Doctor Who, Season Ten

Most shows don't look great during their tenth years. Hell, most shows don't make it to their tenth years. I think we must recognize the fact that it's a miracle that Doctor Who survived the chopping block several times to make it to this point, let alone that it eventually made it to year twenty-six - going on sixty! For all that Season Ten celebrated the legacy of the program in a way that nothing before it did, it does not show its age for even a moment. Although the program's issues with six-part stories are still evident, there isn't a single bad episode in this season. Pound for pound, it's one of the best the show's ever made.

It was with a heavy heart that I said goodbye to Jo Grant and to Delgado's Master, both of whom I came to love over the previous three seasons. It feels like time is not on the Third Doctor's side anymore, and soon things must change.

Here's the score breakdown:

The Three Doctors - 8.50
Episode One - 9.00
Episode Two - 8.00
Episode Three - 9.00
Episode Four - 8.00

Carnival of Monsters - 10.00
Episode One - 10.00
Episode Two - 10.00
Episode Three - 10.00
Episode Four - 10.00

Frontier in Space - 8.67
Episode One - 9.00
Episode Two - 9.00
Episode Three - 9.00
Episode Four - 8.00
Episode Five - 8.00
Episode Six - 9.00

Planet of the Daleks - 7.33
Episode One - 9.00
Episode Two - 7.00
Episode Three - 7.00
Episode Four - 7.00
Episode Five - 7.00
Episode Six - 7.00

The Green Death - 9.83
Episode One - 10.00
Episode Two - 10.00
Episode Three - 10.00
Episode Four - 10.00
Episode Five - 9.00
Episode Six - 10.00

Best episode: The Green Death, Episode Six - 10.00
Runner-up: Carnival of Monsters, Episode Two - 10.00
"Worst" episode: Planet of the Daleks, Episode Five - 7.00

Season Ten average: 8.81

Best guest appearance: John Dearth as BOSS (The Green Death)
Best special effect: The maggots (The Green Death)
Best musical score: Carnival of Monsters (Dudley Simpson)

Here's to one last season with Jon Pertwee, whose tenure has seemed to fly by even if it is chronologically the longest so far. We'll pick up Season Eleven with The Time Warrior presently.

(Modified from the original posted at Gallifrey Base on 9 April 2021.)