Dr. Who (The Early Years) - Part 51 "The Fourth Doctor In Review"

Notes: If anything, Tom Baker is certainly recognized as 'THE' Doctor when most people talk about the older Doctor Who episodes. As to whether he's the 'BEST' Doctor is widely debated. Technically, he was still UNIT's scientific adviser but he was being used less and less in this capacity. After the story 'Robot', The Doctor went on to adventure other places besides Earth, meaning UNIT stories became less and less frequent. Also, the Tardis began to 'fill up'. The first Doctor had three people in his Tardis but eventually that was scaled back to two by the time Patrick Troughton took over. When Jon Pertwee was the Doctor, he was down to just one dedicated companion. Tom Baker also had a dedicated companion in Sarah but Harry Sullivan did travel with them for a short time. Once Sarah Jane left, the Doctor had one adventure all by himself on Gallifrey. After that Leela began to accompany him. Shorty after K-9 joined the Doctor and the days of the single companion were essentially gone for the time being. Even still, using K-9 was an easy fix when the story required only one companion because K-9 would either break down, or the planet would be inhospitable for him. Leela left and was replaced by Romana during a season long story arc, something the newer episodes are now doing. When the first Romana actress left the series, she 'regenerated' into Lalla Ward and tensions on the set were extreme. There was something between Tom and Lalla, but it wasn't good. There was a lot of friction between the two actors who seemingly despised each other. There are even a few episodes of Doctor Who where you can see the tension even on screen. Usually neither looked the other in the eye. So it was a surprise to everyone when Tom suddenly announced they had gotten married over the weekend. The marriage really didn't last long and when Lalla was once asked at a convention what her favorite Doctor Who monster is, she replied "Tom Baker". Just before Romana left the series, Adric was introduced. This marked the beginning of the 'crowded house' feel of the Tardis. Adric did have one adventure with the Doctor as a sole companion, but it was the adventure they met Nyssa. Though not joining the Tardis this episode, she did the very next episode along with Tegan. Just in time for another regeneration, and a new era of Doctor Who.
Name: The Doctor 1974-1981
Actor: Tom Baker
January 20, 1934 -
Occupation: Timelord
First Seen: Earth, 1974
First Episode: Robot (Season 12)
Last Seen: Earth, 1981
Last Episode: Logopolis (Season 18)
Special Appearance: The Five Doctors (1983), Dimensions In Time (1993)


Notes: The Doctor still has lose affiliations with UNIT after his regeneration, though he's not as dedicated to the cause as when he was marooned on Earth. The Brigadier has the ability to contact the Doctor when his help is needed and generally the Doctor comes to the aid. The Doctor can at times infuriate the Brigadier, but Lethbridge-Stewart knows the Doctor is almost always right, which conflicts with his own ego. All things aside, the two generally become very good friends though the Brigadier refuses to travel in the Tardis with the Doctor for loyalty with UNIT. If he had his way, he'd like to run into at least one alien threat that wasn't immune to bullets. In the original series, the Brigadier met 6 incarnations of the Doctor and considers them wonderful chaps, all of them.
Name: Brigadier Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart
Actor: Nicholas Courtney
12/16/29 - 02/22/11
Occupation: Brigadier of UNIT.
First Seen: Earth, 1974
First Episode: Robot (Season 12)
Last Seen: Earth, 1975
Last Episode: Terror of the Zygons (Season 13)
Special Appearance: Mawdryn Undead (1983), The Five Doctors (1983),


Notes: Working as a medic for UNIT, Harry was looking over the Doctor when he regenerated for the third time. He quite probably thought the Doctor was insane and when he was invited into the Tardis, he did so to prove it didn't actually work. Harry stayed with the Doctor till another adventure brought them back to Earth. He then opted to catch a ride back to UNIT headquarters instead of travel with the Doctor. Though he enjoyed the time with the Doctor, Harry always seemed eager to head home. Always chivalrous, he drove Sarah Jane crazy with his view on the women's role and annoyed her by constantly calling her 'old girl'. He reunites with Sarah and the Doctor when another adventure brought them back to Earth, though he's not invited back onto the Tardis. Quite probably because he would have declined the offer.
Name: Harry Sullivan
Actor: Ian Marter
10/28/1944 - 10/28/1986
Occupation: Medic
First Seen: Earth, 1974
First Episode: Robot (Season 12)
Last Seen: Earth, 1975
Last Episode: Android Invasion (Season 13)


