The Doctor In The TARDIS

For this weeks story we go back to the tenth anniversary special, The Three Doctors.

Time itself is in peril! The Time Lords find themselves besieged by a mysterious enemy, the legendary Time Lord, Omega. Omega has been inhabiting the anti-matter universe on the other side of the black hole from which the Time Lords draw their power.

They enlist the Doctor in his first three incarnations to battle this foe, who turns out to be a legend from the Time Lords' remote past.

But vital cosmic energy is draining into a black hole and the Time Lords are under siege. The Doctor is their only hope but, trapped in the TARDIS, he's powerless. The only way out is to break the First Law of Time to let the Doctor help himself - literally...

The Three Doctors was the groundbreaking first story of the anniversary Season 10 of Doctor Who. The serial marked several milestones for the program. Most notably it was the first multi-Doctor story (establishing the concept of the Doctor being able to meet his past incarnations); but also it marked the return of William Hartnell and Patrick Troughton to the role of the Doctor (for Hartnell, the last time). It also ended the three year long story arc of the Third Doctor being exiled to Earth, which had began in Season 7 in 1970.

The next story will be posted on Sunday February 3rd.

I've not watched this in ages. I'll get on it this evening

I have to give it a 5. Has its weaknesses and seems a little clumsy at times in trying to include all three doctors, with Hartnell stuck in a strangely shaped perspex capsule for the entirety, but on the whole they pull it off. I like the way the Brigadier reacts to having two doctors and his delight at seeing the Second Doctor again. Omega is a good villain too and reminds of the Italo Calvino story of the knight who wasn't there.

On effort and ambition alone I would give this story a four. I like it, though the flaws are obvious to anyone who is looking. I think a certain amount of leeway should be given based on the fact it was basically a loveletter to the fans to celebrate ten years. Even with that in mind though it still doesn't quite hit a 5 for me.

Full marks from me. It was silly and bizarre and some of it made little to no sense, but I still can't help loving it anyway.

I gave it five.  The story as such was good, though not brilliant, but the interaction between the Doctors was worth full marks.

I agree with Nyki. I love it but the story is weak, though the Doctors and their interaction make it worth it. I've gone with a 4 though.

Its such good fun, even though it gets a bit daft. I can't give it anything less than full marks. It's just too good. Even the daft is good.

3 from me. It was great having the Doctors back and everyone was on fine form, but I'm just not that bothered about this one either way. If they reworked it so that it was a single Doctor story I don't imagine it would be a popular one. It's ok, jut not great. I think nostalgia and 'event' makes it popular more than anything else.

Full marks from me. You can't take it too seriously but its a load of fun and easy to watch, plus its great seeing them all together on screen.

I went with a four. Bit of a dodgy script and some silliness but overall quite enjoyable. I don't watch it often, but I enjoy it when I do.

The first time I saw this I really didn't get what the fuss was all about. It was cool to have all the Doctors on screen together but the whole thing seemed overrated. The more I watch it, though, the more I enjoy it for what it is. Just a bit of fan and a celebration of a milestone. I've given it 4. It really isn't one you should take too seriously

If there is a Doctor Who tale that is more fun and watchable than this then I can't think of it. I love this story so much. There are iconic moments abounding, the whole feel of the story is just a celebration. Also, it sets the template for multi-Doctor, anniversary stories. The only reason I gave this a 5 was that I couldn't give it a 10 :)

I really get a kick out of this one and have to add that it was my youngest daughter's introduction to the Classic series and the Classic Doctors.  I downloaded it onto my iphone back when it was one of the only Classic stories you could get, and my daughter (who was then about 7) watched it over and over (and over and over).  She was utterly enchanted by Jon Pertwee in particular (I'm more a PT fan) and he was her favorite Classic era Doctor for several years.