"Orange Whip, Orange Whip, Orange Whip" - Production 6K: "The Five Doctors" (November 23/25, 1983) - Classic Doctor Who 20th Anniversary Special Review

The ultimate Doctor Who celebration arrives! To commemorate two decades of time travel adventures, all five incarnations of the Doctor are mysteriously pulled out of time and transported to the Death Zone on Gallifrey - the ancient forbidden wasteland where Time Lords once staged gladiatorial games. The First Doctor (Richard Hurndall) and granddaughter Susan, the Second Doctor (Patrick Troughton) and Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart, the Third Doctor (Jon Pertwee) and Sarah Jane Smith, and the Fifth Doctor (Peter Davison) with companions Tegan and Turlough must navigate deadly traps, face classic enemies including Daleks, Cybermen, and a Raston Warrior Robot, and ultimately reach the Dark Tower to discover who has orchestrated this temporal kidnapping. Meanwhile, the Fourth Doctor remains trapped in a time eddy. The Master receives a presidential pardon to help, Lord President Borusa harbors dark secrets about immortality, and the fate of all Gallifrey hangs in the balance in this 90-minute anniversary extravaganza.

Join podcaster John S. Drew and acclaimed writer/editor Jim Beard as they master time and space with an incredible lineup of special guests! From The Flopcast, the Mayor of Chickentown herself, Felicity Kusinitz returns to claim the Second Doctor. From The OSI Files podcast, artist extraordinaire Jerry Lange champions the Fourth Doctor (despite Tom Baker's controversial absence). And from the late Doctor Who Gives a Bleep podcast and current host of The Bat77 podcast, JB Anderton takes on the First Doctor role.

In this comprehensive anniversary special analysis, the hosts discuss:

• The Tom Baker controversy - Why the Fourth Doctor was reduced to archive footage from the unfinished "Shada" serial, theories about his refusal (too soon after leaving, not wanting to share the spotlight, conflicting theatre commitments with "Educating Rita"), and whether the public knew beforehand

• Richard Hurndall's remarkable performance - How the replacement First Doctor exceeded expectations and created wonderful chemistry with both Carol Ann Ford's Susan and surprisingly, Tegan

• Robert Holmes' rejected script - The original "Six Doctors" concept featuring a robot First Doctor and Cybermen becoming "Cyber-Lords" (a concept Chris Chibnall would eventually use)

• Perfect companion pairings - Sarah Jane with the Third Doctor and the Brigadier with the Second Doctor as happy accidents that became highlights

• Production challenges - The Eye of Orion footage damage requiring Mark Strickson's emergency recall ("Strickson phone home!"), the abandoned hang glider sequence replaced by the zip line, and Elizabeth Sladen's unfortunate costume choices

• Patrick Troughton and Jon Pertwee's minimal aging - Both looking remarkably like their original incarnations despite years away from the role

• The balance of multiple Doctors - How the script successfully gave each incarnation meaningful moments without anyone overpowering the others

• American vs. British viewing experiences - PBS broadcasting it two days before the BBC on the actual anniversary during the Chicago convention

Jim declares this "a lot of fun" and "almost everything I wanted" - a breath of fresh air with excellent character interactions, though Tom Baker's absence remains the only significant downbeat. The panel agrees that all actors played their roles straight without mugging or winking, creating a sincere celebration rather than a farce.

This landmark special aired November 23, 1983 on American PBS stations (particularly WTTW Chicago during the massive "Visions" convention) and November 25, 1983 on BBC1 during Children in Need.

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Check out Jim Beard's latest creative release - a beautiful blank journal book featuring an original sketch from Jim himself, perfect for Whovians and creative writers! Available now on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Snowball-Strums-Story-Thinkin-Journal/dp/B0FTVDVD45

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Production 6J: "The King's Demons" (March 15-16, 1983) - Classic Doctor Who Season 20 Finale Review

The TARDIS fails to reach Turlough's promised homeworld of Trion, instead materializing in Medieval England during March 1215 - the crucial period leading to the signing of the Magna Carta, one of history's most important constitutional documents. The Fifth Doctor, Tegan, and Turlough arrive at Fitzwilliam Castle to discover King John behaving extraordinarily out of character, acting with uncharacteristic cruelty and tyranny that threatens to derail the entire timeline.

The erratic monarch appears to be under the sinister influence of Sir Gilles Estram, a mysterious French nobleman whose features look disturbingly familiar to the Doctor. Investigating this temporal anomaly, the Doctor uncovers a devastating plot orchestrated by his oldest and most persistent nemesis - the Master (Anthony Ainley) has traveled back in time to prevent the Magna Carta from ever being signed, fundamentally altering Earth's democratic history and destabilizing the entire future of human civilization. At the center of this scheme is Kamelion, a shape-shifting android with extraordinary abilities who becomes a pawn in the Master's game and an unexpected addition to the TARDIS crew.

