Doctor Who: Season 33 (1997)

Introduction

Season 33 of Doctor Who, would be a continuation of the previous season and keep adding in Star Trek like elements into the show. With a two part serial in the season being a straight up Star Trek inspired story which was considered earlier in the 1990s.

In terms of cast and crew. No major changes would happen. With Diana Barton remaining as producer, Colin Brake remaining as script editor and Tony Garnett remaining as the show's executive producer. And the show still starring Simon Shepherd as the Doctor, Susannah Harker as Reiven, Paul McGann as Roiyden, Chloe Annett as Azmana, Nicholas Farrell as Higgiof, Harriet Thorpe as Diewp and Lalla Ward as Romana.

So, with that. Let's cover Season 33, airing in the spring time of 1997.

Serial One (Ep. 1): THE PANOPTICON VOTE

Written by Russell T Davies
Directed by Dermot Boyd
Air Dates: 8 February 1997

The opening story of the season advances the timeline by eight months, with the show now in October 4535. Rebuilding after the Dalek invasion has been completed and things have settled down. Both globally and for the main characters.

The plot of the episode would be Romana trying to work with hardliners in the Cerulean, Dromeian and Scendeles chapters to vote for an Outsider integration bill. In which, she is successful in getting it passed.

Along with helping out Romana on getting more Cardinal's onside. The Doctor and Reiven's relationship is shown off as they are now living together in a flat in the Capitol region as well as having a house in the neighboring region of Arcadia, one of it's Panopticon seats being Reiven's seat in the Panopticon.

Serial Two (Ep. 2-3): FOREST OF THE DEAD

Written by Steven Moffat
Directed by Sallie Aprahamian
Air Date: 15-22 February 1997

For this two part serial, Romana sends the Doctor and Reiven to a library planet in the Gallifreyan Empire sector. In which, overnight every single resident of the planet had disappeared.

The Doctor and Reiven arrive on the planet and they come across a team of archeologists who are also trying to investigate the planet. Which annoys the Doctor and Reiven at first, but in the end. Do end up working together.

The monsters of the serial are shadow monsters by the name of the Vashta Nerada. Which eats humans except the bones, which are leftover.

At the halfway point of the serial, Reiven is plugged into the computer of the library planet. And she dreams a life with the Doctor without him wanting to travel the stars and wanting to be rid of the TARDIS and remain on Gallifrey.

During the second half of the serial, it's revealed that unlike what the Doctor and Reiven had believed. The inhabitants of the planet were not killed by the Vashta Nerada. They were all actually plugged into the computer to save themselves from the Vashta Nerada. And, in the end. The Doctor and Reiven are able to kick the Vashta Nerada off the planet and return the inhabitants to the planet.

Serial Three (Ep. 4): ORDER IN THE COURT

Written by Kate Orman
Directed by Morag Fullarton
Air Dates: 1 March 1997

The serial begins with a woman forced into a courtroom, chained in both her wrists and legs. A judge then sits at a massive bench and demands that there is order in the court. And as the judge reads out who the defendant is. We see it's Azmana. And that she is being charged with crimes of corruption and murder.

The serial plays out as a typical whodunnit mystery. With the Doctor, Reiven, Roiyden and Romana try to save Azmana from being executed for crimes she did not commit. Notably, one who does not try to help her is Higgiof, her husband. Saying she is extremely guilty.

The charges included Azmana working with oil tycoon on committing insider trading and the tycoon was found dead the next day after the trading was complete. Azmana also stands accused of cheating on Higgiof with the tycoon.

At the end of the serial, the Doctor and co. are able to prove Azmana's innocence and that she was framed by a Cerulean PR who is a junior minister in Gallifrey's energy department. And Azmana is given a full acquittal in court. With the cheating claim going the most unfounded out of all of the charges. However, Romana takes a hit in the polls because of the scandal.

Serial Four (Ep. 5-6): EARTH AID

Written by Ben Aaronovitch
Directed by Richard Standeven
Air Date: 8-15 March 1997

During looking through previous scripts considered during the early and mid 90s. Colin Brake came across a three part serial for Sylvester McCoy's tenure as the Doctor called Earth Aid written by Ben Aaronovitch, which was considered for Season 27 and was considered as the season's opening serial. At the time, script editor Andrew Cartmel turned down the script as with the budget at the time, it was deemed un-filmable.