Notes: Much as Tom Baker is the most recognized Doctor, Elisabeth Sladen as Sarah Jane Smith is widely recognized as THE companion of the Doctor. It's true she started out with Jon Pertwee as a feminist, but her tough exterior gradually faded. No, it didn't disappear all together. It seems her travels with the Doctor mellowed her out. It certainly broadened her mind and taught her to look beyond just the surface of things. Being a journalist, this was a handy skill to develop. Sarah traveled with the Doctor for quite a long time and would likely have traveled even longer with him if he hadn't dropped her off at home when he learned there was trouble on Gallifrey. Lke the Brigadier, she's met several different regenerations of the Doctor. She met the first five while on Gallifrey's Death Zone and would later go on to meet the tenth and eleventh Doctors. In fact, the Doctor became so fond of Sarah he gave her a K-9 unit as a present. She used K-9 till he became inoperable and had to place him in storage. Exactly when she meets the latest Doctors will be discussed in the future.
Name: Sarah Jane Smith
Actor: Elisabeth Sladen
February 01, 1948 - April 19, 2011
Occupation: Journalist
First Seen: Earth, 1974
First Episode: Robot (Season 12)
Last Seen: Earth, 1976
Last Episode: Hand of Fear (Season 14)
Special Appearance: K9 & Company (1981), The Five Doctors (1983), School Reunion (2006), The Stolen Earth (2008), Journey's End (2008), End of Time (2009) Sarah Jane Adventures (2008-2011)


Notes: A descendant of a crashed spaceship on an unnamed planet, Leela's people were essentially savages. At some point in the planets past, the Doctor visited the crashed ship and tried to repair it though he forgot to whip his personality out of the computer when done. As a result, the computer used his likeness which created an alter ego, driving the computer insane. After the Doctor set things straight Leela decided to accompany him, though the Doctor had to forbid the use of deadly force, through the poisonous Janis thorns she used. As a savage, she believed the Tardis was magic, though the Doctor did his best to try and explain it scientifically. As an outcast when he first met her, Leela had no where to go when he returned to Gallifry. This time he took Leela with him, despite having to leave Sarah behind on Earth the last time he visited. Or maybe the Doctor realized Leela would fit in better. And fit in she did. So much in fact, when the Doctor was departing, she opted to stay behind, having fallen in love with a Gallifreyan. K-9 stayed with Leela.
Name: Leela
Actor: Louise Jameson
April 20, 1951 -
Occupation: Savage
First Seen: Unnamed planet in the future.
First Episode: Face of Evil (Season 14)
Last Seen: Gallifrey
Last Episode: Invasion of Time (Season 15)
Special Appearance: Dimensions In Time (1993)


Notes: Originally owned by Professor Marius, K-9 was given to the Doctor when the Professor realized he was going to be heading back to Earth and K-9 would not be able to travel with him. K-9's time with the Doctor was tricky because landing on a planet with rough or rocky terrain meant K-9 had to sit out on the adventure. This was something Tom Baker grew to appreciate because he'd have to bend down to K-9's level to have a conversation with it. When Leela left the series K-9 was scripted to depart as well, but by then K-9 was every child's favorite companion and in a last minute scene, the Doctor brings in a new K-9. This second version of K-9 traveled with the Doctor and Romana during the Key of Time quest, though there were still a few times he was unable to join them because of swamps or other terrain hazards. Another device which took K-9 out of the picture was damage. Several episodes had K-9 out of commission in part or all because he was not functioning properly. When Romana opted to stay behind in E-Space, K-9 stayed with her and reminded her he had full schematics of the Tardis saved in his memory if they desired to build their own.
Name: K-9
Actor: John Leeson / David Brierly
March 1943 - / 1935 - June 10th 2008
Occupation: Faithful Computer Pet
First Seen: Bi-Al Foundation, Asteroid K4067; 5080
First Episode: Invisible Enemy (Season 15)
Last Seen: E-Space
Last Episode: Warriors Gate (Season 18)
Special Appearance: K9 & Company (1981), The Five Doctors (1983), Dimensions In Time (1993), School Reunion (2006), Journey's End (2008), Sarah Jane Adventures (2008-2010), K9 Series (2009-2010)


