John Leeson Movies

Four years after its "official" demise as a weekly series, Doctor Who briefly resurfaced in the form of a two-part, 14-minute special. Created to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the series' birth, Part One of "Dimensions in Time" was shown as a segment of the BBC's Children in Need Telethon. The plot proper pitted five of the Doctor's seven incarnations -- played by surviving series stars Jon Pertwee, Tom Baker, Peter Davison, Colin Baker, and Sylvester McCoy -- against renegade Time Lady Rani (Kate O'Mara), who hoped to determine the outcome of the universe's evolution. This cliffhanger was resolved on November 27, 1993 with Part Two of "Dimensions in Time," shown as a six-minute component of the series' Noel's House Party. It was truly an "interactive" effort, with the home viewers calling in their suggestions for the outcome. Also appearing were several cast members of the popular British soap opera Eastenders (one of whom was selected by popular vote to "save" the Doctor). Written by John Nathan-Turner and David Roden, "Dimensions in Time" represented the Doctor's last TV appearance until the 1996 two-hour "revival" film. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the second episode of the four-part story "Remembrance of the Daleks," the Doctor (Sylvester McCoy) and Ace (Sophie Aldred) have arrived in 1963 London, in search of a stellar manipulator known as the Hand of Omega. Impressed by the pop-cultural trappings of her new surroundings, Ace is blissfully unaware that her movements are being monitored by the two armies in a Dalek civil war -- both of whom are willing to wipe out all mankind to get their mitts on the Hand of Omega before the Doctor does. First telecast October 12, 1988, "Remembrance of the Daleks, Episode 2" was written by Ben Aaronovitch. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Doctor Who celebrated its 20th anniversary with the 90-minute special "The Five Doctors." The life of the present Doctor (Peter Davison) is jeopardized when his four previous incarnations -- played by William Hartnell, Patrick Troughton, Jon Pertwee, and Tom Baker -- are taken out of time by an illegal Time Scoop. Even worse, the five doctors are confronted by a seemingly endless series of past enemies, included Daleks, Cybermen, and Yetis. The climax takes place in the Forbidden Zone on Gallifrey, where the instigator of the aforementioned time-scooping forces the five doctors to engage in the potentially deadly Game of Rassilon. Can any of the doctors save themselves -- and if not, will robot dog K-9 come galloping to the rescue? The late William Hartnell appeared only in clips from the second-season episode "Invasion of Earth: Flashpoint"; he was replaced in the body of the 20th anniversary special by Richard Hurndall. Written by Terrance Dicks, "The Five Doctors" was first presented in America on November 23, 1983, two days before its British TV debut. Since that time, it has been reedited into a four-part cliffhanger for syndication. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the second episode of the four-part story "Warrior's Gate," both the TARDIS and a slave ship captained by Rorvik (Clifford Rose) are trapped in the void between E-Space and N-Space. The Doctor (Tom Baker) soon realizes that the void is rapidly shrinking, imperiling the lives of all concerned. As for Rorvik, he seems interested only in "having his way" with the Doctor's companion Romana (Lalla Ward). Written by Steve Gallagher, "Warrior's Gate, Episode 2" first aired on January 10, 1981. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the conclusion of the four-part story "Warrior's Gate," the efforts by Rorvik (Clifford Rose) to save himself from the rapidly shrinking void between E-Space and N-Space result in the release of the Tharil slaves imprisoned on Rorvik's vessel. Joing the Tharils, Romana (Lalla Ward) prepares to embark upon a lengthy journey in E-Space, while the Doctor (Tom Baker) and Adric (Matthew Waterhouse are catapulted in an entirely different direction. Written by Steve Gallagher, "Warrior's Gate, Episode 4" first aired on January 24, 1981. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the third episode of the four-part Meglos, the title character has disguised himself as the Doctor (Tom Baker) and stolen the power source of the planet Tigella, the better to restore the tattered glories of Meglos' own race. Meanwhile, the Doctor tries to figure out a means of escape, so that Tigella will not be destroyed by Meglos' machinations. Jacqueline Hill, who'd played the Doctor's traveling companion Barbara Wright in the earliest episodes, guest stars as Lexa, leader of the Deon race. Written by John Flanagan and Andrew McCullough, "Meglos, Episode 3" first aired on October 11, 1980. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The title character in this four-chapter Doctor Who adventure is the last survivor of the Zolfa-Thuran civilization. While on a diplomatic mission to the cult-dominated planet Tigella, the Doctor (Tom Baker) is intercepted by Meglos, who has hatched a scheme to access Tigella's power source. Jacqueline Hill, who'd played the Doctor's traveling companion Barbara Wright in the earliest episodes, guest stars as Lexa, leader of the Deon race. Written by John Flanagan and Andrew McCullough, "Meglos, Episode 1" first aired on September 27, 1980. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the conclusion of the four-part story "Full Circle," the Doctor (Tom Baker) has discovered that the marooned passengers of a crippled starliner have had it within their power to escape Alzarius for centuries. The trouble is, the passengers are unaware of this -- or rather, they don't seem to want to be aware. Will the Doctor be able to realign their thinking, and thereby wrest himself free of E-Space so that he can answer an urgent summons from his fellow Time Lords? Matthew Waterhouse joins the regular cast as the Doctor's new companion Adric. Written by Andrew Smith, "Full Circle, Episode 4" was originally telecast on November 15, 1980. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the second episode of the four-part story "Full Circle," the Doctor (Tom Baker) and Romana (Lalla Ward) have been trapped in E-space, marooned along with several other space travelers on the planet Alzarius. Confined to a crippled starliner during an atmospheric emergency, the Doctor soon discerns a dire threat to the wellbeing of the castaways -- namely, the morphing Marshmen. Written by Andrew Smith, "Full Circle, Episode 2" was originally telecast on November 1, 1980. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the conclusion of the four-part story "State of Decay," the Doctor (Tom Baker) must find a way to destroy the minions of the Great Vampire without breaking his Time Lord oath of avoiding violence. Even if he solves this dilemma, will the Doctor, Romana (Lalla Ward), and Adric (Mathew Waterhouse) be able to escape E-Space and answer an urgent summons to Gallifrey? First shown on December 13, 1980, "State of Decay, Episode 4" was written by Terrance Dicks. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the conclusion of the six-part story "The Armageddon Factor," the Doctor (Tom Baker) has discovered that Princess Astra (Lalla Ward) of the planet Atrios is, in fact, the much sought-after sixth element of the Key to Time. Armed with this knowledge, the Doctor and Romana (Mary Tamm) are at last able to reassemble the Key, thereby restoring the balance between universal Good and Evil. The one remaining fly in the ointment is the dreaded Black Guardian, who has a vested interest in upsetting that aforementioned balance. Capped by a surprising but logical ending (logical by the Doctor's standards, at any rate), "The Armageddon Factor" was written by Bob Baker and David Martin, and originally aired on February 24, 1979, as the final episode of Doctor Who's 16th season. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the fourth episode of the six-part story "The Armageddon Factor," the Doctor (Tom Baker) is still on the planet Atrios, still determined to locate the sixth and final segment of the Key to Time. In this pursuit, he has offered his aid to Princess Astra (Lalla Ward) in Atrios' war against its twin planet Zeos. Gumming up the works is a secret henchman of the Black Guardian, who has vowed that the Key to Time will never be put together again. The henchman is hiding on a mysterious, hidden Third Planet between Atrios and Zeos -- and it is up to the Doctor to locate that planet. Written by Bob Baker and David Martin, "The Armageddon Factor, Episode 4" originally aired on February 10, 1979. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the second episode of the six-part story "The Armageddon Factor," the Doctor (Tom Baker) and Romana (Mary Tamm) have materialized on the planet Atrios, in search of the sixth and final missing segment of the Key to Time. Unfortunately, Atrios is locked in deadly combat with its twin planet Zeos -- and the Doctor and Romana are caught in the middle of the fray, along with the fiercely proud and determined Princess Astra (Lalla Ward). Originally telecast on January 27, 1979, as the record-breaking 500th episode of Doctor Who, "The Armageddon Factor, Episode 2" was written by Bob Baker and David Martin. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide