Doctor Who: Season 31 (1994-95)

Introduction

Season 31 of Doctor Who would have been seen from a production standpoint as a big change up. This was due to David McCallum deciding to depart the role of the Doctor at the end of the season. Along with this, Ian Fraser had decided to depart after four seasons on the show and Lisa Bowerman decided to leave with the end of her contract in the middle portion of the season and finally, Ben Aaronovitch decided to leave with McCallum, Fraser and Bowerman. Leaving a brand new team to take over for Season 32.

Despite planning on leaving, Fraser and Aaronovitch did decide to create a new companion that could have been picked up by the new incoming production team.

The new companion would decide to be the show's new "kick-ass" companion. Due to the previous young companion like that, Marcus, left at the end the previous season. But, unlike previous companions where they would be male. Fraser and Aaronovitch decided to do something new and make the kick-ass character a woman. This companion would become "Reiven". I'll talk more about her character during the first serial. But, during the casting process. House of Cards actress Susannah Harker was casted in the role.

For the format of the season Fraser and executive producer Tony Garnett did approach Alan Yentob about extending the format of the season from 20 episodes to either 22, 24 or even 26 episodes for the season. As well as adding on an additional one or two serials to the season. While Yentob wanted to give approval of their requests. But, felt they could not give the extra budget for their request. With this the season had the same format of Season 29 of 20x25 minute episodes over six serials.

Serial One (Ep. 1-4): THE STUDENT VS. THE TEACHER

Written by Colin Brake
Directed by Alan Dossor
Air Dates: 8-29 October 1994

The serial opens with a news broadcast on Gallifrey. The reporter states that the unity government formed under Lady President Romanadvoratrelundar, or Romana as short has collapsed earlier in the day as the Patrex, Cerulean and Dromeian chapters have withdrawn support of it. Forcing the government into minority territory. And that a general election will either be called by the Lady President, or Roiydenfellix (or Roiyden for short), the new Leader of the Opposition and incumbent Leader of the Patrex Chapter will call for a no confidence vote in the Panopticon against the Lady President.

Romana is sitting in her office wearing red clothing. A knock at the door happens and Romana orders the individual in. A woman, Reiven walks in. Reiven sits in front of Romana's desk and asks her, "Why has Roiyden, Azmana and Higgiof turned against you?" Romana with a solemn face tells Reiven that someone has got to him. And that there is no way he would do this on his own. Unless someone was pulling the strings. Reiven says that Azmana may have gone through with her threat. Romana smirks and says, "Azmana is all talk, no bite." Reiven says that they need to consider every method possible. Romana leans back into her chair and tells Reiven that she needs to call an old friend.

We then cut to an hour later as Romana and Reiven are in the corridors of the Panopticon. The TARDIS materializes in the corridor and the Doctor and Bernice steps outside of the box. The Doctor greets Romana with glee. Romana remains somber and introduces the two of them to Cardinal (term for Member of Parliament or Congressperson) Reivenhadenceken, or Reiven for short. She is the Leader of the Arcalian Chapter and Romana's Home Secretary. And, as of earlier today. Acting Vice President of Gallifrey. The Doctor says, "Acting?".

Romana then tells him that there is a political crisis on Gallifrey. Earlier in the day. Her Vice President and Justice Secretary, Roiyden, had announced that he would be withdrawing his and the Patrex chapter's support for the government along with Azmanabeliefpop, Azmana for short who was Romana's Health Secretary and incumbent Leader of the Cerulean Chapter. Romana says, "I knew she would withdraw support. But, I did not expect her husband to join her and Roiyden on their crusade." The Doctor replies with, "Her husband?".

Romana explains that Azmana is married to Higgioflekiof, Higgiof for short and is the incumbent leader of the Dromeian Chapter and was Romana's Foreign Secretary. And despite being married to Azmana. They are both on different sides of the political scales. With Higgiof being a part of the planet's Far-Left and Azmana being a part of the Centre-Right of the planet's political scale. And that if Azmana was going to make any moves against Romana. She would have thought that Higgiof wouldn't be, a complete idiot and do the right thing. She was wrong about that.

By this point, Romana and Reiven had escorted the Doctor and Bernice to Romana's office. Romana tells the Doctor that her government is now in minority territory. And that Roiyden will almost certainly call for a vote of confidence against her. The Doctor asks her, why not just fight him in an election? Romana responds with, "I can't fight him... not the way I feel about him." The Doctor smiles and says "Ah... I. I-uh. I see.". Romana blankly stares at him and says, "Not like that Doctor. He's like a son to me. I don't want to fight someone that is basically my son." Reiven says they might not have a choice. The Doctor says that Reiven has a point. Romana rebuts them saying that some Patrexes and Ceruleans have publicly talked out against leaving the government. And all she needs is 10 Cardinals from either of the two chapters to rebel against Roiyden and Azmana and vote for her and she'd be safe and secure.

The door to Romana's office opens. A woman, who calls herself Diewp enters and introduces herself to the Doctor and Bernice (the latter of whom is tired about this political talk) as the incumbent Leader of the Scendeles Chapter and Romana's Treasury Secretary. She says that the Speaker of the Panopticon have called for an emergency session. And that they will demand either a confidence vote or Romana will be asked to dissolve the Panopticon and call a general election.

Romana stands up and turns to the Doctor. She tells him that she has no choice. She'll call the election. But, it's time to explain why she called him back to Gallifrey. Roiyden has started acting strange three months ago. And it's when he started rebelling against her for no reason. And, she wants the Doctor and Bernice to work with Reiven and find out what or who has been blackmailing Roiyden. As there is no way he is doing this without someone holding it over him. Romana has no choice... she has to fight him. With part one of the serial ending with that cliffhanger.

The Doctor, Bernice and Reiven investigate Roiyden during the campaign. And get some help from Leela. Who is in Romana's cabinet as "Minister of State for Outsider Rights" as well as sitting in the Panopticon as a Prydonian Cardinal for the Outsider's Village in the region on Gallifrey known as "The Capitol". With the Capitol taking inspiration from Westminster in the UK as well as Washington D.C. and southern California in the US. It is also established in this bit that there are 50 regions on Gallifrey and they act like how states are in the US.

Throughout the serial. We see that somebody has been blackmailing Roiyden, but not just him. But also Azmana. And they also approached Reiven about forming a full government without an election being needed and removing Romana without an election being needed. Reiven turned it down because of her not being blackmailed.

Also throughout the serial, we see the election happening with the two campaigns. Romana takes a more hopeful and positive route while Roiyden gets down in the mud and slings mud at Romana's image with her being a former renegade. This causes a wave of nationalism support around Roiyden and causes him to win the election in a landslide. With Reiven herself losing her seat in the Panopticon (which is established in this serial to be like the UK House of Commons).

The serial has a two part ending. First with Roiyden being inaugurated as Lord President of Gallifrey and Romana gently pushing the Doctor into asking Reiven to join him on their adventures. The Doctor ends up asking her and she agrees to join him and Bernice.

The second part of the ending has Roiyden sitting in the Presidential Office. Looking at an unseen figure. He says, "I did what you ask. Now what? Must I remain your puppet?" A silence is heard. But, Roiyden sees someone nodding. Roiyden responds with, "Whatever you say... Master." A man's laugh is heard as the serial ends.

Serial Two (Ep. 5-7): THE HIGHEST SCIENCE

Written by Gareth Roberts
Directed by Richard Standeven
Air Dates: 5-19 November 1994

This serial would’ve been set on the planet Hogsumm. The story sees the Doctor, Bernice and Reiven arriving on Hogsumm, after the TARDIS detected a Fortean flicker, a temporal anomaly which displaces events and objects from their proper positions in space and time. When the Doctor looks up Hogsuum in the TARDIS data banks, he finds a reference to Gustav Urnst, an author of the 25th century who vanished after claiming to have found the legendary planet Sakkrat, whose people apparently reached the pinnacle of technological achievement, the Highest Science, then destroyed themselves with it.

Whilst on the planet, the Doctor is separated from Bernice and Reiven are separated after an encounter with a troop of Chelonians, war heavy turtle-like aliens who had been transported to the planet by the Flicker. Bernice and Reiven soon find themselves with a group of youngsters from the 22nd century named Rodomonte, Molassi and Sendei, who’d also been transported to the planet, where they eventually discover a ruined city, which used to belong to the people of the planet.

Meanwhile, the Doctor discovers that a group of humans from the 1990s have also been drawn to the planet by the Flicker, before he witnesses the arrival of a dangerous criminal named Sheldukher, who, alongside a genetically engineered super-intellect nicknamed "the Cell", who after a century of evolving, had begun to wish for death, are in search of the Highest Science, as he believes Hogsumm is Sakkrat.

Taken hostage, the Doctor is forced to reveal his own knowledge of the Science, which leads Sheldukher to the citadel where they rediscover Bernice. However, after managing to enter the building's inner sanctum, the group discovers that the entire planet had been a trap for Sheldukher.

We learn that over a century ago, he stole the Cell from its creators, the owners of Checkley's World, in search for the Highest Science. However, learning that it would take him several centuries to reach the Highest Science, he went into suspended animation. During this time, the people of Checkley's World changed Hogsumm, which was very much a dead planet, to resemble Sakkrat, and that all of this was a trap set in an attempt to retrieve the cell. However, The slow time chamber they built on the planet had malfunctioned, which created the Fortean Flicker & ironically caused the legend of Sakkrat to be spread through the past across the galaxy.

The Doctor then gives the Cell the death its long desired. Meanwhile, with his lifework revealed as meaningless, Sheldukher chooses to committed suicide. The story then ends with the Doctor, Bernice and Reiven managing to escape the city before it explodes and rescuing the remaining humans from being slaughtered by the Chelonians.

Serial Three (Ep. 8-10): HUMAN NATURE

Written by Paul Cornell
Directed by Ian Knox
Air Dates: 26 November-10 December 1994

This serial would take place on Earth and in the year 1914 at a boys boarding school. The Doctor would take a back seat in the story and take a focus on Bernice and Reiven. The Doctor during this serial has had his biology re-written and become human as well as his memories re-written to be a human from the early 20th century.

While Bernice and Reiven try to protect the Doctor from a race called the Aubertides. The Doctor, going by his usual cover name "John Smith". Falls in love with a nurse by the name of "Joan Redfern" (played by Joanna Lumley). He throughout the second half of the serial, after being told the truth by Bernice and Reiven. Find it hard to believe what they are saying about him.

In the end, the Doctor reverts back to being a Time Lord. Breaking Joan's heart while he tries to stop the entire Aubertides from being killed. He ends up failing. Which leads him to scold everyone in the school. Including his former love. With this, the Doctor and company leave in the TARDIS being utterly furious.

Serial Four (Ep. 11-13): THE GREATEST SORCERER

Written by Ben Aaronovitch
Directed by Roy Battersby
Air Dates: 17-31 December 1994

This serial would have been the final story for Lisa Bowerman as Bernice Summerfield. With Bowerman's contract ending up at the end of the serial. As well as this. This serial would act as a sequel to the Season 26 serial, Battlefield.

The TARDIS is pulled into an alternate dimension with them landing on a planet being invaded by Morgaine (once again played by Jean Morgan). With her having battles with the leader of the planet, King Arthur. In a very mixed style of both medieval and modern styles of combat.

The Doctor knows where everything is heading. And realizes that he is supposed to become the greatest sorcerer, Merlin. The Doctor lets Bernice and Reiven onto the plan. One that Reiven is confident in. But, one that Bernice is not sure about.

The Doctor, under the guise of Merlin, tries to guide King Arthur in repelling Morgaine's invasion. Which is mostly successful. As while the invasion is a failure and Morgaine is banished into another universe. King Arthur is mortally wounded and flies a ship out into another dimension with a message from the Doctor to his previous self in tow.

Bernice, throughout the serial. Sees the destruction that is left behind from both King Arthur and Morgaine and feels deep sorrow. Especially as the planet no longer has a ruler to oversee the rebuilding of society.

