Introduction
Season 29 would have been seen as the beginning of a new era for the show. The biggest new beginning since Season 18 in 1980. With this being Ben Aaronovitch's first season as Script Editor as well as Ian Fraser's second season as producer. But now. He had his own Doctor to work with.
The Eighth Doctor would be seen as a Doctor who harkened back to the First Doctor, but updated for the 1990s, with Eight coming off as a mentor to all of his companions, giving them life advice while going on technobabble's.
But, due to the casting of an older man. It was noted that in the season, they'd need to introduce a younger male companion to do all of the running down corridors and physical scenes. With this, a serial towards the beginning of the season would introduce said male companion.
On the topic of companions. Lysette Anthony had decided to leave at the end of the season. And with this being known ahead of time. Brand new script editor, Ben Aaronovitch had decided to create and introduce the companion towards the end of the season and have them travel with Kelly and the Male Companion before Kelly can leave.
This would be one of many changes for the season.
Next up, with the show improving in the ratings, Ian Fraser and Michael Wareing got Jonathan Powell to agree to up Doctor Who's episode and serial count. With the episode being bumped up from 14x25 minute episodes to 20x25 minute episodes with six serials being in the season. With the season opening with a four part serial and concluding with a five part serial, and the middle of the season having three, three part serials and one two part serial.
Also with this season. The show would no longer be produced in-house by the BBC. Due to a new law passed by the Conservative government at the time. Several shows had to now be produced by independent production companies. And Jonathan Powell (still being upset that the show resurging in popularity) had decided to pawn Doctor Who off to an independent company.
With this, World Productions took over production of the show. It's owner and founder, Tony Garnett became an executive producer on the show. The first since 1980, when Barry Letts was brought in to oversee John-Nathan Turner's first season as producer. While Garnett and his company would take over. Both producer Ian Fraser and script editor Ben Aaronovitch would maintain their position and handle the day to day production of the show with Garnett just overseeing the production of the show.
Serial One (Ep. 1-4): REVIVAL OF WAR
Written by Ben Aaronovitch
Directed by Charles McDougall
Air Dates: 5 September-26 September 1992
The first episode of the serial, bar a couple scenes on Earth of the peace summit being assembled, would take place only on the TARDIS. As the Doctor is suffering from post traumatic regeneration trauma. As he acts like his previous incarnations intimidating the First, Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Doctors. He also switches outfits from his previous incarnation's outfit to his own outfit. Which was made up of a black pin-stripe jacket and trousers, pink dress shirt, red bow-tie making a more sharper looking Doctor since his Third incarnation.
At the beginning of the second episode. The TARDIS lands at the summit with him and Kate being briefed by Brigadier Bambera about it. And also notes that the new Foreign Secretary has been acting sketchy as of lately. Thinking that he may be attempting to defect to the other side.
The Doctor and Kelly meet the Foreign Secretary, James Ramset, and the Doctor feels that something is off about him. And it is revealed in the cliffhanger of episode two. That "James Ramset" is actually a new incarnation of the Master, played by House of Cards actor Ian Richardson.
The Master's plan in the serial is he is wanting to stop the peace summit from happening and cause a nuclear Armageddon on Earth, just to spite the Doctor for leaving him on the dying Cheetah world.
The Doctor, Kelly and UNIT expose the Master for what he was attempting to do. And he is arrested by UNIT for trying to cause global domination, which the Master easily escapes from. And the peace summit goes forward. Making the Doctor realize on who he really is.
Serial Two (Ep. 5-7): VICTORIAN MACHINERY
Written by Colin Brake
Directed by Graeme Harper
Air Dates: 3 October-17 October 1992
The second serial of the season would be a gateway serial for a younger male companion to be introduced to the show. With a younger male companion being the consequence to having an older Doctor.
This new companion, Marcus Fawns, played by Neil Pearson would be a factory worker in Victorian England. This makes Marcus the first companion since Jamie McCrimmon to be a companion from history.
In this serial, a humanoid-robotic race known as the "Verdak" is using Victorian factories to help build new equipment to make warships. The Verdak are using Victorian factories as their home planet was blown up in a war with a rival race that was more robotic than humanoid-robotic.
The Doctor and Kelly along with Marcus' help are able to stop the Verdak. Which causes their factories to implode. At the end of the serial. The Doctor asks Marcus to come and join him and Kelly in the TARDIS and show him a new, brighter future.
Serial Three (Ep. 8-9): INSIDE THE POLICE BOX
Written by Marc Platt
Directed by Alan Dossor
Air Dates: 24 October-31 October 1992
This two part serial would take place entirely in the TARDIS. This was done to be a budget saving serial to put more money towards the finale serial of the season, which was being set-up as one of the biggest Doctor Who serials ever.
