In case you've missed them, here are "The Rules" for this series. Give 'em a read before diving in:
https://robtymec.blogspot.com/2024/08/review-overview-bad-first-impressions.html
DECREASING RECURRING FOES
Things are finally starting to "thin out" a bit, here. Doctors One, Two and Three have laid most of the important foundations for the show. From this point, onward, we can coast a bit on established continuity. Which has a definite effect on how many new recurring foes we're going to see coming along. It's almost as if they can't fit new returning baddies in, anymore. Production seems almost scared to try establish some new villain and/or monster that's meant to be a massive threat to the Universe. If they do, the fans might respond with: "Why haven't we seen these guys sooner?!"
For this reason, we won't be getting too many more entries that will feature just one Doctor. New recurring foes become few and far between from this point, onward. In some periods, we won't see any new ones at all!
THE FOURTH DOCTOR
Admittedly, I could have actually given this Doctor his own entry. He has a total of four recurring foes making their first appearance during his era (which still seems like a small amount when you consider he's got seven seasons under his belt). Other Doctors in this study have also only had that many and gotten a post all to themselves'.
But since his successor only has one first appearance from a returning enemy, I figured I'd lump the two together. Also, if we're being technical, there's really only three villains/monsters that make their debut during Tom Baker's reign. The fourth is another example of a "Recurring Foe that emerges from another Recurring Foe." Like the Cyber-Controller was during the Second Doctor era. Those are just a little bit of a cheat and should, probably, be left out. So, in some ways, this period does come up a bit short and could get blended with another one.
GENESIS OF THE DALEKS
Recurring Foe: Davros
Here, of course, is the "Recurring Foe from a Recurring Foe" that I just mentioned. Initially created by Terry Nation to handle some of the heavier dialogue that the Daleks get, he became so much more than that!
Writing: ........................................ 8
"What?!!" some of you are probably screaming, "How can the writing of Davros' character get anything less than a Ten?!"
I know many of you think this is one of the greatest Doctor Who stories ever. But I'm really only so impressed with it. And part of the problem does stem from how Davros is written. He's frequently assigned speeches that are really just there to fill time. This becomes especially apparent in Part Six when his appeals to the rebelling Kaled Scientists drone on forever and ever. It's funny how the Daleks made it over to the Thal Dome quite quickly in an earlier episode but just take so long to come back. Almost as if the final part of the story was a bit light on plot and Nation is stalling things for as long as he can! So we get Davros rambling endlessly while his creations move at the most sluggish of paces.
Of course, some of Davros' speeches aren't time-fillers. They're actually just silly! When the Doctor asks him a hypothetical question about a virus, he really does go on for quite a bit. I know lots of people like this monologue, but all I'm thinking is: "I don't really think anyone would get this excited about an imaginary virus!"
Those speeches definitely make it impossible to give him a perfect score. But there's a lot of other stuff about him that I do like in this script. His utter ruthlessness to create what he believes to be the perfect race is a very engaging core trait. We now see why the Daleks are so fanatical. They're just emulating their creator.
Performance: ........................................ 8
"What?!" you're screaming again, "Another Eight?! How dare you?! Change that to a Ten this instant!"
I don't hate Michael Wisher's performance, of course (if I did, it would have gotten a much lower score). But I do think this is one of those "he played the role first so we like him best" nostalgia effects. Wisher does still give a very definitive portrayal that will certainly influence anyone else that gets the part. But I don't actually like how stiff he makes Davros. I'm a lot fonder of the more emotive stuff that Molloy does with the role. Even in a story like Revelation of the Daleks, where Terry is just a head in an empty fish tank, he is so animated! Wisher's Davros is considerably more restrained. Which, for me, makes him less interesting.
The Actual Story: .................................. 7
I'm guessing, by now, that your voice has become too raw to scream any further.
There's a lot about this plot that I don't particularly like. When you're already doing captures-and-escapes right in the first episode of a six parter, you know there's going to be trouble. I've always felt Genesis works much better in theory than it does in execution. The Doctor on a mission to prevent the creation of the Daleks is a great premise. But it really can't fill up the time its allotted. It drags horribly, in places.
It has some excellent moments here and there. I absolutely love the twist where Davros helps the Thals to wipe out his own people. The way he keeps turning the tide of the war is very nicely done. These positive plot points help to balance out the more atrocious stuff we see in the writing and earns the tale an average score rather than a bad one. But this is still a far cry from the Classic many fans like to make it out to be.