When the Doctor is ready to head back to their universe. Bernice tells the Doctor and Reiven that she is going to stay. She feels that she can do so much good on the planet. And that it has so many interesting archeological sites. It's an opportunity she cannot pass up. The Doctor is silent for a second. And hugs Bernice and tells her to do some good. He points out that she may never be able to return. But, Bernice says that it's fine. She's finally found a place big enough for her to settle down on. After that, the Doctor and Reiven leave in the TARDIS as they depart the dimension.

Serial Five (Ep. 14-15): THE LONG GAME

Written by Russell T Davies
Directed by Richard Standeven
Air Dates: 7-14 January 1995

The penultimate serial of the season sees the TARDIS landing on a space-station called Satellite Five in the year 2500. The Doctor wants to show Reiven the Fourth Great and Bountiful Human Empire. But they are shown the human race to be rude and just eating junk food. And the satellite they are just broadcasting news. And nothing else.

The Doctor and Reiven do some investigating and it turns out that a human called the Editor (played by a stunt casted Chris Barrie) is working with an alien entity called the Jagrafess to control the human race and make them subdued remain on both Earth and the Moon and not go beyond their own vision.

The Doctor, Reiven and one of the news reporters on the station start an overload of the satellite's power and cause the internal computers to crash and explode on the floor that they were hiding out on.

At the end, the Doctor and Reiven help with some of the clean-up as the human race begins to begin anew and become the empire it will one day be.

Serial Six (Ep. 16-20): GALLIFREY FOREVER

Written by Colin Brake
Directed by Graeme Harper
Air Dates: 21 January-18 February 1995

The serial begins with Roiyden and Azmana from the opening serial of the season. They are sitting in the President of Gallifrey's Estate. With them talking about them being under "his" thumb. A computer then activates in the President's personal study. A message appears on it saying, "We are ready. Summon them at once." Roiyden then picks up a phone where he tells someone that he needs a Type-40 TARDIS recalled to Gallifrey.

The Doctor and Reiven are piloting the TARDIS having not much time from the previous serial. And they get thrown off-course. And that they are being pulled to Gallifrey. The TARDIS lands in the corridors of the Panopticon. The Doctor steps out and sees Roiyden and Azmana; he simply looks at them and says, "No thank you." He then steps back inside the TARDIS and tries to take off, but cannot as a special lock has been put on the TARDIS the second it materializes on the planet.

The Doctor and Reiven step out of the box. Reiven has a blank, angry stare. Azmana asks Reiven, "Is there anything that we can to... understand why we did it?" Reiven simply walks up to her. And slaps her across the face. She turns to Roiyden and does the same. Reiven, trying to hold back her emotions, asks why they summoned them back to Gallifrey. Roiyden goes on to explain that someone has been controlling certain members of his government. And not via the usual way. The Doctor asks if they have any leads. Roiyden says that there has been a terrorist group on the rise ever since they were inaugurated. And... they have coordinates to where they could be hiding out at. The Doctor and Reiven are given supplies and head out of the Capitol region.

As soon as they leave. Roiyden and Azmana enter Roiyden's office and we see a familiar man sitting behind the desk. The Master, once again played by Ian Richardson.

The Master smiles and says they have done all he has asked. Roiyden asks if he can stop his... ridiculous blackmail of them. The Master lets out a massive laugh. Azmana says, "As long as you are on Gallifrey. You own us." The Master simply smiles and says, "It really should have been you, Lady Azmana, who led the cabal against President Romana." Roiyden looks at him, insulted.

The Doctor and Reiven make the trek across the terrain of the planet outside of the Outsider's Village. And comes across the terrorist's camp. The Doctor and Reiven decide to take opposite approaches. With the Doctor approaching from the more science based part of the camp. While Reiven tries to get some intel from the army section. Both of their entrances are intercutted between each other. Reiven ends up in a fist fight with one of the soldiers in the group. The Doctor ends up being captured by a woman he recognizes. He sees that the leader of the group is actually Romana.

Romana begins to explain to the Doctor that ever since Roiyden had become elected and inaugurated as President of Gallifrey. She along with several of her allies have gone off the grid and are hiding in plain sight. Trying to figure out why Roiyden, Azmana and Higgiof betrayed her. As, someone is using them for power, or something else.

Romana and the Doctor walk and talk and come across Reiven in her fight. And the two of them break it off, with us learning that Reiven was actually fighting Leela. And that Reiven almost killed her.

The four of them plus Andred and Diewp sit down and have a talk about what to do going forward. Romana herself thinks that someone is manipulating and using Roiyden and using them against her. She doesn't know who is using him and Azmana. The Doctor then tells her that this is what the Time Lords are. Not every one of them is like her. Or Leela, or Andred, or Reiven. Time Lords are corrupt and have a high off of power and might and not being able to do a damned thing to help people out when they can. Roiyden and Azmana are not two bad people apart from a good group. They are just a small part of an infestation. The best thing they can do… is run away. From Roiyden, Azmana and the Time Lords. Take Romana and her allies and put them some place and time where Roiyden cannot reach them.

Romana begins to object to what the Doctor has said. But, Leela concurs with the Doctor. She does not want her and Andred’s child to be a part of any war nor be a prisoner. From whoever is manipulating Roiyden. Romana decides to reluctantly agree. And tasks the Doctor and Reiven to fetch his TARDIS from the Capitol.

Night comes to the planet and the Doctor and Reiven head to the capitol. They break into the Panopticon and get back to the Doctor’s TARDIS. The Doctor and Reiven pilot the ship to Romana’s camp where she, Leela, Andred and Diewp along with their followers are waiting. The Doctor and Reiven help everyone into the TARDIS.

Everyone is put inside the TARDIS. The Doctor, Reiven, Romana and Diewp are in the console room. The Doctor then pulls some levers. And, right as he pulls the demat lever. An explosion is heard from the bowels of the TARDIS… and eventually makes its way to the console room.

We then cut to outside the box. And we see the Master looking through binoculars and seeing the TARDIS as some explosive energy leaves the box. The Master chuckles and says, “Farewell… Doctor.”

The Doctor closes the doors on the TARDIS and asks Reiven, Romana and Diewp if they are alright. They say they are fine and Romana and Diewp use the TARDIS computer to assess the damages to the ship. Several sections of the TARDIS have completely collapsed and there are hundreds dead. On top of this, the explosion has destroyed all of the time circuitry in the TARDIS.

