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140[1] – The Two Doctors
Doctor Who serial
Cast
Others
Production
Directed byPeter Moffatt
Written byRobert Holmes
Script editorEric Saward
Produced byJohn Nathan-Turner
Music byPeter Howell
Production code6W
SeriesSeason 22
Running time3 episodes, 45 minutes each
First broadcast16 February 1985 (1985-02-16)
Last broadcast2 March 1985 (1985-03-02)
Chronology
← Preceded by
The Mark of the Rani 		Followed by →
Timelash
List of episodes (1963–1989)

The Two Doctors is the fourth serial of the 22nd season of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in three weekly parts on BBC1 from 16 February to 2 March 1985.

The serial is set on an alien space station and in and around Seville. In the serial, the alien time traveller the Sixth Doctor (Colin Baker), his former travelling companion Jamie McCrimmon (Frazer Hines) and his current companion Peri Brown (Nicola Bryant) work to save the younger Second Doctor (Patrick Troughton) from the biogeneticist Dastari (Laurence Payne), who intends to steal the knowledge of how to travel in time from the Second Doctor's genetic make-up.

This serial marks Troughton's final appearance as the Second Doctor before his death in 1987.

Plot

[edit]

The Second Doctor and Jamie McCrimmon land the TARDIS on board Space Station Camera, where they talk to Dastari, the Head of Projects. The Doctor tells Dastari that the Time Lords want the time experiments stopped, but Dastari refuses. Also on board are the Androgums, a gluttonous alien species who are conspiring with the Sontarans to take over the station. The station's Androgum cook, Shockeye, drugs the crew's dinner to give the Sontarans an opportunity to invade. They take the Second Doctor prisoner, with Jamie escaping.

In the TARDIS, the Sixth Doctor has a vision of his second incarnation being put to death. He decides to consult his old friend Dastari to see if he can help. The Doctor and Peri arrive on the station and are attacked by the ship's computer, before they meet up with Jamie. The Sontaran ship lands in Seville, Spain, where the Androgums and Sontarans take over a local hacienda to use as a base of operations, with the Sixth Doctor following with Peri and Jamie.

Dastari reveals his plan to dissect the Second Doctor's cell structure to isolate his symbiotic nuclei and give them to Chessene, an Androgum technologically augmented to genius levels. Upon discovering there are two Time Lords present, Chessene asks Dastari to instead turn the Second Doctor into an Androgum, who will be able to use the TARDIS-based time module that Dastari has been building. The Sontaran leader, Stike tries to double-cross Chessene by stealing the module for himself, but she unleashes an acid bomb on the Sontarans first, and then Stike unwittingly blows himself up along with his ship.

Dastari implants the Second Doctor with a 50 per cent Androgum inheritance, but Shockeye, angered that his blood was used for the procedure without his consent, breaks the Second Doctor out before his change can be made permanent, and they go to a restaurant in Seville and order gargantuan amounts of food. When the restaurant's owner, Oscar, demands that they pay, Shockeye fatally stabs him, just as the Sixth Doctor and the others arrive. Shockeye leaves the Second Doctor, who slowly reverts to normal. Chessene and Dastari take them back to the hacienda at gunpoint.

The Sixth Doctor frees himself and kills Shockeye. Chessene sees the Doctor's blood and starts licking it. Dastari realises that no matter how augmented she may be, Chessene is still an Androgum, and decides to free the Second Doctor, Peri, and Jamie. When Chessene sees this, she shoots and kills Dastari. She tries to shoot the Second Doctor and Peri, but Jamie throws a knife at her wrist, making her drop the gun. Chessene goes into the module, hoping to escape, but the sabotaged module explodes, killing Chessene and reverting her back to her Androgum self. Jamie and the Second Doctor depart in their TARDIS, whilst the Sixth Doctor tells Peri they're both going on a vegetarian diet from now on.

Production

[edit]

Robert Holmes wrote the serial as an allegory about meat-eating, hunting and butchering. "Androgum" is an anagram of "gourmand".[2]

Holmes's original brief from producer John Nathan-Turner was to write a serial taking place in New Orleans,[3][4] but the setting had to be changed to Spain instead when the expected funding for location filming in the United States fell through.

In his 1986 interview for Starburst, script editor Eric Saward said he thought this story was "poorly directed".[5]

Cast notes

[edit]

This story marked the final appearance of Patrick Troughton as the Second Doctor and the final on-screen appearance of Frazer Hines as Jamie. Veteran actress Aimee Delamain appears in a cameo role as the ill-fated hacienda owner the Doña Arana. Laurence Payne appeared in the Season 18 debut The Leisure Hive and the Hartnell story The Gunfighters.