During pre-production of the season, Brake came across the scripts for the serial. And thought that it would well with the season's Star Trek approach. And asked Aaronovitch to come back for a one-off return re-writing the serial from a 3x25 minute serial to a 2x45 minute serial and to integrate the cast of the season into the script. Aaronovitch agreed to come back.

The serial shows Roiyden taking command of a Gallifreyan starship as it needs to escort some grain to a Gallifreyan colony world outside of the Gallifreyan empire. Reiven is the ship's chief security officer and the Doctor is the ship's CMO (chief medical officer). Azmana is his XO (second in command) and  Higgiof and Diewp are on the ship. But just as people overseeing the operation and are not actively involved due to their positions in Gallifrey's government. Romana is shown in one scene with her in her office.

The serial, while having the budget in 1997 with World Productions then it did in 1990 with just the BBC. The serial still went down as one the weaker serials and was considered the worst serial of the Simon Shepherd era.

Serial Five (Ep. 7): LOCAL POLITICS

Written by Paul Cornell
Directed by Dermot Boyd
Air Dates: 22 March 1997

This serial takes the action back to Gallifrey as the six chapter leaders prepare for local elections on Gallifrey. But, most of the focus is on the regional election of the Capitol region which has a retiring Governor as well as several High and Low Council members. Which over the serial, it's portrayed as a highly contested fight. But, in the end, the Patrex Chapter continue their dominance in the region with them winning the governorship and maintaining both of their majorities in both the High and Low Council.

The serial acts as a Doctor-lite serial in a way with him only appearing with Reiven as her partner when she is giving political speeches and being at Arcalian Chapter rallies.

This serial would be the most political of the season and focus highly on fleshing out the local level of politics on Gallifrey.

Serial Six (Ep. 8-9): BATTLE OF LAND AND SEA

Written by Mark Gatiss
Directed by Harry Bradbear
Air Dates: 29 March-5 April 1997

For the first time since 1993, Doctor Who goes back to modern day Earth. The serial would have an opening that someone has been messing with time lately. And the person has lately been targeting Earth in the late 20th century. Specifically the region of Great Britain. With this, Romana asks the Doctor, Reiven and Azmana to handle the situation.

The three of them send them to Earth in the year 1997 and try to find a change in the timeline. But, all three are immediately separated. With the three of them each with a different group/race. The Doctor ends up with UNIT and a returning Brigadier Bambera, Reiven ends up with a group of Silurian's in an underground cavern and Azmana ends up with a group of Sea Devils in a underwater base off the coast of Scotland.

Throughout the serial the three sides are planning on wiping out the other two and the Doctor, Reiven and Azmana trying to prevent a nuclear war. With the Doctor being able to stop UNIT's weapons, Reiven sealing the Silurian's in their underground caves and putting them into a deep sleep. However, due to their makeshift base being a bit weak. A flood wipes out the Sea Devils and traps the bodies in the Earth's ground.

After everything is wrapped up, the Doctor, Reiven and Azmana head back to Gallifrey with Azmana sitting with the Doctor as he talks about Earth and how despite being completely flawed. The Doctor still loves the human race and what they represent.

Serial Seven (Ep. 10): MIDNIGHT

Written by Russell T Davies
Directed by Morag Fullarton
Air Dates: 12 April 1997

This serial would show the Doctor and Reiven taking a holiday on one of Gallifrey's holiday planets. With them visiting the diamond planet of Midnight. The two of them decide to take a tour bus around a diamond waterfall with them mingling with bus's crew and fellow tourists.

However after a certain point, the bus is ground to a halt and the cabin where the driver and most of the crew are destroyed. The bus falls down a cliff, leaving the Doctor, Reiven, the other tourists and one of the stewardess trapped. And not only that, a incorporeal entity breaches the bus and takes over one of the tourists.

The rest of the serial plays out as a horror serial with the Doctor and Reiven trying to take control of the situation. But with the tourists all being scared of the situation, it makes it hard for them. What makes it even worse is that at the beginning of the third act of the serial when the Doctor is possessed by the entity.