The Doctor and Reiven go into the TARDIS depths to tend to ill and dying. And during this time, they come across Andred’s dead body and Leela’s dying body. The Doctor gets scared and worried as he sees one of his closest friends dying in front of his eyes.

The Master walks into a meeting of Roiyden’s Presidential Cabinet and takes Roiyden and Azmana out of the room. They enter Roiyden’s office and the Master plays for them a tape of the explosion coming out of the TARDIS. He gleefully says that the terrorists are finally dead, as well as his arch-enemy. Azmana stands up with anger and asks him if he can finally leave them alone. The Master chuckles and calls Azmana a “stupid girl”. Roiyden, trying to be diplomatic, asks the Master if that was all he needed them for. The Master smiles with a slyly smirk and says, “Yes… Yes Roiyden you two may go now.” Roiyden and Azmana then leave the room and go back to their cabinet meeting.

The Doctor scrambles to patch up Leela’s wounds. However, with her last ounce of strength. She tells the Doctor to seek revenge for her death. And that Roiyden and Azmana are not responsible for this. Someone else is. And he must take them down. And with that, Leela passes away.

The Doctor and Reiven return to the console room where Romana is working on repairs to the ship and Diewp is assisting her. Romana asks the Doctor, “Leela…?” the Doctor shakes his head with a no. Romana and Diewp take a small break. As the four of them mourn over the loss of a close friend. The Doctor sits down in his TARDIS wondering what the point in this is. Leela and Andred are dead. And he does not know what happened to K-9. Romana tells him that. They could never get the parts to repair him. And both versions of him died before Roiyden and Azmana betrayed her. Diewp walks over to the Doctor and tells him that he cannot protect everyone. The Doctor tells her that he has always tried to live up to his moral creed. “Never be cruel, never be cowardly”. But, he has no idea on what to do here. He is completely alone. Reiven gets angry and tells him that he is not alone. He feels alone as he has just lost several friends at once. And whoever is controlling Roiyden and Azmana is responsible.

The Doctor asks Reiven and Romana about who Roiyden and Azmana really are. Romana reiterates the point she made at the beginning of the season. Roiyden is like a son to her. And she had taken him along with Azmana and Reiven under her wing. Teaching them how to get things done from a non-political position. And, they are true believers of her political ideology that the media has coined as “Unityism”. Which is taking people from all sides of the political aisles and working for a compromise that everyone is happy with. The Doctor smiles and says, “You always were the more political. I was just a bumbling idiot.” Romana smiles and says he is not an idiot. At least not a complete idiot.

The Doctor takes a deep breath and says, “So. Roiyden and Azmana. They need saving just as much as regular Gallifreyans need saving right now.”

The doors of the TARDIS then spring open and a group of Chancellery Guard officers storm in with stasers pointed at the four of them. The Doctor sarcastically says, “Yes, Romana. Just as much.”

Roiyden and Azmana enter the TARDIS and order the guards to stand down and secure the perimeter of the base. The guards stand down and exit the box. Roiyden asks Romana, pointing at the Doctor, “Can he be trusted?” Romana simply nods her head. And then, the Doctor asks him what this is all about. Roiyden says that several months before the election. Someone had approached him and Azmana. And, was forcing him to do his bidding. Azmana said that they had no choice as it was either to obey him. Or he would end their careers. Roiyden adds that they had no choice. Romana sternly says, “You had a choice. Before you submit to him, you could have come to me. And I would have helped you both. You both know that.” Azmana apologizes and says that they felt trapped and did not want to get her into his grasp. The Doctor asks them who has been using them. Roiyden simply says, “... The Master”.

The Doctor and Reiven then sits down with Roiyden and Azmana and asks them to tell them what the Master had on them. Roiyden acts all pompous and tells him that he is not required to know that. The Doctor gets angry and tells Roiyden telling him that he has two friends dead. So, he is now required to know what the Master had on them. Roiyden gets up and leaves the room to spend time with Romana. Azmana, remaining in the room, speaks up. “The Master had information that could have harmed my and Roiyden’s political career.” The Doctor is nodding his head in understanding. Azmana says, “Doctor, You know that I am married… Am I correct?” The Doctor comes to a realization. And says he understands. And apologizes that a rogue Time Lord like the Master has infiltrated their private lives.

Roiyden then gives his explanation to Romana. She embraces him and tells him that everyone is alright and she forgives him. Roiyden says that he does not trust the Doctor. So, he won’t tell him. But, he will tell her. Roiyden tells Romana that the Master had set up base in a building near the Panopticon. And there have been abnormal traces of artron radiation rising in the area. Specifically in the building which contains the Time Lords lead time travel investigation building. Romana thinks for a bit. And comes to a realization. She grabs Roiyden’s hand and tells him to run with her.

Romana and Roiyden run into the meeting room in the TARDIS where the Doctor, Reiven, Azmana, Higgiof and Diewp are at. Romana looks at the Doctor and says that they have a major problem. The Master is going to try and destroy the Time Lords ability to travel in time. And if they do not stop him. They and all Time Lords will be stuck in their current place in time. The Doctor smiles and tells them to evacuate all non-essential personnel and that they are going to take the fight to the Master.

The Chancellery Guard evacuates everyone from the TARDIS apart from the Doctor, Reiven, Romana, Roiyden, Azmana, Higgiof and Diewp. Romana orders the guards to keep everyone in the camp. This is something they must do themselves. The Doctor asks Diewp if she was able to repair the time element. Diewp says she was unsuccessful. But, the space element still works. So, they can pilot the TARDIS anywhere in the universe. But, they cannot travel in time. The Doctor says he wasn’t planning on going back in time anyway. He just needs to pilot the TARDIS to the building where the Master is hiding out at.

The Doctor dematerializes the TARDIS and the ship begins to shake, and parts of the console room walls and roof come off. The Doctor yells, “THIS IS GOING TO BE A BUMPY LANDING!”

