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| "What's the point in being a grown-up, if you can't be childish sometimes?" |
DOC-METER
Of all the Doctors, I think it can be easily said that the Fourth was the one who changed the most over time. From a spirited, youthful adventurer to a jaded, flippant man-child to a wizened, towering monument of elegant endurance, this eccentric, wickedly witty genius has never failed to charm and excite audiences.
FAVOURITE STORY
The Androids Of Tara.
FAVOURITE COMPANION
Romana(both of them, though if I was forced to pick, I'd go with Mary Tamm).
FAVOURITE ENEMY
Davros(the Michael Wisher version).
SCREWDRIVER
Basically the same as the Third Doctor's, but without the design inconsistencies. Slightly sleeker as well.
COSTUME
In season 12, a red jacket with a checkered vest(a fob-watch), grey trousers and a varied cravat. Continuing from Pertwee's run was the habit of wearing the TARDIS key around one's neck.
In seasons 13-14, the Doctor abandoned the red jacket for a grey(for outdoor adventures) and velvet brown(for studio adventures) pair. The TARDIS key went back to being a Yale key that the Doctor carried around in his pocket.
In season 15, the cravat is abandoned.
In season 16, the grey coat and vest are abandoned, and in the last two stories, a new coat with huge lapels is introduced, which is worn in every story in season 17 apart from Shada, where the Doctor reverts to his classic velvet brown.
Season 18 marks a huge overhaul and the introduction of my favourite Doctor Who costume: a huge burgundy trench coat with a velvet vest and question marks on the T-shirt.
Throughout season 12-17, the Doctor wears a multi-coloured(and increasingly longer) scarf and occasionally a brown, battered fedora. Both are replaced with burgundy versions for season 18.
WORST STORY
Revenge Of The Cybermen.
WORST COMPANION
Nyssa
WORST ENEMY
Captain Rorvik from Warriors' Gate. He's not bad, per se, but if you look at his motivations, the man is pathetic. He's just an overworked commander who's going megalomaniacal about "getting something done around here"!
OVERALL ERA(S)
As Tom Baker's run went through three different producers, I feel like it's only appropriate that we talk about three different eras.
The Philip Hinchcliffe seasons were very mature, and took the show to a completely new level of storytelling. It almost felt like Hinchcliffe and his script editor, Robert Holmes were using the show as a vehicle to deliver classic horror tales and their own visceral concepts and messages to an audience that wouldn't otherwise come in contact with them.
However, this turned the show into a moth circling the flame, and eventually it got burnt...
Leading us to the Graham Williams years, which upped the imagination at the cost of credibility and drama. The budget was also cut multiple times during this time, resulting in the show looking cheaper than it had in years. Turning the show into a comedically-bent romp was quite an interesting and unique approach and tempted Baker to improvise more and more, especially once fantasy writer Douglas Adams took over a script editor.
Whilst not as directly controversial as the Hinchcliffe era, the Williams years did its own damage to Doctor Who's reputation, and this time, it was up to young John-Nathan Turner to fix it. The show he put out was strikingly different from what it had been the year before: with cohesive storylines running through the serials, revamped gimmicks, sober lead actors and no influence from novels, Season 18 was pure science fiction.
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