Doctor Who: Every Doctor's First Episode Ranked Worst To Best

15. The Twin Dilemma

The Twin Dilemma is notorious for its companion-throttling scene, so let's not dwell on it. It's there, it's not good, but it's not the only issue with the Sixth Doctor's debut story.

In fact, Colin Baker's brash and bombastic Doctor isn't even the problem with The Twin Dilemma. After the unpleasantness of the opening episodes, he makes an immediate impression, a righteous crusader who is in sharp contrast to Peter Davison's meek moralising.

Rather, the biggest problem with The Twin Dilemma is its placing at the very end of Doctor Who Season 21. The money has clearly run out, and the script could've benefitted from some more attention during the gap before Season 22.

There was a good reason for putting it at the end of a season however, rather than at the beginning. Producer John Nathan-Turner was worried that strike action may have seriously impacted production on Season 22, so brought Colin Baker's debut forward to avoid it being derailed.

Unfortunately, that debut was already derailed by having to follow the dark and gritty The Caves of Androzani, with a story about some twins that were really good at maths.