How the Doctor Interacts With Them: .... 9
Tom Baker is at an interesting place with his role when this story gets made. He really seems unsure of just how he wants to play his Doctor. Because of this, he's making some very hard turns between comedy and drama.
During Genesis, he's choosing to play things very straight. Which means he's taking Davros quite seriously in this tale (Oh, how different that will be when they meet again in Destiny!). Their confrontations play out quite nicely during most scenes. I just wish he hadn't asked him about that silly virus!
Long-Term Impact: .............................. 10
Finally! A perfect score! Davros does go on to become a real heavy-hitter in the Recurring Foe Pantheon. From this point, onward, he's in every Dalek story we get in the Classic Series. He pops up frequently enough in New Who, too. Missy has every right to get a bit jealous when Twelve claims Davros is his greatest enemy. He really is the only villain that can legitimately overshadow the Master.
FINAL SCORE: 42
A great villain who many of you believe was off to an excellent start. Unfortunately, I don't feel the same way. He still finishes up with a decent Final Score, though. In the end, there is still enough good stuff to Genesis of the Daleks to make it a more-than-passable first appearance for Davros.
TERROR OF THE ZYGONS
Recurring Foe: The Zygons
For many years, these guys were the most popular "one-time only" monster. That finally changed during the Fiftieth Anniversary. It changed a bit more during the Peter Capaldi Era, too.
Writing: ................................................ 6
If I'm being completely honest, I'm not sure why the Zygons were so popular. As far as evil aliens go, they're pretty generic. They lost their home world and now have eyes for Earth. We've witnessed this sort of motivation in monsters before and will see it again. We've also seen any number of species hiding out on Earth for many years and becoming responsible for some sort of legend. Even their shape-shifting skills are nothing special. There are plenty of nasty creatures out there that can do a great job of disguising themselves. There's really nothing new or special about them.
Performance: .................................................. 8
While the Zygon costumes look great, they are just a bit too much on the restrictive side. Which makes it difficult for the actors within them to give the creatures much body language. Even facial expressions seem hampered - even though we can see their features clearly. The headpieces they're wearing don't allow for much movement.
Nonetheless, the performers are doing their damnedest within their constraints. They also do a very good job of being very sinister in their human form. It was an interesting choice to have the same actor playing both a Zygon and their human counterpart. In some ways, it may have been a better idea to have proper movement artists in the Zygon outfits. But, at least John Woodnutt got to show off his chops a bit more. He's great as Broton, Fake Duke of Forgill and Real Duke of Forgill!
The Actual Story: .......................................... 7
Terror of the Zygons is pretty "meh". Not terrible. But there's really nothing all that special about it. It plays with a few tropes involving double-identity and stranded aliens and then just, sort of, peters out somewhat anti-climatically. It is excellently-directed. Which helps to save some of the script's weaknesses. But I still can't give it much more than an average score.
How the Doctor Interacts With Them: ......... 8
Tom Baker is still bouncing around quite a bit during this part of his tenure. He's serious one story and silly, the next. He's going a bit more for the laughs in this one (although it does seem like Camfield manages to reign him in during moments where things are meant to be really creepy). When Baker's in "goofy mode" he uses a style of confrontation that is somewhat new to the character: He mocks his enemy. At this stage of his run, this works quite well. The Fourth Doctor is being sarcastic with his foes but not going too far with it. This will, of course, rage completely out of control in later seasons. But, right now, it works. I particularly love: "Isn't it a bit big for just the five of you?!"
Long-Term Impact: .......................................... 8
The Return of the Zygons in Day of the Doctor is one of those instances in New Who where the whole thing felt more like just a gesture for the fans than a proper plotline in the story. "Everyone misses the Zygons." Moff decided, "So let's bring 'em back! We won't care too hard about why they're in the story. It'll just be nice to see them again!"
The Zygon Two-Parter during Capaldi's era helps to make up for this. A very well-put-together adventure with one of the best speeches the Doctor ever delivers. Had there only ever been the appearance in Day, this score would be substantially lower.
FINAL SCORE: 37
Admittedly, the Zygons are a great-looking monster. Beyond that, however, I never could understand what the fuss was about. There are any number of other one-time-only alien species that seemed intensely more interesting to me. They should have gotten a return appearance way before these guys did.
PYRAMIDS OF MARS
Recurring Foe: Sutekh the Destroyer
That evil Osirian who we never thought we'd see again becomes the biggest surprise during the latest season of the show. Did we really need him back, though?
