The Fourth Doctor: Logopolis
Tom Bakers departure truly was the end of an era for Doctor Who. With seven series under his belt, it was only right to give the Fourth Doctor an epic regeneration story. In the previous story
The Keeper Of Traken we had witnessed the return of the Master, the skeletal, broken version from
The Deadly Assassin finally taking on a new form, that of poor Nyssas father. In
Logopolis, The Masters plan is put into action, taking the Monitor hostage to gain the secret behind the Logopolis science and then holding the universe hostage when the entropy begins to consume large chunks of the galaxy. The Doctor, in true heroic style, saves the universe, disconnecting a power cable on telescopes dish before plunging to his death. As he lies broken on the ground, surrounding by the new trio of companions, Nyssa, Tegan and Adric, the Watcher appearsa shadowy figure that has appeared throughout the story, leading the Doctor in the right direction. The Watcher, a version of the Doctor, merges with him, allowing him to regenerate. Its a final, emotional greatest hits tour for the Fourth Doctor (a MERE minute long as opposed to the Tenths time travelling, galaxy hopping extravaganza!) and its played brilliantlyeach companion from the Fourth Doctors life calling out his name. First Nyssa, then Tegan and a flashback video photo album of Sarah Jane, Harry, The Brigadier, Leela, K9, Romana I, Romana II before returning back to the presentand Adric. Oh dearwell I guess he was around slightly longer than his other two fellow companions. And then the regeneration until the youthful Fifth Doctor Pitted against his arch nemesis, surrounded by his new Tardis family, with an interesting concept in the Watcher and the universe hanging in the balance, the Fourth Doctor bowed out in style, making for a dramatic regeneration indeed. Ranking: 6th Shock Value: 4 Epic Scale: 8 Emotional trauma: 7