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or Romana as short has collapsed earlier in the day as the Patrex, Cerulean and Dromeian chapters have withdrawn support of it.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.
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.
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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
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