Broadcast and reception

[edit]
EpisodeTitleRun timeOriginal release dateUK viewers
(millions) [6]
1"Part One"44:2216 February 1985 (1985-02-16)6.6
2"Part Two"44:4923 February 1985 (1985-02-23)6.0
3"Part Three"44:452 March 1985 (1985-03-02)6.9

The Two Doctors was one of several stories from this era to provoke controversy over its depiction of violence. In 1985, Australasian Doctor Who Fan Club president Tony Howe criticised the murder of Oscar with a kitchen knife as being an instance of "sick, shock violence" that was present for "cheap shock value only".[7]

Patrick Mulkern of Radio Times awarded the serial two stars out of five, stating: "The Two Doctors wasn't dire, but the actors and audience deserved better."[8] In Doctor Who: The Complete Guide, Mark Campbell awarded The Two Doctors seven out of ten, describing it as "a Doctor Who version of Last of the Summer Wine as sponsored by the Vegetarian Society."[9] Television historian Marcus Harmes says of it "Besides the inherent joy of having Troughton and Hines back, the location filming around the hacienda and up and down the alleys in Seville is evocative, and the guest cast is brilliant".[10]

Commercial releases

[edit]

In print

[edit]

The novelisation of this serial, by Robert Holmes, was published in hardback and paperback in August 1985 as the 100th Doctor Who release by Target Books. This was Holmes's only complete novelisation and seeks to clear up some of the continuity errors in the original broadcast. With a gold foil-embossed cover, it was billed on release as the 100th novelisation and featured an introduction by John Nathan-Turner.

Key Information

Home media

[edit]

The Two Doctors was released on VHS in November 1993. It was released on DVD in the UK in September 2003 in a two-disc set as part of the Doctor Who 40th Anniversary Celebration releases, representing the Colin Baker years, with many extra features, including the Jim'll Fix It sketch A Fix with Sontarans. The DVD contains a full-length commentary provided by director Peter Moffatt and actors Colin Baker, Nicola Bryant, Frazer Hines, and Jacqueline Pearce. The DVD was subsequently incorporated into the box set Bred for War, along with The Time Warrior, The Sontaran Experiment and The Invasion of Time. Following the sexual abuse accusations regarding Jimmy Savile, the DVD was withdrawn from sale but has since been rereleased with the offending sketch removed.[11] The BBC has made the serial available for download on Apple iTunes. It was released in issue 45 of Doctor Who DVD Files.

It was released as part of the ‘Doctor Who The Collection: Season 22’ blu-ray box set on 20 June 2022. An extended cut of Part One was included as an extra on the set with a runtime of 47:33, running 3 minutes and 11 seconds longer than the original broadcast episode.

Notes

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

The Two Doctors

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from Grokipedia
The Two Doctors is a three-part serial of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, originally broadcast on BBC One from 16 February to 2 March 1985 as the fourth story of season 22.[1] Written by Robert Holmes and directed by Peter Moffatt, it features the Second Doctor (Patrick Troughton) and his companion Jamie McCrimmon (Frazer Hines) teaming up with the Sixth Doctor (Colin Baker) and Peri Brown (Nicola Bryant) to foil a Sontaran conspiracy involving genetic experiments and the theft of Time Lord time travel technology.[2] The story marks the return of the Sontarans since their previous appearance in 1978's The Invasion of Time and was filmed partly on location in Seville, Spain.[3] In the narrative, the Time Lords summon the Second Doctor and Jamie to Space Station Camera, where the brilliant but rogue scientist Joinson Dastari (Laurence Payne) is conducting forbidden research into time manipulation using a captured TARDIS.[2] Dastari collaborates with the primitive yet enhanced Androgum Chessene (Jacqueline Pearce), who has been augmented with superior intelligence, and the militaristic Sontarans, led by Group Marshal Stike (Clinton Greyn), in a bid to extract the symbiotic nuclei that enable Time Lord regeneration and time flight.[3] When the station is attacked, the Second Doctor is captured and slated for vivisection, prompting the Sixth Doctor and Peri to trace events to 1985 Earth, where the plot unfolds amid deception, violence, and a race against temporal catastrophe.[4] The serial received viewing figures averaging around 6.5 million per episode, with appreciation indexes in the low 60s, and has been released on home video including DVD and Blu-ray formats.[3] It explores themes of scientific hubris and interstellar intrigue, while providing a nostalgic crossover that highlights contrasts between the Doctors' personalities— the Second's whimsical ingenuity versus the Sixth's brash assertiveness.[2]

Overview

Background and development

"The Two Doctors" originated from a storyline proposed by writer Robert Holmes in 1983 as one of three potential scripts for Doctor Who's 20th anniversary special, tentatively titled "The Six Doctors," which aimed to feature multiple incarnations of the Doctor.[5] After producer John Nathan-Turner selected Terrance Dicks' script for "The Five Doctors" instead, Holmes' concept involving time experiments and genetic manipulation was shelved and later repurposed.[3] The story drew on Holmes' earlier works, such as the Time Lord intrigue in "The Deadly Assassin" (1976) and the return of classic elements like companions in "Terror of the Zygons" (1975), while incorporating multi-Doctor dynamics and a returning companion, Jamie McCrimmon, to evoke the series' historical roots.[3] Under Nathan-Turner's production oversight, the serial was formally commissioned on February 13, 1984, initially titled "The Kraalon Inheritance," with the remaining episodes commissioned on March 9.[3] Nathan-Turner specifically chose to pair the Second Doctor, played by Patrick Troughton in his gentle, understated style, with the newly regenerated Sixth Doctor, portrayed by Colin Baker in a more bombastic manner, to highlight contrasting acting approaches and revitalize the series' format.[3] The script incorporated the Sontarans, a warrior race Holmes had previously featured in "The Sontaran Experiment" (1975), at Nathan-Turner's suggestion, despite Holmes' general reluctance to reuse old monsters, as their prior depiction had been underdeveloped.[3] By late June 1984, the title was finalized as "The Two Doctors," aligning with the multi-Doctor theme.[3] Pre-production faced significant challenges, including budget constraints that derailed initial plans for filming in New Orleans, inspired by Nathan-Turner's 1981 visit during Mardi Gras and aimed at appealing to American audiences.[3] Funding for the U.S. location collapsed by April 16, 1984, prompting a shift to Seville, Spain, after Venice was deemed too costly; this change necessitated Holmes rewriting the scripts in May 1984 to adapt the setting to a Spanish hacienda while preserving the story's themes of gastronomy and hunting.[3] These fiscal limitations also resulted in a three-part format rather than a longer serial, streamlining production without compromising the core narrative.[3]

Transmission details

The Two Doctors was originally transmitted in three weekly parts on BBC One in the United Kingdom. Part one aired on 16 February 1985 at 5:20 pm, part two on 23 February 1985 at 5:20 pm, and part three on 2 March 1985 at 5:20 pm.[6][7][8] Each episode ran for approximately 45 minutes, resulting in a total serial runtime of 135 minutes.[3] UK viewing figures, as measured by the Broadcasters' Audience Research Board (BARB), recorded 6.6 million viewers for part one, 6.0 million for part two, and 6.9 million for part three.[3] These numbers placed the episodes in the 92nd, 90th, and 66th positions respectively among weekly television programmes.[3] The serial received its initial international broadcasts in Australia on the ABC network in 1986.[9] In the United States, it aired on various PBS stations between 1986 and 1987.[10] Some US broadcasts included edits for violence, such as the removal of the scene depicting Shockeye eating a rat by stations like Chicago's WTTW.[10]

Synopsis

Episode structure

"The Two Doctors" is structured as a three-part serial, with each installment originally broadcast in 25-minute episodes on BBC One in 1985.[2] Part One introduces the Second Doctor and his companion Jamie McCrimmon arriving at Space Station Camera, a remote outpost, where they investigate unauthorized time experiments, setting the stage for interstellar intrigue involving alien forces.[11] The narrative then shifts to the Sixth Doctor and Peri Brown, who are drawn to the same location after the Sixth Doctor collapses from a link to his past self's ordeal, with the TARDIS materializing there, establishing the dual timelines that converge around the station's peril.[11] Part Two escalates the conflict as the action relocates to Earth in 1985, specifically a hacienda near Seville, Spain, serving as a base and hunting ground, where the captured Second Doctor faces dire threats from antagonistic entities seeking to exploit Time Lord physiology for time travel advancements.[11] The Sixth Doctor, Peri, and Jamie navigate the chaotic aftermath on the station before pursuing leads to Earth, intensifying the pursuit and revelations about the antagonists' schemes.[4] Part Three builds to the resolution of the central confrontation with the primary antagonist, as the two Doctors collaborate amid betrayals and high-stakes maneuvers on Earth near Seville, culminating in the thwarting of the time-manipulating plot.[12] The pacing employs a deliberate slow build in Part One, highlighted by a tense hunting sequence on the space station that underscores the vulnerability of the protagonists and draws out suspense through methodical exploration and initial encounters.[2] Part Two shifts to action-heavy sequences centered on the Sontaran base and interstellar chases, accelerating the tempo with physical confrontations and urgent escapes.[4] Part Three delivers climactic reveals and resolutions, maintaining momentum through layered deceptions and final showdowns that tie together the serial's threads.[12] Non-linear elements enhance the structure, incorporating flashbacks to the Second Doctor's earlier era—depicted in black-and-white footage that transitions to color as a stylistic homage—and time jumps between the two Doctors' experiences, creating temporal overlap without disrupting the forward drive of the plot.[11] The cliffhangers propel the narrative: Part One ends with the Sixth Doctor being gassed on the station and a hooded figure approaching Peri, building suspense around their safety; Part Two concludes with Shockeye catching up to the fallen Peri outside the hacienda, heightening the immediate physical peril.[13]

