Why You Forgot It:It's from an uneven season, and followed three classics. Why You Should See It (Again):It's damn near perfect. Tom Baker's time as the Doctor #4 is justly celebrated, and it's not without some justification that most agree that his first 3 years are often hard to argue with, and then budget and personnel changes caused his remaining 4 to be at best great - With the man himself always worth a look and a laugh - but sometimes lacking in terms of story and threat (Though in fairness, Smith and Tennant often have the same issue). This is probably the best known story on this list from the Classic Series - But it really gets passed over more often than not. It started off a season when the weather was still good outdoors, and had to gradually win the average audience figures at the time. But it did, and there are MANY good reasons. How many? 1. Baker's Performance is strong. Unlike his more jovial later years, here he is alien and severe - The humour is taut, and often very dark. 2. Leela, the Doctor's companion, has a strong character and personality and is written consistent to her previous stories - As there'd been a season break, this was crucial. She could've been just another girl, but her unusual origin (Far future barbarian girl) is reaffirmed and works well with the scared locals. (It makes sense that she has no problem taking charge and isn't afraid.) 3. The setting - an early 1900's lighthouse with a shipwreck - is perfect. It's claustrophobic, dark and is believably shown. Likewise, the BBC costumes seem spot-on and add to the atmosphere. 4. The story - Many say that with an Arctic base overrun by long-permafrosted aliens, Baker's "The Seeds of Doom" is Doctor Who's "The Thing". No. This story, with its confined setting, frightened and mistrustful locals, and uncertain shapeshifting threat, is far closer to anything that Kurt Russell's MacReady faced. It's just missing the Norwegians, snow, and the dog. 5. This is the one and only television appearance of the Sontaran mortal enemy the Rutans. And it's better than almost all their stories, period. We've already met the Sontarans, so the Rutans being the ruthless, gelatinous, shapeshifting foes that they fight just fires the imagination that much more. And it makes PERFECT sense - The Sontarans, with their precise, ordered species would NATURALLY fight and despise a less structured, subversive, and deceptive foe. We only see one Rutan, but it tells us everything we need to know about the species and is the perfect threat. 6. Every cliffhanger is good, and changes the game a little more - The last one is, in fact, one of the best spoken cliffhangers the show ever had. That's six reasons without spoiling the plot. But there's so much more to love about this story. Have you never seen Baker's Doctor? It's him at his best. If you've never seen Leela, I challenge you not to like her by story's conclusion. You'll want Smith to fight the Rutans as soon as possible (Or at least see them give the lame New Series Sontarans a pasting), and be amazed how quickly the story's over - The best Classic Series episodes don't seem their 4 x 25 minute length. This one flies by. Had this aired in the same season as Leela's first three stories with Tom Baker ("The Face of Evil", "The Robots of Death", and "The Talons of Weng Chiang"), that season would probably be one of the best the show ever saw. (As it is, it's still VERY strong.) Instead, it's a story out of place in the uneven Season 15 - it's not perfect (it wraps very tidily), but it's so close that non-fans can watch it and probably be won over. Still not convinced? The current series teases each new episode with ten dialogue snippets. I can sell "Horror of Fang Rock" with only three: -"Are you in charge here?" "No, but I'm full of ideas." -"A waste of time. I too used to believe in magic...It is better to believe in science." -"That's the empty rhetoric of a defeated dictator - and I don't like your face, either." This one's even on US Netflix. What are you waiting for?
In a parallel universe where game shows' final jackpots and consequent fortunes depend on knowledge of obscure music trivia and Jon Pertwee/Tom Baker Doctor Who episodes, I've probably gone rich, insane, and am now a powermad despot. But happily we're not there, so I'm actually rather pleasant. Really.