The TARDIS lands in the building and the Doctor and crew leave the box. The Doctor says that he hopes the TARDIS can repair itself enough while they fight the Master and remove him from Gallifrey. The Doctor and Reiven decide to confront the Master head on while the other five evacuate the building.

Throughout the final part. The episode is split into two different plots. The plot with the Doctor and Reiven and the plot with the other five. While this would be intercutted throughout the episode, I’ll cover them separately.

Romana, Roiyden, Azmana, Higgiof and Diewp start a quiet evacuation order to not startle the Master in his plan. Which at the halfway point of the episode is a success and then they go back in to help the Doctor and Reiven.

The Doctor and Reiven confront the Master head on with the two of them scrambling for time for Romana and company to carry out the evacuation. The Doctor pretends to unravel the Master’s plan and to play up to his vanity, making him think that he has the upper-hand. But in reality, they are slowly defusing the explosives he had set out.

In the end, Romana along with everyone else bursts in and aims stasers at the Master. The Master smiles and puts his hands up in the air. Roiyden and Azmana then drag him away and then followed by Higgiof and Diewp and then Romana and Reiven.

The Doctor stays behind to check to see if the Master has left any traps. And it turns out that he had. Right when the Reiven leaves the room. An explosion is heard. The Master escapes his bonds and then runs to his TARDIS and dematerlizes.

Reiven runs in and kneels down next to the Doctor. The Doctor says that the Master left a trap. At least they saved Gallifrey’s ability to time travel. But, it will cost them his life. Reiven says that he’ll regenerate. The Doctor tells her that he knows that. But, he asks her to remain with him for a while. Reiven, starting to tear up, agrees to remain by his side. Romana walks up next to them. She asks the Doctor if they can have a word once he is finished regenerating. The Doctor smiles and his final words, “Of course Romana, anything for an old friend.” And with that, a golden glow surrounds the Doctor’s body. And then surrounds the entire room. The glow starts to disappear with a taller man now in the Doctor’s place. And then the glow disappears.

And then we see… the Ninth Doctor, Simon Shepherd.

The Ninth Doctor sits up with a smile. And he hugs Reiven as he says his first words, “Hello my old friend.” The Doctor stands up and asks Romana what it is. He and Reiven have to be going. There are things to do, people to meet. And have some fun. Romana says, “I’m sorry Doctor. But Gallifrey is in a place of turmoil. With this, I’ll need your help. And you can’t leave Gallifrey.” The Doctor holds a shocked face as the episode comes to an end.

Season Conclusion

So that was Season 31 of Doctor Who. And what a massive success the season was! All of the season’s serials went down very well with the general public, fandom and critics. Notable highlight being Gallifrey Forever, which was considered to be the best serial of the David McCallum era.

During the airing of The Long Game. It was announced that production manager of the season, Diana Barton would be replacing Ian Fraser as producer for the season. And during the week between The Long Game and Gallifrey Forever it was announced that recurring writer of the McCallum era and former script editor of EastEnders, Colin Brake would be replacing Ben Aaronovitch as script editor.

And with that, we have reached the end of the David McCallum era. The David McCallum era went down as the era of the show that put Doctor Who back into a positive public reception again. With it finally being seen as the end of the J-NT-isms from the 1980s. With McCallum being a popular incarnation of the Doctor and constantly ranked in the top five of favorite incarnations of the Doctor.

Next time, we have a new Doctor, new showrunners… and a new twist on a style of the show. That had not been on since 1976.

Come Back Next Time for Doctor Who: Season Thirty-Two

Doctor Who: Beyond 1989 resumes 11th of January

Doctor Who: Season 30 (1993)

Introduction

The thirtieth season of Doctor Who, airing in 1993. Would be the second season for David McCallum as the Doctor, the second and final season for Neil Pearson as Marcus Fawns, the first full season for Lisa Bowerman as Bernice Summerfield, the third season for Ian Fraser as producer, the second season for Ben Aaronovitch as script editor and finally, the second season produced by World Productions and Tony Garnett as an executive producer.

Ever since almost being cancelled in 1989, Doctor Who had bounced back to be very popular in the general public eye. With the thirtieth anniversary coming. New BBC1 controller Alan Yentob had ordered a new season of a reduced run of 16x25 minute episodes with five serials. With on the 20th of November 1993, a special ninety minute television special would air on BBC1 to act as the anniversary of the show.

Apart from a new and more Who friendly controller of BBC1. And a new mandate from said controller to, "Make Doctor Who more like Star Trek". Not many changes would be made from Season 29 to Season 30.

So, with that. Let's dive into the season.

Serial One (Ep. 1-4): LEGACY

Written by Gary Russell
Directed by Alan Dossor
Air Dates: 31 July-21 August 1993

This serial would be massively Star Trek in tone and writing of the serial. With the TARDIS landing on Peladon in the middle of a meeting of the Galactic Federation. The Doctor, Marcus and Bernice trying to chase down a criminal mastermind. With them hiding out on Peladon.

This serial would feature several returning races. With the most notable ones being the Ice Warriors, who try to sentence the Doctor to death for theft that has occurred in the planet's citadel.

It turns out that a Federation Representative by the name of "Nic Reese" was killed by the criminal mastermind and disguised as him to steal a relic known as, the Diadem. Which was a mind parasite that took the form of a tiara on Peladon.

In the end, the Doctor along with his companions are able to save the day.

Serial Two (Ep. 5-7): GETTYSBURG

Written by Rona Munro
Directed by Peter Smith
Air Dates: 28 August-11 September 1993

This serial would be a pseudo-historical that takes place during the American civil war. With the TARDIS landing at the Battle of Gettysburg. The TARDIS lands there as it has picked up some, interesting readings.

Most of the readings surround a Confederate general, who is played by sitcom actor, Rik Mayall. Who, at the end of part one, is revealed to be a new incarnation of the Meddling Monk.

The Monk is there at the Battle of Gettysburg. To try and stop a Union victory in the war. As the Monk had came to the conclusion that if the Confederates were to win, there would be an uprising within a new union and put a more progressive America on the map. With non-white men allowed to be in positions of power a lot sooner and women would be allowed to vote and stand in elections a lot sooner as well.

