Doctor Who: Ranking The Introductions Of Every Doctor

9. Castrovalva

Tom Baker was a beloved national treasure when he hung up his scarf as the Fourth Doctor, and Peter Davison was already known to his audience by those who watched him in All Creatures Great and Small. Despite the familiar face, his Doctor needed a good start to help the audience get used to a new man in the role. With "Castrovalva", it was never quite right. Everything was new about the show at the time, alongside the new Doctor, Tegan (Janet Fielding) and Nyssa (Sarah Sutton) joined Adric (Matthew Waterhouse) as companions. A new Master - in Anthony Ainley - was still terrorising his old foe after being the villain for the final eight episodes of the previous season. For much of the Fifth Doctor's introduction, the new lead hero spends much of his time lying down or in a wheelchair. In terms of the narrative, this was the first time in the history of the show that a regeneration could be this problematic. The problem with that is the lethargic pace that is presented on screen. The Master sets his trap and The Doctor eventually foils him, but the whole experience is stop/start without really exploring the new Doctor aside from his regenerative struggles. The youthful Doctor was the least agile, at least for his beginning. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JovVVUMD_0w