Join podcaster John S. Drew and acclaimed writer/editor Jim Beard as they master time and space, delivering comprehensive reviews of every Classic Doctor Who serial. In this Season 20 finale analysis, they dissect the complicated behind-the-scenes story of Kamelion - the ambitious shape-changing robot companion whose technical malfunctions plagued production and limited future appearances, critique how writer Terence Dudley once again relegates both Tegan Jovanka and Turlough to passive bystander roles with minimal character development or meaningful participation, and argue that this two-part story desperately needed additional episodes to properly develop its ambitious historical premise and Master plot.

This episode features a remarkably candid conversation about the Fifth Doctor himself. Jim comes clean about his ongoing struggle to connect with Peter Davison's interpretation - after twenty episodes, he still isn't feeling this incarnation and openly wonders if he ever will warm to the Fifth Doctor's gentle, vulnerable characterization. John empathizes completely with Jim's perspective while defending his own position: Peter Davison remains John's absolute favorite Doctor precisely because of the understated qualities Jim finds frustrating - his compassion, emotional accessibility, and fallible heroism rather than commanding authority.

"The King's Demons" concludes Season 20's uneven journey toward the monumental 20th Anniversary Special that awaits in November 1983.

Subscribe to The Doctor's Beard Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, and all major podcast platforms. Connect with our passionate Whovian community by emailing us at [email protected] or joining our active Facebook and BlueSky discussions for exclusive Doctor Who content, character analysis, and fan theories.

Check out Jim Beard's latest creative release - a beautiful blank journal book featuring an original sketch from Jim himself, perfect for Whovians and creative writers! Available now on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Snowball-Strums-Story-Thinkin-Journal/dp/B0FTVDVD45

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Production 6H: "Enlightenment" (March 1-9, 1983) - Classic Doctor Who Season 20 Review

The Black Guardian Trilogy reaches its spectacular conclusion as the TARDIS materializes aboard an elegant Edwardian racing yacht - but this is no ordinary vessel. The ship sails not across Earth's oceans, but through the infinite void of space itself, crewed by the mysterious Eternals - immortal beings who exist outside normal time, observing mortal "Ephemerals" with detached fascination while desperately seeking meaning in their endless existence. These god-like entities have organized a cosmic race across the solar system, with ships styled after various historical periods competing for the ultimate prize: Enlightenment itself, a crystallized form of absolute knowledge and truth.

Caught between the manipulations of both the White Guardian and Black Guardian, Vislor Turlough must finally choose his allegiance - will he murder the Doctor to save himself, or reject the Black Guardian's promised rewards? Meanwhile, Tegan Jovanka finds herself the unwilling object of affection from Captain Striker, an Eternal who cannot comprehend human emotions yet is fascinated by her temporal existence. The Fifth Doctor races to prevent catastrophe as the competition reaches its climax and the true nature of Enlightenment is revealed.

Join podcaster John S. Drew and acclaimed writer/editor Jim Beard as they master time and space, delivering comprehensive reviews of every Classic Doctor Who serial. In this Black Guardian Trilogy finale analysis, they explore writer Barbara Clegg's philosophical concepts behind the Eternals and their parasitic relationship with mortal consciousness, debate the story's frustratingly anticlimactic and unsatisfying resolution that undermines the trilogy's buildup, and examine the fascinating dynamic where Turlough emerges as the voice of pragmatic reason compared to the Doctor's more reckless heroism - reversing their expected character roles.

This episode addresses two crucial questions: Where did John and Jim ultimately land in their numerical rating for this ambitious yet flawed conclusion to the season-spanning Black Guardian arc? And at this pivotal halfway point through Peter Davison's tenure as the Fifth Doctor, has Jim's skepticism about this incarnation softened, or does he remain unconvinced by Davison's understated performance style?

Subscribe to The Doctor's Beard Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, and all major podcast platforms. Connect with our passionate Whovian community by emailing us at [email protected] or joining our active Facebook and BlueSky discussions for exclusive Doctor Who content, character analysis, and fan theories.

Check out Jim Beard's latest creative release - a beautiful blank journal book featuring an original sketch from Jim himself, perfect for Whovians and creative writers! Available now on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Snowball-Strums-Story-Thinkin-Journal/dp/B0FTVDVD45

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Production 6G: "Terminus" (February 15-23, 1983) - Classic Doctor Who Season 20 Review

The TARDIS crew faces heartbreak as beloved companion Nyssa of Traken makes her emotional departure from the Doctor's travels. After narrowly escaping the Black Guardian's schemes in the previous adventure, the Fifth Doctor, Tegan, and newly-arrived Turlough find themselves trapped aboard Terminus - a massive deteriorating space station serving as a quarantine facility and leper colony for victims of the incurable and dreaded Lazar's disease (also known as Lazars' Syndrome). This plague causes horrific decay and degeneration, with sufferers banished to Terminus where the mysterious robotic Vanir administer inadequate treatment using controlled doses of radiation from the station's unstable engines.