This episode would hammer in the message from the show's classic serial The Aztecs on, "You can't re-write history, not one line." Where, despite the fact that the Doctor, Marcus and Bernice want to help the Monk. They also have to keep the timeline in check. With this, the Doctor and co. regrettably stop the Monk and then pre-program his TARDIS to take him away from Gallifrey.

This serial would be a popular and favorite of the season as well as the McCallum era. With audiences giving massive amounts of praise to Rik Mayall's portrayal of the Monk.

Serial Three (Ep. 8-9): GOTH OPERA

Written by Paul Cornell
Directed by Robert Bierman
Air Dates: 18 September-25 September 1993

Like the two previous serials, this serial would feature the return of the Great Vampires, last seen in the Season 18 serial State of Decay.

In this serial, the Doctor takes Marcus and Bernice to Manchester in the year 1993 for a holiday. But, that soon begins to unravel. As they get attacked by several vampires. One of which ends up biting Bernice and turning her into a vampire herself.

With this, the Doctor does some investigation. And he finds out that an old friend of his, Ruath, is actually trying to resurrect a Great Vampire named Yarven. Ruath then gets the idea to use the Doctor's blood. Which also, in return starts to turn the Doctor into a Vampire as well. This revealed along with the fact that Ruath had turned themselves into a vampire.

The Doctor throughout the second part of the serial, tries to come up with a cure to it. And manages to build a machine that freezes time. One that Ruath wanted to use to freeze time at night and allow the Vampires to roam freely.

The Doctor is able to destroy the machine, and accidentally kill all of the Vampires at the same time. The Doctor at the end, takes Ruath to Gallifrey to be tried for their crimes. And the Doctor heads back to Manchester 1993 to spend his holiday with his companions.

Serial Four (Ep. 10-11): ICEBERG

Written by David Banks
Directed by Robert Bierman
Air Dates: 2 October-9 October 1993

This serial would take place in the far-future of 2006. And feature the return of the Cybermen.

This serial would take place a cruise-ship, heading towards Antarctica. And be mainly told through the eyes of one of the passengers on the ship. The passenger being Ruby Duvall. Who is a Sarah-Jane Smith like character, being a feisty reporter.

This serial would show a new side to the Cybermen (despite keeping the big and bulky Earthshock designs). With the Cybermen invading Earth and converting the humans. But this time, out of compassion. To make sure that the Human race does not have to go through what they went through. As the Earth is on the course that Mondas was on.

With this serial's environmental message and new take on the Cybermen. This would be another popular one of McCallum's era.

Serial Five (Ep. 12-16): BLOOD HEAT

Written by Jim Mortimore
Directed by Richard Standeven
Air Dates: 16 October-13 November 1993

The finale of the season, excluding the 30th anniversary special, would have the TARDIS land on an Earth in a parallel universe. And this story would be the last for Neil Pearson as Marcus Fawns. As he would not go onto appear in the 30th anniversary special.

In this universe, after some initial investigation is revealed to be a universe where the Doctor failed to create a cure for the Silurian plague in Doctor Who and the Silurian's. As such, the Silurian's and Sea Devils are now roaming the Earth. While the rest of humanity as been trying and failing to fight a guerilla style campaign. Against the two races. But, nothing has worked.

The Doctor would meet with the leader of the remaining humans. Which would be this universe's version of Brigadier Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart. Who has been had the fight kicked out of him. In this universe's version of the Brigadier he is joined by their version of Sergeant Benton, Captain Yates and Dr. Liz Shaw.

The Doctor tries to organize a revolution on Earth. With the Brigadier being by his side. While this is going on. Marcus becomes close with Benton and Yates. With them saying that Marcus is perfect UNIT material.

Throughout the later half of the serial, the revolution happens. With the Doctor able to overthrow both the Silurian's and Sea Devils. And at the end of episode four. The Brigadier uses a biological weapon against the two races. Which leaves the Doctor in extreme anger.

The final episode of the serial sees the Doctor and company staying in the parallel universe for a few days as he tries to get the TARDIS to take off and leave the universe. This is happening alongside Marcus becoming more and more chummy with the UNIT personnel. And at the end of the episode, the Doctor is able to restart the TARDIS and is ready to take off. Once he tells Bernice and Marcus this. Marcus says that he is going to stay in the universe. The Doctor talks with Marcus. Asking him if he is sure. As, he'll never be able to return home. Marcus points out that he never had a home. But, he does now. Marcus says goodbye to the Doctor and Bernice and they enter the TARDIS as it departs.

30th Anniversary Special: THE UNRAVELING OF TIME

Written by Ben Aaronovitch
Directed by Graeme Harper
Air Dates: 20 November 1993

The 30th anniversary special would be a 90 minute special celebrating 30 years of Doctor Who.

The serial begins in the TARDIS. The Eighth Doctor at the console, flicking levers and pushing buttons. Bernice enters the console room. Bernice asks if everything is alright. The Doctor says that everything is peaceful and quiet. And... he does not like that. And suggests they go on an adventure.

After the Doctor says this. The TARDIS starts violently shaking with the Cloisters ringing. The Doctor and Bernice is knocked to the floor. And while the shaking happens, the Doctor slowly pulls himself off the floor and pushes a couple of buttons. The shaking stops and Bernice gets off the floor. The cloisters still ringing. The Doctor then feels a big pain. He looks at Bernice and says, "Someone is messing with my personal history."

We then cut to UNIT H.Q. in the 1970s. And we see the Third Doctor, Dr. Liz Shaw, Brigadier Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart and Sergeant John Benton. This bit setting in between The Ambassadors of Death and Inferno.

The Doctor and Liz mention the Ambassadors being returned to Mars as well as the remaining conspirators being arrested by UNIT. And that the Doctor is considering moving the console to a place with a nuclear powerplant seeing if that could help him with his predicament about being stranded on Earth.

After this, a TARDIS lands outside UNIT H.Q. and a platoon of Sontaran's exit the ship. (Just a quick side-note, originally in the scripting process. This was supposed to be the Master. However, due to Ian Richardson being unavailable with him filming To Play the King. He was not able to appear in the special and for the Third Doctor's villain. It was re-written to feature the Sontarans). The Sontaran leader, General Nekko says, "To avenge Commander Linx, We must prevent the biggest threat to the Sontaran race! We must kill the Doctor!".

