Doctor Who Season 18
A new beginning. A different era. The stylish, artistic atmosphere defined season eighteen's glossier looks. No more silliness that seemed to detract, even dominate, the stories of the previous year. The series took a hard roundabout into what was most important in Doctor Who… ideas.
Many viewers had issues about the run of stories for Tom Baker’s final year. That the stories were very difficult and they took themselves too seriously. Newcomer script editor Christopher H. Bidmead brought more science-fiction elements into the scripts that badly needed another fuel injection of ideas.
Thankfully the opening story “The Leisure Hive” was an example of the great things to come. Things were finally back on track.
Decay could be seen everywhere throughout the season. You see it in David Fisher’s story that’s set on the planet Argolis that still survived after a twenty minute nuclear bombardment between the planet‘s natives and the Foamasi. Entrophy also appeared in “Full Circle” and of course “Logopolis” leading to the final moments of Baker’s Doctor when he sacrificed his life to stop the collapse of the universe.
Even the excellent vampire story “State of Decay” has intertwining moments of entropy… where nothing lasts forever. Even if you’re vampires.
“The Leisure Hive” began with a different feel for the series… a pacier, more visual feast filled with vibrant colors. The first few moments of the story set the tone for the rest of the story. Even Tom Baker’s acting took on a more somber note.
Baker was the finest Doctor to make it to the small screen. His acting abilities conveyed a range of emotions suitable for the character. His brooding nature proved in both “Leisure Hive” and the following story “Meglos” prove inspiring. Even if make-up was required.
You saw him in films like “Nicholas and Alexandra” and “The Golden Voyage of Sinbad.” Baker brought a pinnacle of chilling atmosphere in the stories. It's his piercing eyes.
When Baker was applied to make-up to look like a Time-Lord who aged some five hundred years in “Leisure Hive,” he acted just the part. He looked weary, older, abandoned of cheerful life. It was a distinct characteristic. And Baker pulled it off nicely. My favorite Doctor Who of all time.
Another brilliant segment of season eighteen was “The Warrior’s Gate.” A story that is very complex and complete with great visuals. There is the thread of decay in this story again.
We find a race of lion people are a dying breed, wasting away… once proud warriors now reduced to slaves. They were going through a stage of decay: where their civilization crumbled into ruins.
Lalla Ward had a good number of stories this season as she played companion Romana. She served best in “The Leisure Hive” and “The Warrior’s Gate.” Her departure was very sudden, well-written. A good leave for her.
“The Keeper of Traken” was the second to last of the Baker stories. This was a kind of fairy tale that as well written by Johnny Byrne. Again the story centers on death and decay as we find out an old nemesis the Master returns in a very decriptic form. He is a ghastly shell of his former self. But desperate enough to find another body to take possession of.
This story begins three-part arc of three serials featuring Anthony Ainley whose body subsequently becomes the host for the newly revived Master.
Some people complained the stories were style over substance. Well screw them, I say. These stories remained a pinnacle of writing thanks to the strong editing hand of Christopher H. Bidmead. Science-fiction is always about ideas. Anything less would be a farce. Watching these stories is very mind-bending… they make you think.
And change is needed for an old tradition to survive. The newest producer ushered in to save the series did just that. And season eighteen was the best season produced by John Nathan Turner. Doctor Who was no longer a cold spell for viewers.
Many viewers had issues about the run of stories for Tom Baker’s final year. That the stories were very difficult and they took themselves too seriously. Newcomer script editor Christopher H. Bidmead brought more science-fiction elements into the scripts that badly needed another fuel injection of ideas.
Thankfully the opening story “The Leisure Hive” was an example of the great things to come. Things were finally back on track.
Decay could be seen everywhere throughout the season. You see it in David Fisher’s story that’s set on the planet Argolis that still survived after a twenty minute nuclear bombardment between the planet‘s natives and the Foamasi. Entrophy also appeared in “Full Circle” and of course “Logopolis” leading to the final moments of Baker’s Doctor when he sacrificed his life to stop the collapse of the universe.
Even the excellent vampire story “State of Decay” has intertwining moments of entropy… where nothing lasts forever. Even if you’re vampires.
“The Leisure Hive” began with a different feel for the series… a pacier, more visual feast filled with vibrant colors. The first few moments of the story set the tone for the rest of the story. Even Tom Baker’s acting took on a more somber note.
Baker was the finest Doctor to make it to the small screen. His acting abilities conveyed a range of emotions suitable for the character. His brooding nature proved in both “Leisure Hive” and the following story “Meglos” prove inspiring. Even if make-up was required.
You saw him in films like “Nicholas and Alexandra” and “The Golden Voyage of Sinbad.” Baker brought a pinnacle of chilling atmosphere in the stories. It's his piercing eyes.
When Baker was applied to make-up to look like a Time-Lord who aged some five hundred years in “Leisure Hive,” he acted just the part. He looked weary, older, abandoned of cheerful life. It was a distinct characteristic. And Baker pulled it off nicely. My favorite Doctor Who of all time.
Another brilliant segment of season eighteen was “The Warrior’s Gate.” A story that is very complex and complete with great visuals. There is the thread of decay in this story again.
We find a race of lion people are a dying breed, wasting away… once proud warriors now reduced to slaves. They were going through a stage of decay: where their civilization crumbled into ruins.
Lalla Ward had a good number of stories this season as she played companion Romana. She served best in “The Leisure Hive” and “The Warrior’s Gate.” Her departure was very sudden, well-written. A good leave for her.
“The Keeper of Traken” was the second to last of the Baker stories. This was a kind of fairy tale that as well written by Johnny Byrne. Again the story centers on death and decay as we find out an old nemesis the Master returns in a very decriptic form. He is a ghastly shell of his former self. But desperate enough to find another body to take possession of.
This story begins three-part arc of three serials featuring Anthony Ainley whose body subsequently becomes the host for the newly revived Master.
Some people complained the stories were style over substance. Well screw them, I say. These stories remained a pinnacle of writing thanks to the strong editing hand of Christopher H. Bidmead. Science-fiction is always about ideas. Anything less would be a farce. Watching these stories is very mind-bending… they make you think.
And change is needed for an old tradition to survive. The newest producer ushered in to save the series did just that. And season eighteen was the best season produced by John Nathan Turner. Doctor Who was no longer a cold spell for viewers.
posted by K.M. Paters at 10:52 PM
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