As the Doctor investigates Terminus's terrible secret - that the station sits at the exact center of the known universe and may have caused the Big Bang itself - compassionate Nyssa witnesses the suffering of countless Lazar victims denied proper care. In a stunning character-defining moment, Sarah Sutton's Nyssa chooses to leave the TARDIS forever, dedicating her scientific knowledge and Trakenite healing abilities to finding a genuine cure for Lazar's disease and providing humane treatment to the abandoned plague victims. Her selfless sacrifice represents one of Classic Doctor Who's most noble companion exits.

Join podcaster John S. Drew and acclaimed writer/editor Jim Beard as they master time and space, delivering comprehensive reviews of every Classic Doctor Who serial. In this bittersweet Season 20 analysis, they discuss the poignant farewell to Nyssa after two and a half seasons of adventures, critique how writer Stephen Gallagher and script editor Eric Saward frustratingly sideline both Turlough and Tegan throughout the serial (reducing them to passive observers despite being featured cast), and highlight the desperate need for stronger script editing to tighten Steve Gallagher's ambitious but unfocused and meandering narrative that struggles to balance cosmic mythology with human drama.

Jim candidly admits he will genuinely miss Nyssa's presence and Sarah Sutton's consistently excellent performances, but acknowledges her departure feels appropriately timed - her character role had been significantly diminished throughout Season 20 as the crowded TARDIS team left insufficient story material for her scientific expertise and compassionate nature to shine. The Black Guardian Trilogy continues with cosmic stakes and emotional consequences.

Subscribe to The Doctor's Beard Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, and all major podcast platforms. Connect with our passionate Whovian community by emailing us at [email protected] or joining our active Facebook and BlueSky discussions for exclusive Doctor Who content, character analysis, and fan theories.

Check out Jim Beard's latest creative release - a beautiful blank journal book featuring an original sketch from Jim himself, perfect for Whovians and creative writers! Available now on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Snowball-Strums-Story-Thinkin-Journal/dp/B0FTVDVD45

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Production 6F: "Mawdryn Undead" (February 1-9, 1983) - Classic Doctor Who Season 20 Review

The Fifth Doctor experiences a bittersweet reunion with his dear friend Brigadier Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart - but something is terribly wrong. The retired UNIT commander has completely lost all memory of the Time Lord and their adventures together defending Earth from alien threats. Investigating this troubling amnesia, the Doctor discovers the Brigadier's memory loss stems from a catastrophic temporal paradox involving two different versions of the Brigadier meeting simultaneously in 1977 and 1983. At the center of this crisis is the tragic Mawdryn, leader of a group of exiled scientists who attempted to steal the secret of Time Lord regeneration but instead became hideously mutated, unable to die yet condemned to an eternity of agonizing transformations. As the Doctor navigates this complex temporal puzzle, he must confront the limitations of his own regenerative abilities and the sacred twelve-regeneration cycle that governs all Time Lords.

Join podcaster John S. Drew and acclaimed writer/editor Jim Beard as they master time and space, delivering comprehensive reviews of every Classic Doctor Who serial. In this pivotal Season 20 episode analysis, they welcome special guest Felicity Kusinitz from The Flopcast podcast for an engaging three-way discussion. The trio celebrates the triumphant return of Nicholas Courtney as Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart after a five-year absence, analyze the mysterious introduction of new companion Vislor Turlough (Mark Strickson) - whose true allegiance remains hidden, and explore writer Peter Grimwade's expansion of Time Lord mythology cementing the canonical twelve-regeneration limit that would define Doctor Who lore for decades.

In a delightful segment, Felicity and John attempt to convert the skeptical Jim - who remains unconvinced about the Fifth Doctor - by passionately defending Peter Davison's vulnerable, compassionate portrayal and explaining why this incarnation resonates so deeply with longtime fans despite his more understated heroism.

"Mawdryn Undead" launches producer John Nathan-Turner's ambitious Black Guardian Trilogy, a season-spanning story arc featuring the return of Valentine Dyall's cosmic villain seeking revenge against the Doctor. This trilogy format represented innovative serialized storytelling in Classic Doctor Who's traditionally episodic structure.

Subscribe to The Doctor's Beard Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, and all major podcast platforms. Connect with our passionate Whovian community by emailing us at [email protected] or joining our active Facebook and BlueSky discussions for exclusive Doctor Who content, character analysis, and fan theories.