Reiven and the stewardess recognize that the entity was still controlling the tourist and making chaos. And the stewardess sacrifices herself to protect the Doctor from being vaporized by the planet's atmosphere.

On their way back to Gallifrey the Doctor and Reiven talk about the entity and we stay with them for a minute with the trauma they have gotten from this adventure. And it is even worse when they land back on Gallifrey and see it's a complete, radioactive wasteland.

This serial would be one of the more popular serials of the era and go down as a fan and critical favorite of the Simon Shepherd era.

Serial Eight (Ep. 11-13): THE CONSEQUENCES OF TIME

Written by Colin Brake
Directed by Joe Ahearne
Air Dates: 19 April-3 May 1997

The finale to the season begins with the Doctor and Reiven traveling across the irradiated wasteland that is Gallifrey. They end up travelling very far and even leave the region of the Capitol and end up in Arcadia. Where the they come across a few surviving Time Lords. With Azmana and Diewp leading them.

The two of them tell the Doctor that the only surviving Time Lords are ones that were not on Gallifrey at the time that several nuclear power-plants across the planet. The plants exploded with no warning and no apparent reasoning. The Doctor and Reiven then go and investigate one of the plants in Arcadia where they see that the plants detonated by a time bomb.

The Doctor and Reiven take the remains of the time bomb back to the TARDIS and analyze it with it giving off time energy. The Doctor and Reiven track the time energy to the Earth year 7681. The TARDIS then lands on the hull of a large starship. The Doctor looks at the scanner and smiles as the TARDIS dematerializes and then rematerializes inside the ship and asks a steward what ship they are on. The steward says that they are on the United Earth Ship Decker. The Doctor recoils in shock, he grabs Reiven's hand and they run down the ship's corridors as the Doctor tells her that they are on the largest starship crash in history.

The Doctor says that the time bomb was formed on the ship. Which leaves a ticking clock as the Doctor and Reiven try to find out who assembled the time bombs that destroyed Gallifrey. And we find out in a cliffhanger reveal. That it was none other, than the Meddling Monk (once again played by Rik Mayall).

The Doctor and the Monk have a battle of wits with the Monk revealing to the Doctor that he is going to destroy the Time Lords. So that he can play with time as much as he wants without the Time Lords or anyone else like them to stop him. The Doctor smiles and says that he is an idiot. As, he has not done it yet. So, he can still stop him. The Monk then presses a button and the ship starts to go wobbly and begins to crash into a radioactive planet. The Doctor and Reiven escape just before the ship crashes onto the planet and explodes.

The Doctor goes through Gallifrey's timeline to find when the Monk had planted the time bombs. The TARDIS lands back when the Doctor and Reiven left for their vacation to Midnight. The Doctor enters Romana's office and tells her to order the Chancellery Guard officers to go to all nuclear power plants and arrest a rogue Time Lord known as the Monk. As he is about to nuke Gallifrey.

The Doctor and Reiven join the guards and they come across the Monk. The Monk battles with the guards while the Doctor and Reiven defuses the main bomb that caused a chain reaction for the other bombs to go off. In which, they are successful. The guards arrest the Monk. But, before he is taken away. The Doctor tells him that... he is unsure why he does what he does. The two of them as well as the Master and the Rani all had ideas about going out into the universe and helping people. And now all he wants to do is play with time. The Monk smirks and says, "Of course because that is true fun." The Doctor then orders the guards to take him away.

The serial ends with the Doctor and Reiven laying down in bed in their flat in Arcadia. The Doctor talks about his days at the Academy. About his three best friends. On how they wanted to explore the universe together. But overtime. Got corrupted by ambitions of conquering, corrupted by amoral sciences or got corrupted by the power of the Time Lords. Only he has remained from what they wanted. Reiven comforts him saying that... at least one of them still has their morals and righteousness. The Doctor smiles and he turns off the light and then cut to the end credits.

Season Conclusion

So, that was Season 33. Apart from both Earth Aid and Midnight, the season received mixed reactions from general audiences, fandom and critics. Many considered it a step behind the quality of the previous season.

Not long after the conclusion of the season. It was announced on BBC News that both Simon Shepherd and Susannah Harker would be leaving the show at the end of the next season. Not long after that, in DWM, both Diana Barton and Colin Brake announce they will be stepping down from their posts as well at the end of the next season.