Notes: Romana's full name is Romanadvoratrelundar but shorted to just Romana when the Doctor realized it was too much to say, especially if he needed to get her attention quickly. She was sent to help the Doctor in his quest to find the Key of Time. A device which would enable the White Guardian to restore the balance in the universe. Tensions between the Doctor and Romana were at first high. The Doctor finally had someone on board truly his equal, and Romana wanted to simply get the task completed, instead of getting involved in local affairs as the Doctor was prone to do. Ultimately, the two became very fond of each other and instead of returning back to Gallifrey when the task was complete, she decided to regenerate and continue traveling with the Doctor.
Name: Romanadvoratrelundar I
Actor: Mary Tamm
March 22, 1950 -
Occupation: Timelady
First Seen: The Tardis, Gallifrey Native
First Episode: Ribos Operation (Season 16)
Last Seen: The Tardis
Last Episode: The Armageddon Factor (Season 16)
Special Appearance: None


Notes: When Patrick Troughton's Doctor was forced to regenerate, the Timelords gave him several options of what he could look like. He ultimately decided to take his chances randomly. So it's not so odd to find out when Romana decided to regenerate she chose what she wanted to look like. Though the Doctor was against the idea, she wanted her next regeneration to look like Princess Astra, someone the pair met on the previous adventure. Unlike the other Romana who seemed very sure of herself, this Romana turned out to be a screamer. Of course, its possible she gave that impression to make it look like she wasn't as much of a threat as she was. This was a characteristic the second Doctor had. This Romana also seemed to be more caring and empathetic towards others plights. She completely understood the Doctors reasoning's for getting involved and was upset when Gallifrey recalled her. Instead of going back to Gallifrey, she stayed in E-Space with K-9 to help free the Tharils from the various worlds they were imprisoned on.
Name: Romanadvoratrelundar II
Actor: Lalla Ward
June 28th, 1951
Occupation: Time Lady
First Seen: The Tardis
First Episode: Destiny of the Daleks (Season 17)
Last Seen: E-Space
Last Episode: Warriors Gate (18)
Special Appearance: Dimensions In Time (1993)


Notes: The Doctor met Adric when he was first trapped in E-Space. As a promising elite on the crashed starliner he was from, Adric became bored with his life and tried to join his brother who was rebelling against the society. But the time of mists brought some dark days for Alzarius when the Marshmen began attacking the starliner. Adric's brother died in a Marshmen attack so after the Doctor helped resolve the situation he stowed away in the Tardis. The Doctor was hesitant in letting Adric remain, but relented and asked Adric if he'd miss E-Space because the Doctor was heading back to his normal universe. Adric said there was nothing for him anymore and was excited to travel with the Doctor. Adric was at the Doctors side when he regenerated.
Name: Adric
Actor: Matthew Waterhouse
December 19th, 1961
Occupation: Civilian
First Seen: Alzarius (E-Space)
First Episode: Full Circle (Season 18)
Last Seen: Still traveling with the Doctor
Last Episode: Logopolis (Season 18)
Special Appearance: None


Notes: When her father married, Nyssa was assigned to take care of the evil Melkur instead of her step-mother. Though she didn't realize it, her step-mother was already being influenced by the Melkur who turned out to be the Master's Tardis. The Doctor left Traken with Adric after defeating the Master while Nyssa stayed behind. But the Doctor was unaware of the Masters true intent and was not around to stop the Master from taking over the body of Tremas, Nyssa's father. Unable to find her father, Nyssa tried to contact the Doctor but it was the Watcher who picked her up and brought her to Logopolis to be reunited with the Doctor and Adric. When the Doctor fell to his death, Nyssa was at his side.
Name: Nyssa
Actor: Sarah Sutton
December 12, 1961 -
Occupation: Civilian
First Seen: Traken
First Episode: Keeper of Traken (Season 18)
Last Seen: Still traveling with the Doctor
Last Episode: Logopolis
Special Appearance: Dimensions In Time (1993)


Notes: On her way to her first flight as an airline stewardess, Tegan's car broke down close to one of the last Police Box's. However, the Doctor materialized around it to take measurements and in so doing sprung a trap set by the Master. So Tegan stumbled into the Tardis, when the doors suddenly closed behind her. The Master, while waiting to bait the Doctor even further, murdered Tegan's aunt by compressing her atoms, shrinking her. When the Doctor took off for Logoplis, Tegan was still on-board the Tardis, lost and unaware of her Aunt's death. The Doctor was successful in stopping the Master's evil plan, but feel to his death. Tegan, along with Nyssa and Adric were by his side when the Watcher helped the Doctor to regenerate.
Name: Tegan Jovanka
Actor: Janet Fielding
January 1st, 1957
Occupation: Stewardess
First Seen: Earth, 1981
First Episode: Logopolis (Season 18)
Last Seen: Still traveling with the Doctor.
Last Episode: Logopolis (Season 18)
Special Appearance: A Fix With Sontarans (1985)

Dr. Who (The Early Years) - Part 42 "The Invasion of Time"

Strange things are already afoot once this episode begins. The Doctor is outside of the Tardis and talking to a few aliens, discussing a plan. He has K-9 and Leela in the tardis, forbidding them to come out or turn on the scanner. When she tries the scanner anyway, she realizes the Doctor has locked it. Bemused, Leela wonders why the Doctor doesn't trust her. After signing a contract, the Doctor returns to the Tardis and sets the co-ordinates for Gallifrey.

Upon arriving to Gallifrey, the Doctor claims full rights to the presidency. Since he last visited, no new president has been inaugurated. With no other rivals to challenge him, the Doctor is made president and given the rod, the sash and coronet of Rassilon. He runs into Borusa again, who is puzzled by the Doctors behaviour. The Doctor is now short tempered and verbally abusive to Borusa.

One of the Doctors first acts as President is to banish Leela outside of the Timelord citadel, but she manages to escape. While on the run, she meets Rodan. She's a glorified 'traffic cop', monitoring space but not getting involved. Despite being protected, Rodan lowers the shield protecting her, sensing Leela is not a threat to her. Leela is shocked by her and every Timelord vow of non-intervention.

The Doctor next orders to have his private room completely covered in lead. He stresses to Borusa he wants it everywhere. Floors, ceiling, even the door. While his redecoration is in progress, the Doctor shocks Borusa and the rest of the Timelords even more when he allows the Vardans access to Gallifrey. They are a telepathic race striving to invade Gallifrey, and ultimately all of time. Travelling along wavelengths, they partially materialize.

After her chat with Rodan, Leela realizes the Doctor is not a traitor as he always has a plan. She decides the Doctor must have wanted her outside the city for a reason. She convinces Rodan to join her. While in the Gallifreyan wastelands, the two meet the Outsiders. They are Gallifreyans who have rejected Timelord ways to live a simpler life. Leela convinces them to join in the fight, to regain control of Gallifrey.

To get the full trust of the Vardans, the Doctor orders K-9 to destroy the Transduction Barrier, which protects Gallifrey from being invaded. He then invites Borusa into his special lead-lined room (shielding his thoughts from the Vardans). Now with Borusa's full support, the Doctor devises a way to rid Gallifrey of the Vardans, and putting their planet into a time-loop. But celebrations come to early as the Sontarans invade, while the Transduction Barrier is still down.

The Doctor, Leela, Borusa, K-9 & Rodan all retreat to the Tardis, but the Sontarans are able to break in with help from Kelner, another Timelord. While in the Tardis, we get to see many corridors, a workshop and the swimming pool. The Doctor instructs Rodan to help build a de-mat gun which he uses to destroy the Sontarans. The gun is powered by the Great Key of Rassilon, and after used in the demat gun, the key destroys the de-mat gun and erases the Doctors memory, giving him no knowledge of even claiming to be president. When he opts to leave, Leela decides to stay behind.

WHO: Leela
DEPARTURE LOCATION: Gallifrey
REASON FOR DEPARTURE: Leela has taken a liking to Andred and prefers to stay behind with him, rather than follow with the Doctor. Though she does tell the Doctor she'll miss him.





NEXT: The Key To Time

Bonus Photo

Leela in the Tardis Pool Room

Dr. Who (The Early Years) - Part 41 "The Invisible Enemy"

The past few episodes, the Doctor has been in the secondary control room. This time he moves back to the original one. Hearing a distress call, the Doctor sets the co-ordinates to help if he can. As he's checking a few of the controls, the Tardis runs into a storm. The Tardis is infected with a virus that is passed along to the Doctor. Leela is also at the controls, but the virus rejects her.

