin (Dalek Operator), Stuart Blake (Commander), Stephen Meredith (Technician), Ray Float (Sergeant), John Tallents (Guard), William Kenton (Cyber Scout), Keith Hodiak (Raston Robot)
Special Features ------------------------
There is little to talk about in respect of Special Features, The Five Doctors was one of the first Doctor Who stories to be given the DVD treatment, back at a time when only few DVDs had additional material.
That being said, there are alternative versions of scenes, and some new CGI animations to add pizzazz to the story. And an isolated music score allowing you to hear an uninterrupted soundtrack if you're that way inclined.
The Five Doctors is available from play.com for £14.49
Doctor Who returns to UK screens on Saturday April 15th, but for those of you that cannot wait why not head over to www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/ where you can join David Tennant as the Doctor in Attack Of The Graske.
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Production Year: 2007 - Science Fiction - Director: Francis Lawrence - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Alice Braga, Charlie Tahan, Dash Mihok, Will Smith, Salli Richardson, Willow Smith
![Doctor Who The Five Doctors Dvd [1983] | Baker](http://picnica.ciao.com/uk/126453136.jpg "Doctor Who The Five Doctors Dvd [1983] | Baker")
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