3. The 5th Doctor The Caves Of Androzani
Is this death? The Doctor I know, I know. Two regeneration stories in a row. Ah, but The Caves of Androzani is so much more than that. On the planet Androzani Minor, the Doctor and his companion, Peri, develop spectrox toxaemia poisoning. As he tries desperately to find a cure, the pair is caught between the grossly disfigured Sharaz Jek and Morgus decades long conflict. With Peri kidnapped, will the Doctor have enough time to save them both? There is a reason that this story is constantly voted the best by fans. The Caves of Androzani is an action packed, fast paced, rollercoaster ride, by classic Who terms at least. The style of filming is very cinematic, which really adds to the drama. Packed with some of the most thrilling cliffhangers in the shows history, you are kept on the edge of your seat until the very end. This serial has one of Doctor Whos most charismatic villains in Sharaz Jek, who you almost root for at times. The regeneration scene is unusual for two reasons. The first is that the Doctor selflessly causes himself to regenerate in order to save Peri. The second is that the newly regenerated 6th Doctor gets the last line of the episode. Change, my dear, and it seems not a moment too soon. Honorable mentions for the 5th Doctor: Castrovalva (his first story), Black Orchid (a brilliant period piece), Earthshock (a great Cybermen episode, the death of a companion), The Five Doctors (because there are five Doctors, and a TARDIS load of former companions and enemies, and Gallifrey), and The Black Guardian Trilogy. Put on your technicolor dreamcoat, its time to meet