Doctor Who, Season 23

Well, let's have a quick chat about this out of the narrative world, too. As the last season of Doctor Who that I'd never watched, The Trial of a Time Lord was always going to fill a bit of an interesting spot in the marathon: the last of the unknown, and a chance to end the first leg of this marathon (the leg where I mostly had no idea what to expect) on either a high or a low.

You know what? I liked it. The season was made by the seat of the production team's pants, which makes it suffer in some ways, but in others gives it a sort of madcap energy that I find downright infectious. The feeling is one of a show desperately trying to rediscover its identity, while not yet discovering a new direction to go in. It feels like a more successful spin on the previous season's formula, but it is very much still the same formula.

I've given Eric Saward a bit of grief in my reviews, but I do think he's a good writer. He just displays some bad habits in his Who writing that occasionally get in the way of true greatness. As a script editor, I perhaps don't rate him as highly as his predecessors or successors in the role, but he deserves some praise for patching the holes in the rapidly sinking ship that was this period until he couldn't anymore. His departure leaves the program in a bit of an odd state, but we'll pick up on that some more once we actually make it to the next season. It will fall to his successor to find that new direction that the show needs.

In order, I praise The Mysterious Planet for being a quite solid Holmes story, and his last full one for the program; Mindwarp, even though its brutality (physical and emotional) is awe-inspiring, for being an absolutely uncompromising watch that left me on the edge of my seat; Terror of the Vervoids for its mystery plotting and classic sci-fi vibes; and The Ultimate Foe for its bonkers and surreal first episode, if for nothing else. It must be said that the season absolutely fails at sticking the landing, partly on account of Saward's unexpected departure, but for a first-time viewer who isn't spoiled on everything (just some things!), it is decidedly entertaining.

We start to see a new Colin here, just a little more cuddly; still pompous and outspoken, but generally nicer and funnier than his counterpart from the previous season. His new dynamic with Peri is short-lived, but very sweet, and what little we get of him with Mel is fun, too. I think it's a pity he didn't get to continue this in the TV series, but as we'll see very soon, his future has vindicated him indeed.

Well, enough waffling. Here's the score breakdown:

The Mysterious Planet - 8.25
Part One - 10.00
Part Two - 8.00
Part Three - 7.00
Part Four - 8.00

Mindwarp - 8.50
Part Five - 8.00
Part Six - 9.00
Part Seven - 8.00
Part Eight - 9.00

Terror of the Vervoids - 8.00
Part Nine - 8.00
Part Ten - 8.00
Part Eleven - 8.00
Part Twelve - 8.00

The Ultimate Foe - 7.00
Part Thirteen - 9.00
Part Fourteen - 5.00

Best episode: The Trial of a Time Lord, Part One - 10.00
Runner-up: The Trial of a Time Lord, Part Eight - 8.00
Worst episode: The Trial of a Time Lord, Part Fourteen - 5.00

Season 23 average: 8.07

Best guest appearance: Michael Jayston as the Valeyard (The Trial of a Time Lord)
Best special effect: The Lukoser prosthetic (Part Five)
Best musical score: Parts 1 - 4 (Dominic Glynn)

Coming up next, the first of two memorial posts. Be seeing you soon.

(Modified from the original posted at Gallifrey Base on 5 June 2024.)