Key themes and elements

The Two Doctors prominently explores the theme of regeneration through the contrasting portrayals of the Second and Sixth Doctors, emphasizing the evolution of the character's personality across incarnations. The Second Doctor, depicted as a pacifist and reluctant agent of the Time Lords, adheres to a more subtle and evasive approach, reflecting his earlier era's emphasis on moral restraint and non-violence. In contrast, the Sixth Doctor exhibits brashness and decisiveness, culminating in his deliberate poisoning of the Androgum Shockeye with cyanide, which underscores a shift toward more confrontational ethics post-regeneration. This juxtaposition highlights how regeneration not only alters the Doctor's physical form but also amplifies traits like assertiveness, as intended by writer Robert Holmes to showcase the character's developmental arc.[14][15] The serial expands on the Sontarans' portrayal as a rigid warrior culture defined by unyielding loyalty to their empire and a relentless pursuit of military advantage. Holmes reintroduced the species at the request of script editor Eric Saward, aiming to deepen their depiction beyond prior underutilized appearances by integrating them into a plot involving espionage and technological theft. Their use of advanced weaponry, including osmic projectors adapted as tools for temporal manipulation and combat, reinforces their identity as cloned soldiers engineered for eternal warfare, willing to ally temporarily with other species like the Androgums to achieve dominance. This motif critiques militaristic imperialism, portraying the Sontarans' hierarchical devotion as both their strength and a vulnerability exploited by the Doctors.[16][14] Food and hospitality serve as ironic motifs, juxtaposing indulgence and civility against underlying violence and predation. Jamie's lavish seafood feast aboard the Hispaniola provides a moment of apparent respite, only to be interrupted by his capture, symbolizing the fragility of human pleasures amid alien threats. This theme is amplified through the Androgums, a race Holmes invented as food-obsessed gourmands—an anagram of "gourmand"—whose culinary pursuits turn grotesque, as seen in Shockeye's craving for human flesh and his consumption of a rat. Such elements underscore predation as a primal drive, contrasting hospitable settings like the Seville restaurant with the story's brutality.[17][18] Ethical dilemmas arise from the Time Lords' non-interference policy, which is tested and subverted by their covert manipulation of the Second Doctor via TARDIS overrides, forcing him into a mission on Titan 3. Holmes deliberately portrayed this control to question Time Lord morality, suggesting corruption in their "sneaky" operations that violate their own principles of neutrality. The Doctors' interventions, including the Sixth Doctor's lethal actions, further challenge these ethics, raising questions about the justification of violence in preventing greater harms like the Sontarans' time travel weaponization.[15][14] Horror elements infuse the narrative with body horror, particularly in the "two-hearted" transformation achieved by grafting Time Lord symbiotic nuclei onto Androgums, granting enhanced strength but at the cost of grotesque physiological alteration. Shockeye's temporary empowerment exemplifies this, his body warping into a hyper-aggressive state that amplifies his predatory instincts. Vampire-like draining scenes, such as the Androgums' hunting and tenderizing of companions like Peri and Jamie, evoke visceral terror, blending sci-fi with gothic undertones to heighten the story's tension.[17][14]

Production

Writing and scripting

Robert Holmes was commissioned in 1983 to write a multi-Doctor story for Doctor Who's 20th anniversary, initially titled "The Six Doctors" and intended to feature the Fifth Doctor alongside other incarnations. Elements from this abandoned script, such as the concept of isolating the Doctor's symbiotic nuclei for time travel, were recycled into the final version.[19] Following the regeneration of the Fifth Doctor at the end of "The Caves of Androzani" in March 1984 and the introduction of Colin Baker as the Sixth Doctor, Holmes revised the draft to center on the Sixth and Second Doctors, with Patrick Troughton reprising his role.[20] The script exemplifies Holmes' distinctive dialogue style, characterized by sharp wit and playful banter between the two Doctors, who share exasperated exchanges highlighting their contrasting personalities. It also includes verbose, expository passages detailing Sontaran physiology, such as their reliance on probic vents for sustenance and their warrior culture's emphasis on honor and conquest.[21] Originally outlined as a longer narrative equivalent to a six-part 25-minute serial, the story was condensed into three 45-minute episodes to fit Season 22's format and production schedule, necessitating trims to subplots including the expanded role of the Androgum Shockeye and his interactions with human cuisine. This adjustment impacted the depth of certain character motivations, particularly Shockeye's gluttonous pursuits.[5] Holmes drew structural influences from his earlier serial "Carnival of Monsters" (1973), employing a multi-era storytelling approach with parallel narratives across time periods and confined environments like the space station and the Spanish hacienda. The Andalusian setting and scenes involving local cuisine, such as Shockeye's fascination with jamón and other dishes, were inspired by real-world Spanish culinary traditions to underscore themes of predation and vegetarianism, reflecting Holmes' personal advocacy for animal rights.[20] Script editor Eric Saward provided feedback on the initial revisions, noting concerns over pacing, which prompted Holmes to incorporate additional action sequences, including chases and confrontations, to heighten tension in the latter episodes.[3]

