Doctor Who: Every Tom Baker/Hinchcliffe Era Story Ranked From Worst To Best

10. Terror Of The Zygons

Terror of the Zygons was the last story which was baggage from the previous producer€™s era and as such it finalises many elements from it. Harry Sullivan and the Brigadier were both phased out after this story (the Brigadier especially since he went off to teach maths instead). As a result, this episode features a very grim subtext of systems failing and vulnerability. Just after a scene where Sarah Jane asks what happens when the radar jammer is jammed, Doctor Harry Sullivan is shot and has to be cared for in hospital. Shock horror, the nurse tending to him turns out to be a murderer. Air being cut off and destroying oil rigs are the two key methods the Zygons have of killing humans. This is along with killing them directly by people impersonating people you trust. There are themes running throughout this of things which humans take for granted being used as weapons against us. Which is even more impressive considering the story was heavily rewritten by the cast and director. In fact, the script was heavily redirected by Holmes to focus on the Zygons, meaning that the finished rewritten product was itself a heavily rewritten product. But despite what the original draft may have been, the end result is excellent.