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Doctor Who's Tragical History Tour
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  • Nu-Who
    1. Ncuti Gatwa
    2. Jodie Whittaker
    3. Peter Capaldi
    4. Matt Smith
    5. David Tennant
    6. Christopher Eccleston
    7. View All

    Who Told You There Wouldn’t Be Any Math?

    December 5, 2022

    The Next-iest of Doctors

    May 29, 2022

    Svelte 16

    May 8, 2022

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (19→24)

    November 10, 2023

    Who Told You There Wouldn’t Be Any Math?

    December 5, 2022

    B-Bye Bradley

    October 6, 2022

    Svelte 16

    May 8, 2022

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (13→18)

    November 13, 2023

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (31→36)

    October 12, 2023

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (37→42)

    October 5, 2023

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (48→43)

    September 28, 2023

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (12→7)

    November 17, 2023

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (19→24)

    November 10, 2023

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (25→30)

    October 28, 2023

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (48→43)

    September 28, 2023

    Shine of the Beast

    December 1, 2023

    Sometimes the Years Just Fall Away

    November 27, 2023

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (12→7)

    November 17, 2023

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (13→18)

    November 13, 2023

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (19→24)

    November 10, 2023

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (37→42)

    October 5, 2023

    The Dark Jacket Dimension

    November 13, 2021

    The (W)hole Ruth

    January 31, 2020

    Shine of the Beast

    December 1, 2023

    Sometimes the Years Just Fall Away

    November 27, 2023

    Close Enough for Government (Broadcasting) Work

    November 25, 2023

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (6→1)

    November 23, 2023
  • Tweeners
    1. John Hurt
    2. Paul McGann
    3. The Master List
    4. Regeneration X
    5. The Mystery Guest
    6. The Hand of Fear
    7. View All

    Hurt So Good: A Doctor and His Umbrella

    April 27, 2023

    Who Told You There Wouldn’t Be Any Math?

    December 5, 2022

    Svelte 16

    May 8, 2022

    Ten’ll Get You Five

    September 4, 2020

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (60→55)

    September 15, 2023

    McGann Before McGann

    May 26, 2023

    … And All That Yaz

    November 16, 2022

    Fivey at Forty: The First Companion Death of 1982

    March 16, 2022

    Shine of the Beast

    December 1, 2023

    Sometimes the Years Just Fall Away

    November 27, 2023

    Close Enough for Government (Broadcasting) Work

    November 25, 2023

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (6→1)

    November 23, 2023

    Ghost Re-Write

    November 16, 2021

    The (W)hole Ruth

    January 31, 2020

    Dup-topia

    January 29, 2020

    The Glue Guy

    June 24, 2018

    Doctor on Doctor ACTION!

    November 19, 2017

    The Wheel in Cheese

    August 10, 2014

    The Hurt Locker

    May 25, 2013

    Shine of the Beast

    December 1, 2023

    Sometimes the Years Just Fall Away

    November 27, 2023

    Close Enough for Government (Broadcasting) Work

    November 25, 2023

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (6→1)

    November 23, 2023

    Shine of the Beast

    December 1, 2023

    Sometimes the Years Just Fall Away

    November 27, 2023

    Close Enough for Government (Broadcasting) Work

    November 25, 2023

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (6→1)

    November 23, 2023
  • Colo(u)r
    1. Sylvester McCoy
    2. Colin Baker
    3. Peter Davison
    4. Tom Baker
    5. Jon Pertwee
    6. View All

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (31→36)

    October 12, 2023

    A Studio Film (or rather a film in the studio)

    June 9, 2023

    … And All That Yaz

    November 16, 2022

    Fivey at Forty: The First Companion Death of 1982

    March 16, 2022

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (48→43)

    September 28, 2023

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (60→55)

    September 15, 2023

    Hurt So Good: A Doctor and His Umbrella

    April 27, 2023

    … And All That Yaz

    November 16, 2022

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (6→1)

    November 23, 2023

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (25→30)

    October 28, 2023

    Stotz v. Stotz: A Love Story

    October 1, 2023

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (54→49)

    September 20, 2023

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (6→1)

    November 23, 2023

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (12→7)

    November 17, 2023

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (13→18)

    November 13, 2023

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (25→30)

    October 28, 2023

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (6→1)

    November 23, 2023

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (25→30)

    October 28, 2023

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (48→43)