Casting and characters

The returning cast for The Two Doctors featured Patrick Troughton as the Second Doctor, a portrayal emphasizing his established traits as a pacifist Time Lord with a whimsical demeanor, often seen playing the recorder to underscore his playful yet sharp-witted nature.[22] Troughton's performance marked his final appearance in the role, bringing a sense of nostalgia to the story through the character's moral reluctance toward violence and clever deceptions.[23] Frazer Hines reprised his role as Jamie McCrimmon, the loyal Scottish companion from the Second Doctor's 1960s adventures, depicted as a steadfast ally whose Highland background leads to humorous and anachronistic reactions to modern 20th-century Earth settings, such as confusion over contemporary technology and customs.[24] The new leads included Colin Baker in his first full adventure as the Sixth Doctor following his regeneration, presenting a vibrant and boisterous Time Lord characterized by explosive energy, colorful attire, and a tendency toward passionate outbursts.[25] Nicola Bryant portrayed Peri Brown, the American botanical student serving as the Sixth Doctor's companion, whose arc highlights her initial shock and horror at the Doctor's volatile personality and the story's escalating violence, including graphic confrontations with antagonists.[26] Among the antagonists, Clinton Greyn played Group Marshal Stike, a cunning Sontaran strategist orchestrating a plot to exploit Time Lord biology for galactic dominance, requiring the actor's ability to convey menace through heavy prosthetic makeup.[27] John Stratton embodied Shockeye, a brutish Androgum chef driven by insatiable and grotesque appetites for flesh, including attempts to hunt humans, a role demanding physical presence to match the character's savage, gluttonous demeanor.[27] The casting process prioritized nostalgia by reuniting Troughton and Hines shortly after the success of the multi-Doctor special The Five Doctors, with producer John Nathan-Turner personally approaching them to capitalize on their chemistry and fan appeal.[23] Guest actors for the antagonists were selected for their suitability in physically demanding, makeup-intensive roles, ensuring the Sontaran and Androgum characters' imposing presences translated effectively on screen.[27]

Filming and design

Principal photography for The Two Doctors took place primarily on location in Seville, Spain, during August 1984, where the hacienda and surrounding areas stood in for the story's Earth-bound Hispaniola scenes. The main exterior site was La Finca La Caprichosa (formerly Dehera Boyar), a hacienda near Gerena/El Garrobo, filmed from 9-12 and 16 August, while Seville city centre captured urban sequences on 13-14 August. Additional shots included a country road near Gerena/El Garrobo and the Rio Guadiamar lake area on 16 August. Interior scenes, including the space station and TARDIS sets, were recorded at BBC Television Centre in London, with sessions at Studio 1 on 30-31 August and Studio 6 on 13-14 and 27-28 September.[28][3] Production designer Tony Burrough oversaw set construction and visual elements, incorporating practical effects such as an explosion for the Sontaran ship using locally sourced gunpowder due to import restrictions on pyrotechnics. Sontaran armor, designed by costume designer Jan Wright, featured a bulky, militaristic aesthetic with heavy padding to emphasize the species' cloned warrior physique, though some padding was removed during location filming to accommodate the heat. The osmic projector prop, a key Sontaran weapon, was constructed by the BBC Visual Effects Department to depict its paralyzing beam through practical lighting and simple mechanical effects.[29][3] Director Peter Moffatt managed action sequences with a focus on pacing and spatial dynamics, notably the tense hunting chase in Part One, where the Second Doctor and Jamie evade pursuers across the Spanish landscape, blending location footage with studio inserts for heightened suspense. Moffatt's approach prioritized character-driven tension over elaborate stunts, casting taller performers like Clinton Greyn and Tim Raynham as Sontarans to convey imposing presence despite the armor's restrictive design.[3] Location shooting in Spain presented significant challenges, including extreme heat exceeding 40°C, which caused makeup prosthetics—particularly for Shockeye's Androgum facial features, applied using rubber appliances—to melt and required frequent reapplication, extending preparation times. Other issues included lost wigs and eyebrows, crew stomach ailments from local food, and a scratched film negative on 16 August that necessitated costly reshoots of key scenes. These logistical hurdles, compounded by the shift from an originally planned New Orleans location due to budget constraints, marked one of the BBC's more arduous overseas productions.[3] The incidental score was composed by Peter Howell of the BBC Radiophonic Workshop, utilizing electronic synthesizers to underscore alien technology and tension, with eerie drones for the osmic projector's activation and rhythmic pulses during chase sequences. Sound effects, also from the Radiophonic Workshop, enhanced the militaristic Sontaran elements through metallic clanks and probing beeps, contributing to the story's blend of futuristic and period atmospheres.[30]

