Doctor Who: Why Peter Davison's Fifth Doctor Is Underated

The Fifth Doctor Stories

98peter davison doctor who2 The Fifth Doctor's stories were very enjoyable. On occasion there were some that were questionable, such as Time-Flight, the very last episode of the first season.By the time they filmed that particular episode, they had already spent the budget for the season, and there was literally nothing left for Time-Flight. So they had to make do with what they had. The first season of his era was quite enjoyable, kicking off with post-regenerative story Castrovalva. Of course a viewer can tell they were filmed out of sequence due to the hair length of all of the cast. Four to Doomsday was the first one filmed, while Castrovalva was fourth. They brought back the historicals with the first season episode Black Orchid, and we see Tegan fall victim to an enemy called the Mara, and the Doctor has to save her. Towards the end, we say farewell to Adric and then to Tegan, but Tegan would be back in Arc of Infinity, in the second season. The second season seemed questionable by Davison himself, mainly by the scripts, but for some, a few of the stories were at their best. The Mara returns in the second story of the season, called Snakedance. Amazing performances done by all, especially Janet Fielding and Peter Davison as Tegan and the Doctor, and Martin Clunes as Lon. Afterward, there is the introduction to Mark Strickson's character, Turlough. Turlough is an alien exiled to an all-boys school on Earth and will do anything to get back home. The Black Guardian sees this, and offers him that trip home if he does something in exchange. Kill the Doctor. The Fifth Doctor is seen in Mawdryn Undead as a trusting sort, allowing Turlough to join Nyssa, Tegan and himself on the TARDIS, after Turlough had already tried to kill him once or twice in the first of three stories alone. The third season the stories get darker, and the Doctor seems a bit more tired then his first few episodes on the TARDIS. The travels seemed to be getting to him at this point. His outfit has changed, and his hair is noticeably shorter since The Five Doctors. This is most likely due to Peter working on All Creatures Great and Small around the same time in 1983. At this time, John Nathan-Turner found the new Sixth Doctor, who would be Colin Baker, and his companion Perpugilliam (Peri) Brown, played by Nicola Bryant. The Fifth Doctor would be the last to have a rather subtle costume, excluding the question marks on the collar of the dress shirt. But considering the costumes that would be following, he was the last one to be rather gentlemanly. His cricketing outfit had the Edwardian look to it, so it had headed in the right direction of the previous Doctors.
Contributor
Contributor

I am a sales associate by day, and 3D artist and writer at night. I have a passion for Doctor Who, especially the Fifth Doctor era. I go to conventions when I have the funds, and I also make costumes on my spare time.