As Tom Baker is consistantly voted Britains Favourite Doctor, what do fans consider to be Bakers Worst Moment.

Nightmare To Eden must rate as the worst Baker story,despite the well written script and the adult drug theme, the production value is just sheer crap even for the seventies.

The mandrels look like they've escaped from Rainbow at any moment you expect to see Rod Jane and Freddy dancing by,

Don't anyone dare say nimon, I love that story. It's funny as f***!

Edit- Underworld would be my choice. It's just so s l o w

Underworld - worst story of them all

I hated The Invasion Of Time. I have not watched it to the end.

Maybe when you're drunk it's funny.

Otherwise it's utter bobbins.

I vote "The Horns of Nimon"

"The Invisible Enemy" has to have some of the worst science of any Doctor Who serial. (A 'virus' that gets enlarged, but then looks like a prawn - WTF?!?)

I largely agree with this review on that point
http://www.gallifreyone.com/review.php?id=4t

Did the writer of the story not know the clear differences between viruses and other micro-organisms?

Well, there are quite a few bad ones to choose from. Most of Tom's last series was pretty lame and there are a few other turkies sprinkled around here and there.


The point is, though, there are no Doctor Who stories which are all bad. I'd rather have bad DW than a lot of other stuff which is shown at the moment.

Ditto! The acting, sets and the dialogue were truly awful though I have to say that Meglos doesn't rank very highly in my book..great idea but poorly executed.

Have to disagree with you there, I think Tom Baker's last season was one of his best. Admittedly Meglos is a little laughable, but I rate the other six stories of season 18 very highly.

It's true that there are a few turkeys scattered among the Baker years, personally I would highlight Underworld, The Invisible Enemy. The Invasion of Time, Destiny of the Daleks, The Horns of Nimon and The Armageddon Factor as the lowest of the low.

But for every one of these there are another half dozen enjoyable adventures to be had, and some of the finest stories in the history of the programme.

Just get The Seeds of Doom and Image of the Fendahl out on DVD and I'll be a very happy bunny!

Oh well, each to their own, I suppose. I remember as a teenager watching The Leisure Hive and thinking, "Oh no! What have they done to the theme tune? Oh no! What have they done to the title sequence?"

As the series continued, I began to feel for the first ime that I'd outgrown my favourite TV programme.

Looking back now, I can see that some stories had a little more merit that I perhaps first gave them credit for at the time but all in all, I feel that after that, the programme was never quite the same again. And not in a good way!

Maybe our difference in age would explain our difference of opinion! I was only eight at the time, and remember being blown away by the new title sequence and theme tune. Peter Davison was really my Doctor, so i grew up with the JNT years. I can understand how season 18 would be a shock to the system for someone who had appreciated Tom's earlier adventures, but to me it was all fresh, new and exciting. Perhaps when I rewatch the likes of State of Decay, Warrior's Gate and Logopolis its these memories of watching them as a child that makes them that extra bit special for me. And I still think its the best version of the theme tune!

I loved Season 18..with the exception of Meglos. It had some very strong stories and performances from Baker, Ward, Ainley, Fielding and Sutton. I never wanted Baker to leave by the time we reached Logopolis!

The Five Doctors. His performance in that looked like an out take and even in the publicity shots he looked like a damn waxwork.

Tom Baker refused to take part in "The Five Doctors". IIRC, the footage of him shown in that story was really just culled from Shada, which was unbroadcast due to an industrial dispute.

Well the theme tune is bland, 80s-synthesised screeching to me and the title sequence which was once a great mixture of abstract, hypnotic images was suddenly replaced by...stars. For me, it was completely lacking in imagination and mystery any more. I thought it was a very poor substitute for all the previous versions.

Anyway, as you say, people prefer "their" Doctor so it's understandable that you like that era of the show. I'm a fan of the programme as a whole but I feel that it certainly started to decline at this point and the choices of actor for the main role were less than inspired. It was beginning to get past its sell-by date by that point.

Anyway, this has strayed off topic a bit.

A tricky question.

By season I'd say:-



Season 12: Revenge Of The Cybermen

Season 13: Not really any "bad" stories here but I'll go for Terror Of The Zygons as it's the one I like least.

Season 14: Again not really any "bad" stories so I'll go for The Face Of Evil as it's the dullest one of the season.

Season 15: The Invasion Of Time ~ a complete & utter mess from start to finish

Season 16: A toss up between The Pirate Planet & The Armageddon Factor. I think TAF just about pips TPP at the post mainly for the fact it's crapness drags on for two further episodes

Season 17: The Horns Of Nimon ~ overblown ill plotted rubbish

Season 18: Warriors Gate ~ yes. Really.

From this selection it's definitely one of the last four but it's hard to whittle down as their all rubbish. I think I'll have to go for Warriors Gate as it's the one I hate sitting through the most.

The first one that came to mind when I saw this thread was Underworld it's just so dull, 'The Quest is the Quest' gets tedious, and then of course there's that awful CSO. It wouldn't have been quite so bad if they'd used it to put the people in front of something interesting.

Season by Season then like the post above: -

Season 12 - Revenge. It's not that bad a story and it got 6/10 in my ratings guide, it's just the worst of that season.

Season 13 - Planet of Evil. Sums this one up. 4/10

Season 14 - yikes err, most of these are very good stories. Deadly Assasin, just. 7/10

Season 15 - Underworld. Yet another mad computer? 4/10

Season 16 - difficult decision between the last two parts but it just has to be Armageddon Factor. Yes it has Drax, but is this a good ending to the key to time season? I don't think so. 4/10

Season 17 - ooh which to choose, what is City Of Death doing in amongst that drivel. Nightmare Of Eden it is simply because of it's strange plot. 2/10

Season 18 - Full Circle. Which is what the story does, plus it introduces Adric. Gah. 4/10

Having said all that though, what is considered a bad episode of Doctor Who is still extremely good compared to other programmes. But then, as Doctor Who is my favourite program, you'd expect me to say that.

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I almost fell for that.

Yes, I'd agree with that.

I would happily sit through a whole list of stories that people consider to be 'bad Who' than sit through even one episode of a reality or 'sleb' show.

Clearly, I did fall for that!

Just in case you don't realise the publicity shot you're thinking of WAS of a waxwork Tom Baker leant by Madame Tussauds I believe!

They were all bad, after Sarah left!

Well, she'll be back in series two (as I'm sure you know) so I shall expect rave reviews from you.

Yes but she'll only be back for a single episode which means you should only expect a single rave review.

Be interesting to see how they have developed the character as I don't think it would work if she is much the same as she was when last in the series.