Release and reception

Initial broadcast and ratings

The serial aired in three weekly parts on BBC One from 16 February to 2 March 1985, with viewing figures of 6.6 million for part one, 6.0 million for part two, and 6.9 million for part three, resulting in an average audience of 6.5 million viewers.[31][32][33] This placed it in the mid-range for season 22, which averaged around 7.1 million viewers across its stories.[34] The figures were lower than those for the season's opening serial, Attack of the Cybermen, which drew 8.9 million viewers for its first installment, partly due to stronger competition from ITV's popular soap operas like Coronation Street during the later slots.[35] Audience demographics reflected Doctor Who's established appeal as a family-oriented program, with significant viewership among children and parents watching together. However, the serial prompted a notable volume of complaints to the BBC over its graphic violence, including the depiction of a Sontaran slitting the throat of a station crew member and the Sixth Doctor fatally stabbing the Androgum Shockeye in the neck with a blade coated in raw opium; these elements contributed to season 22 overall receiving some of the highest complaint totals for the program in the 1980s.[36][37] Advance press screenings took place in January 1985, building anticipation for the story's multi-Doctor storyline reuniting Patrick Troughton's Second Doctor with Colin Baker's Sixth, marking the first such team-up since The Five Doctors in 1983.[3]

Critical reviews and analysis

Upon its initial broadcast in 1985, The Two Doctors drew criticism for its depiction of violence, which some viewed as excessive and gratuitous for the series. BBC controller Michael Grade criticized the season for its graphic elements and violence, likening aspects unfavorably to the Daleks in their potential to alienate audiences.[37] Similarly, Tony Howe, president of the Australasian Doctor Who Fan Club, condemned the murder of the character Oscar with a kitchen knife as an example of "sick, shock violence," reflecting broader fan concerns about the era's shift toward darker tones under producer John Nathan-Turner.[38] Retrospective critiques have often highlighted the serial's mixed execution, praising its script while lamenting production shortcomings. In a 2012 review for Radio Times, Patrick Mulkern awarded it two stars out of five, commending the effective contrast between the Second Doctor's bumbling charm—exemplified by Patrick Troughton's performance—and the Sixth Doctor's bombast, as well as strong guest turns like John Stratton as Shockeye. However, he criticized the slow pacing, flabby scripting, and lackluster direction by Peter Moffatt, which resulted in dull scenes and mishandled elements like the Sontarans' reintroduction. Mulkern concluded that "The Two Doctors wasn't dire, but the actors and audience deserved better."[17] Modern fan reception, as reflected in online discussions and polls from the 2010s, tends to appreciate Robert Holmes' witty dialogue and thematic depth—particularly the satire on carnivorism—but frequently decries the dated production values, underutilization of the Second Doctor, and sluggish first episode. For instance, community ratings on sites like The Time Scales average around 6.5 out of 10, with users noting the story's ambition undermined by uneven tone.[39] Scholarly interpretations have examined the serial's portrayal of the Sontarans as embodying themes of imperialism and militaristic aggression, positioning them as a critique of xenophobic expansionism within the broader narrative of Time Lord interference. In academic works from the 2000s, the Androgums' animalistic traits are read as a metaphor for colonial dehumanization, contrasting the Doctors' ethical dilemmas with the invaders' brute force. Common criticisms in these discussions include the slow build-up in the opening episode and the Second Doctor's limited screen time after his transformation, though guest performances, especially Shockeye's gleeful villainy, are lauded for adding levity to the grim proceedings.[20] Fan reception in 1985 fanzines, including bulletins from the Doctor Who Appreciation Society, was mixed, with some praising the multi-Doctor dynamic and Holmes' return to scripting, while others echoed broadcast-era complaints about the violence and meandering plot.[40]

Legacy and cultural impact

The Two Doctors continued the tradition of multi-Doctor stories in Doctor Who, building on precedents set by The Three Doctors in 1972 and The Five Doctors in 1983, by pairing the Second and Sixth Doctors in a narrative that explored their contrasting personalities and the Doctor's non-interference principles. The return of companion Jamie McCrimmon, portrayed by Frazer Hines, expanded the character's history by depicting his ongoing adventures with the Second Doctor after the separation from Victoria Waterfield in The War Games, reinforcing the depth of classic-era companion arcs.[41] The serial revived the Sontarans, absent since The Invasion of Time in 1978, portraying them as time-sensitive warriors in a plot involving temporal experiments, which influenced their later redesign and return in the 2005 revival series' The Sontaran Stratagem/The Poison Sky in 2008, where they retained core traits like their potato-like physiology and military obsession.[42] Patrick Troughton's performance as the Second Doctor marked his final on-screen appearance, a milestone celebrated at fan conventions such as the Doctor Who Appreciation Society's Panopticon events in the 1980s and 1990s, where attendees discussed its nostalgic elements and Troughton's legacy.[43] In scholarly and media contexts, The Two Doctors features prominently in The Doctor Who Companion book series, which analyzes its production, themes of morality, and role in bridging classic and modern Who narratives across volumes published in the 2010s. Writer Robert Holmes, a vegetarian, infused the story with allegory through the Androgum Shockeye's grotesque human-hunting and butchery, as confirmed in the official DVD documentary, prompting 2020s analyses that connect it to contemporary veganism and animal rights debates by highlighting parallels between Shockeye's savagery and factory farming practices. By 2025, marking the serial's 40th anniversary, discussions proliferated in official Doctor Who podcasts, reflecting its enduring appeal amid the show's 60th anniversary celebrations. No major new adaptations or releases emerged that year, but the 2022 remastered Blu-ray edition of Season 22, including enhanced visuals and audio for The Two Doctors, alongside its availability on BBC iPlayer since the early 2020s, has boosted viewership streams among new audiences.[44]

Commercial releases

Novelisations and print

The novelisation of The Two Doctors was written by Robert Holmes, the original scriptwriter for the television serial, and published by Target Books as part of the Doctor Who Library series.[45] The hardcover edition was released on 15 August 1985 by W.H. Allen & Co., while the paperback followed on 5 December 1985, marking it as the 100th book in the series and the first novelisation of a Sixth Doctor story.[46] The paperback edition carried ISBN 0-426-20201-5 and featured 159 pages divided into 12 chapters.[45] The cover art for both editions was created by Andrew Skilleter, a frequent Target Books illustrator, depicting a Sontaran in the foreground against a starry background with the TARDIS in flight, but notably omitting the faces of the Doctors due to licensing costs for actor likenesses.[47] Skilleter's design incorporated a gold foil Doctor Who logo, a signature element of mid-1980s Target covers.[48] Holmes's adaptation expands upon the televised narrative with additional prose elements, including a prologue depicting Time Lords on Gallifrey discussing the Second Doctor's mission, heightened descriptions of violence and gore, and internal monologues providing deeper insight into the Doctors' thoughts and motivations.[49] Certain scenes are rearranged or altered for pacing, such as Peri's more assertive interaction with Jamie, where she punches him during a confrontation, adding layers to character dynamics not fully explored on screen.[50] These changes enhance the story's atmosphere of intrigue and horror, particularly in the extended depictions of the Andreds' conflict with the Sontarans, fleshing out their historical enmity and strategic motivations.[49] The initial print run for the paperback was substantial, estimated at around 60,000 copies, with a rapid reprint prompted by strong demand in the United States.[51] An e-book edition was later released by BBC Books in 2011 as part of a broader digitization effort for classic Target novelisations.[52]

Home video and audio

The VHS release of The Two Doctors was issued in the United Kingdom on 1 November 1993 by BBC Video in Region 2 format, presented as a single tape omnibus edition with no special features.[53] In the United States, it received a home video release in 1995 by BBC Video, as a single tape omnibus edition lacking extras, similar to the UK version.[54] The story was first released on DVD in the United Kingdom on 8 September 2003 by BBC Worldwide in a two-disc Region 2/4 set, featuring restored visuals from the original film elements and an audio commentary track with actors Colin Baker, Nicola Bryant, Frazer Hines, and Jacqueline Pearce, alongside director Peter Moffatt.[55] Special features on this edition included the short documentary "A Fix with Sontarans" from the children's programme Jim'll Fix It, in-studio footage compilation "Beneath the Lights" capturing Baker and Bryant's scenes, location filming raw takes "Beneath the Sun" from Spain, an interview with production manager Gary Downie titled "Adventures in Time and Spain," a 1984 radio documentary "Wavelength" on the production, and an isolated music score by composer Peter Howell.[55] The DVD was later incorporated into the 2008 Bred for War: The Sontaran Collection box set alongside other Sontaran-related stories.[56] In 2022, The Two Doctors was released on Blu-ray as part of the limited-edition Doctor Who: The Collection – Season 22 box set by BBC Studios on 20 June in Region B, featuring a high-definition remaster, upgraded 5.1 surround sound mix, and new English subtitles for the hearing impaired.[57] This edition retained the original DVD special features while adding new content such as extended versions of episodes with additional Peri dialogue, a new making-of documentary "The Sixth Doctor's Sontaran Adventure," and further behind-the-scenes interviews.[58] Audio releases include the isolated Peter Howell score available on the DVD and Blu-ray editions, as well as on the 2013 compilation Doctor Who: The 50th Anniversary Collection.[59] A narrated audiobook adaptation of the novelisation by Robert Holmes, read by Colin Baker, was released by BBC Audio Books in 2015.[60] As of November 2025, The Two Doctors streams in high definition on Tubi and Pluto TV in the United States and on BBC iPlayer in the United Kingdom, derived from the Blu-ray remaster, with no new physical media editions announced.[61]

References

  1. Doctor Who (1963) (a Titles & Air Dates Guide) - Epguides.com
  2. "Doctor Who" The Two Doctors: Part One (TV Episode 1985) - IMDb
  3. The Two Doctors | A Brief History Of Time (Travel)
  4. "Doctor Who" The Two Doctors: Part Two (TV Episode 1985) - IMDb
  5. The Two Doctors by Robert Holmes (1985)
  6. Doctor Who (1963–1996), Season 22, The Two Doctors: Part 1 - BBC
  7. Doctor Who (1963–1996), Season 22, The Two Doctors: Part 2 - BBC
  8. Doctor Who (1963–1996), Season 22, The Two Doctors: Part 3 - BBC
  9. Australia Sales - BroaDWcast
  10. WTTW - BroaDWcast
  11. "Doctor Who" The Two Doctors: Part Three (TV Episode 1985) - IMDb
  12. The Two Doctors (TV story) - Tardis | Fandom
  13. Doctor Who S22 E4 "The Two Doctors" Recap - TV Tropes
  14. https://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/classic/episodeguide/twodoctors/detail.shtml
  15. Robert Holmes (1980's) | Doctor Who Interview Archive
  16. Robert Holmes (1985) - Doctor Who Interview Archive
  17. The Two Doctors | Radio Times
  18. Robert Holmes (1985) | Doctor Who Interview Archive
  19. The Lost Stories (S-T) | A Brief History Of Time (Travel)
  20. A Well-Prepared Meal (The Two Doctors) - Eruditorum Press
  21. The Two Doctors
  22. Second Doctor | Explore the Whoniverse
  23. Doctor Who: a celebration of Patrick Troughton | Den of Geek
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  25. Sixth Doctor | Explore the Whoniverse
  26. Peri Brown | Explore the Whoniverse - Doctor Who
  27. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0562969/fullcredits
  28. The Two Doctors - Story Locations - Doctor Who Locations
  29. Full cast & crew - "Doctor Who" The Two Doctors - IMDb
  30. [PDF] Digital Booklet - Silva Screen Records
  31. The Two Doctors - Part One - Doctor Who Guide
  32. The Two Doctors ::: Colin Baker - Sixth Doctor - Doctor Who In Detail
  33. The Two Doctors - Part Three - Doctor Who Guide
  34. Doctor Who Ratings Audience Viewing Figures - The Mind Robber
  35. On This Day... In 1985 'Attack of the Cybermen' First Aired
  36. The Case for... The Two Doctors - Doctor Who TV
  37. Gore, gall and The Two Doctors (1985) – Randomwhoness
  38. Patrick Troughton's Final Doctor Who Episode Was Exactly How Not ...
  39. Classic TV Series - The Two Doctors reviews - The Time Scales
  40. Doctor Who in The Radio Times
  41. Doctor Who (1963–1996), Season 4 - Jamie - BBC One
  42. A brief history of the Sontarans - Doctor Who
  43. BBC Genome Blog - Patrick Troughton at 100: A Television Actor
  44. Doctor Who (1963–1996), Season 22 - Episode guide - BBC
  45. The Two Doctors - Holmes, Robert: 9780426202011 - AbeBooks
  46. https://www.biblio.com/book/doctor-who-two-doctors-robert-holmes/d/818109527
  47. The Two Doctors - Andrew Skilleter
  48. The Target Cover Collection - Andrew Skilleter
  49. The Two Doctors
  50. Doctor Who Novelisations (Literature) - TV Tropes
  51. The Two Doctors (novelisation)
  52. Target novelisations @ The TARDIS Library (Doctor Who books ...
  53. Doctor Who - The Two Doctors [VHS] - Amazon UK
  54. http://www.timelash.com/tardis/display.php?807
  55. Cult - Doctor Who - DVD - The Two Doctors - BBC
  56. Doctor Who | Merchandise - BBC DVD 2008 - Eye Of Horus
  57. Doctor Who: The Collection - Season 22 Blu-ray
  58. REVIEW: Doctor Who: The Collection - Season 22 - Blogtor Who
  59. Doctor Who: The 50th Anniversary Collection (4CD) - Amazon UK
  60. The Two Doctors: A 6th Doctor novelisation (Audible Audio Edition ...
  61. Travel Through Time and Space With Doctor Who: How to Watch ...
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