Cast : Doctor : William Hartnell (archive) Richard Hurndall, Patrick Troughton, Jon Pertwee, Tom Baker (archive) and Peter Davison.
Sarah Jane Smith : Elizabeth Sladen
Anthony Ainley : The Master
Tegan : Janet Fielding
Turlough : Mark Strickson
Brigadier : Nicholas Courtney
Susan : Carol Ann Ford
Zoe : Wendy Padbury
Jamie : Frazer Hines
Liz Shaw : Caroline John
Mike Yates : Richard Franklin
Romana : Lalla Ward (archive)
Borusa : Philip Latham
Flavia : Dinah Sheridan
Rassilon : Richard Mathews
Written By : Terrence Dicks, Terry Nation and Douglas Adams.
Produced By : JNT
First UK Broadcast : 25 November 1983
Length : 1 hour 20 minute feature-length special.
Plot : The Fifth Doctor, Tegan and Turlough are taking some rest, when the Doctor senses a disturbance in the time-continuum. Someone is stealing previous Doctor incarnations oit of time and planting them; within the deadly ‘Games of Rassilon’.
Whats good : A plausible enough setup, reunites a huge mish-mash of Doctors; past and present, companions and classic monsters. The Cybermen are put to good use, as the main antagonists. The Master puts in a good dastardly performance (finally).
Whats bad : Shame that Tom Baker didn’t want to be in it.
Review With Spoilers :The Five Doctors is the seventh serial of season 20 and features a veritable back catalogue; of the first 20 years of the show.
If you compare The Five Doctors to any of the other Anniversary Specials, then The Five Doctors has to be the most ambitious, in term of scope. Especially, for attempting to reunite so many previous Doctors, companions and monsters; in one story.
It does suffer, for the sheer amount of characters jostling for screen-time and position. Indeed, some are sadly relegated to disappointing cameos. But at least they are represented, even if it is – just briefly.
Holding all of this together, is Peter Davison, whose underrated turn as the Fifth Doctor; is usually unfairly overlooked (from a historical perspective!). He manages to underpin all of the elements of the story here (with an earnest and honest performance) and even manages to shine; alongside his acting heavyweight predecessors.
The Second and Third Doctors, slip back into their Doctor characters; like a pair of old slippers. And the newly cast 1st Doctor manages to ‘Hartnell’ it up enough – to complement both.
The 4th Doctor appears, briefly but only from previously unbroadcast footage, from the unfinished Shada. Fourth’s absence is explained, as the timescoop device having failing and stranding the Fourth Doctor – in a time-loop.
Out of the companions, Tegan and Sarah-Jane get the biggest shake. The rest get no more than a look in. After the forementioned, the Brigadier, Susan, and Turlough get the best of the remaining story.
There’s a clever use of the setting of Rassilon’s Tower to include clever cameos for Jamie, Zoe, Liz Shaw and Mike Yates (who appear as apparitions of the mind).
“Like Alice – I try to believe two imporssible things, before breakfast!” Fifth Doctor
Ainley’s (usually overused) Master character, actually shines here finally, as the despicable turncoat who helps (and hinders) the Doctor’s and the Cybermen – in equal dastardly measure.
The monsters get a fair crack of the whip here, too. The Cybermen, are the main villains of this piece. However, a Dalek, Yeti and a Rastan Warrior Robot – also feature. Including, the latters impressive one-man demolition take-down of a whole Cyber-patrol.
Five Doctors is the best of the anniversary specials. Simply because, it boldly revels in attempting to shoehorn in as much Who history; and cover all bases – unapologetically.
In that regard, Five Doctors is bursting at the seams but still somehow manages to pull it all together into an interesting yarn – and easily ranks, among the best serials of Who; ever.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)
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