Writing: ............................................ 10
A magnificently-constructed villain. There is so much to love about Sutekh. I adore all the lore that gets built around him as the Doctor gradually explains throughout the course of the story why this Osirian is so dangerous. It's also great how we get a sense of his raw power when the Doctor takes a quick hop into the future to show Sarah how the Earth will look if they don't stop him. But, mostly, I enjoy those gorgeous speeches he gets at the beginning of Part Four as he tortures the Doctor. It's all absolutely gorgeous.
Performance: ............................................ 10
It's all about the voice, of course. Especially since the character can't actually move for most of the story. So much has been said about Gabriel Woolf's glorious delivery of his lines. All those compliments are well-deserved. He makes the villain absolutely chilling. Easily, some of the best voice-work we've ever gotten on the show.
The Actual Story: ...................................... 7
While Sutekh is a master-class villain, the adventure he's housed within really only works so well. The plot is pretty thin. And what does exist of it has quite a few holes. The biggest one being: Why do you imprison an evil being but then give him everything he needs to escape?! The utter absurdity of this particular issue almost destroys the whole logic of the story. The fact that Sutekh, himself, is so awesome raises the tale to an average score. Had he not been so enjoyable to watch, I would have probably accorded this adventure far less points.
How the Doctor Interact With Them: ..... 10
That torture scene at the beginning of Part Four just might be one of the most gorgeous villain confrontations in the whole history of the show. Tom Baker. still in a very mercurial stage at this point, is in the mood to be serious during this story. It's such the right choice. He does a magnificent job of showing the Doctor's stubborn defiance against all evil. Regardless of how strong of a hold that evil might have on him. While not quite as dramatic, his final victory over Sutekh at the end when he strands him in the time corridor and ages him to death is also very well-played.
Long-Term Impact: ................................... 5
An even bigger gesture of fan-pleasing than the Zygons could ever hope to be. I complained about plot holes in Pyramids, but they're nothing compared to the stuff we get in Empire of Death. Even the very explanation we're given on how Sutekh survived his first battle against the Doctor doesn't make all that much sense. The One Who Waits really should have been someone else. Basically, anyone but Sutekh!
FINAL SCORE: 42
As a one-time villain, Sutekh is brilliant. The actual story he appears in is troubled but we really can let a lot of those problems go. Bringing him back, however, really wasn't the best of ideas. In some ways, it even tarnishes his reputation.
THE ARMAGEDDON FACTOR
Recurring Foe: The Black Guardian
An interesting addition to the whole Lore of the show. The Black Guardian is, essentially, the Devil. He's given some nice sci-fi trappings to make the comparison less obvious. But that's really who he is. And he's great fun!
Writing: ................................................ 9
The whole concept of Guardians in Time, in general, is a very fascinating one. These two omnipotent beings don't actually seem to really do much of anything. Rather than get properly involved with the ebb and flow of the Universe, they prefer to move mortal beings around like pieces on a chessboard. Getting them to do most of the leg-work. It's quite an awesome image, really.
Finally meeting the Black Guardian during the last few minutes of the whole season-long adventure is a great contrast to what we got with the White Guardian at the opening of the year. He's a great counterpoint to his rival. Even as he proclaims: "Doctor! You shall die for this!" we're already hoping to see more of him. He's a very well-crafted character.
Performance: .................................................. 10
As much as I want to see the Guardians come back in New Who, the fact that Valentine Dyall is no longer around to play the role would be absolutely soul-crushing. He really knew how to just drink in that villainy and savor it like a fine wine. And then there's his actual voice. I would think that even just ordering at a dive-through would absolutely terrorize the poor fast-food employee working within the restaurant! He really knew how to make every word he pronounced sound absolutely evil! No one can play the Black Guardian better!
The Actual Story: ............................................ 6
The Armageddon Factor really does let down the whole arc of the Key to Time season. It's a fairly-substandard runaround that could have been accomplished in considerably less episodes. It's really quite bad, in places. So much so, that I seriously contemplated just watching Part Six since we only actually see the Black Guardian, there. I really didn't want to have to sit through the rest of the story.
How the Doctor Interacts With Them: .......... 8
By this point in his era, Tom Baker seems hell-bent on taking the piss out of just about anything the show has to offer. For some reason, however, he decides to take the Black Guardian a bit more seriously than he has anyone else throughout the season (except, maybe, the White Guardian!). He does still create a bit of comedy during their final confrontation, but it's properly reigned in. Overall, it's a pretty good scene. It could have played out a bit better, but not much.