We then cut to the Fourth Doctor in his Season 18 TARDIS, wearing his Season 18 outfit. He stands at the console with K-9 being next to him. The Fourth Doctor says that he is aiming to land the TARDIS in Brighton. And he hopes that Romana will enjoy it.

The TARDIS lands in a sandy looking planet. The Doctor exits the TARDIS with K-9 and he says, "This isn't Brighton." The Doctor turns around and insults the TARDIS. Calling her a stupid machine.

A different TARDIS lands next to the Doctor and K-9. And out walks none other than Sarah Jane Smith. She tells the Doctor that she had been kidnapped by someone and the next thing she knew. She was being held at gunpoint forced outside of someone else's TARDIS. The Doctor being puzzled tells Sarah that it's best that she stays with him for the time being.

The trio walk alongside the sandy planet until they come to a cliff edge and look down below and they see a group of Daleks. The Doctor says that... they are in trouble now.

We then cut to the Fifth Doctor and Nyssa standing in his console room. The Doctor tells Nyssa that he wants to start doing some repair jobs now that it is just him and Nyssa, two scientists aboard the TARDIS.

The TARDIS lands on a Earth like planet. The Doctor and Nyssa walk around for awhile. Before they are ambushed by gunfire. The Doctor and Nyssa do some some running throughout the streets of the Earth like planet.

The Doctor and Nyssa hide in some buildings and when they are hiding. We see who was shooting at them. And we see that it is the Cybermen. A Cyber Leader leading the group tells them that under his orders, they must hunt down and kill the Doctor and his companion.

We then cut to the Sixth Doctor and Peri in the Sixth Doctor's console room. The two of them are talking about their recent encounters with the Daleks. And on how the Doctor is intending to take her to Blackpool.

The TARDIS then lands on the beaches of Blackpool. With the Doctor and Peri trying to take a holiday. But, get caught up in some people dying after playing a specific video game.

When there is panic going on. The Doctor and Peri see someone looking at the chaos and laughing. And we see that it is the Rani.

We then cut to the Seventh Doctor and Ace landing in some caves and the Doctor exits the box saying that he was aiming for Earth, but was off by a couple of miles as something was knocking the TARDIS off course. Ace asks where they are and the Doctor says that he thinks they are on Mars.

The Doctor and Ace do some investigation and come across an archeological team excavating the underground cavern on Mars. With them eventually coming across an Ice Warrior hive. The Doctor and Ace tries to get them to stop from waking up the Ice Warriors. But, they fail to do so and the Ice Warriors begin waking up.

We then cut back to the Eighth Doctor's TARDIS as it finally lands on Gallifrey. The TARDIS doors open. Romana and Leela walk in and do some injections into the Doctor, which stabilizes him. The Doctor is able to stand up and the four of them exits the TARDIS. The four of them sit in Romana's office as she says that someone has been messing with time. Trying to erase the Doctor from history. And they have already managed to destroy both the First and Second Doctor's incarnations. However, for some reason. This is only effecting the Doctor's eighth incarnation.

The Doctor comes up with an attack strategy. He writes down a list of items he needs for Romana to provide him. Romana has a guard grab the items he needs. And the Doctor and Bernice load the items onto the TARDIS. He asks Romana for the known coordinates of the troubles of his Third, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth and Seventh incarnations. Romana supplies him with the list. And the Doctor says that he needs to stop his other incarnations being wiped from history first. With this, the Doctor and Bernice depart in the TARDIS.

The Eighth Doctor's TARDIS then lands at UNIT H.Q. in the 1970s as the base is under sieged by a platoon of Sontarans and the Eighth Doctor and Bernice meet with the Third Doctor and Dr. Shaw as they are trying to find a way to fight off the Sontarans and kick them off of Earth.

The two Doctors come up with a plan to use a Gallifreyan force-field to put it around UNIT H.Q. and a special signal out that makes all Sontaran weapons unable to fire their weapons. With this, the rest of the UNIT soldiers kill the Sontarans.

The Eighth Doctor then go into the Third Doctor's TARDIS to do some repairs. And then writes down some Space/Time coordinates. He hands them to the Third Doctor and says that he'll need all of his own help to defeat whoever is behind this. The Doctor and Bernice then leave for the their next location as the Third Doctor asks Liz if she would like... an off world trip.

The Eighth Doctor's TARDIS then lands next to the Fourth Doctor's TARDIS as he they walk out. They are immediately captured by the Daleks and order the two of them to follow them to the Dalek capital.

The Doctor and Bernice are then taken to the Fourth Doctor, Sarah and K-9. The Doctors talk as the Eighth catches the fourth up on what has been happening.

The Fourth and Eighth Doctors along with the help of their companions come up with a plan. Which tricks the Daleks into letting them go and for them to self-destruct. The Doctors and companions then escape. While this is happening. The Eighth Doctor tells the Fourth Doctor where he and Sarah need to go to fight who is behind the events.

The Eighth Doctor's TARDIS lands next to the Fifth Doctor and Nyssa. And the duo quickly go inside the TARDIS thinking it's their own and before the Cybermen can kill them. But, they are shocked to the Eighth Doctor and Bernice. The Fifth Doctor quickly surmises that something is wrong with there being two of them here. The Fifth Doctor asks what regeneration the Eighth Doctor is and the Eighth Doctor catches him up on what's to come.

The Eighth Doctor lands his TARDIS next to the Fifth Doctor's TARDIS. The two Doctors do some research of the planet and they are surprised to find out that they are on Mondas. Which confuses the two Doctors as Mondas is supposed to be destroyed. The Eighth Doctor suspects that someone has been messing with time.

The two Doctors along with Nyssa formulate a plan to wipe the Cybermen off the planet. And they come to the conclusion that using both TARDIS' shields, they can knock the Cybermen off the planet. In which, they are successful in doing so. The Eighth Doctor tells the Fifth Doctor and Nyssa where to pilot the TARDIS.

Once the two TARDIS' take off. The Doctor starts talking to Bernice. Telling her that he has a few sneaking suspicions about who is behind the activities they have been dealing with.