In late 1997, the new Head of Drama at the BBC, Mal Young that come 1999. Doctor Who was gonna be bigger than anything that has came before.

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

Doctor Who: Season 32 (1996)

Introduction

Season 32 of Doctor Who. The first season of a brand new era for the show. And the biggest change up in the format of the season since the beginning of the Jon Pertwee era.

This season would be the first approached by the BBC and the production staff to make the show appealable to an American market. As the BBC was starting talks with big name networks in America. With this, Controller of BBC One, about to be made Head of Drama at the BBC Alan Yentob, ordered incoming producer Diana Barton and script editor Colin Brake to add some American elements to the show.

This came in several things. Including moving from a 20x25 minute production schedule to a 13x45 minute production schedule, a proper main cast and not just a Doctor/Companion duo, push the boundaries of what kind of storytelling could happen, recurring themes and elements throughout a season and not have it just be a group of serials and finally add in some elements that seem like it could come out of some of the most popular American science fiction shows like Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Babylon 5.

The new main cast would contain the TARDIS team that the previous season had ended. With the new Doctor, Simon Shepherd and Season 31 companion, Time Lady politician Reiven, played by Susannah Harker. Joining the main cast of the season. Would be Season 31 recurring characters Roiyden (played by Paul McGann), Azmana (played by Chloe Annett), Higgiof (played by Nicholas Farrell), Diewp (played by Harriet Thorpe) and finally, former companion Romana (played by Lalla Ward).

With a main cast being built during the writing process of Season 31, it was decided to make Gallifrey be a regular setting during the season. With the story of the season being Romana, back as Lady President of Gallifrey, forcing the Doctor to remain in the year 4535 and work as a special member of her government. However, the Doctor would still be allowed to travel in space in the TARDIS, but only for diplomatic missions for Romana.

The title sequence would go over a major overhaul. From 1963-1995. The title sequence was made with it taking place in either the time vortex or a starfield. The title sequence for this season was a slow moving titles with the first time, the cast being credited on the opening titles with slow panning shots of Gallifrey and it's neighboring planets.

With all of this, let's dive into this new season of the show.

Serial One (Ep. 1-2): THE PLAGUE

Written by David A. McIntee
Directed by Richard Standeven
Air Dates: 17-24 February 1996

The opening serial to the season would take place several months after the finale of the previous season. With the Doctor now being forced to live in a flat with Reiven in the region of the Capitol. We learn that ever since the Doctor had regenerated. His and Reiven's dynamic has become... troubled. With the two of them bickering all the time.

The plot for the episode focuses on a factory explosion and releases an anti-regeneration virus into the air of the Capitol. Leaving Romana to quarantine the region while the Doctor figures out a cure.

Intercutted between that is the main characters talking about the mortality of the Time Lords and on how they rely on regeneration too much sometimes.

Serial Two (Ep. 3): BANQUET FOR THE IMMORTAL

Written by Steven Moffat
Directed by Sam Miller
Air Date: 2 March 1996

For the very first time since 1965, (and what will become a regular occurrence going forward), where a plot is told in a single episode. With the 45 minutes telling a whole story.

In this episode, the Doctor is dragged by Romana and Reiven to sit at a banquet being held for the Sisterhood of Karn to re-strengthen alliances following the Master acting as the puppet master to Roiyden. Cutting off support for Karn and other planets in the Gallifreyan Empire (which is the show's second allegory for the European Union).

Throughout the episode. The leader of the Sisterhood wants to completely withdraw the support of Karn from the Empire and go at it all alone. The Doctor, Reiven and Higgiof work with the leadership of the Sisterhood to hash out a deal. One that Romana is personally against as it means lifting some anti-religious practices on Gallifrey. But, she sees the long term gain for Gallifrey and signs the new deal with the leader at the end of the episode.

Serial Three (Ep. 4-5): THE DEAL OF MARS

Written by Mark Gatiss
Directed by Nigel Douglas
Air Dates: 9-16 March 1996

For this serial, Romana sends the Doctor, Reiven and Higgiof to Mars to work out a new trade deal with the new ruling empress. However, at the last minute, Azmana joins them on the trip. Talking to Higgiof and saying, "I thought that joining you to Mars would be nice. Since we've been apart lately."