The Doctor is responding to the distress call of Titan base. A ship dispatched to relief the onbase crew, also passes through the same storm as the Tardis. Upon arriving at Titan base, they kill the crew, though Lowe the station supervises. The infected personal cancel the distress call and are made aware the Doctor is arriving and carries the main host of the infection. The Doctor is initially unaware of this, but Leela senses danger.

Leela manages to kill one of the two remaining infected crew, but not before he infects Lowe. One indication of the contagion is a scaling around the eyes, so he dons a pair of space goggles and claims he was blasted in the eye. He offers to take the Doctor and Leela to a nearby medical facility to help the Doctor who is now showing signs he's infected. On the medical asteroid, they meet Marius and his companion K-9.

With Marius and K-9's help, the Doctor realizes the only way to destroy the infection within him is to go inside his body and destroy it face to face. Marius and K-9 are familiar with ways of cloning both the Doctor and Leela, but the clones only have a life span of 10 minutes. The Doctor believes this is enough time and has Marius clone him, then using an instrument from the Tardis, they are shrunken down and injected inside the Doctor.

Though only having a short amount of time, the Doctor and Leela find the virus but their time has worn out. The virus knows of the Doctors 'escape route' and escapes through the Doctor's tear ducts. Marius (now infected) thinks it's the Doctor and unshrinks him to interrogate. The Virus, now man sized, plans to spawn and infect everyone in the 'macro universe'. Heading back to the asteroid, one of the infected personnel has prepared for the spawning, but the Doctor is successful in destroying the virus and all the spawn.

WHO: K-9

PLANET OF ORIGIN: Bi-Al Foundation, Asteroid K4067; Year 5080.

REASON FOR JOINING: Marius explains to the Doctor he's heading back home and won't be able to bring K-9, he offers K-9 to the Doctor. The Doctor and K-9 are eager to team up.


NEXT: Time for the Invasion

Dr. Who (The Early Years) - Part 40 "The Face of Evil"

Though aiming for Hyde Park, the Tardis takes the Doctor where he's needed. He befriends a 'primitive' named by Leela, an outcast from the Sevateem tribe for speaking against Xoanon, their god. Leela meets the Doctor and believes he's the Evil One. The Doctor proves he isn't evil when he defends her against an attack.

Back in the tribe, Neeva is a prophet of Xoanon and speak to him, receiving instructions. Xoanon sounds suspiciously like the Doctor. When the Doctor sneaks in he notices Neeva speaks to Xoanon through a communicator and various other technical parts lay around, though not understood. The Doctor and Leela are soon captures, but it isn't long before they are able to escape.

Looking for the source of the transmission, and clues as to why Xoanon sounds like the Doctor, Leela brings him to the barrier where a large rock cliff is carved in his image. Leela says it's the face of the Evil One. Climbing up and into the images mouth, the Doctor is able to pass beyond a projected wall and into a crashed spaceship. It finally dawn on him, years before he was on the same planet and repaired the ships computer. But in Leelas time it was hundreds of years earlier.

Things suddenly become clear to the Doctor when he meets the sworn enemy of the Sevateem, the Tesh. When the Doctor repaired the computer years earlier he used his brain as a template for the circuitry and the computer now has a split personality. It's self aware self, and bits of the Doctor, because he forgot to wipe out his personality when he finished his repair of the computer. The computer is insane and tries to kill the Doctor.

Now with the help of the Sevateem, the Doctor is able to avoid the Tesh and repair the computer for good. In the process, he passes out for two days, meanwhile the two factions have declared a truce. The Doctor explains they are the descendants of the spacecraft. The Tesh, descendants of the Technicians and the Sevateem, descendants of the Survey Team. Now deciding to work together, the two factions decide to join forces. When they start fighting over who will be the leader, the Doctor quietly exits. When Leela is named, she also makes a hasty departure, chasing after the Doctor.

WHO: Leela

PLANET OF ORIGIN: Unnamed and far in Earth's future.

REASON FOR JOINING: Having been an outcast, Leela decides to follow the Doctor to the Tardis and begs him to take her with him. When he refuses, she runs into the Tardis anyway.


NEXT: A Timelords Best Friend