Doctor Who: Season 28 (1991)

Introduction

The twenty-eighth season of Doctor Who, would have completed the transition that began in the previous season.

John-Nathan Turner had vacated his post as producer after eleven years in the job and production manager Ian Fraser takes over as producer. With Fraser working with script editor Andrew Cartmel to produce serials that could be done feasibly with Doctor Who's low budget, but knowing that once Johnathan Powell would be gone. Doctor Who would be in a much better position within the BBC.

Andrew Cartmel had decided to depart as script editor at the end of the season along with the show's lead, Sylvester McCoy, after playing the Doctor for a total of five seasons. Making him one of the longer serving Doctor's. Both of them had planned to depart at the end of the previous season. But, did not for two reason. The first being that the BBC wanted to break in new producer Ian Fraser. The second was to complete what was dubbed behind the scenes as "The Cartmel Master Plan". To re-inject mystery into the character of the Doctor and the mythology of the show.

While McCoy and Cartmel would be departing at the end of the season. Companion actress Lysette Anthony playing Kelly Turner did confirm in a interview with DWM that she was staying on for the twenty-ninth season.

Serial One (Ep. 1-3): NIGHTSHADE

Written by Mark Gatiss
Directed by Nicholas Mallet
Air Dates: 4 September-18 September 1991

This serial would begin with the Doctor and Kelly landing in the English village of Crook Marsham in the year of 1968 during Christmas time. With the Doctor acting... somewhat withdrawn and melancholic. The Doctor and Kelly investigate the local area as people have being murdered.

During the investigation, the Doctor and Kelly run into a retired actor, Edmund Trevithick, who was famous for playing Professor Nightshade in a television show, known as Nightshade. The actor dons his Nightshade persona to help the Doctor and Kelly during the adventure which ends up with him dying in the process trying to fight the main villain.

The villain of the serial being known as only "The Sentience" which fed on human energy to survive and was laid beneath the village of Crook Marsham. And had the ability to create images from strong memories.

At the end of the serial, the Doctor and Kelly are able to stop the Sentience and the Doctor starts feeling more chipper and happier.

Serial Two (Ep. 4-6): NETWORK

Written by Ben Aaronovitch
Directed by Alan Wareing
Air Dates: 25 September-9 October 1991

This serial would take place on a Earth college in the year 2175. With the Doctor being offered a special degree by the college's chancellor. However, the Doctor noticing... odd things at the university which is known as "CAGE" (College of Advanced Galactic Education). At the CAGE, technology is being created far earlier than they are actually made.

All of this is being a plan by the Rani to lure in the Doctor to the university and trap and kill him once and for all after her two previous failed attempts to kill him. As well as behind the scenes, Cartmel wanted a serial in the season to feature the Rani as the main threat due to her being the main threat in McCoy's first season as the Doctor.

In the end, the Doctor and Kelly are able to expose the Rani's plot to the authorities and they promptly arrest her as the Doctor and Kelly board the TARDIS with the technology that the Rani had created.

Serial Three (Ep. 7-10): AVATAR

Written by David A. McIntee
Directed by Nicholas Mallet
Air Dates: 16 October-6 November 1991

This serial would take place in the city of Lancashire, England. While originally the writer David A. McIntee wanted this serial to take place in the New England area of the United States. But, Andrew Cartmel supervising the scripts for the serial. Told him to move it to a more British setting.

The serial deals with a race of body-snatching aliens called the, "Fergonians", which takes the look of corpses that were basically gods to the Silurian race and know, they are trying to conquer the universe, beginning with Earth. And in the end of the serial, the Doctor and Kelly are able to remove the Fergonians from their corpses and remove them from the dimension.

While this serial received a more mixed reactions compared to the other serials in the season. Fans and critics did note that the serial did fall in line with the style of McCoy's Doctor and McCoy did receive praise for his performance in the serial. As well as that, McCoy did say it was a personal high of his era.

Serial Four (Ep. 11-14): LUNGBARROW

Written by Marc Platt
Directed by Graeme Harper
Air Dates: 13 November-4 December 1991

This serial would be the final serial for Sylvester McCoy's tenure of the Doctor. While this serial was originally planned for the previous season. Cartmel felt that the serial did not fit within the story of the previous season, as well as taking place on Gallifrey which the serial Ice Time took place on in the final part.

This serial would feature the return of several former characters from 70s and 80s Gallifrey serials. With Romana II, Leela, K-9 Mk I and II (with only one prop being used to save money and having a dual screen effect whenever they are on screen together). As well as Andred and Rodan, now played by new actors with Lewis Collins and Isabelle Amyes playing them respectively.

In the serial, we would see the House of Lungbarrow, which we learn is where the Doctor grew up as well as hinting that the Doctor was loomed from the DNA of one of the three founders of Gallifreyan society, the Other.

The plot for the episode being a murder mystery inside the House of Lungbarrow. Which the Doctor and Kelly try to solve throughout the episode. With it being revealed that the Doctor's cousin, Glospin being the villain of a murder that took place when the Doctor first left Gallifrey. And killed the patriarchal figure of the house to take the Doctor's inheritance of the House.

When the House of Lungbarrow, which is revealed to be sentient like the TARDIS, finds out what Glospin has done. Starts to destroy itself and while everyone else escapes the House. The Doctor and Glospin are trapped in the house and are crushed to death.

While they are pulled out of the rubble. Glospin is declared dead. However, the Doctor is pulled from the rubble and is declared to be in the state between an incarnation's death and regeneration. The Doctor's body is brought to Romana's office laying on a sofa. Kelly wonders on how they are going to bring him back to life. Romana touches the Doctor's temple and the Doctor begins to wake up.

The Doctor wakes up. Kelly sits down next to him. And asks him about the regeneration process that Romana had mentioned. The Doctor calmly explains regeneration to her and on how it can... change a Time Lord. He lays back down. As he begins to give a speech about life as he sees visions of both Mel Bush and Ace. As Kelly tries to gets the Doctor's attention as he goes off about Mel and Ace. The Doctor looks at Kelly and says, "Kelly, it's time to say goodnight." And with that, a gold glow surrounds the Doctor's face and hands. After sometime as the camera zooms closer and closer to the Doctor's face, the glow disappears. And, the Doctor stands up. Kelly say his name.

The Doctor then turns around and we see the Eighth Doctor, David McCallum.

The Doctor smiles saying, "Hello Kelly. I assume you have some questions?" Kelly is shocked and the serial ends with the Doctor smiling.

Season Conclusion

A month before the season began airing on BBC1. It was announced via a photo call and several BBC news broadcasts that David McCallum would be replacing Sylvester McCoy in the role of the Doctor. With the photo call taking place in front of BBC Television Centre in London with McCallum with Lysette Anthony being photographed in front of the TARDIS prop.

Also around this time, in an interview with DWM. Andrew Cartmel had announced that Remembrance of the Daleks, Battlefield and Network writer Ben Aaronovitch would replacing him as Script Editor.

However, that would not be those will not be the only major changes behind the scenes with Season 29. With a bigger budget, more serials and episodes and... a new production company.

Come Back Next Time for Doctor Who: Season Twenty-Nine