In the serial, we see the return of the Ice Warriors with them being a crucial partner for Romana on the intergalactic stage. The Doctor (after previously dealing with the Ice Warriors) is untrusting of them. Whilst Reiven, Azmana and Higgiof embrace them and the new empress with open arms.

The Doctor being the one who is unsure about whether or not Romana is in the right to work with the Ice Warriors. Tries to make sure the deal isn't a foolproof deal. But, Reiven notices what he is doing and challenges him on his ideas and bigotry towards races who used have certain beliefs but don't anymore.

Reiven in the end becomes the hero and saves the trade deal and improves relations with Gallifrey and Mars even better than what they were before. After everything is done. Azmana takes Higgiof back to Gallifrey. Meanwhile, Reiven forces the Doctor to head to Earth. As their work is not fully done. As they need to work with another one of Romana's allies.

Serial Four (Ep. 6): THE CORRUPTION OF EARTH

Written by Gareth Roberts
Directed by Jim Gillespie
Air Date: 23 March 1996

The serial follows up on the previous one as the Doctor and Reiven travel to Earth. As Romana wants them to help out an old time ally. The President of Earth, who is trying to root out corruption in their government.

The Doctor takes the lime-light with him working out that Romana's friend is actually the corrupt one in government. With her selling off government institutions to corrupt businessmen for profit that she can have when she retires at the end of her term as President of Earth.

The Doctor and Reiven end up exposing them to the public and they are forced to resign as President. Something that Reiven does reluctantly. But, understands that it was the right thing to do.

On the ship going back to Gallifrey. The Doctor and Reiven continue to bicker about how Reiven has been acting since he regenerated. Reiven mostly saying that it is the Doctor not being the man who she thought he was.

Serial Five (Ep. 7): THE INCIDENT

Written by Steve Lyons
Directed by Sam Miller
Air Dates: 30 March 1996

This would be the first of a new type of episodes, known as "Doctor-lite episodes" which would not feature the Doctor much throughout the episode. With this episode focusing on the Gallifrey regulars (excluding Reiven as she is with the Doctor during the events of the episode).

The episode begins with the main characters in different places. Romana and Diewp are in Romana's office discussing the recent government's budget surplus, Higgiof is sitting alone at a bar and Roiyden and Azmana are at a country estate, which we learn we learn is a family estate that he inherited from his father when he became of age at 125. And we see hints of Roiyden and Azmana being... intimate.

An alarm rings out in Romana's office and she looks at her scanner and says, "It finally happened. They did it." She then walks up to her her computer and types something in. Diewp says, "Cedin?" Romana nods her head. Diewp then tells her that she'll be heading to the bunker then.

Several minutes later. Several Gallifreyan's are brought into underground bunkers. Roiyden and Azmana are brought back into the city and brought into the Inner Cabinet Bunker where them as well as Romana, Higgiof and Diewp are at.

Throughout the rest of the episode. We learn that Gallifrey has been in a cold war with one of it's colonies since the Master took power. And that it has launched a nuclear warhead towards Gallifrey. And at the end of the episode, the nuke ends up going into a blackhole and missing Gallifrey completely.

Throughout the episode. The plot takes a backseat and the characters are at the fore-front as we develop Roiyden, Azmana, Higgiof and Diewp more and add onto Romana's life between leaving E-Space and becoming President.

At the end of the episode, everyone leaves the bunker. Romana goes back into her office to see the Doctor and Reiven sitting in her office asking her what had happened.

Serial Six (Ep. 8-9): THE INTERGALACTIC CONFERENCE

Written by Paul Cornell
Directed by Audrey Cooke
Air Dates: 6-13 April 1996

The serial would begin with the Doctor and Reiven sitting in the cabinet office with the TARDIS standing in the corner of the room. Romana enters the office and sits down with them. She says that she needs them to head to a political conference on Peladon in her stead. Reiven asks why she needs them there. Romana says, "I'm gonna need you two off world for a few weeks." The Doctor laughs and says, "We are being put in a time out." Reiven rolls her eyes at the Doctor's statement. Which Romana says, "You two need to get along better."