    September 28, 2023

    McGann Before McGann

    May 26, 2023

    Shine of the Beast

    December 1, 2023

    Sometimes the Years Just Fall Away

    November 27, 2023

    Close Enough for Government (Broadcasting) Work

    November 25, 2023

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (6→1)

    November 23, 2023
  • Monochrome
    1. Patrick Troughton
    2. William Hartnell
    3. View All

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (13→18)

    November 13, 2023

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (19→24)

    November 10, 2023

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (31→36)

    October 12, 2023

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (60→55)

    September 15, 2023

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (31→36)

    October 12, 2023

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (37→42)

    October 5, 2023

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (48→43)

    September 28, 2023

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (54→49)

    September 20, 2023

    Shine of the Beast

    December 1, 2023

    Sometimes the Years Just Fall Away

    November 27, 2023

    Close Enough for Government (Broadcasting) Work

    November 25, 2023

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (6→1)

    November 23, 2023
  • Tour du Jour
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Doctor Who's Tragical History TourDoctor Who's Tragical History Tour
50 for 50 Jon Pertwee

50 for 50 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — #12

By -- DSWSeptember 4, 201303 Mins Read
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One of the most haunting images from my childhood, that still endures in my memory over 43 years later, is that of three silent and faceless space-suited aliens steadily approaching with the sun glaring behind them, producing a stunning silhouette effect. This surreal visual impact is intensified by an eerie soundtrack perfectly crafted to create a perplexing atmosphere of mystery and intimidation.

The Ambassadors of Death is definitely a story of its time and finds itself honoured with the #12 position in our Top 50 for being bold and experimental at the peak of ‘space age’ fervour. Even the opening titles were experimented upon, with the word “DEATH” exploding into view following, unusually, after the reprise of the previous week’s cliffhanger. And at 7 episodes long, this story certainly gave us plenty of dramatic and tantalizing cliffhangers to ensure we would tune in for the next installment.

Ambassadors is not conventionally scary, but is a fine example of how Doctor Who can bring about a heightened sense of anxiety within the viewer. The behaviour of the soldiers and politicians leaves us with the clear impression that those in authority are either clueless, irrational or cannot be trusted and, without the Doctor’s interventions, the scientists have little more insight or reassurance to offer a public terrified by the mysterious fate of the human astronauts.

With the Tardis out of action, this gives the Doctor a heroic excuse to embark on a space mission of his own, and the claustrophobic capsule sequences help build up a veritable feeling of tension as we watch him head courageously towards an unknown danger. The intelligent plotline of course reveals that the true menace comes not from the aliens who need to feed off radioactivity to survive, but from the unhinged General Carrington who is manipulating their powers to pursue his own agenda.

For its time, Ambassadors delivers some excellent quality special effects. The unmasking of the irradiated faces of the aliens presents a truly gruesome image and some of the better space models of the Third Doctor’s era can be seen in this story. I’ve only ever watched it in black and white and I wonder if the colour restoration might perhaps take away some of the distinctive atmosphere of the story as I remember it.

Whichever version you choose, The Ambassadors of Death treats you to something just a little bit different which is beautifully directed and which allowed Jon Pertwee to stamp his authority on the role and prove that the show was definitely in safe hands as it advanced forward into the 1970’s. — Alan

Andy’s #12 — Inferno
David’s #12 — The Girl in the Fireplace
Steve’s #12 — The Caves of Androzani

Could #11 feature Doctor #11 …. The tension mounts … until next week.

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On This Day in Doctor Who History

December 2023

Sunday December 3

1966: The Power of the Daleks [5]
Recurs yearly
1977: The Sunmakers [2]
Recurs yearly

Monday December 4

1965: The Daleks' Master Plan [4--The Traitors]
Recurs yearly

Tuesday December 5

1964: The Dalek Invasion of Earth [3--Day of Reckoning]
Recurs yearly
2015: Hell Bent
Recurs yearly
2021: Flux - Chapter 6: The Vanquishers
Recurs yearly

Wednesday December 6

1975: The Android Invasion [3]
Recurs yearly
1980: State of Decay [3]
Recurs yearly
1986: The Ultimate Foe [2]
Recurs yearly
1989: Survival [3]
Recurs yearly

Thursday December 7

1963: 100,000 BC [3--The Forest of Fear]
Recurs yearly
1968: The Invasion [6]
Recurs yearly
1987: Dragonfire [3]
Recurs yearly
1988: Silver Nemesis [3]
Recurs yearly

Friday December 8

1979: The Nightmare of Eden [3]
Recurs yearly
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