In this serial, the TARDIS starts going haywire and falls out of space and time. And is just in a white, desolate void. With no real explanation to how or why the TARDIS has gotten there. The Doctor, Kelly and Marcus try and repair the TARDIS but no matter what they try. It doesn't work.
In the end, it is revealed that the TARDIS was brought to the void by an omnipresent voice who wants to study new life forms inside their void and in the end, the Doctor simply is let go. And is not given an opportunity to stop it. As, he didn't even know how to fight what or who it was that brought them their or returned them to the universe.
Serial Four (Ep. 10-12): A SCHOOL FOR GLORY
Written by Tony Etchells
Directed by Alan Dossor
Air Dates: 7 November-21 November 1992
This serial would be the show's first pure historical since Season 19's Black Orchid or Season 4's The Highlanders. With this serial taking place in the British trenches of World War 1. And be a return to form of the early Hartnell historicals about teaching the audience about an event in history.
This serial would show the brutal and mature nature of the first world war. With this serial being heavily critical about it and it's classist approach within the British army. Something that the Doctor himself is extremely against.
This serial would have mixed reactions overall with some feeling that it was too brutal and brutish for a Doctor Who serial.
Serial Five (Ep. 13-15): LOVE AND WAR
Written by Paul Cornell
Directed by Roy Battersby
Air Dates: 28 November-12 December 1992
This serial would be the penultimate of the season. And introduce a brand new companion, Bernice Summerfield. Played by actress Lisa Bowerman. Who previously played Karra in the Seventh Doctor serial Survival.
In this serial, the TARDIS takes the Doctor, Kelly and Marcus to the planet, Heaven in the year 2570. Where the trio comes across an archelogy group led by Bernice.
Throughout the serial. Kelly falls for a man named Jan, who is apart of a group known as "Travellers". Which are an anarchist neo-pagan group. However, the Doctor is opposed to the relationship and is one of the serial's big mysteries as to why the Doctor does not like Kelly being romantically linked with Jan.
It turns out that an alien race known as the Hoothi a race that has been using corpses on the planet Heaven. And they are infecting people that is alive and in a plot twist in the final part. It is revealed that Jan has been infected. And, the Doctor convinces him to sacrifice himself to stop the Hoothi. In which, he agrees to stop them to help Kelly.
Kelly at the end of the serial feels betrayed by what the Doctor had done. And when the Doctor is offering Bernice the opportunity to join the TARDIS. However, Kelly demands the Doctor that the next place they stop. She is getting off... permanently.
Serial Six (Ep. 16-20): WAR OF THE DALEKS
Written by John Peel
Directed by Jenny Killick
Air Dates: 19 December 1992-16 January 1993
The finale of the season would be a big-action packed Dalek serial. With this arc being the finale to the Dalek Civil War arc that began all the way back in 1984 with Resurrection of the Daleks. And this serial would also feature the return of Davros with Terry Malloy.
The finale would have the TARDIS landing on Skaro showing that the Doctor had failed in destroying the planet in Remembrance of the Daleks. With the Doctor, Kelly, Marcus and Bernice coming across a Thal tribe which had remained on the planet. The Doctor, Marcus and Bernice help form an attack plan against the Daleks while Kelly on the side takes care of ailing Thals who have been hurt, but not killed by the Daleks.
Throughout the fourth and fifth parts of the serial, the Doctor leads the Thals into battle against the Daleks as they attack the Dalek capital. With the Thals being able to overwhelm Daleks with brute force and some Dalek stupidity.
At the end of the fifth part. All of the Daleks are destroyed and Davros is taken into custody by the Thals. With the Thal leader being killed in the attack on the capital. The Thals look for a new leader and they all turn to Kelly due to how much love and care she has shown them.
Despite repairing her friendship with the Doctor. Kelly still decides to leave the TARDIS so that she can help the Thals rebuild a proper society on Skaro. With this, she talks with the Doctor in the TARDIS. As she says her goodbyes. And the Doctor gives a speech on how much she had changed. Even mentioning that the first time they met, she pulled a gun on him. But, still says goodbye in the end. Even though he didn't want to.
The serial ends with the Doctor, Bernice and Marcus in the TARDIS as they leave Skaro behind.
Season Conclusion
The season would go down well with the fandom, general audience's and critics. With particular praise going to the bookend serials.
However, this season was just the warm-up act as for something special with the 30th anniversary of the show.
Come Back Next Time for Doctor Who: Season Thirty
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