The TARDIS then lands in front of a building in Blackpool. Where the Eighth Doctor and Bernice see the Rani dragging the Sixth Doctor and Peri into the building. The Eighth Doctor and Bernice infiltrate the building and see the Rani scheming. The Rani is trying to take over the Earth and turn it into a prison planet where she can perform her experiments on.

The Sixth Doctor and Peri are imprisoned and are basically immediately freed by the Eighth Doctor and Bernice. And the Doctor quickly catches them up on what's happening while dodging laser fire by the Rani's guards. The Two Doctors then come up with an idea on how to stop the Rani. The two of them surrender themselves to the Rani and as she begins to plug them into a massive computer. The Doctor's use their combined brain power to overflow the computer. Which causes it to explode with the four of them getting out of the building before it blows up.

The Doctors talk about what is going on. And the Eighth Doctor admits that he thought it was the Rani who was behind the attack on his lives. The Sixth Doctor points out that he has one more incarnation to save. The Eighth Doctor realizes it that. Gives the coordinates to his previous self. And he and Bernice leave in the TARDIS.

The Eighth Doctor's TARDIS lands in front of a calm and collected Seventh Doctor. While Ace is speechless. The Eighth Doctor and Bernice exit their TARDIS and see the Seventh Doctor acting normal and Ace freaking out and repeating her nickname for the Doctor.

The Seventh Doctor acts normal and asks the Eighth Doctor, "So. We have some problems with our timeline?". The Eighth Doctor taken aback says that they are. And asks "Who-". Before the Eighth Doctor could finish. The Seventh Doctor says, "The Ice Warriors."

The Eighth and Seventh Doctors as well as Bernice and Ace help the archeologists fight off the Ice Warriors and also so that the archeologists escape from the planet. After they trap the Ice Warriors in the caves of Mars, the archeologists are able to escape in their vessels. The Seventh Doctor puts Ace in the TARDIS. And then tells the Eighth Doctor that he will rendezvous on Gallifrey. He then enters his TARDIS and leaves.

The Eighth Doctor's TARDIS then lands back on Gallifrey in Romana's office. The Doctor tells her that he saved his previous incarnations. And has them on stand-by for whoever it is that is behind this devastating event.

Romana says that she has had her CIA contacts do some digging on who could be behind it and, while not a definite name. It is agreed by everyone that she asked has agreed that a Time Lord is behind it. Someone with a vendetta against the Doctor.

A man's voice then interrupts them saying, "I believe I could give you a few answers to what I did. Doctor, Lady President."

The Doctor turns around and we see the Monk (like earlier in the season, played by Rik Mayall). The Doctor says that he was wrong. He didn't think someone as dumb as the Monk was behind it. The Monk takes some offense to what the Doctor says. As it was his master plan.

The Doctor and the Monk have words. And the Monk says that he wanted to try and tamper the Doctor's timeline so that he can turn all of his victories into defeats so that the Monk can meddle with time as much as he wants to. The Doctor says that it is the ridiculous plan. As it's not just him. But the Chancellery Guard and the CIA would eventually get him and put a stop to his plans.

The Monk laughs at that claim. And then runs out of the building into the streets of Gallifrey in which he is cornered by the Third, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth and Seventh Doctor's. They are later joined by the Eighth Doctor. The Monk then opens his TARDIS and several monsters are let out of his TARDIS. Including the Voord (from The Keys of Marinus), the Macra (from The Macra Terror), the Ograns (from Day of the Daleks and Frontier in Space), the Wirrn (from The Ark in Space), the Terileptils (from The Visitation), the Vervoids (from Terror of the Vervoids), the Tetraps (from Time and the Rani) and the Verdak (from Victorian Machinery). The Doctors and companions fight off the monsters while the Monk slips away with the Eighth Doctor pursuing him.

The Doctor and the Monk end up in the outsider's village. As the two of them have a mental battle, which is intercutted by the previous Doctors and companions dealing with the monsters. And right when it seems that the Monk was about to kill the Doctor. His previous incarnations come in and help the Eighth Doctor overpower the Monk. As the Monk collapses to the ground. Leela is joined by CIA officers to arrest the Monk, who is taken to a Gallifreyan prison.

The Eighth Doctor then one-by-one says goodbye to each of his predecessors, full of easter-eggs related to each Doctor's era. After everyone says goodbye and heads back into their timestreams. The Doctor and Bernice head back to the city and into the building with Romana's office. The Doctor talks to Bernice about Time Lords and their culture. And on how, it has seemingly changed with his friends being in charge of the planet.

They enter Romana's office. And Romana jokes about the last time this had happened on a major scale, Gallifrey was in an unstable place where the Time Lord hierarchy was rife with corruption. And that the Chancellor at the time thought the right person to take on the role as President.

The Doctor stops her and says that he still has no intention of wanting to become Lord President of Gallifrey. Romana laughs and says that she has no intention of forcing that onto Gallifrey nor the Doctor. But, if she ever needs his advice or help on any matters. The Doctor immediately cuts in and says that he would be more than willing to help out a friend. Romana smiles and says that she will try and keep him out of anything unless completely needed. The Doctor and Bernice then enter the TARDIS and the ship dematerializes.

The Doctor pilots the ship away from Gallifrey and he talks to Bernice about his life in the TARDIS. This morphs into a scene taken from An Unearthly Child where the First Doctor and Susan explain to Ian and Barbara about themselves and the TARDIS. With it cutting back to the Eighth Doctor and Bernice. Saying that so much time has changed, yet it feels like nothing has changed at all. The Doctor smiles and then goes to the TARDIS console. He looks at Bernice and says,. "Any requests madam?" Bernice smiles and says, "Somewhere fun." The Doctor pulls a lever as we cut to the end credits.

Season Conclusion

So that was the 30th season of Doctor Who. The season overall received high critical praise and huge appreciation from audiences. With the anniversary special itself getting a big boosts in the ratings for the BBC.

However, behind the scenes times were a-changing. As, a month before the 30th anniversary special aired. David McCallum publicly announced he'd be standing down as the Doctor and the end of the following season.

Come Back Next Time for Doctor Who: Season Thirty-One