15. The Keeper Of Traken
I thought you might appreciate it if I gave you the impression I knew what was happening. We could panic of course, but where would that get us?
You might argue why the Fourth Doctor's final story Logopolis is not on this list. The truth is, that epic-universe destroying battle between the Doctor and the Master is a little over-wrought and some of the ideas are not brilliantly executed. But the story that preceded it is a whole different affair. The Keeper Of Traken kickstarts the Master's new reign of evil with an atmospheric tale that Tom Baker's era does so well. Four years after the last surprise appearance by the Master, he returns here, still in his skeletal form. This time the Master is seeking to gain new life through the plant's source, a power that has also attracted the mysterious Melkur to the planet's capital. It is a great little mystery that introduces Nyssa to the show and her father Trema, played by Anthony Ainsley. Recognise the name? That's because the story's shocking twist has the master steal Tremas's body, essentially killing her father in the process and becoming victorious over the Doctor. With an intriguing monster in the Melkur, the mystery of its resurrection and the surprise return of the Master, The Keeper Of Traken remains the highlight of Tom Baker's final year on the show.