With this the two of them enter the TARDIS. And we see the TARDIS has redesigned itself. Giving it a more colder, metallic and futuristic look and feel to it.

The TARDIS lands on Peladon and the Doctor and Reiven are given a state greeting with the leaders then escorting them to a shared bedroom.

Throughout the serial, the plot then splits into two different sections that are intercutted between each other. To tell the story in a better fashion, I'll be covering them separately.

The main political plot of the episode is an Ice Warrior being poisoned during a banquet for all of the guests. The Doctor intervenes and is able to save the Ice Warrior's life. And several different assassination attempts on different members of specifically, the Galactic Federation. The Doctor and Reiven find out that a group of interplanetary extremists are trying to use assassination methods to destabilize the Galactic Federation. In the end, the terrorists are stopped and arrested by the authorities on Peladon.

The other main plot of the episode focuses on the Doctor and Reiven's relationship. With the two of them being at each other's throat's since the Doctor's regeneration. The two of them try and talk about how they now feel. And we learn that Reiven has always had a hard time accepting regenerations in her life. As almost everyone close to her has regenerated at least once in their life. But, she has not. She is still in her first body.

At the end of the second episode, the two of them finish their talk. And she thinks that her feelings about the Doctor are... completely different to what it used to be.

Serial Seven (Ep. 10): SIEGE OF THE SHIP

Written by Colin Brake
Directed by Jim Gillespie
Air Dates: 20 April 1996

The episode/serial begins with the TARDIS in-flight as the Doctor and Reiven head back to Gallifrey after the events of the previous serial. The two of them are silent. Not sure on what to say after the events that had just happened. All of a sudden, the TARDIS cloisters start ringing. And the ship starts shaking. The Doctor checks the console scanner and we see that the TARDIS has been boarded by pirates that live in the Time Vortex.

The episode/serial shows the Doctor and Reiven fighting off the pirates and getting control back of the TARDIS. Which because of the incident, the TARDIS gets stranded in space for several months due to the effects put on it by the Vortex Pirates.

While all of this is going on, the Doctor and Reiven are forced to sit down and talk about each other with the Doctor's new body. And the Doctor says that he is younger, slightly less mature. But, the Doctor wonders why Reiven would look at him differently because of it. Reiven says that. She's having a hard time... looking at him in nothing but a romantic way.

At the end of the episode, once the Vortex Pirates are defeated. The Doctor and Reiven talk. And the Doctor makes a confession. He... has kind of been looking at her in a very similar way. Which leads to the two of them kissing. And as soon as the TARDIS lands, they step outside and sees Romana, Roiyden, Azmana, Higgiof and Diewp standing in front of them. Asking where the hell they have been. The Doctor is confused. Before he hears in the background, "Exterminate the Time Lords!" The Doctor takes a step back and says to himself, "Daleks". As the episode/serial ends.

Serial Eight (Ep. 11-13): THE DALEK INVASION OF GALLIFREY

Written by Russell T Davies
Directed by David Hayman
Air Dates: 27 April-11 May 1996

To finish off the first season for the new Doctor, we get a big action packed Dalek finale with the Daleks invading Gallifrey. With the serial playing out as a big action blockbuster with tons of explosions and model and CGI shots all throughout.

This story would also conclude a small story-arc woven throughout the decades with the Dalek's invasion of Gallifrey being fallout from the Time Lord's actions in Genesis of the Daleks and Remembrance of the Daleks, the Daleks had decided to get revenge and take out the Time Lords. Which they are unable to as the Doctor is able to put a stop to them.

Also, as a B-plot, we conclude the Doctor and Reiven's arc of the season. Where they finally accept their romantic feelings for each other and decide to... do something minimal at least going forward.

Season Conclusion

So that was Season 32 and the first season for a new format of the show. General audiences and critics gave the season high praise with the new style. But, the fandom's initial reaction was one of mixed feelings, but overtime did improve and have a positive look on the season.

The fandom's biggest complaint at the time was that there was not enough of Doctor Who style episodes. In October 1996, Diana Barton confirmed in a interview with DWM. That Season 32 was made to be like Season 7. And that Season 33 onwards would be more like other seasons of the Jon Pertwee era. Where it would be a mixture of Doctor Who-centric stories and Gallifrey based stories.

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