Long-Term Impact: ......................................... 10
Quite honestly, I really prefer the next occasion that we see the Guardians. Particularly as we get to Enlightenment. The final few minutes where the Guardians greet the Winner of the Race is one of the coolest scenes in the whole history of the show. But the Black Guardian tormenting poor Turlough for so many episodes is also great fun to watch. I really loved the dream sequence in Mawdryn Undead. It's absolutely chilling when the Black Guardian shows Turlough he's still sleeping in bed.
So why have we never gotten more of this infinitely-evil being?! His first appearance is problematic but we definitely got that fixed. Even if it won't be Valentine Dyall, anymore - I want me some more Black Guardian!
FINAL SCORE: 43
More Guardians, please! Their presence in a story always raises the stakes. So let's bring them back!
THE FIFTH DOCTOR
After the wild, seven-year-long roller coaster ride that was the Fourth Doctor, it's nice to see the protagonist transform into something far more subtle and mild-mannered. While I did actually start watching the show when Tom Baker was at the helm, Peter Davison feels far more like my Doctor. It was while he played the role that I became an avid fan. In fact, I'd say it was him that made me into an avid fan. Quite simply, I preferred what he was doing with the part. And this caused me to truly fall in love with the show.
By this point, however, new recurring foes are becoming quite scant. Which makes a sort of sense. Just checking in on all the old returning enemies can really chew up some episodes (just look at Season Twenty-Two - or even Season Twelve, for that matter!). If you still want the show to produce a steady influx of new characters, you have to start imposing some limits.
Which means that, as delightful as Five is, he really only introduces us to one Recurring Foe. And, no, I'm not talking about Lytton. He gets disqualified because he's actually a good guy when he comes back in his second story. Attack of the Cybermen actually ends with the Doctor reflecting on how horribly he's misjudged Lytton.
KINDA
Recurring Foe: The Mara
Writing: .................................................... 10
I absolutely love how the Mara is written. A sentience travelling through various people or appearing in different forms is such a cool concept. He starts as a dream figure, takes over Tegan for a while, transfers to Aris (who loves to brag about his voice!) then finally manifests as a big paper-mache snake. The whole journey of evil is incredible to watch. Yes, that final manifestation doesn't look too great - but that's hardly the scriptwriter's fault!
Performance: .................................................... 10
The journey the Mara takes doesn't just look good on paper. Each actor that either plays the malevolent being or becomes possessed by it takes on a very distinct personality. They actually seem quite snake-like. Vicious and angry and ready to strike at any moment. And, most importantly, no one goes for the cheap shtick of exaggerating any word that has the letter "s" in it!
The Actual Story: ........................................... 11
Just like when I was looking at the Sontarans in the last entry, I'm going to cheat a bit and give an above-ten score. If the actual story I'm reviewing makes it into my Top Ten Fave Doctor Who Stories Ever (https://robtymec.blogspot.com/2015/12/book-of-lists-top-ten-who-stories-6.html), it deserves a bonus point. Not only are we totally captivated by the evil plans of the Mara, but we have an equally-compelling conflict going on within the Habitation Dome as Hindle loses his mind and plots to blow up a good chunk of the planet. It's an absolutely fantastic story that truly shows off just how sophisticated television can be if you allow a writer's imagination to run wild.
How the Doctor Interacts With Them: ........ 10
Direct confrontations between the Doctor and the Mara are sporadic. But they're still quite good. The major one occurs right near the end when the Doctor is about to spring the ring of mirrors on his opponent. We get a lot of the same vibe that happens when he yells at the Cyberleader in Earthshock. But a bit more underplayed. Almost as if Davison knows what's coming and wants that one to get more attention. Still, he plays the scene beautifully, here, too. Allowing a certain momentum to build up before he really gets up in his rival's face. Once at his peak, he unleashes the mirrors. But you can't help but notice that he had to tell off the Mara before launching the attack. He could have just had the mirrors turn around right away, but he needed to have that angry little chat, first!
Long-Term Impact: ......................................... 10
There are some fan rumors out there that claim there had been plans for a Mara Trilogy (but then, you can find fan rumors on just-about anything!), but I'm fine that there was only one more story involving the Great Psychic Snake. In it, we learnt the Mara's origins and saw it get destroyed. So it does feel like the saga is truly complete. I'd even go so far to say that Snakedance is the greatest sequel the show ever produced.
FINAL SCORE: 51
What?! The Mara got a score that was higher than the actual confines of the point system?! How is that possible?! Am I trying to say that this is the best first appearance of a Recurring Foe, ever?!
Yes I am.
Another installment done. This series really is just chugging right along. The next entry should take us quite nicely into New Who. But with a stop along the way to cover a few Recurring Foes that first appear alongside 'Ole Sixie....
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