Ron Jones Movies

In the eighth episode of the season-long continuity "The Trial of the Time Lord," the Doctor (Colin Baker) refutes videotaped evidence of his "treachery" on the planet Thoros Beta. It doesn't look good for the Doctor, however, since the tapes suggest that he willingly served up a reluctant Peri (Nicola Bryant) as a body donor in a brain-transplant experiment performed by scientist Crozier (Patrick Ryecart) on the planet's leader Kiv (Christopher Ryan). The outraged Time Lords, ignoring the Doctor's insistence that the evidence is entirely misleading, are forced to take drastic measures. This episode served as the series swan song for co-star Nicola Bryant. Written by Philip Martin and originally telecast on October 24, 1986, Doctor Who: The Trial of a Time Lord, Episode 8 is actually the concluding chapter of the four-part story arc "Mindwarp." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the sixth episode of the season-long continuity "The Trial of a Time Lord," the Valeyard (Michael Jayston) continues to prosecute the Doctor (Colin Baker) for violating the Laws of Time. Videotaped evidence shows the Doctor and Peri (Nicola Bryant) travelling to the planet Thoros Beta, apparently to commisserate with intergalactic outlaw Sil (Nabil Shaban). But the Doctor contends that his mission to Thoros Beta was meant to be beneficial, citing the fact that scientist Crozier (Patrick Ryecart) intended to alleviate the suffering of the planet's leader, Kiv (Christopher Ryan), by using the Doctor's body as the temporary home for Kiv's brain. Will the Doctor be able to prove his point -- or will his erratic behavior, caught on video, condemn him to death? Written by Philip Martin and originally telecast on October 11, 1986, "Mindwarp, Episode 2" is listed in most sources as Doctor Who: The Trial of a Time Lord, Episode 6. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In dire need of the valuable mineral Zyton-7, the Doctor (Colin Baker) and Peri (Nicola Bryant) journey to Varos, a onetime prison colony. Here they discover that the population is held in mental bondage by a network of video screens, which offer a 24-hour diet of televised tortures. Who - or what -- is behind this electronic outrage? Written by Philip Martin, the two-part "Vengeance on Varos" was originally telecast on January 19 and January 26, 1985; the two 45-minute episodes have since been recut into a four-part cliffhanger for American television. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The TARDIS travels to the distant future, only to be apparently destroyed in a crash-landing. Surviving the ordeal, the Doctor (Peter Davison), Tegan (Janet Fielding), and Turlough (Mark Strickson) discover that they have landed on the planet Frontios -- which has been selected as the new home of a group of colonists from the nuclear-devastated planet Earth. Not unexpectedly, there are several dangers lurking behind each corner in the four-episode adventure "Frontios"; written by Christopher H. Bidmead, the first episode originally aired on January 26, 1984. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the third episode of the four-part story "Frontios," the titular planet has become the new home for the crew of the TARDIS, as well as a group of survivors from a nuclear holocaust on planet earth. But all is not tranquil for the new arrivals, thanks to the presence of a hyperintelligent insectoid race called the Tractators. Having burrowed beneath the planet's surface, the Tractators intend to convert Frontios into their own private space vessel -- which of course will spell the doom for everyone else in the vicinity, including the Doctor (Peter Davison). Originally telecast on February 2, 1984, "Frontios, Episode 3" was written by Christopher H. Bidmead. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

On January 3, 1983, Doctor Who launched its 20th season with episode one of the four-part "Arc of Infinity." The titular Arc has been commandeered by a mysterious anti-matter creature (Ian Collier), who hopes to return to the normal universe. Not unexpectedly, this turn of events will have profound effects upon our old friend, the Doctor (Peter Davison). "Arc of Infinity, Episode 1" was written by Johnny Byrne. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the conclusion of the four-part story "Arc of Infinity," the anti-matter creature that has bonded with the Doctor (Peter Davison) is revealed to be the notorious renegade Time Lord Omega (Ian Collier). Spared execution on his home planet Gallifrey, the Doctor pilots the TARDIS to earth for a final showdown with Omega. Unfortunately, this fateful confrontation may have dire consequences for the Doctor's companion, Tegan (Janet Fielding), who hasn't been seen since the 19th-season adventure "Time-Flight." First broadcast on January 10, 1983, "Arc of Infinity, Episode 3" was written by Johnny Byrne. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Doctor Who's 19th season came to a close with the four-part adventure "Time-Flight." Finally able to return Tegan (Janet Fielding) to contemporary London, the Doctor (Peter Davison) ends up investigating the disappearance of a Concorde jet. Little does he suspect that he will soon endure another deadly rendezvous with one of his oldest and most formidable enemies. Beginning its run on March 22, 1982, "Time-Flight" was written by Peter Grimwade. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the third episode of the four-part story "Time-Flight," two Concordes -- one of them bearing the Doctor (Peter Davison) and his companions -- have vanished without a trace from London's Heathrow Airport. It turns out that the culprit behind these disappearance is the Doctor's perennial nemesis, the Master (Anthony Ainley), who hopes to gain control of the alien Xeraphin, and then the entire universe. First telecast March 29, 1982, "Time-Flight, Episode 3" was written by Peter Grimwade. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Arriving on earth in the year 1925, the Doctor (Peter Davison) is mistaken for a champion cricket player. As a result, the Doctor and his companions are whisked off to the lavish country estate of team owner Lord Cranleigh (Michael Cochrane) to be wined and dined on the eve of an important test match. But the time-travelers -- Nyssa (Sarah Sutton) in particular -- suspect that there is something sinister about the whole situation. Written by Terence Dudley, "Black Orchid" was one of the shorter stories of Doctor Who's 19th season, lasting a mere two episodes, the first of which aired on March 1, 1982. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide