It's There - The Peter Davison Retrospective

SPECIAL PATREON EXCLUSIVE

THE OPENING: "Peter, Peter, please forgive me..." A countdown begins the most diplomatic disagreement in podcast history.

BELATED BIRTHDAY & TIMING: John's birthday just passed! Next story is Attack of the Cybermen (aired January 5, 1986) - "the year I turned 18!"

THE DREAD: John: "I'm filled with a little dread to talk about this with you, Jim, because I know where you stand."

Jim: "Listen, we've made too much of it. Every fan has doctors they like and doctors they don't like."

THE FUNDAMENTAL QUESTION: "Do you know anybody who likes every single Doctor?"

JOHN'S CONFESSION: "I do to certain degrees. There are ones I'm not as fond of - Colin, Tom Baker. In fact, I might turn around and be like Colin Baker is better than Tom Baker if I keep feeling as excited as I did with Twin Dilemma!"

The Tom Baker Problem: "Tom Baker was one who outstayed his welcome. He has the David Tennant complex. They're both fabulous but they overstayed their welcome where it diminished their appeal to me."

JIM'S CORE PROBLEM: THE DOCTOR WHO DIDN'T WANT COMPANIONS

The Comparison:

• Fourth Doctor with Leela: Great mentor/teacher relationship

• Fourth Doctor with Romana: Lots of warmth

• Fourth Doctor with Sarah Jane: Clear affection

• Fifth Doctor: "So few moments putting across that he really wanted people traveling with him. He seemed like he'd be so much happier if he was just by himself."

Jim's Labels: "The grouchy doctor. The invisible doctor. He never seemed like a larger than life character, which the Doctor needs to be."

JAMESON'S FRAMING LETTER:

The Fifth Doctor Summary: "Nice, sweet, the more human Doctor. Almost purely reactive. Quiet, kind of bland, often seems to have hollow victories. An anti-Fourth Doctor. The Fourth Doctor breezed in and took control - the Fifth Doctor is one who no one seems to listen to."

Jameson's Position: "I don't hate his Doctor, but he's not entirely a favorite. On audio he has mixed results, though lately really good with the Season 19 crew."

The Missing Element: "One thing this era is missing is more humorous or lighthearted moments. It's always gritty and dark - nobody's allowed to crack a joke."

THE COMPANIONS - A COMPREHENSIVE BREAKDOWN:

ADRIC - "THE BOY GENIUS"

Jameson's Take: Not a big fan. Works better with Fourth Doctor in master-apprentice role. Butts heads with Fifth Doctor. First Companion killed off since Sara Kingdom and Katarina (Season 3). Hope he works better in audios with hindsight, foreshadowing his departure and fears of not being good enough.

NYSSA - "THE SCIENTIST"

Jameson's Summary: Orphan from Traken who lost everything. Master stole her father's body. Sweet, quiet mediator between Adric/Tegan/Doctor. Most prolific audio Companion for Fifth Doctor.

TEGAN - "THE AIR STEWARDESS"

Jameson's Description: "Sarcastic, sassy, acts like she doesn't want to be there but kind of loves traveling. Australian air stewardess is fun, gives older high school sister vibes to Adric/Nyssa's middle schooler vibes. Janet Fielding is so fun to watch in modern special features."

TURLOUGH - "HOLD MY BEER"

Jim: "Hold my beer. We ain't seen nothing yet."

Jameson's Take: "Interesting character - alien exile stuck as English schoolboy. Sneaky, untrustworthy, cowardly, yet underneath wants to do right. Gets rough arc, wish they hadn't waited until last story to flesh out backstory."

KAMELION - "THE CURSED ROBOT"

Jameson's Frustration: "I get JNT wanted the next K-9, but why introduce a shapeshifting robot if you're not going to capitalize on shapeshifting abilities? This is a character MADE for stunt casting! Instead, the inventor/controller passed away before it could be fully utilized. Introduction story, departure story, nothing else. Wasted opportunity. Why bother?"

PERI - "THE AMERICAN STUDENT"

Jameson: "Perpugilliam Brown, American botany student the Doctor rescues on vacation. With Fifth Doctor she's odd beast - introduced in one story, Davison leaves in next. Sassy but more upbeat and peppy than Tegan. Really comes into her own with Sixth Doctor. On audio, several adventures with Fifth Doctor, sometimes with new Companion Erimem (father/uncle with two daughters dynamic)."

SEASON BREAKDOWNS:

SEASON 19 - "THE SOAP OPERA SEASON"

"Crowded TARDIS, JNT wants regulars always arguing and not getting along. Still good stories - Kinda and Earthshock standouts. Death of Adric, return of Cybermen shake things up."

SEASON 20 - "THE ANNIVERSARY SEASON"

"Two new Companions, Companion departure, tons of returning elements celebrating 20 years. Returning: Omega, the Brig, Mara, Black/White Guardians, Borusa, the Master."

THE FIVE DOCTORS DEBATE:

The Classification: More people saying it's its own thing between seasons (like Christmas specials). John always looked at it as Season 20: "Caps off Season 20 - after whetting appetite with Master and others, throw it all at you."

Jim's Verdict: "Best Fifth Doctor story. He pretty much holds his own."

SEASON 21:

Jameson: "I don't really know what to say. Possibly Davison's strongest, but I don't really have anything else. I like Resurrection of the Daleks, Frontios, Caves of Androzani."

THREE YEARS OF THE DOCTOR'S BEARD:

"Three years of fun with the Doctor's Beard, somewhere in time and space."

NEXT TIME:

• Monday (Patreon #153): Voyager (five-part Colin Baker epic), Ian Levine's Doctor Who theme (Eastway/Freeway?), Memory TARDIS spin

• Friday (Patreon) then Saturday (Main Feed): Attack of the Cybermen - first two-parter with 45-minute episodes for Season 22! John handles narration, oddly looking forward to it after Twin Dilemma optimism

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