Sixth Doctor

In the game "Doctor Who: The First Adventure" from the 1980s, you play as the 5th Doctor and you get 15 "regenerations" as lives. If you die, you lose a life/regenerate. So if you lose one life, you regenerate into the 6th doctor, then the 7th, 8th, war doctor possibly, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th, 18th and at least the 19th. Then you die. So, technically, their first appearance was in this game, but it doesn't count because we all know how the 5th Doctor regenerates and it's not because of snake things in a weird maze. Just a funny thing to think about

What for you is Colin Baker’s defining moment as the doctor?

For me this one’s very easy. It’s his rant in Trial of a timelord “10,000 years of absolute power! That’s what it takes to be REALLY corrupt!” It’s such a good moment for him and it’s one of my favorite Doctor moments really.

Also I feel This one is a good time to mention that you can even delve into big finish defining moments if you’d like as I know Colin has a lot more there.

You can use your own definition of “definitive” but I’m curious what people think since a lot of people have been talking about Ncuti Gatwa’s “definitive moment” lately (we’ll get to him later😉)

The most underrated Doctor of the show, including the Classic Series (in my opinion).

Comment down a quote from each incarnation of The Doctor you think is the best.

Perhaps out of sympathy, the most recent DWM poll had the gall to suggest The Twin Dilemma might be bad, but was at least "never boring". This is a scandalous claim. Indeed it is possibly this serial's only achievement that something so garish can also be so dull.

Little thought has gone into structure. Characters appear for a couple of scenes and we assume their presence will be explained/developed... and then they're never seen again. Kevin McNally, perhaps the only person to come out of this with a shred of dignity, (later to play Jericho in Flux) can't be blamed for Lang's non-existent characterisation, and why he decides to change out of his uniform and don a sequined shirt is the least of our worries. The script is Anthony Steven's only contribution to the series, and is frequently awful ("What happens there?"). It lurches uneasily between scenes, planets, ideas. Even not one but two quarries.

It's a sobering thought that somewhere under the rubber of Mestor (despite protestations he's a giant turd) is Captain Hart from The Sea Devils. The Jacondans look ludicrous. Womulus and Wemus don't appear bwilliant for a second: they are pudding-headed lemons introduced playing a stupid game. All three of the cliffhangers are painful close-ups that show Baker and Bryant in the most unflattering light imaginable. What's worse is the direction is so lackadaisical they're pretty much the only memorable shots of the entire serial.

The Twin Dilemma is usually cited as the worst Doctor Who story of all time. I'm unsure about that—there are a handful of good lines and although the plot stretches its four episodes to breaking point I actually find Mestor's plan quite funny. Besides, the late 70s and 80s offer up several other deserving candidates. But if it's individually a disaster, it also establishes a series of disastrous defaults that would plunge the programme to its death. The titles. The outfit. The goading and abuse—even physical assault—with Peri (in both directions), which, while there are occasional chinks of light, would be a hallmark of the entire era. It only makes for alienating television, at times genuinely difficult to watch.

Too often this is defended with a lazy "it's interesting". It's not interesting. It's tragic. And it's a tragedy because of the enormous charisma, enthusiasm and talent of the programme's new lead star. Colin Baker had the potential to be one of the best Doctors. He has a laser focus on not wasting a second of screen time, and is an undeniable presence after the vapid Davison faded away. What makes The Twin Dilemma such a... dilemma to watch is that for me it is always tinged with a huge sadness. Although Davison was absolutely right that Nathan-Turner "managed to turn the Doctor into his own image", for my money this deliberately unlikeable incarnation resembles more the misguided confidence of Eric Saward—but regardless, it is a mystery how either thought this in any way acceptable. What an infuriating waste.

(E)

The Mark of The Rani The Two Doctors The Ultimate Foe Attack of The Cybermen The Mysterious Planet Vengeance on Varos Timelash Twin Dilemma Revelation of The Daleks Mindwarp Terror of the Vervoids

Comment down something positive about the sixth incarnation of The Doctor.

Comment down which Classic Doctor your on?

And the winner of the long and clunky named award goes to...

Main Range #48 Davros

Written by longtime Doctor Who novelist Lance Parkin and featuring stunning performances from Colin Baker's Sixth Doctor and Terry Molloy as Davros, the story is a beautiful deconstruction of both their characters that moves at a slow yet steady pace and never loses your interest as it unfolds. The second instalment in the Main Range's 'Villains Trilogy' to celebrate the show's 40th anniversary, the story has been met with acclaim by fans and scores a 9.1/10 on the Timescales.

If you haven't listened to it, I would implore checking it out on Spotify along with the other two instalments of the trilogy (Omega and Master, featuring the Fifth and Seventh Doctors respectively) as well as any other of the 50 Main Range stories that are available.

Thank you for participating in the poll!

This post is not sponsored.