Doctor Who: 3 Great Sixth Doctor TV Stories

By Chris Swanson /

2. Vengeance on Varos (Story 138, 1985)

This story is generally regarded as one of the darker ones of the original series. It€™s often derided for being very violent, which it is (though contrary to popular myth, the Doctor doesn€™t toss anyone into a pool of acid, but he is a dick when two people die in one). It is also a great episode, introducing the character of Sil, a great recurring villain who turned up twice in the original series and was supposed to show up a third time (and eventually did in audio format). Plus you get Jason Connery, the son of the legendary Bond actor. The story also offers a surprisingly look at reality TV gone horribly wrong, and while it does present a glimpse into an unlikely situation, it€™s still an interesting one. It€™s one of those great, mid-80s Doctor Who stories that shows what the show was really capable of when it tried, and it€™s sad that more stories, especially those from the Sixth Doctor, do not live up to the standard here.