FOURTH DOCTOR

TOM BAKER —1975-1981

Tom Baker took on the part of the Doctor following the most successful period of the series thus far.  Most people would find that a bit daunting.  But it never seemed to worry Tom any.  And with Tom's very unusual brand of wit and irreverence, the series went on to even bigger success (although not as consistently so as the Pertwee era).

Tom Baker played the role of the Doctor for 7 years, the longest to do so thus far.  This was also when the show began to find an audience in America, and for those reasons, his is the most popular and recognizable period of the series in America.  

The era of the Fourth Doctor first of all brought back the creepy, darker tones of the Troughton era, with producer Phillip Hinchcliff and script editor Robert Holmes definitely intending to add more fear factor (capturing the gothic horror element) to the show after Pertwee's long tenure.  

Highlights of Baker's first season included a return of the Sontarans, followed immediately by the introduction of Davros and "the genesis of the Daleks", followed immediately by a return of the Cybermen following a long 7-year absence.  It would be another 7 years before they would reappear.  

The Baker era introduced its audience to fewer major recurring monsters and nemeses, Davros being the chief one of the few.  Also, near the end of his tenure, a rebirth of the Master was witnessed, now played by Anthony Ainley.  The era was made up mostly of stand-alone stories that featured one-off settings, aliens, etc.  

In Season 17, the series took a new approach: the 6 stories of that season were all linked to an overarching theme...the search for the 6 segments of the Key to Time.  Sent on a quest by the White Guardian of Time, the Doctor and his new assistant, Romanadveratrelundar, traveled time and space to uncover the location of the six segments, assemble the Key, and present it to the Guardian.  Rather than returning to Gallifrey as ordered, Romana chose to stay with the Doctor after the completion of their task, chose a "vanity" regeneration, and eventually parted company to travel E-Space with the Tharils.

Overall, the Baker era was blessed with very strong female companions, both in terms of character design and portrayal.  Beginning with the outspoken, head-strong Sarah Jane Smith, we also meet Leela, a tribal huntress who weathers animal skins and throws a mean dagger, the first Romana, a haughty, condescending (yet painfully naive) student fresh out of the academy, and the second Romana, a more seasoned, level-headed, confident and colourful traveler. 

In Baker's final story, he is trailed by the Watcher, a ghostly aspect of his future self, who arrives to assist the badly injured Doctor through his regeneration.

Recommended Viewing

Listed below are some of the standout stories from the Fourth Doctor era, hand selected by members of the Atlanta Gallifreyans. The titles are listed in order of most votes.

"Genesis of the Daleks" (1974)
Starring Tom Baker (the Doctor), Elisabeth Sladen (Sarah Jane Smith), Ian Marter (Harry Sullivan), Michael Wisher (Davros)

The Doctor and his companions are transported back in time by the Time Lords who have decided that the Daleks need to be destroyed. The Doctor's mission is to change history so that they have never existed. Soon they are separated and the Doctor and Harry are captured by the evil Elite of the mad scientist Davros, who is working to perfect his Mark 3 travel machine—the Dalek.

****

"City of Death" (1979)
Starring Tom Baker (the Doctor), Lalla Ward (Romana)

The Doctor and Romana visit Paris for a holiday. When the Mona Lisa is stolen, the Doctor comes upon evidence of sinister time experiments being carried out by a wealthy Count, Scarlioni. He soon exposes a plot by Scaroth, the last of the Jagaroth race, to re-write the history of Earth by avoiding the destruction of his space ship—but it was this explosion that led to the formation of life on Earth!

****

"The Face of Evil" (1977)
Starring Tom Baker (the Doctor), Louise Jameson (Leela)

The Doctor lands on a planet populated by two groups—the primitive Sevateem and the priestly Tesh. He is shocked to discover that the Sevateem's God, Xoanon, bears his own face! What has he done, and can he defeat himself?

****

"The Talons of Weng-Chiang" (1977)
Starring Tom Baker (the Doctor), Louise Jameson (Leela)

The Doctor takes Leela to Victorian London, where a series of young women have disappeared. A vicious Chinese Tong and their God, Weng-Chiang, appear to be involved—but can an ancient Chinese God really be stalking the fog-cloaked streets of London?

****

"The Pyramids of Mars" (1975)
Starring Tom Baker (the Doctor), Elisabeth Sladen (Sarah Jane Smith)

The Doctor and Sarah Jane arrive on the planet Zeta minor at the very edge of the Galaxy in answer to a distress call. All but one of a geological survey party from Morestra have been sucked dry by an invisible monster. A rescue ship arrives from Morestra but will the mysterious forces that control the planet allow anyone to leave...

****

"The Invasion of Time" (1978)
Starring Tom Baker (the Doctor), Louise Jameson (Leela)

Gallifrey is under attack by a mysterious force, and it seems that the Doctor is a traitor. Can he uncover the real villains before they completely destroy the planet Gallifrey...

****

"Horror of Fang Rock" (1977)
Starring Tom Baker (the Doctor), Louise Jameson (Leela)

The Doctor promises to take Leela to Brighton for a holiday. Instead, the TARDIS materialises on Fang Rock, inhabited only by the keepers of the Lighthouse. The light behaves erratically, causing a clipper to run aground. The lighthouse engineer dies in mysterious circumstances, and the remaining keepers and the clipper survivors start to die one by one. Can the Doctor and Leela uncover the mystery before everyone is dead?

To add your comments to the titles above, or to recommend an additional title, please email me. Thanks!