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Production 6D: "Snakedance" (January 18-26, 1983) - Classic Doctor Who Season 20 Review

The Fifth Doctor discovers that Tegan Jovanka has been involuntarily manipulating the TARDIS coordinates, steering them toward the peaceful planet Manusa - homeworld of the Sumaran Empire Federation and the historical site where the malevolent Mara was supposedly destroyed centuries ago. But the snake-like entity was never truly vanquished, and it once again seizes control of Tegan's mind in a terrifying possession, threatening to plunge the unsuspecting civilization of Manusa into chaos and darkness as it prepares for its prophesied return during the ceremony celebrating its ancient defeat.

Join podcaster John S. Drew and acclaimed writer/editor Jim Beard as they master time and space, delivering comprehensive reviews of every Classic Doctor Who serial. In this chilling sequel to Season 19's "Kinda," they analyze the Fifth Doctor's deepening concern and protectiveness for the traumatized Tegan following her previous Mara possession, celebrate Nyssa's stunning new costume that finally gives Sarah Sutton a more practical outfit, spotlight the television debut of British comedy legend Martin Clunes in his very first professional acting role as the spoiled Lon, and explore the fascinating thematic parallels between "Snakedance" and earlier Doctor Who stories involving mind control and ancient evil. Writer Christopher Bailey returns to expand his Buddhist-influenced mythology with director Fiona Cumming bringing psychological horror to life.

The countdown to Doctor Who's monumental 20th anniversary continues as Season 20 follows producer John Nathan-Turner's mandate to bring back classic monsters and villains from the show's illustrious history. The Mara returns as part of the nostalgic callbacks celebrating two decades of time travel adventures!

Subscribe to The Doctor's Beard Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, and all major podcast platforms. Connect with our passionate Whovian community by emailing us at [email protected] or joining our active Facebook and BlueSky discussions for exclusive Doctor Who content, character analysis, and fan theories.

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Production 6E: "Arc of Infinity" (January 3-12, 1983) - Classic Doctor Who Season 20 Premiere Review

Omega, the legendary renegade Time Lord and architect of Gallifreyan time travel, makes his shocking return with a desperate plan to escape his antimatter prison and re-enter the positive matter universe. Using the Arc of Infinity as his gateway, Omega hijacks the Fifth Doctor's biodata pattern to create a physical duplicate body - but his scheme becomes entangled with companion Tegan Jovanka's search for her missing cousin Colin Frazer in the picturesque streets of Amsterdam, leading to an explosive confrontation in the heart of the Dutch capital.

Join podcaster John S. Drew and acclaimed writer/editor Jim Beard as they master time and space, delivering comprehensive reviews of every Classic Doctor Who serial. In this Season 20 premiere analysis, they celebrate Nyssa's remarkable character development and maturation beyond her sheltered Trakenite origins, explore how the Fifth Doctor finally demonstrates genuine agency and authority compared to his earlier passive characterization, and Jim shares his candid disappointment with Tegan's controversial new costume design that replaced her beloved air stewardess uniform. The hosts also examine writer Johnny Byrne's ambitious return to Doctor Who mythology, producer John Nathan-Turner's bold decision to film on location in Amsterdam, and the return of Michael Gough to Doctor Who.

This episode marks an exciting new chapter as Season 20 begins the countdown to Doctor Who's monumental 20th anniversary celebration later in the year!

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John and Jim wrap up their year long look at the Tom Baker era with a retrospective shaped with a framing letter from Patreon listener, Jamieson. We discuss Tom's three eras, his companions, and why he is considered one of the greats among the Doctors.

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Production 6C: "Time-Flight" (March 22-30, 1982) - Classic Doctor Who Season 19 Finale Review

The Fifth Doctor's planned visit to London's Great Exhibition takes a dramatic detour when the TARDIS becomes trapped in a mysterious time corridor alongside missing Concorde supersonic aircraft, leading to an unexpected encounter with prehistoric Earth and ancient mysteries.

Join podcaster John S. Drew and acclaimed writer/editor Jim Beard as they master time and space, delivering in-depth reviews of every Classic Doctor Who serial. In this compelling season finale analysis, they welcome special guest Alan J. Porter (renowned author and podcaster) to explore the emotional aftermath of Adric's shocking death, celebrate the triumphant return of the Master, and dissect the devastating season-ending cliffhanger that leaves companion Tegan Jovanka stranded at Heathrow Airport.

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Production 6B: "Earthshock" (March 8-16, 1982) - Classic Doctor Who Review

The Doctor's TARDIS materializes on a future Earth where the Cybermen orchestrate their most devastating plan yet - bombing a galactic conference to destroy world leaders and reshape the universe's destiny.

Join podcaster John S. Drew and acclaimed writer/editor Jim Beard as they become masters of time and space, delivering comprehensive reviews of every Classic Doctor Who serial. In this emotional episode analysis, they dive deep into Eric Saward's masterful scriptwriting, examine the shocking departure of beloved companion Adric, and explore how this serial revolutionized the Cybermen's deadly new tactics in the Whoniverse.

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